Hip Hops image

The time for a music industry change obviously is now. Is it just me or an abundance of disturbing news surrounding music? In recent months media has tighten the fist and continues to squeeze out bad news.

Many eyes opened with the recent blunders of the infamous HOT 97 in New York. The ill timed Tsunami Parody made national news and shined a bright light on the radio game and its lack direction.

HOT 97 “Smackfest” and Tsunami parody are just the tip of the iceberg that has been steaming downhill for the past ten years. Smackfest ran for months on HOT 97 in NY had contestants slapping each other for cash prizes. Smackfest for months was posted proudly on HOT97.com home page. Radio has made it a point to desensitize the urban landscape. First the steady diet of mind altering product. The acceptance of gangster coupled with the demise of conscious rap. More sex, drugs and violence shaping lives and images.

Radio’s defense has been laughable at best. Rick Cummings, President of Emmis Radio division for years has been lauded as the Hip Hop guru. Cummings was instrumental in giving Hip Hop a radio home. Cummings led the charge at Power 106 in Los Angeles and later flipped the switch on New York’s HOT 97. The two top cities gave Hip Hop a home. Cummings to this day still does not understand the music and certainly not the culture.

In early March Rick Cummings appeared on Hannity & Colmes cable’s top rated show. Cummings quickly defended Smackfest as part of Hip Hop’s culture. Admitting to millions that “there are a lot of things about the hip-hop culture that I cringe about. Look I am a fifty year old white guy”. 

Could you imagine Bill Gates on 60 Minutes defending dial up over DSL? Broadcast executives should know their product and marketplace. Cumming’s statement was alarming. Radio’s top executives only defense is that Hip Hop makes money. The effect is not needed when the bottom line is Hip Hop’s billion dollar industry. Radio will continue to promote Black on Black crime and hate until someone derails the train. 

Creative media minds have faded at warp speed. Bet’s new fall line up will include media mogul Damon Dash ripping off gold chains in an ‘Apprentice” like Amos and Andy reality show called “Ultimate Hustler”. BET just announced the cancellation of “Nightly New” that has been a part of the network for over ten years.

Former Def Jam executive Lyor Cohen will host his own reality show that will amplify that Hip Hop has no stars. A reality Hip Hop show, can you say cancellation? Stars in Hip Hop are created by marketing dollars and radio airplay. Hell the Ying Yang Twins whisper there way up the charts with “Wait”.  The stars of Hip Hop are the executives that have stuffed a water downed product down our throats. Every type of music has suffered a major dry spell Hip Hop’s time is now.

HOT 97 in 2004 had a promo running that puts the current state of Hip Hop in a nutshell. During New York City’s 3rd grade city wide testing the HOT 97 morning show interviewed a young third grader. The clever morning show asked do you know the first Black President. The third grader responded with a pause and a nervous no. The morning show quickly sighed and then asked do you know how many times 50 cent was shot? Of course the youngster quickly responded with “NINE” to a room full of applause. HOT 97 then featured that segment in a station promo that stated “Who says HOT 97 does not influence the community”.

Can you imagine being say 10 or 12 years old idolizing 50 Cent like generations before loved Michael Jackson. Michael’s credibility and fame came from talent and the moonwalk. 50 Cent took nine shots to fame and fortune. Michael’s image led to karaoke and millions trying to moonwalk. Today’s youth take pride in following 50 Cent and taking a bullet if need be. 

Choose a current mainstream Hip Hop story. I am sure you will find sex and violence as the hook. We are all being played by the media. History repeats itself. TV Western’s shaped the image of the American Indian as drunken head chopping savages. John Wayne quickly became and American icon. Who could forget Tarzan swinging through the jungle out smarting Africans in their native land? “Me Tarzan you Jane” not exactly the brightest fellow controlling the Motherland… By the way MTV launches next week in Africa. Hollywood also created Superfly and a series of exploitation before the Cosby show. Hopefully Hip Hop is in its Superfly stage now because its image is in need of face lift.