The Riff: Since Nothing Else Important Going on in World, Congress Takes on Hip-Hop

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Since Nothing Else Important Going on in World, Congress Takes on Hip-Hop

We've covered Al Sharpton's protests against sexism and violence in hip-hop, as well as the movement against homophobia and violence in reggae lyrics, here on the Riff. Some of us may have also posted a hip-hop video here whose cheeky references to pregnancy some found offensive. Well, the government is here to straighten this mess out (except the homophobia part). Representative Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) announced today that Congress will hold a hearing later this month regarding media "stereotypes and degradation" of women, focusing on hip-hop lyrics and videos. Reports Variety:

Just as his colleagues on other committees have summoned TV execs to be grilled on sexual or violent content, Rush wants to hear from the leaders of companies purveying rap music. The intent is to examine commercial practices behind the music's most controversial content.

"I want to talk to executives at these conglomerates who've never taken a public position on what they produce," Rush said. "But it's been surprisingly very difficult to get them to commit to appearing."

Witnesses include toppers Philippe Dauman of Viacom, Doug Morris of Universal Music Group and Edgar Bronfman Jr. of Warner Music Group... So far, only one artist has committed to appearing—Master P, who began his career as a gangsta rapper but has since focused on positive messages and images in his music.

Hey, they've even got a catchy title, to distract from that whole First Amendment problem:

Currently titled "From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degradation," the hearing is intended to address "what is certainly a timely issue and one that won't go away," Rush said. ...Rush stressed that this is "not an anti-artist hearing, or antimusic or antiyouth hearing." He said he's hoping for voluntary—not regulatory—solutions. "I respect the First Amendment, but rights without responsibility is anarchy, and that's much of what we have now. It's time for responsible people to stand up and accept responsibility."

I'd been wondering what to call this rights-without-responsibility feeling I've been having. Hooray, it's anarchy! And any sentence that begins "I respect the First Amendment, but..." is gonna be an awesome sentence.

In all seriousness, it's mostly just sad that this hearing will do nothing to illuminate the troubling issue of offensive art versus free speech, or of representation of offense versus actual offense, issues that have vexed us for a while. If we rely on the media to represent ourselves and our interests, then it's easy to want art to portray our ideal society, not our real society, or a negative fantasy. The problem is, not everyone has the same ideals, and if the government is involved—even assuring us they're "hoping" not to use "regulatory solutions"—the effect is one of intimidation and censorship. Furthermore, why hip-hop is being singled out seems far more nefarious than some offensive lyrics. God forbid our elected officials might focus on making real efforts against poverty and inequality that might lead to social changes and less-offensive art.

Comments

It is time to stop and smell the roses. Too much hate in our society today.

What is our impotent Government going to do. Call the bill "The Imus Bill"?

Imus said those three infamous words once. However the MSM and every news channel repeated it over and over and over again. It is getting to be 3 stupid words that do not make any sense to a normal person. Even Black People don't understand what all the fuss is about.

Don Imus will be back. And one thing for sure he will not utter those words again. But will be the same as he was at WFAN. And that is the magic he has in holding an audience.

If Al Gore allegedly invented the internet, he should be jailed. Due to the speed of light communications we now have, the telephone game has taken on a whole new meaning.

Bruce from Florida

Posted by: Bruce on 09/05/07 at 12:44 PM Respond

Actually, I think Party Ben is misguided here. My impression from this short piece is that Rush wants to take on the media conglomerates who have been profiting from the exploitation of black music by peddling violent, sexist lyrics to black folk to the detriment of black communities. Why do you think all rap on the radio is violent and sexist? Because all young black people are violent and sexist? Because that's all that rappers have to talk about? or because a bunch of white guys in a board room decided that's what sells records and/or advertising time on their stations? These rich white media moguls are responsible for spewing this sh*t throughout the black community... notice that he's not targeting artists but the media owners themselves. I'm not nearly as fluent on these issues as Davey D, so please check out his speech at the media reform conference a couple years ago to understand what I'm trying to get at http://www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/sat-keynote.mp3

Posted by: quasimoto on 09/06/07 at 10:29 AM Respond

Posted by: quasimoto on 09/06/07 at 10:30 AM Respond

Quasimoto: I hear you, and yes, the specter of greedy old white dudes exploiting the black community by trotting out sexist and violent rap would be disturbing, but I just don't think it holds water. First, not "all rap on the radio" is violent and sexist, and my implication was not that black people are violent and sexist. But just as my coverage of attempts to stop homophobic lyrics in reggae music seem to miss the point that Jamaican society is so deeply homophobic that going after lyrics seems somewhat pointless, I'd say that a desire to look at/listen to music and videos that portray violent images and scantily-clad women definitely exists here, amongst people of all skin colors. Framing the debate as white capitalists pulling the strings of their black performers is understandable, considering this country's sad history, but because so much of the lyrical content people find objectionable has been created outside of the mainstream corporate entertainment complex (I'm thinking of, say, 2 Live Crew), it doesn't add up. I say give the artists some credit for what they're doing--just because they signed to a major label doesn't mean they've become zombie robots.

Posted by: Party Ben on 09/06/07 at 12:09 PM Respond

How about promote all the revolutionary political Hip Hop, along with the low-brow sexist homophobic Gangsta Rap?

Oh. Nevermind.

By the way, just for fun, google Reagan and Gangsta Rap. Someone did a flow chart from Reagan and Ollie North to Death Row Records, etc. Humorous, but accurate.

Posted by: Gary on 09/07/07 at 1:02 AM Respond