Essence "Take Back the Music" NY Town Hall (AP)

Solutions?

Hip-hop debate focuses on images of womenby IMANI DAWSONAssociated PressNEW YORK

A volatile topic inspired heated debate as several hundred peoplegathered to discuss the impact of misogynistic rap on black women.Rapper Remy Ma, underground emcee Jean Grae, author and radio personalityKaren Hunter, Essence magazine health editor Akiba Solomon and DJ BeverlyBond were featured on the panel, titled "Images of Women in Hip Hop," onTuesday night at the Fashion Institute of Technology.More than 300 people filled the auditorium to capacity, spilling onto thestage and into the aisles. Attendees listened raptly as panelists debatedhip-hop's treatment of women before vociferously voicing their own deeplyheld beliefs.The talk began with moderator Thabiti Boone, co-founder of the Hip HopPolitical convention, condemning rapper Nelly's infamous "Tip Drill" video,which featured the artist swiping a credit card through a stripper'sbuttocks. Though nearly everyone agreed that the salacious video crossed alltasteful boundaries and blatantly disrespected women, the dialogue soonbecame chaotic.Heated bickering between the panelists and the audience ensued, much todismay of moderator Boone. On multiple occasions he was forced to quellcatcalls, jeers or claps as the conversation addressed topics includingparental responsibility versus community involvement in child rearing, theeffect of rap videos on impressionable adolescents and even hip-hop'sdesignation as a culture.Remy, the lone female member of Fat Joe's Terror Squad clique, has many oralsex references in her raps on such hits as "Lean Back" and "Take me Home."During one exchange she declared, "I'm not here to raise anybody'schildren." Audience member and teacher Radha Blank retorted, "If you don'tbelieve hip-hop is affecting young people, join me in the schools wherejunior high school girls are (performing fellatio) in the hallways."Panelists occasionally interrupted or argued with each other. And theaudience was equally divided - younger people repeatedly claimed thathip-hop's depiction of women accurately reflects the behavior of somefemales, while older folks insisted that rap's content negatively affectsthe behavior of both young men and women.The program ran almost a half-hour long as panelists and audience membersbattled to articulate their opinions. It ended abruptly, with littlesolution-oriented discourse, leaving some frustrated and unsure about nextsteps."I really didn't think much was accomplished," complained Tanysha Chaffin, ayouth specialist and caseworker. "It was an attack on hip-hop that didn'tsolve anything."Others remained optimistic. "The campaign's goal is to open and further adialogue on a sometimes unpopular topic," said panelist Solomon. "Weobserved tonight that this is an issue the community feels passionateabout."The panel was sponsored by Essence magazine and the Center forCommunication, a nonpartisan forum designed to familiarize college studentswith the business of media. Inspired by the 2004 Spelman College protest ofthe "Tip Drill" video, Essence launched a yearlong "Take Back the Music"campaign in January, featuring articles in the magazine and town hallmeetings around the country tackling stereotypes about black women perpetuated by hip hop.