We Must Change This Ourselves
By pmd on Nov 30, 2007 in Life, Sports |
I have been spending the last day thinking about how to write my last story of the week about Sean Taylor. This has been one of the worst weeks I can remember. I guess I have a pretty good life, but for me–watching my brother have routine (but very unexpected surgery) and dealing with the death of my favorite football player adds up to a pretty bad week. Usually a bad week involves the Redskins losing or my bootleg porn password expiring–both of which also happened this week. This was much worse, though. I also had to work the last three nights shaking hands and being (or trying to be) entertaining and it very difficult for me. I can’t stop thinking about not only the tragedy of Sean’s death, but the tragedy that our country faces.
As a white suburban kid in the hip hop world, I have a unique perspective on gangsta-ism. I love hip hop culture. I love hip hop slang, hip hop attitude, swagger–everything. I love it. I like video hos with big asses too. I wear a half ass chain (a dope half ass chain in my opinion). I don’t get excited when I hear “Sweet Caroline” and I’m always late. I’m hip hop. I’m stuck with it forever. I made a documentary about Mike Tyson and I defended Ron Artest. I love Allen Iverson. I even defend Kobe. I wouldn’t date a woman who says she’s “not attracted to black men”. I’m definitely not just “white”.
I also don’t get looked at funny when I walk in stores and I have talked my way out of speeding tickets several times. I rooted for Larry Bird. I don’t talk on my cel phone during movies. I don’t go to movies about stepping. I only watched Martin for a few seasons. I’m definitely not “black”.
I wouldn’t know who I’m more racist towards. I don’t fall on one side of any issue. I just believe in people. I know that sounds lame, but it’s true. I’m not the only person like that. My girlfriend and my family are like that–and everyone who I consider a dear friend is like that–black or white.
I just sobbed watching Dallas fans and players pay tribute to Sean Taylor. I felt touched and thankful that even our most bitter rivals care and are deeply saddened about his murder.
When are we going to change, though? When is hip hop culture going to stop making excuses? This is our problem (yes OUR problem).
How long are young black males men to kill other young black men? What’s the excuse that overly PC morons give to that? It’s not just black on black crime? It’s insulting and disrespectful to even pretend that this problem is equal across the board. You think there are as many white families grieving over their murdered loved ones? I don’t know any white people from the suburbs who know someone who has been murdered? Do you think I can say the same thing about my black friends from urban areas?
That is one thing that made this Sean Taylor thing so powerful. White people (at least in DC) really felt the effects of black on black violence. Usually, it’s just a news story. And black on black violence is a sport in DC. Every summer there is some ungodly disgusting streak where a young black person gets killed every night for three weeks or so. White people watch it on the news. I’m sure many feel bad about it, but then go back to their lives. What else should they do?
In hip hop, though, we put a high value on packing a gun or catching bodies. Are you listening to some of our favorites (including Jay-Z, Wayne, 50, Luda, etc)?? We show off about killing people. But do rappers actually do that? No. And once they get older and have a family and a comfortable life, they don’t seem as interested in mentioning guns or killing. What a coincidence. Are you trying to say that guns and violence seem less cool once you have things like children, houses, and money? Hmmm.
If there is “the man” somewhere–you know–that evil white man (or men) who does everything in his/their power to keep black people down–wouldn’t you think that’s his plan? As long as young black men want to kill other young black men, “the man” has very little work to do. Keep the poor people poor and killing each other and they’ll never know what they’re missing.
White people from the ‘burbs already start with money and families so gun talk and violence is never very appealing. For about five minutes, they seemed interested in black on black crime. They saw “Boyz in the Hood” and listened to “Straight Outta Compton” but over the last several years–hearing gangsta tales and going to concerts to see guys whose entourage might beat you up has become unappealing.
The “gangsta” thing just isn’t hot anymore. It’s really just poison. I’m not talking about “The Chronic” or “The Infamous”. Those days are gone. Violence just exists as a glamorous part of the culture because people have been too lazy and scared to come up with something new. Well I’m done with it. I’m not saying I don’t like 50-Cent or that I have lost respect for all artists who have violent imagery–I’m just saying I’m done with promoting it.
As a white guy who cares about black people as much as white people, the world tells me I have to know my role and mind my business. Well, I feel like this is my business. In fact, it’s LITERALLY my business. I play black music for a predominantly black audience and in doing that, I have some sort of responsibility to the black community. In keeping with that, I’m done with the bullshit. I will not play new music that I determine to be unnecessarily violent or ignorant. I’m not going play gun shots over my songs or give anyone props for being “hard”. I don’t actually think it’s cool so why do I pretend?
Last night at the JAM Awards (honoring the late Jam Master Jay–another victim of gun violence), a big thuggish young black dude showed off to me about how real he keeps it. He told me that he won’t back down and he’ll “do anything necessary to let these other cats know what’s up” and he has my back if I need it. I was not flattered by the offer. It was sad. He was just the kind of guy who murdered Sean Taylor or Jam Master Jay. He’s a guy with a bad self-image who tries to prove himself to others by harming other young black men. And our culture tells this person that on SOME level–we do respect that.
Well I don’t–and you don’t, and we never will.
So many people are so hurt over Sean Taylor’s passing. And there are 24 year olds being killed everyday in this country. There are families being ruined and dreams being cut short. Hip hop is NOT solely responsible, but the culture does have a major influence on young people and to deny that (which most artists do) is disingenuous. There are a ton of factors that have led to black on black violence that certainly go well beyond hip hop and predate the culture completely.
That said, it’s our problem now, though. Hip Hop can do more to solve this than a hundred Sharptons or Jesses. I interviewed DMC from the legendary Run DMC last night who told me that he still gets told to this day that Run DMC’s positivity influenced the lives of young men (now OLDER men) who learned from them that working hard and taking the straight and narrow can be cool. Things CAN change. It starts with all of us, though. Think about how it can start with you. We owe that to Sean Taylor, and every other young person who has been killed for no reason at all.
PMD.. I read, as told to. I love it. Good job sweetheart. I sobbed today too, again. Just knowing i’ll never see ST’s smile again, or be able to talk with him about the U and how terrible we are… sucks. It just sucks, theres no better word.
Sean showed that, although he lived in the “normal” life of a black athlete from Mia that played at the |_|, he was able to get away from the culture that exists down there. Having a family, as reported over and over again, changed his life. Its terrible that the news never reports things like this until after the fact (”They say they never really miss you ’til you’re dead or you’re gone”…. thats when they start reporting GOOD things about ‘em, too).
I do have one quam with what you wrote. “Sean Taylor or Jam Master Jay. He’s a guy with a bad self-image who tries to prove himself to others by harming other young black men.” —- don’t jump the gun. Your assumption that it was “other young black” men doing the crime, even if proven true later… is part of the problem.
Love ya P.
ps… I’m showin u love. Don’t faint. lol
Amanda Harris | Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
Damn….
I hope other DJs follow your lead, man….I plan to…I have struggled with my role (white DJ, black music and culture, mostly black audience) just like you, and I admire you making the hardline decision, publicly, to walk what you see as the proper path…I’ma probably be back with more comments a lil later, as I’m walkin out of work now…but…know that this post is much appreciated…
Peace
Track
DJ Trackstar | Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
strong post
deeply felt
digging the points
especially the push to cull some of the knuckleheads product
someone needs to start the gardening
much applause to that
oh yeah liking the Juan Epstein podcast
misterchane | Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
Hey Amanda..you misread…
“He was just the kind of guy who murdered Sean Taylor or Jam Master Jay. He’s a guy with a bad self-image who tries to prove himself to others by harming other young black men. And our culture tells this person that on SOME level–we do respect that.”
pmd | Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
Wow Peter! All i have to say is wow! Very heavy….very responsible…very characteristic of who you are! Thank you for sharing this story and taking actual action!
Gonna have to talk about this Peter Sunday! People are calling for this type of action……its a responsibity to answer.
Jessica-- | Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
Peter, I’m probably one of the staunchest curmudgeons you know but as much as I’ve cut junkfood music and culture out of my diet as a grown person I still love the occasional ignorant song. Some of those really ignorant songs are really violent too.
The Peter Rosenberg show will change a lot with your choice and it’s one that demands respect. I applaud you but in one sense I’m also reminded even more of my own internal conflicts. So much of today’s music is easy to dismiss but how much more of the classic hip-hop canon will I have to part ways with because of my principles?
What do your Hot97 bosses think?
DJStylus | Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
P I appreciate what you said still, nuff truth being spoken by you. And to add on I think the fundamental part of the problem, along with the hip hop image, is the absence of a 2 parent upbringing, especially a boy growing up without a father. The institution of family has completely deteriorated over time. Along with the basic socio-economic implications, it is far to easy for young black males to just get caught up in being career criminals, than it is to work hard, get good grades, and go to college. It starts with selling weed, to robbery, to murder. Which is precisely the record the 4 black males aged 17-20 who were arrested in Sean’s death had just before they killed him. I just saw on CNN how these cats apparently confessed and it is great they are caught but that doesn’t change shit, even if they didn’t think he was home and just wanted to rob him, fact is they killed him and can now face death penalty’s. The truth is kids with no hope and no guidance don’t give a fuck about their lives, that’s why they do this, NOBODY commits a crime believing they will get caught, its this image in society (especially hip hop) that you can do this shit and then become a multi platinum rapper by speaking on it. That Fox article Jason Whitlock wrote was right, and I think we all knew it, we all knew the kids who killed him would be 17 year old blacks, and they now ended their lives along with an amazing young NFL star’s. It’s fucked how if we literally just put a focus in the media (and hip-hop) on safe sex, planned parenthood, education, and goal setting, shit like this would dramatically go down. Yea the system fucks minorities in many ways, but it’s usually after they have already commited a crime (except racial profiling). We need to find a way to deter this and it is by having fathers and mothers raise their kids together, stop having unwanted children by fucking random whores, and putting money into after school tutoring and programs. Theres so much that can be done it is just seemingly impossible when everywhere you look sex is in your face and then unplanned kids come into fucked up homes and their lives end up like the 4 kids who killed Sean and the many others in America who do the same shit. Being older cats we know what real hip hop is and the real message of it, fact is the 17 year olds who worship 50 cent and Snoop Dogg don’t. I don’t know, the problems and solutions are evident, its just implementing them on a national scale that seem impossible. But you right, we do owe it to Sean and every other minority whose been killed senselessly. Word.
J | Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
Sup Pete,
Great post man. I still can’t believe the Sean Taylor story either. It’s really sad and troubling to know this guy was about to get his life together only to have it taken before he could really make wholesale changes. Cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals (Antrel Rolle) had a story on Espn.com this week talking about how the same guys got him were most probably people he grew up with see; http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3132378
“This was not the first incident. They’ve been targeting him for three years now. Many former “friends” had it in for Taylor, who was trying to build a more stable life.”
When I read this article the 2nd verse from Common’s track (Black Maybe), really hit home;
He had game since he used to hoop at chattum
Neither the ghetto nor defenders could trap him
The stones had his back and they’d pat him
He was living a life they couldn’t fathom
Colleges getting at him with all type of scholarships
Even if he went they knew he’d leave college quick
For the pros the one from the hood that was chose
The black rose that grew in the jungle
But humble stud still had rumble in his blood
Women all around giving him trouble love
You know the love when you up they down
Cause you wrap a ball they round
Your win is their crown
Dudes in the circle he known for years
Shared beers and cheers but chose different careers
when paper and fame came they ain’t know how to react
Them same studs shot him in the back
Now that’s black…maybe
Success shouldn’t come at price, but for many black males living in poor inner cities it does. The line of you can leave hood, but does it ever really leave you does come into play here. A way out for many of black males is either entertainment or athletics, when eduction should be focus. Sean Taylor couldn’t distance himself from his past and that definitely played a part in his untimely death. Nonetheless, its still tragic and my condolences go out to his family.
RIP. Sean Taylor
soulsupreme | Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
“I’m done with the bullshit. I will not play new music that I determine to be unnecessarily violent or ignorant. I’m not going play gun shots over my songs or give anyone props for being “hard” ”
How do u define “unnecessarily violent or ignorant” ? Where do u put peoples likes M.O.P ? Styles P ? Uncle Murda? BCC ? Don’t u think that their “ignorancy” (is it english?) and consistant “gun talk” or “though guy attitude” is what make them entertaining ?
It’s too bad that even someone like u who seems to really know his hip-hop thing again put the blame on this culture. I mean u’re the perfect example ! U’ve been “exposed” to hiphop all your life and how come that u didn’t try to shoot somebody ? Because u were surrounded by caring parents in a good environment, that’s all!
I understand that this tragic death may shocked you but PLEASE keep in mind that Hip-Hop isn’t the problem.
And oh yeah for the record : I’m Black, living in Paris, France.
Peace,
Seend | Dec 2, 2007 | Reply
Although it’s hard for me not to agree with what you’re saying, at the same time I feel that this whole idea of boycotting violence in hip hop is a bit like trying to boycott the horror ellement in heavy metal…
Mr. Hmm | Dec 3, 2007 | Reply
I think somet of you are misunderstanding (or maybe I am?) I think Pete’s saying that he is against GLORIFYING violence, lack of responsibility, ignorance etc. Meaning you can have a song about violence as long as it doesn’t put it in a positive light.
With the saturation of that kind of music as it is, how can anyone see this as a bad thing? Positive changes and more choices are always good things.
I think a good comparison would be:
Joe Budden - 3 Stories to a Story
Young Buck - Taking Hits ft. D-Tay
One shows all sides of the issue, the other is bragging about being a hitman .
pullablank | Dec 3, 2007 | Reply
“you can have a song about violence as long as it doesn’t put it in a positive light.”
100% co-sign, this is hitting the nail on the head. Rap is about speaking from the heart (or at least its supposed to be but often is over-exaggerated in order for entertainment purposes) and speaking the truth about your life/thoughts (shit that is made up nonsense by many rappers today) so therefore you can talk about the violence and bullshit you went through growing up but not put it in a way for people to want to engage in it. That is the problem with them gay ass artists like g-unit and even snoop and them who promote violence/abuse towards women. I salute cats like chamillionaire who I never really peeped before he said he would change his music to positive and now I rate him, not saying all rappers gotta do that, but a joke of an artist like 50 and them or souljah boy need to be erased as a representation of hip hop, stop polluting these 16 year old fatherless minds of ideas that robbing and shooting is going to work for your advantage. The only one out of the formula is a fool like Cam’Ron whose stupidity is a high entertainment value, but unfortunately I’m sure there are lil fools who take him serious.
J | Dec 3, 2007 | Reply
I agree with everything you said word for word… Also, I’m glad you are making a name for yourself, you hustled your ass of in DC and deserve it all.
Dj01 | Dec 3, 2007 | Reply
Peace!
What a noble thing to do.
I am humbled and forced to look within to see what I am doing to stand for something.
Not nearly enough.
Sometimes it is a fine line between glorification and speaking from the heart. Some of hip hop represents a voice of people who were raised in negative situations. It might be therapeutic for some to hear music that lets them know they are not alone.
But how do you draw the line….?
Kudos!
Peace,
Cami
Peace | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
PS
Seend, excellent point. The family breaking down is causing a multitude of problems.
PEACE
Peace | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
Well said, man. Well said.
You do a great show and these are all great points.
AaronM | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
yeah man, i appreciate where you’re coming from with this angle man. i find myself in the same predicament very often, not just in the clubs, but at school functions as well, where many of the most popular songs are just inappropriate for youth consumption (not to mention may adults’ consumption!). and i, like dj stylus, have my share of ig’nant cuts i like to bang, so i feel hypocritical at times lecturing on gratuitous sex and violence in music, but i can honestly admit that i can handle the music as entertainment. unfortunately, its real for a lot of shorties, especially those with the gang mentalities who really absorb gangsta rap as a rallying call to get them riled up. we definitely have to maintain responsibilty and remain proactive. shout out to spice 1 and r.i.p. pimp c ….
dj RBI | Dec 7, 2007 | Reply
i saw your video (this is why you suck) about duke basket ball ha-ha from the look of your rappin style i can tell your sports ability is just as lame then i found the reason your a maryland fan!! and we all know how the terps handle the pressure just ask lem bias !!! we know how he handled goin pro here’s to you following him
moose | Feb 1, 2008 | Reply
100% props to u peter. Can i just make the point also that this problem is worldwide. Right now in London black on black gun related crimes were around 450 incidents last year with approx one murder a week… sounds minimal compared to a lot of US cities but this problem is seeming to at least triple every year. Kids over here dont see Black british role models so instead they look to people like 50 cent and Jay Z and as they have no idea what life in urban america is like, they copy what they see in the videos and try and recreate a lifestyle that is foreighn to them. Rappers, Djs, etc need to take some kind of responsiblility for this and i think its great uve made such a brave stance. I rarely comment on blogs but after checking in for my weekly dose of Real Late i browsed the site and felt the need to give u some well desereved props for ur decision. Keep up the good work, Real Late is the best thing to hit hot 97 and Jaun Epstein is genius! Much Love from London UK.
Peace.
London | Feb 5, 2008 | Reply