Urban America's Latest Contradiction

When "Self-Destruction" came out, I think the general consensus was that finally [east coast] hip-hop had assumed it's share of responsibility and decided to take a musical stance on the wave of gun violence across the U.S.  And I think part of the reason it was well-received was because many of the MCs who participated in that Stop the Violence Movement didn't glorify violence in their records.  However, when the West Coast All-Stars put out "We're All in the Same Game", with the attempt to drive home the same anti-violence message, many were a little skeptical of the project.  Probably because most of those artists were recently-former or current gang-bangers, preached ultra-violence in their respective works, and had fresh murder tracks ready to be pressed, shipped, and sold as soon as they left the studio to talk peace.  One could argue that these movements point to the larger concern of black Baby Boomers not fully grasping hip-hop; because for them, the inconsistency of the messages were so blaring it was hard to take the art or the artist serious.

I thought about this as I watched a video of cheer-leading coaches...tasked teaching young girls the cheer-leading activity and with molding character...do the Shmoney dance at a cheering convention here in Henrico County, affectionately titled "Hot Nigga."  And as I watched, I couldn't help but wonder if anyone had heard the words to this song.  I didn't wonder that for too long because shortly into the video I could hear the words (which I thought to be very odd being that this song is definitely one you'd prefer for just the instrumental to play).  Just picture it; maybe one hundred or so mothers, sisters, mentors, etc. were on the floor...doing the Shmoney.

Copy or click link for lyrics to Bobby Shmurda - Hot Nigga http://rap.genius.com/Bobby-shmurda-hot-nigga-lyrics

How many of those women you think were shouting at the television or posting somewhat thought out rants about the murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson?  How many of them socially express how critical it is to protect our young people?  How many liked the Instagram meme..."Black Men, I Value You."?  But I guess all that social and community passion goes away to the tune of a popular beat and a catchy dance.  Because the fact of the matter is that if a body of people organizes themselves to do a mass dance for a song that promotes murder and selling drugs at a young age, then that body isn't just part of the problem...they are the problem.

And it's an old problem within urban America.  A young man will embrace the "stop snitching" phenomenon in music...until his 10-year old daughter was killed by a stray bullet from an unidentified killer.  Young women will turn violent if called out of their name, and listen to rappers make albums calling them out of their name faithfully.  Wait, women now prefer to be called a b*&^%$ now, right?  Well, you get my point.  Or maybe you don't.  Because the hip-hop generation is at a position now where there are 40 and 50-somethings who have witnessed the musical trends move from positive to degradation in the cultures' history; and we've seen the dreadful results of consistent negative images and messages towards our youth.  Yet, we still chose to Shmoney.


My mom would harp on me day and night about listening to B.I.G. and Kool G. Rap and Ice Cube.  But it wasn't until I saw the realities of violence and drug abuse that I realized these things were not to be glorified.  And maybe that's it.  Maybe all of those women haven't seen enough death to really internalize the horror when an older adolescent says "caught a body about a week ago."  Maybe drug use isn't something they're familiar with...and so they can ignore when this same adolescent says "I've been selling crack since the 5th grade" and dance...because these teachers, coaches, counselors, and other community workers aren't touched by those types of things.  Or maybe they just don't care.

And so the reason the petitions don't get signed, or the Stop the Violence events are scarcely attended, or the fundraiser puts people in debt, is because people like me can tell they don't care.  I know it's in style to be political, to stand up for black rights, and to appear to be concerned; but to do the Shmoney as a mother and coach of young girls is a clear indicator that the concern is short lived.  Or maybe I take dead children too seriously.

I mean, is the appeal of music that strong?  Is the beat so intoxicating that the words accompanying that beat...words that advocate for teenage murder and drug addiction...get forgotten...particularly in the presence of children?  Is the dance so fashionable that it becomes expected to ignore the deadly seeds being sown? Of course.  I guess the only difference between me rapping Jay-Z at 16 and a single mother doing the Shmoney at 37 is....really...nothing.  But if we as a community can find solid comparisons between a 16 year-old boy and a 37 year-old independent woman, then the problem is bigger than ever.

Peace