In the current debate over whether hip-hop has become degrading to women and harmful to race relations, I've heard quite a bit from black activists, some of whom have fought for years against the sort of lyrics I'm writing about, and I've gotten several earfuls from black rap artists.
But I haven't heard a peep from the white fans who essentially underwrite the industry by purchasing more than 70 percent of the rap music in this country, according to Mediamark Research Inc.
I don't presume to tell any artist, studio executive or record label what to record or not record. But I will presume to ask young white customers: Why are we buying this stuff?
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4 Comments:
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This one got me thinking...more to say then just a simple comment...
http://thedirtt.blogspot.com/2007/09/sexism-hip-hop-and-white-consumer.html"
let me know what you think!
Interesting.. i havent heard this side of the argument brought up before..
it's not an either/or proposition. this country has never been comfortable in addressing its contradictions. white folk and black folks are so historically intimate it's a shame. white people have been voyeuristically admiring/envying black people for generations. Black people are the standard bearer for what's considered cool, stylish, desirable...while at the same time considered everyone's inferior, the boogie man of society. Ad rates are set to the taste and preferences of white people; so it wouldn't shock me to find out that the numbers of white youth purchasing hip-hop may be somewhat inflated.
nevertheless, hip-hop is global in scope and there are white youth outside U.S. borders who are buying Rap Music in significant numbers...consequently, the in-house elements of Black street life (which were meant to stay in house) have, for better AND worse become common currency for the world.
i admire the honesty of the legislator for addressing what should be obvious to all...
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