Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 29, 1990 TAG: 9006290674
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANITA BRADBY MINORITY JOURNALISM WORKSHOP
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Dazzling and dancing into the '90s, a unique form of music is taking over. Three new R's have hitthe modern scene. The old R's of education - reading, writing and 'rithmetic - have been replaced with the R's of rap - writing, rhythm and rhymes.
Teen-agers express themselves with forceful, fervent words that jump out with stories about politics, drugs, religion, sex, the stresses of life and a little bit of nonsense. Visual images and ideas quickly spring into mind.
Heavy D. and the Boyz bring thought-provoking, marvelous ideas to the minds of teen-agers. Reaching for the best to make the world a better place is one of Heavy D.'s main goals. He gives his young listeners incentive to improve the world around them. As I listen to the words flowing from his music, I gain confidence to overcome all the obstacles in life. I strive to make a difference, to be somebody - a role model for others.
Watch out! "It's Hammer Time." M.C. Hammer pops on to the stage, dancing like another Michael Jackson. Teen-agers flock to hear his educated music. "Stay in school, keep off drugs and learn as much as possible" is his motto.
Many teens today look to rap as an outlet. Dancing to rap releases a sense of freedom. Pressures of life are easily forgotten as rap slithers into the ears of its listeners. Role models are created.
Stretching its arms out to youth, rap embraces the world with confidence and hope for a better future. Issues like drugs, gang violence and crime are taken off the minds of communities as writing, rhythm, and rhymes burst in, fighting against drugs and gangs, and occupying people's minds with a new style of learning. Important messages are bouncing off the top of many raps. Sincere thoughts, real-life experiences, tons upon tons of wise advice and cheer-me-up, go-go, fast-moving, happening beats are alive and well.
Behind the lyrics of Kid 'N Play, marvelous ideas and concepts stand proud. Challenge leaps out of the group's words: be energetic and motivated about life.
Public Enemy spreads a special touch of knowledge. The group focuses on black culture, politics and the problems of racial separation.
Unfortunately, almost all good things are taken to the extreme. Not all rap music has a good influence on young people. Disagreement flares in my mind when I think about the rap group that was recently arrested, 2 Live Crew. Morals, integrity and virtue were nowhere to be found in their music.
Digital Underground incites youth to go against the morals of society. High standards are lowered as the rap group pumps out their lyrics. Education and culture are left out of their raps.
Selective, careful choices must be made in today's society. Music has to be listened to and understood. Ears are open, bodies are moving to a beat that is kicking out a jam that makes the soul vibrate. Words are bursting out like bullets hitting hard and fast.
Is the mind interpreting their meaning? New heights and new knowledge can never be reached if people don't open their minds and hearts to understanding the meaning of new ideas and concepts. If people are not perceptive and selective, they may be turned off by the new style of music.
New creations and styles are dazzling their way into the '90s. As great as the three new R's of rap have become, I still think the world needs to hold on to the three R's of education. Without them our new generation will be incomplete.
It's a rap thing, you wouldn't understand
Rap to me is a rainbow of musical harmony and ideas painted on a society of black canvas. It expresses all the feelings we have about our world with a soulful bass and rhythmic words. Even Shakespeare himself would have been impressed with rap's innovative and diverse way it uses, and sometimes makes, our vocabulary.
"True rap" stimulates our souls in such a way that you have to get up and move your body to the toe-tapping beat of the street. If you're a watcher, rap isn't for you. It's for those who want to act on the soulful sounds of rhythm.
Rap to me is an identity of a black culture striving to reach out to a white world. But skepticism from the white society has made rap one of "America's Most Wanted" art forms, one to be disbanded because of lack of understanding or just plain ignorance of the world rap portrays.
Is rap a "Public Enemy" today? No. Rap means many things to many people, but you must make your own interpretation from the lyrics. Sure, rap could be misunderstood - especially if one is not familiar with the culture it comes from.
Rap is so powerful that it has traveled as far as England, Africa, France and some parts of the Soviet Union. You can truly say rap is "En Vogue" for the world. Remember, all must "Fight the Power" of ignorance toward the arts and "Hold On" to our love for artistic expression today and in our future.i
A window into the inner city
Rap music became known to the world in the late '70s with such groups as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Curtis Blow and Run D.M.C. Rap was, and is still, a way for black young adults to communicate. It is like black CNN; from rap lyrics you know what is going on in the inner cities.
Groups such as Public Enemy, N.W.A., and Ice T., just to name a few, are political rappers or rappers with a cause. Political rappers rap about inner-city problems like drugs, crime and sex. They are also not scared to complain about political figures. They are under a lot of scrutiny because they use profane words and suggestive language; a lot of parents misunderstand what they are saying and what they are trying to get across to young people.
"Educated rappers" promote education and black history - groups like Boogie Down Productions, Stetsasonic, the Jungle Brothers and Queen Latifah. Boogie Down Productions has lyrics like "In a school that's ebony/African history should be pumped up steadily. But it's not . . . Run get spot? Insulting to a black mentality."
Rap music is real music like rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues, and heavy metal. This art form is very important to the survival of black teens, especially those in the inner cities, because there is a need for more positive role models for black teens.
by CNB