They Were There Before N.W.A Became Mainstream

As a parent of two small children, I may wince and shake my head when I hear the thumping of outrageously loud rap music (“Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics,” by Terry McDermott, April 14). But I cannot deny the monumental influence that rap music had on my peers and me when we were at UCLA in the ‘80s. We got a glimpse of Run-DMC at a run-down club near downtown L.A. one evening, and our relationship with rap music was cemented forever. We were mesmerized by performers such as SoulSonic Force, Egyptian Lover, Dr. Dre, the World Class Wreckin’ Cru and many others who were at the forefront of the hip-hop explosion.

We were there before it became mainstream, and we all wanted more. If you had the ability to get your hands on this music, which was impossible, you were king. I lived in Inglewood for part of my childhood and was exposed to the struggles of a gang-influenced environment. There is an important story to tell, and it is being brought to the fore by rap music. It’s too bad that this music, which has such an important voice and is a bridge for its culture, finds it necessary to use profanity to tell a story.

Chiung-Jung Tsai

Camarillo

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N.W.A and rap have revolutionized the music industry the same way that pornography has revolutionized the Internet--by giving the devil his due.

Frederick Cleveland

Hollywood