By Joe Walker
“If I rock the bells will they eventually tip over?”
I’ve done it this time. I’m in trouble now. I’ve gone too far. I insulted current Rap fans with my previous ‘Resolution’. I said radio should only play Rap containing adult content during late night broadcasts so children aren’t exposed to it. I used song “Crank That” by rapper Soulja Boy Tell’em as example.
To those I offended, I’d like to quote Eminem: “Apparently you ain’t parents.” I mean this sincerely, whether you have children or not.
We’ve grown accustomed to edgier entertainment. We’ve become desensitized to shocking and immoral behavior. I think we’ve come to expect and like it. Network and cable television has more profanity than ever. The “F” word, though bleeped out, is one of many explicit terms used frequently. Some channels don’t censor the ‘B’, ‘A’ or ‘N’ words at all. Talk of sex is heard at an alarming rate, even on cartoons. During a recent conversation with a friend of mine he exclaimed, “I’ve caught sexual innuendos watching Spongebob Squarepants!” I’ve noticed those too.
Sadly, Rap music tends to be far less subliminal. The genre has a reputation for being blunt and direct – which can be good. Several times since inception, Raps’ stars have joined forces to warn themselves of potential implosion. Yet the Rap industry has enclosed itself within a wall of negative images. A wall guarded by the immature artists who claim they’re taking the genre in to the future. Rap’s more positive path-setting past rarely gets honorable mention by today’s industry. I grew up with Rap music. With my present height I can’t see its future clearly. Not only did I grow up with Rap, I simply grew up.
I’ve grown to be a serious mature adult who has occasional silly moments. Rap digressed to a silly immature genre with occasional serious moments. During this dissolve the sales of Rap music incurred a steady decline.
A person told me, “Man, you just hatin’ on Soulja Boy”; suggesting I’m just bashing him out of jealously. No, I’m not “hatin’” on Soulja Boy; I hate Soulja Boy – for various reasons. One: He’s whack. Two: He’s REALLY whack. Three: He’s considered the future of the genre. People are going to look up to him, be inspired by him. You’re okay with this? The walls are tumbling down. Rap is burring itself in a widening hole of heavy scrutiny, covered by its own rubble and dirt. I hate that too.
New Resolution #30: Self-destruction: we’re headed for self-destruction! Self-destruction!
