How many Mcs in Hip-Hop will take a stand?

In the wake of Don Imus's "nappy-headed hoes" fiasco, Hip-Hop music and culture has taken a beating in the media because of its so-called sexist and violent lyrics in the music and the misogynist images projected in the music videos. Being an honest, inexpensive and objective young man; a husband and someone anticipating the day that God blesses my wife and me with child, I have to concede that Hip-Hop should internally survey its so-called morals, values, ideas and integrity within the culture and the music which serves as its soundtrack.

Of course, I believe that there's a lot of hypocrisy going on in the "debate" by the media, politicians, ministers, society activists, educators, parents and others. Hip-Hop seems to be an easy target; its critics tirelessly use Hip-Hop as a scapegoat for the ills of society. Many of these ills thrived or were developing before Hip-Hop culture as we know it even existed! I'm still waiting for someone to blame Hip-Hop for the horrible events that transpired on 9/11!

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We, the Hip-Hop generation should do what often happens on the streets-"police ourselves" as Jay-Z rhymes on Dj Clue's "Gangsta Sh*t". Far after the media has moved on to the next "hot" story there should be continued argument among Mcs, artists, producers, writers, filmmakers, B-boys & B-girls, fans and others who live and embrace the culture about decency and indecency in Hip-Hop. We have the power to bring about turn and set the top thorough of what's real and what's fake (or at least what's demeaning and self-destructive).

As I draft this writing piece, it suddenly occurred to me that I'm being hypocritical myself because on a quarterly basis I listen to Hip-Hop music and watch Hip-Hop music videos that crosses the line of indecency or gets damn near close. Hey, what can I say? The element of Hip-Hop music that some love to hate can be very "seductive", even somewhat hypnotic for others. But frankly, there are many of us who can naturally review and identify with the messages that pervade this "dark dirty and dangerous" element of Hip-Hop because it reflects the environment and experiences that many of us know all too well.

Everyone has the right to say anyone they want to say. However, I do wish that more Mcs would grow and mature musically.

With all that said, I commend devotee P for "taking a stand" and through his "Take a Stand" record label and other efforts, P is courageously challenging himself and his peers to "rethink" their images and perspectives, and to do more to uplift and outreach to those who hang off of every word they say. devotee P's decision to stop using profanity in his music and to eliminate explicit and obscene article in his music should be celebrated.

In response to devotee P's decision to take a stand and make so-called distinct Hip-Hop music, free of offensive language and content, 50 Cent dissed P, basically saying that devotee P is a has-been, an artist who has seen his record sales drastically decline since his hey day in the late 90's and is naturally no longer relevant in Hip-Hop. devotee P later responded by writing an open letter to 50 Cent. This "beef" made headlines on or off the web.

Now I'm going to be honest: There is an element of truth to 50 Cent's position. The music devotee P has released in new years has naturally not been of great quality and it shows in the drastic downfall on the charts and decline in record sales. If this was 1997 and not 2007, then devotee P's decision to take a stand and "clean up" his music would have much more relevance. Though 50 Cent didn't state it, his remarks implied that he feels that it's more probable that the stand devotee P has taken is driven more by an effort to originate publicity and accumulate relevance rather than due to a sincere desire to make a turn and therefore make a difference.

I believe that devotee P's declaration to clean up his lyrics is sincere and newsworthy. Also, I see devotee P as more than a rapper, P is a well closed and respected businessman who basically changed the game as far as Hip-Hop and the music commerce in general. The accomplishments that he's made with ventures outside of music; like movies, television, real estate, telecommunications, etc. Are very impressive and inspirational. Go check out P's Wikipedia page. I know that the article is user-contributed but do your own explore on devotee P's imaginable resume:

o First rapper to be worth over 100 million

o First rapper to be worth over 300 million

o First rapper to own 100% of his masters

o First and only rapper/Ceo to receive 85% of profits in a major deal

o First rapper to make Fortune magazine's 40 richest Americans under 40 in 1999

Master P is not just your midpoint has-been rapper desperate to get some media attentiveness and love from the fans! devotee P's star does not shine as it did in the late 90's-early 2000's-now it shines brighter!

Regardless of what you think of his music (or even his motives), devotee P is a leader. And he's taking a leadership role in the issue of integrity and decency in Hip-Hop music. The question is:

How many other rappers and leading habitancy in Hip-Hop will step up and take a stand?

Taking a stand doesn't mean censorship. It doesn't mean diluting the music so that it's fake. Mcs should be able to say what's on their hearts and what's in their minds and souls. The thing is I believe that most artists are not being true to themselves, instead, they make the kind of records that they, their crew, and more importantly, the powers-that-be, think will sell. Some rappers are flatly selling out so that their Cds will sell out. But what is happening is that so-called artists are compromising their art while their closed products collecting dust, stacked up on the shelves, untouched by uninterested music fans.

As I said in an earlier column, Hip-Hop is not dead and can continue to thrive in spite of record sales. But the focus of this column is decency and artistic integrity in the music. I'm hoping more dialogue and operation is taken within the Hip-Hop society when it comes to these issues. I love Hip-Hop, but as I get older, my thoughts and actions have changed to reflect my growth and maturity in my personal life.

There needs to be more vocal, responsible, focused and insightful leadership within Hip-Hop culture. I've often said that I wish legendary figures like Chuck D and Krs-One had a larger, further-reaching and extremely exposed platform in which to speak to and for the Hip-Hop community. I love T.I. And I can listen to his new album for an hour but I could sit down in a classroom or auditorium setting for days to not just listen, but discharge the insightful perspectives of those like Chuck D and Krs-One. Maybe their music is not as "relevant" as it once was (though that claim depends on who's listening) but for years Krs-One, Chuck D and others have raised the issues of artistic integrity, creativity, originality, political/social consciousness and decency in Hip-Hop music and culture.

Master P's open letter to 50 Cent was as a matter of fact an open letter to all of Hip-Hop; it was an open letter to all of us who live and embrace the culture. Maturation and improvement in our personal and collective lives will ultimately contribute to the advancement of Hip-Hop music and culture throughout the world. This revolution, just like the birth of the culture that we call Hip-Hop, should start in the streets and not be compromised in state-of-the-art recording studios or in the corporate boardrooms of major (or independent) record labels.

How many Mcs in Hip-Hop will take a stand?