Why does the mainstream media present a singular vision of hip-hop?
Alongside the misogyny and violence are countless artists who are positive or at least progressive, yet this music rarely makes it to radio or TV. Why? What role do artists, audiences, or the industry play in this shut-out?
The issue of representations in mainstream Hip Hop should be observed through a critical lens. That is, it should be observed in the context of media concentration and the overall powerful media structure that controls much of what we see and hear in America. Are we forgetting that White males own about 95% of all Broadcast media?? I'm sure a similar narrative would reflect of the recording industry and those companies that distribute Hip Hop to the masses. Let's not forget that there is a white power structure in this country. This power structure's goal is to continue to keep those systems and ideologies in place that continue to marginalize and polarize minorities.
The answer is simple. Mainstream media is actually White Male Privileged media--thus all the negative images. Our young black (and white) people, in order to correct the incorrect images presented to them, need to turn off the televisions and radios and go read Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, Percival Everett, Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Ismael Reed, Countee Cullen, Octavia Butler, Samuel Delany, Alexander Pushkin(!), and countless others.
Negative Hip Hop has done more damage to the Black race than the KKK and the skin heads combined. It needs to die because it has killed too many of us.
And who the hell takes a tally on what race buys what music? I've purchase more than 100 CD's/Albums and NO ONE HAS EVER TAKEN A SURVEY ON ME! It's a lie to purposely trick Blacks into thinking White people are just as vulnerable--Trick bag! Most White people have influential relatives who can help them move up in life. Most White people can clean up nicely with their diction. Their White skin tells other influentials the door is open to success in acceptable ways. To the contrary, Black men are begging oh please please please massa, let me hurt my people and help you destroy people that look like my Momma, sister, hommie, and my own children--I hate himself this much, can't you see I hate me I hate me I hate me.
I'm more than ready to move on to a new musical style--music styles have always come and gone and it's way overdue but I guess it feels so good to the powers that be to see us in such a turmoil.
We are losing and hip hop ain't selling anymore. Only two hip hop artists went platinum in the US in 2006, so it's on its way out and if the White executives don't believe it, they will when they waste another billion being evil enough to continue to force fed death and see Black women so hurt and alone.
