How Hip-Hop Holds Blacks Back

Thanks for mentioning this! I'm black, but I'm a rock and roller and these are my peeps! Now you're talkin' music! : )

My taste in music is rather eclectic. While I obviously enjoy the bands I previously mentioned, I never really cared for Motown or any of the "doo-wop" 50's music. I do like some rap, no cop killer stuff, but early Eazy E & NWA (pre F#@$ tha' Police). I like some Ice Cube (Today was a Good Day), Dre & Snoop (Ain't Nothin' but a G thing). The list goes on. I also like Country, old & new. Some people say I have no taste in music.

It's good to meet others whose musical tastes are as eclectic as my own.

Although I disagree with you about Motown (my favorites being the Temptations, Four Tops, Supremes-with and without Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Teena Marie, Rick James and the Jackson Five-before Michael went 'round the bend), I must say that you both are right on the money about how most adolescents eventually outgrow the music they listen to. But sometimes that can also extend into young adulthood as well. I went through a phase during my first years in the Navy listening to Pat Benatar, Blondie, Yes, Journey, Robert Plant (of Led Zepplin, which incidentally, I purchased both the Early Days and Latter Days compilations just last year), the B52s, and Devo, just to name a few. In fact, I owned some of the vinyl versions of their albums. Although I have a few compilations of Rock, the music I enjoy the most is Contemporary or "Smooth" Jazz, as some critics derisively call it. But so what? Everyone has his or her own musical taste.
As for the article itself, Professor McWhorter is actually correct on many of the points he makes throughout the piece. Especially the point in which he talks about how the Black Left often decries the 'stereotypes' of street thugs in television and films, while wanting to canonize these same individuals for their 'creativity', or as they think, "keepin' it real." It's as if they're talking out of both sides of their mouths; in other words, if a Rap artist comes up with the most odious and offensive lyrics one can hear, then he or she gets a free pass. On the other hand, let some White filmaker or television producer have some Black pimp, prostitute, drug dealer, or Welfare mother in a story, and these same people go bananas, crying "RACIST." I can hardly keep track of how many articles I've read on this very subject, as well as on how difficult for Black actors or actresses to find work in Hollywood. The Black Left is never satisfied; damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Although Russell Simmons may not like the "soft" or "sissy" type of music that was done prior to the 1980s, he should at least acknowledge that if it were not for people like Berry Gordy, Leon Gamble and Kenneth Huff, the late Barry White or any other Black music pioneers, he would not be where he is today.

-Regards, T.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.