Hip Hop

The film, Hip Hop and Beyond Beats was really insightful and a deeper take on what many have tried to understand: Hip Hop. I walked away kind of disturbed at some of the footage especially at the part where he asks men why they call women “bitches and hoes”. Just because the women were in outfits that were reveling doesn’t give a man a reason to call someone a hoe. If attention is what the women want in the way they dress than they are getting it.However, when many of them where asked about this subject they all said in defense that it doesn’t apply to them. I don’t have a problem with the way the women were dressed but the fact that these men thought it was okay to speak and physical touch them in such manner was just wrong.  In regards to Nelly and the Tip drill video, he was asked in an interview why he thought it was okay to objectify women and his response was that most of the action in that video was ideas from women, which is even more disturbing.

As far as examining explicit lyrics and young boys, I thought it was insightful when one of the men said that they get a clear message form top executives and from what is popular right now and that message is explicit disrespectful lyrics sell. It’s hard to argue and teach young men the opposite when they see their favorite rapper making a lot of money because of the stuff he/she raps about. However, educating men at a young age to see wrong from right is a step in the right direction.

As far as African American girls watching music videos and the message it sends out, I think that parents need to have discussion with their children. I had friends whose parents censored their TV from shows  and music videos they considered inappropriate but with the use of technology  children will get exposed to it one way or another so an honest open discussion is very much needed.  Girls also have to understand that the glamorized images are unrealistic and over exaggerated. I believe the results from the study are results of lack of education and open conversation.