Posted by Benwan at h9.16.102.166.ip.alltel.net on February 26, 2003 at 23:44:49:
In Reply to: Re: DEFENDING 50 CENT - Listen and Learn posted by wintermute-37 on February 26, 2003 at 23:28:08:
: Just a sidenote - I can't say I have ever heard of anyone else, famous or not, who's been shot 9 times and then driven themself to the hospital...
And we should applaud this?
: and for those who don't understand why so many rappers speak about crime and show off their money and cars a.k.a. "bling, bling" think about it like this...
: If you grew up with nothing, in a society that turns its head away from so many social problems inherent in an urban "lower-class" environment...then maybe you just might be one of the millions of people that come to the realization that crime might be the best option because there is no equality of opportunity in the real world...
: and only then might you understand why so many rappers flash their cash, drive fancy cars, because when you come from that environment and beat the odds you realize you are a rarity and you live the best you can...
That's absolute nonsense. If they truly are grateful for escaping that lifestyle they should be using their newfound riches to better the community they were forced to escape so others won't be trapped in the same nightmare. Instead, their blatant "cash-flashing" helps keep that same community in a vicious circle of envy and violence. Those people begin, without talent, begin to do anything and everything to achieve the bling-bling items - most of the time something illegal.
: and as to why rappers often rap about crime and drugs...it's because people tend to tell stories about their lives, and the lives of those they grew up around.
This is also complete horseshit. If he has talent and is creative, than he should be able to rap about things that are positive. Like how he made it out of the hood, or the dreams that he's always had in his head and he can now realize. Regurgitating his violent past only allows for new violence by his listeners and you read about this in the papers and see it on the TV every day.