(ThyBlackMan.com) Chuck D took some flack recently for a response that he made to the critically acclaimed track dropped by Jay Z and Kanye West backed by generous “samples” of the legendary Otis Redding. The song in question “Otis” is upon a cursory glance an ode to materialistic things, luxury items and being one of the “haves”.
Chuck D’s response was noted as a call to action to not just Kanye and Jay Z but to those who flocked to listen and buy the track to try to understand why 
dropping a track like that right now might be considered by some, out of touch and insensitive to the very audience that is listening. Now to be fair, there are obligations and responsibilities of the artists to their record label and all the people who are depending on them for a paycheck – to keep that cash flowing.
dropping a track like that right now might be considered by some, out of touch and insensitive to the very audience that is listening. Now to be fair, there are obligations and responsibilities of the artists to their record label and all the people who are depending on them for a paycheck – to keep that cash flowing.There are also contractual obligations to the record label and industry execs who they are contracted to – to produce content which the label deems “profitable”. None of these obligations have anything to do with putting out “conscious” or “responsible” lyrics or tracks. It is primarily all about the Benjamins.
We are however, not supposed to speak when someone does something no matter how wrong, as long as there is money coming out of it. Kind of like the drug dealer who gives out turkeys for Thanksgiving – yep some people got fed, but how many more families and lives were destroyed as a result of his “product” being out on the street. No matter the level of misogyny put forward, or the negative imagery imbued in the message, because it’s “entertainment”. I wonder how many would feel that way if a group was created that sung about the glorious days of the Klan and someone turned up hung in a tree by one of the “listeners”?
Point being that while these things may be done in the name of entertainment – not everyone listening has the ABILITY to separate entertainment from what is real. Especially, when it comes to young minds that are being FORMED, and are still absorbing what goes on around them to determine what their ultimate make up will be How many parents reading this have had that argument with their child who WANTED the name brand sneakers, the name brand clothes, the expensive watch, gear etc. If their parents aren’t living like that I wonder where they get the idea for wanting these things in the first place. Hmm maybe they saw it in a video? Perhaps they heard about it in a song on the radio? They might have seen their friends with the stuff but – I repeat the original question where did THEY get the idea?
We are not supposed to talk about entertainers or athletes being responsible role models because they supposedly have no responsibility to the communities that support and got them to the level of fame and “wealth” that they have achieved. I believe the sentiment is along the lines of “it is not their responsibility to be a role model – its the parents”. Seeing as how in the black community there has been a paradigm shift to where the majority of black families now are headed by single females – that argument might not pass muster or hold up under the current family construct. It might have been more applicable when you actually had a mommy and daddy and baby makes three household.
Then when someone speaks out – they are ostracized and called a hater or worse. Meanwhile the negative imagery continues to be poured out into the atmosphere. We are supposed to collectively “look the other way” when these things are put out there for our consumption, but then our communities are the ones that wind up ultimately suffering for it. Meanwhile there is no “collective responsibility” for those who put the stuff out there.
It would mitigate the discussion somewhat if there were artists out there getting the airtime and press that were more conscious, or putting out tracks that spoke about being conscious, collective responsibility, and ethnic heritage – but there aren’t. Not on the level of a JayZ or a Kanye West. So there is no counterpoint to putting out tracks and songs that promote materialism and convey the message that “things” are what’s needed in life. There’s a thought that if this is all you see and this is all you hear that its a strong chance it will influence who you become.
That was why Hip Hop originally was so important as a tool not only to bring money into the artists and the record labels pockets – but to bring awareness to issues in communities and spark dialogues and solutions. Yes and to entertain while doing so. What it is now depends on where you are – if you work for a lablel or an artist – its all gravy. for the rest of us, its just another thing we have to deal with….
Staff Writer; Alinda Pete
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