(ThyBlackMan.com) 1991, Rev. Jesse Jackson asked the question “is hip hop music educating or eroding young minds.”
1992, the Parents Music Resource Center was instrumental in applying public pressure and forcing rapper Ice-T to recall his album and remove the song “Cop Killer” from it. Various law enforcement organizations pledged to also boycott Time Warner the parent company and distributor for its role in releasing the music.
1995, the Anti-Defamation League applied pressure on Michael Jackson regarding the anti-semitic lyrics originally contained in the song “They Don’t Care About Us.” Jackson publicly apologized and then re-recorded/reissued the song sans the lyrics which contained the k-word.
The National Congress for Black Women received great coverage and acclaim in many arenas for the fight of C. Delores Tucker against misogyny in hip hop. In fact, their website claims the following:
“We lead the assault against Gangsta Rap and misogynistic lyrics that are directed towards African American youth and women and threaten the moral foundation of the family.”
2003, Minister Louis Farrakhan challenged the hip hop community to be responsible in their lyrical imagery.
2007, Rev. Al Sharpton led a rally/march in front of the record label offices decrying the worst lyrical offerings of hip hop.
2011, Tavis Smiley on Real Time with Bill Maher argued:
“If you think that the way we treat women in this country, with patriarchy still alive and well, sexism still alive and well, is determinative or demonstrative of how well our democracy runs, I think you don’t understand how maltreated women are still in this society.”
In 2012, Smiley convened another one of his many and varied townhall forums, one particularly focused around women and poverty, arguing this country has rendered both invisible.
I use all of that as a precursor in the controversy over the date rape lyrics of rapper Rick Ross in his latest song.
“Put Molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it. I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.”
The term ‘molly’ refers to a pure form of the drug MDMA.
Although the drug culture, misogyny and violence have long been featured in hip hop, date rape signals uncharted territory.
I’ve given you the history, now it’s time for roll call in 2013.
Sadly, The National Congress for Black Women, which fancies itself as leading “the assault against Gangsta Rap and misogynistic lyrics that are
directed towards African American youth and women and threaten the moral foundation of the family,” ISN’T leading this fight and as of yet have not joined in the battle. I’m not saying I’m in the lead. I am saying though as I look left and right, the NCBW isn’t anywhere to be found… yet.
NCBW, where are you now?
Parents Music Resource Center, where are you now?
Rev. Jesse Jackson… where are you and the Rainbow Push Coalition right about now?
Rev. Al Sharpton, you have a larger platform and audience than ever before, thanks to MSNBC. It begs the question… where are you now?
Minister Louis Farrakhan, also in 2011, said Rihanna was “filthy” but as of yet has had nothing to say in 2013 about Rick Ross and date rape. Minister Louis Farrakhan, where are you and the Nation of Islam now, or should I make the leap that violence against women is of lesser importance than the nature of stage performances BY women?
Tavis Smiley, where are you or have you moved on to the next pet issue now?
The National Organization for Women has long implored all of America to take rape seriously. Where are you NOW… now?
Students are leading the way, boycotting his performances and that’s the first order of business. Rick Ross’ major concert date on April 12 at the Nassau Coliseum should be the next focal point in demonstrating that date rape has no place in our music or in our society. Supporting Rick Ross, Maybach Music Group, and its partners for Rick Ross projects (Warner Bros. and Def Jam) is supporting date rape and there’s no way to circumvent this fact.
Every radio station which plays this song is supporting date rape and must be held accountable.
For all those who are quick to suggest that this is a First Amendment issue, let me head you off at the pass. This is not about whether Rick Ross has a right to rap about date rape. This is about whether we as a community will support it through purchase of concert tickets, radio airplay or iTunes downloads. Rick Ross has the right to be an idiot and express himself as such in his music. Conversely, we also have the right to not allow it in our homes, or in our lives.
Also, the FCC is clear on the broadcast of obscene, indecent and profane subject material HERE.
I’m beginning to think Steubenville, Ohio taught America absolutely nothing at all. Speak up, speak out. Silence is complicity. Date rape has no place in our music or our society.
Staff Writer; Morris O’Kelly
To read more of this brother stuff, head over to; The Mo’Kelly Report.