"I slapped my girl, she called the Feds, M.J. gone, our n-- dead" is a lyric from Kanye West's hit tune "All Of the Lights" which has graced countless radio stations since the release of his album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. In just a few words, West has referenced domestic violence, the death of a great and controversial performer (this being Michael Jackson), and used a scathing piece of vulgarity. That's two sentances of rap many would like to see off the radio.
While I would hope that most people recognize Kanye West as a controversial performer and a character himself, one has to consider the effect his messages have on the listener. When was the last time you saw a group of pre-teens or teens packed into a car, shouting/singing the lyrics to whatever came on the radio? (This occurs ust about every weekend, in my case). Are they considering his message about the prevalence of violence and the conversion of an extremely offensive word into something commonplace? Probably not. But they should.
Now think about their parents. Are they listening along? What do they hear (if they can understand the fast-paced speech our generation has grown so accustomed to)? Some of West's references are upsetting, amd include references to drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, and racism. I know many parents immediatley change the station, shut the radio off and effectivley censor this voice that does not paint a pretty picture of modern America. But they shouldn't.
I'm not suggesting that we play obsceneties on the radio for children, or that contreversial, provocative music cannot do damage in a culture (ex. glorification of violence, drug abuse, and perpetuation of stereotypes), but I will say this: music can have power over civilizations. What are the problems facing America today? Certainly drugs, domestic violence, and racism are prevalent issues. Why not bring them to light? Why not address them in our music and use it as a voice and vehicle for change? Let's turn on the radio and listen.
No comments:
Post a Comment