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Obama Blasts Bad Hip-Hop Images
June 30th, 2008Women-hating, money-glorifying lyrics are not positive forces, he says
Sen. Barack Obama, whose wide-ranging musical tastes include hip hop, took a swipe last week at the less than savory manifestations of the popular genre. “I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics,” the Democratic presidential nominee said in his highly publicized interview with Rolling Stone magazine. “It would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying that they were getting bad images of themselves.” But Obama, who if elected in November would become the youngest president in history, added that hip hop has also been a positive force in America. “I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music,” he said, referring to hip-hop moguls Russell Simmons, Jay-Z and Ludacris” as “great talents and great businessmen.”
I agree with Senator Obama, hip-hop is an art form. Like most things in life there is the good and the bad. But at it’s core, hip-hop has been a positive force of expression for an otherwise ignored segment of American society.
I wonder what would happen if all inner-city schools required classical music to be piped into all classrooms all day every day….to have these kids immersed in really wonderful soothing music. I truly believe you would see a change in behavior. Music appreciation classes changed my life and musicologists testify to the effectiveness of using clasical music to calm children. Worth a try?????
GREAT… It’s true… there are good and bad figures in hip hop as in every other aspect of life. HE is only telling the truth.
Barak I love ya, but if you try to make me take the Verichip, you can go to Hades with your 11th and 13th cousins (Bush & Cheney) And you need to resign from the Council of Foreign Relations, cause thy have a hidden agenda that is connected to concentration camps. (only for those with an ear to hear)
Mybe they will listen to our next “President of The United States of America”
I agree with OBAMA!!!!
I’m glad to see someone voice there opinion about
this genocide that has brainwash our younger generation,we must reinforce,and take back what was once a beautiful art,and it starts with people like obama lets all stand up and defeat this enemey!
Tommy D
Reel Soul Music
He’s right on point with his comments hip hop to me was L L and Grand Master Flash(showing my age) Music to dance by more of an enjoyment. Not #ithches and #hores and words that go along that li ne given everyone should be able to express themselves but let’s choose some tasteful words. And it does begin at home don’t want them to listen to it than don’t buy it!!!
Mr Obama is right we get enough negetive feeback from from others , and then get it from the people that infuence our young children . It is like fighting your self and your enemy.
I’m in agreement with Stephani…..Mr. Obama has a right as a government official and a parent to address the negatives of rap music in terms of the lyrical content….There are good rap music with positive & upbuilding story lines & there should be more of them such as the need for strong family bonds, higher learning in terms of encouraging our children to further their education by attending college & graduating w/an B.A., B.S., M.A., or even a Ph.D. degree—-we should tell our children ‘the skies the limit’ & they can do and be anything they want…..Look at the prime example—–MR. BARACK OBAMA himself!!!!!
f*** barack obama that monkey wouldnt know good music if it jumped up and bit him
Well said Barack! I agree completely! I don’t want my kids growing up thinking degrading women is ok. Not all hip hop is crazy, but the ones that are is not acceptable.And i choose not to bring that into my home.
We want to hear it how we live his daughtes never lived it so they don’t want to hear they make different songs. So wake up America we like to hear how we live it, or lived it, that’s just like taking away history, of how some people lived and some people didn’t we are all still human. Somebody should have done something a long time ago.
Chris shut up….you would have to be ignorant and say that. Don’t knock the man for having an opinion.
Yet another reason why we need this man. He took a stand and said what he felt without worrying about how the hiphop world would react. God bless this man…we need him people. Barack the vote!!!
Toooooooo many of us have an excuse for everything! Obama has shed light on what these producers have been settling for and peddling on the airwaves/internet for years. Yes there are execs who basically put artists in a choke hold concerning what is artistic and what sells. But producers (waaaaayyyyy more so) have more clout than artists, by far. Yet they push alot of the garbage thats out there. PRODUCERS!!!!! A hot one can make a series of hot careers manifest. Yet the easy road is taken, hence music thats hot today and completely forgotten in a year or two, forget about five. Thats why not too many rappers today can make claim to classics. Look at the musical terrain of the last 7 – 10 years. Like I said, some garbage!!! Thank goodness for people like Jay-Z, Outcast and Mos Def, to name a few!!
Shut up Chris! Don’t be ignorant! Don’t knock him for having his opinion!! Grow up!!!
Barack is right , Hip hop is full of ignorants and
they care about money . Education is the key so , black people needs to know their value as African
and emancipate from the slavery mentality because
that is the past and the past belongs to the history , you can’t run from the place you belong
this is the new era – EDUCATION …
Chris if you wern’t so ignorant you would know what Barack says makes sense. He didn’t say that’s how everyone should feel. This is just what he feels and chooses not to have around his girls.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR MY VERY STUPID AND OBVIOUSLY RACIST COMMENT. I AM OFF MY MEDICATION TODAY!!!