| music downloads | | | | prestigious syndicated job when he uttered a |
| | | | cruel joke on air during one of his morning |
| 50 Cent | | | | shows, directed towards the Rutgers' |
| | | | University Women's basketball team. In |
| The rapper musician 50 Cent, has come out | | | | particular, Imus addressed the |
| with a commercial recently, and it is tied in | | | | African-American members of the team, calling |
| with a power drink. I wonder if this | | | | them a bunch of (quote) "nappy-headed hos" |
| commercial is also part of a campaign to help | | | | (un-quote). (For more on this discussion as I |
| rehabilitate his image. In the commercial, 50 | | | | addressed it on another blog that I post to, |
| Cent is seen walking onto a stage in | | | | visit this link here). The Rev. Al Sharpton |
| preparation to conduct a major symphonic | | | | immediately got involved, imploring that Imus |
| orchestra. As he steps on the conductor's | | | | be severely reprimanded by his station for |
| podium, 50 Cent first takes a sip from the | | | | the remarks. Sharpton's involvement in the |
| bottle of a brand of power soft drink. A | | | | incident started an outrage across this |
| voice-over reveals the information that 50 | | | | country, in particular from non |
| Cent has replaced the regular conductor and | | | | African-American individuals. They were clear |
| with the aid of this power soft drink is now | | | | in their feelings, expressing anger that Rev. |
| prepared to lead the symphony in its | | | | Sharpton had once again got involved in an |
| rendition of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Not | | | | incident involving race, and one in which |
| to be confused with renowned symphonic | | | | bigoted language was used to describe |
| conductors such as Zubin Mehta or the late | | | | African-Americans. Some of these people |
| Leonard Bernstein, one could see that 50 Cent | | | | wanted to know why Rev. Sharpton had not |
| is utterly clueless as to the proper | | | | expressed anger and outrage at people of his |
| conducting rhythm based on the music. | | | | own color when rap musicians, (like 50 Cent) |
| However, the orchestra begins the opening | | | | used the same language in the lyrics of their |
| strains of this famous symphony work. Pretty | | | | music, in a sense knocking members of their |
| soon, however the orchestra breaks into the | | | | own race? Why is it okay for certain |
| tune of 50 Cent's most famous rap song "In | | | | African-American individuals to degrade each |
| the Club". Seeing some of the orchestra | | | | other with filthy, racist, degrading words |
| members, (including one string player) moving | | | | out of the English language, yet when |
| and jiving to the beat of the song is utterly | | | | individuals of other ethnicities utter these |
| hysterical. It appears to be almost | | | | same words towards African-Americans it |
| incongruous; associating musicians used to | | | | becomes a case worthy of criminal |
| performing orchestral works instead, as shown | | | | prosecution? |
| in this commercial, getting completely into a | | | | |
| work from a rap artist. The person doing the | | | | The positive result of the Don Imus-Rev. |
| voice-over concludes that the ingredients in | | | | Sharpton -rap music connection, started back |
| the power soft drink has prepared 50 Cent to | | | | in the spring with this incident; is that |
| successfully undertake this mission; proving | | | | now, more attention has been given to this |
| that anything is possible if the commercial | | | | type of music within the industry. It is a |
| viewers would start using this power drink as | | | | fact that the negativity portrayed by artists |
| a part of their diet, as well. | | | | like 50 Cent has led to many individuals |
| | | | being turned off by the image and thoughts |
| I could not help but recognize the underlying | | | | that these musicians illicit in their songs. |
| meaning in having a controversial figure such | | | | CD sales of rap albums within the past year |
| as 50 Cent participate in something | | | | has taken a nose-dive. The crystal clear |
| unexpected like this commercial. I wonder if | | | | message has been given by consumers of music |
| the commercial was an attempt to tell us that | | | | to certain rap musicians that they had better |
| people of different backgrounds can blend | | | | start to clean up their acts. If they are |
| together for a common cause, (expecting a | | | | unwilling to make any changes in the themes |
| person like 50 Cent with his background to | | | | of their songs, then people will no longer |
| perform with a symphonic orchestra to the | | | | buy their products. Indeed, the USA Today |
| initial works of Beethoven is almost | | | | national newspaper had an article about rap |
| unfathomable)? Or, is it an attempt by the | | | | music, just a few weeks. The article |
| rapper towards changing the image that is | | | | concluded that changes might already be |
| linked to him within the music industry? | | | | taking place in the musical tastes of |
| | | | consumers in America, and that this trend |
| 50 Cent has a history of portraying anger in | | | | could be permanent. It was mentioned in the |
| his music through his lyrics that tell | | | | article that last year, the CD album put out |
| stories of violence, abuse of women, crime, | | | | by the Disney company with music from the |
| and race relations. Many of his lyrics | | | | popular movie "High School Musical" |
| contain profanity, usage of the N-word, and | | | | completely dwarfed, in sales, those of all |
| degradation of women in general, (referring | | | | rap musicians combined! I believe that the 8 |
| to them as B's, and "hos"). I am an | | | | - 18 year old demographic individuals in this |
| African-American male. As one who was brought | | | | country stated their feelings about the type |
| up by educated parents, I never could | | | | of music they now prefer. One can't help but |
| understand why people of color used the | | | | conclude that adoloscents and teenagers, who |
| N-word so readily in their everyday language. | | | | make up a strong majority of individuals who |
| My parents certainly didn't utter that word | | | | buy music in this country, no longer prefer |
| in front of my sister and me. I understand | | | | listening to a 50 Cent and his brand of |
| that the N-word is used as slang by a certain | | | | music. (I also did a review of my thoughts |
| percentage of African-Americans. But, I fail | | | | concerning the debut of the "High School |
| to completely understand why that word comes | | | | Musical 2" movie, earlier this week on this |
| out of their mouths as often as it does; and | | | | blog). I have a suspicion that when Disney |
| often in greeting other African-Americans. I | | | | releases the CD album to the music of the |
| will just chalk it up to ignorance and the | | | | "High School Musical 2" movie, every kid |
| fact that these folks do not completely | | | | under the age of 16 in this country will be |
| understand the context in which the N-word | | | | running to his/her local mall to buy the |
| was meant during the 17 - 1800's, before | | | | album. I doubt that they would be making this |
| slavery was abolished. This word was | | | | trip to the store to buy any rap music, |
| certainly not meant as a compliment when a | | | | either. They probably would not even give it |
| Caucasian slave owner addressed the Black | | | | a thought! |
| individual that he owned, ordering him/her | | | | |
| around as if he/she was some type of dog. | | | | It is no wonder that rap artists like 50 Cent |
| Even today, while an African-American | | | | might slowly be getting the message. Clean up |
| individual can greet another friend of his | | | | your act, re-do your image, and stop |
| her color with the N-word, there would be an | | | | insulting people with your profanity-laced |
| entirely different reaction altogether if a | | | | music lyrics. 50 Cent's appearance conducting |
| Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, or Middle Eastern | | | | an orchestra in a commercial is but one |
| person greeted that same individual using | | | | attempt on the musician's part to re-do his |
| that filthy, disgusting word. More likely, | | | | image. Let us see if 50 Cent can also start |
| violence would ensue as the African-American | | | | giving people some respect in the message |
| individual would be prepared to give a "beat | | | | portrayed in his music, as well as reduce the |
| down" to the person who addressed them with | | | | amount of R-rated language in his lyrics. |
| that tone of language. The N-word is used | | | | |
| prevalently in 50 Cent's rap music, and I for | | | | For other articles posted on this blog, |
| one find it reprehensible. | | | | please visit: |
| | | | |
| Back in the spring of this year, the noted | | | | I also welcome any comments to this post! |
| radio" shock jock", Don Imus lost his | | | | |