HIP-HOP At the Crossroads

Ebony, Sept, 2001 by Kevin Chappell

Will Lyrics And Perceptions Change?

FROM turntables perched atop record crates at New York City basement parties to a multibillion-dollar music industry, hip-hop has grown from a mere 'hood happening 25 years ago into a world phenomenon today.

But as hot as rap is now, its future is just as uncertain. For underneath its seemingly stealth exterior is an industry wrought with criticism and instability. And lately, it seems that the louder the voice of hip-hop becomes, the louder the protests indelibly are.

No doubt, the arguments on both sides are still the same. Opponents of hip-hop say rap promotes violence, promiscuity, homophobia and racism--among other social ills--and mostly affects young people who are least adept to decipher reality from recording-studio fantasies. Meanwhile, hip-hop artists and record-company executives continue to cite their First Amendment right to free speech.

But as rap moves more and more into the mainstream --crossing all social, racial, political and economic lines --some in the hip-hop community are beginning to realize that such an uncompromising defense may be wearing thin.

At issue: With a medium as powerful as hip-hop has become, where does free speech end and social responsibility begin? The quest to answer this question has some parents as frustrated as ever, some lawmakers as antsy as ever, and at least one conservative regulating body as empowered as ever. Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission took the unusual step of fining a Colorado radio station $7,000 for playing the Eminem rap song, "The Real Slim Shady."

Not since the East Coast/West Coast turf wars of the '80s--at claimed the lives of rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls--has hip-hop been at such a definable crossroad. And while there are no bullets flying during this present war over content and lyrics, if not handled properly, it could deliver a similar deathblow. The turf war left two rappers dead. This time, in the ultimate affirmation that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword, the entire rap industry could go down in a hail of legislation, penalties, rulings, and ordinances--and buried for good by a blanket of negative public sentiment.

But can such a battle be avoided? Can rap's streetwise artists become more lyrically accountable, socially responsible and business-oriented, while at the same time keep the gritty edge and unpredictability that have made the music the success it is today?

Artists, politicians, music executives, civil rights and religious leaders discussed some of rap's biggest challenges recently at the "Hip-Hop Summit" held in New York City. It was billed as a historic first, the coming together of a cross-section of America in an effort to take a much-loved, much-maligned genre of music to a new level. Organized by Rush Communications CEO Russell Simmons, the summit participants included: Scan (Puffy) Combs, Will Smith, Master P, Kweisi Mfume, and Minister Louis Farrakhan.

"Just as music played an important role in the changing of our culture after the original Woodstock, we are again at a turning point where music--specifically hip-hop--will have a role in shaping our future," says Simmons, who is considered the godfather of hip-hop. "It's time to take that responsibility seriously."

Already positioned as the meeting place for major rap artists and music business executives, the summit also attracted major political figures like Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) and Rep. Earl Hilliard (D-Ala.). "The fact that members of Congress [participated] in this year's summit clearly shows that hip-hop is a prominent force in popular culture," says Hilary Rosen, president and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America. "This growing movement is ready and willing to work with both sides of the aisle to make a difference in communities across the country."

During the summit, agreements were reached on a series of initiatives and commitments. The agreements include:

* PARENTAL ADVISORY LABELING

Create a voluntary uniform standard for marketing albums with the Parental Advisory Label. These labels are to be plainly displayed in a non-removable form on the front cover artwork in a standard size. All consumer print, television, Internet and radio advertising of products with the Parental Advisory Label will contain a depiction of the label or an indication that the album or song being marketed carries the Parental Advisory Label. When the album is available in "Non-Explicit" versions, that will also be indicated.

* ADOPTION OF HIP-HOP MENTORING PROGRAMS

Def Jam introduced a mentoring program that emphasized the need for a stronger focus on artist development. The goal of the industry-wide program is to provide artists with an opportunity to enhance and ensure their personal and professional development while maximizing their career advancement in the entertainment industry. Under the program, each artist will be assigned a personal and professional mentor, a career development coach, private educational tutoring and financial planning.