Almost 100% of the time when I turn on the radio or check out MTV Jams, all I hear and see is music for the mindless. As I sat down at the computer today and checked out a few of my favorite web sites the same mindless music is promoted. The popular subject matter of drugs, money, alcohol and pornography have all but dominated the airwaves for over a decade. The sad part is that radio stations and television have somewhat forgotten it's true responsibility. For many years radio was considered family friendly entertainment. But in recent years the indecent subject matter and topics that often comes with modern rap music have desensitized the youth of today.
Now I could make an entire book about how modern trends as a whole have all played a part in this desensitization of a generation. Video games, movies and prime-time television are major contributors to why I think young people are walking around with no real morals. Most importantly I think record companies are leading the pack by promoting artists that are already lost and desensitized.
As a fan and columnist of modern rap I have to listen to almost every relevant artists and their releases. I have to be honest with you, all I hear from the industry's hottest acts is foolishness. The same foolishness that we hear our young people participating in every night on the news. Drug dealing, popping pills, alcohol and drug abuse to robbing, stealing and even murder can be found on and in any of the industry's hottest act's music.
To my surprise, last week when I was doing my weekly tracking ( surfing the web for new music) I noticed some mainstream artists released some conscious music with thought provoking subject matter. The first artist that caught my eye and ear was Lil Wayne. That's right, Lil Wayne has a song and video titled God Bless America. This song is off the hook. Lil Wayne drops some real lyrics that will make his fans think about more than sex, drugs and rock and roll. One of the hottest lines in the song is where he say's God bless America/ this old godless America. If you haven't heard this song do yourself a favor and check it out @ ill-board.com. Another hot track with some thought provoking lyrics is by Kanye West titled Black Skinhead. The subject matter is on some pro-black jigginess. Jiggy meaning flashy and pro-black meaning revolutionary. This is the Kanye West video that you have to see. The visuals are the illest and they go great with the passion of the track and the song as a whole. Ace Hood finally dropped his new project titled Trials and Tribulations. The song and video had the same title. Over a hardcore street track Ace reflects over hard living and how faith and hope got him through those hard times. The thing that I like about Ace Hood is that he keep his style rugged and at the same time promote a positive tomorrow.
I hope that this positive movement that's taking place right under our noses keeps on going. Like I always said, sometimes it takes something like the Zimmerman verdict to ignite change. And as Malcolm X said another word for change is revolution. He also said that you can't get revolution without bloodshed. In this regard the bloodshed represents the hard headed nature of our people that refuse to change. Until the next time have some fun and get something done.
