Rap’s Message a Very Destructive One

Proponents of hip-hop and rap music often attempt to find artistic aspects to this “art” form, and hail this cultural degradation as a “true reflection of the society in which we live.” Others refer to gangsta rap artists as “young ghetto messengers trying to ‘give up the real’ about relevant ‘hood-related themes” (Clifton E. Tiddle’s “Tales From the ‘Hood Need to Be Told,” Counterpunch, Dec. 2).

Are these the “relevant messages from the ‘hood” that young black people should heed? These “messages” in some cases have contributed to the senseless deaths of innocent black children and encouraged millions of others all over the country to talk, dress and emulate the behavior of gang members.

The true frustration in this regard is not that Delores Tucker, chairwoman of the National Political Congress of Black Women, unfairly “lambastes” African American filmmakers and rap artists in her anti-rap campaign. On the contrary, she should be highly commended for her efforts. The true frustration is that her efforts are not more strongly supported by more members of the African American community.

The corrupt nature of gangsta rap is inherently destructive to positive moral and social values. The messenger is death, therefore let us hope that the message falls on deaf ears.

N.M. BROWN

Beverly Hills