Rap Music and Corporations

[erpowers]

Frequently and recently, since Rosa Parks' death, some people have criticized black rap artists for the profane lyrics in their music. I am not trying to defend the rappers; however, I wonder if people should also be criticizing the corporations and the leaders of the corporations who sign these artists, allow them to sing these songs and even encourage them to sing these songs. It seems to be agreed upon that rap music did not become profane until big corporations like Sony and others realized they could make money off of rap music. Also, some of the things these artists sing about does not come from their life experiences. It was reported a few months ago that a advertising company had struck a deal with McDonald's to get rappers to mention McDonald's food in their songs. This is the same advertising company that got rappers to mention Seagrum's Gin in their songs. So, should people be criticizing the corporations that hire and pay rappers to say the things they say while they criticize the rappers for saying those things?

[obxhead]

1. Maybe the people that buy and listen to it deserve

some criticism too? They could ask for better music themselves.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. Music and business have always shilled for each other....

What I find appalling is most modern rap's aesthetic liabilities. When the most pressing issue concerning a genre is not musical, but whether pimping Seagram's is kosher or not, then it's obvious that hip hop's use as a musical genre is all but over.

[Deja Q]

3. Is Bill Gates a caucasian?

Bill O'Reilly loves to go after the 'artists', but he always leaves out the corporate element (the record label) that wants to make a buck from it.

I've always said so; and started my own tirades back when O'Really did his big thing a few years' ago about our media... particularly the Insane Klown Posse whatever... (and the IKP is a white group, so it's not a race thing.)

However, there are some rap artists like Public Enemy which speak up of problems rather than singing about raping and killing. I hope they're not in the group of which you speak. :)

[erpowers]

4. No

I know they try to talk about real issues and ask why thinks cannot be better.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

5. You should also look at non-mainstream hip-hop.

It's the opposite of the stuff you hear on the radio.

[jmm]

6. I'm pretty certain only one group

whom nobody's really heard of attempt to take McDonald's up on that deal but they swore so much during the song that McDonald's never paid them.

Rap is no worse than any other genre. Look at most "What CD are you listening to?" threads in the lounge. Most of the artists and groups you see in them don't spend much time hanging out on the TRL set or aren't on constant rotation on a Clear Channel station. Sure there are some talented multi-platinum mainstream people with endorsement deals but corporations have tainted most genres so the cream of the crop doesn't rise like it should.