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Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Today there are about three articles swelling in my head. I'll deal with one. Usually, my method is to relate all things to my mission in life, Bridging the Gulf that has been generated especially within the African-American community. There has always been a generation gap. But the influence of hip-hop culture as taken this gap to a "whole, other level." What do I mean? Hip hop is teaching our youths a lifestyle and belief system that is contrary to many of the traditions, belief and teachings of the Christian church. The Bible says there is a blessing in meditating on the law of the Lord both day and night. Well, Hip Hop youths do and can meditate on the destructive words and thoughts of gangster type lyrics. It is possible to meditate on lyrics leading to death both day and night.
As they say, Garbage in, garbage out. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. In other words, we must "guard our hearts." I have given many Biblical references and would tell you exactly where they could be found if it mattered. Hopefully, like me you know that we can bank on the Bible. Just some thoughts for your consideration. Check out my book Bridging the Gulf @ publishamerica. com. Leave me a comment
As they say, Garbage in, garbage out. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. In other words, we must "guard our hearts." I have given many Biblical references and would tell you exactly where they could be found if it mattered. Hopefully, like me you know that we can bank on the Bible. Just some thoughts for your consideration. Check out my book Bridging the Gulf @ publishamerica. com. Leave me a comment
Thursday, February 19, 2009
live in booty
Have you heard of "live in booty?" This is a term to describe the countless high school students that find nothing wrong with living with their mommy (perhaps daddy too) like man and wife. As an author of Bridging the Gulf, Understanding and Ministering to Hip Hop Youth available via publishamerica.com, I realized that this is one of those issues that needs bridging.
One the one hand, there are those that would be shocked that this sort of behavior is allowed…On the other hand, too many people, especially young ones, feel as if there is nothing wrong with this strange, unacceptable and unprecedented behavior. What has happened to the family structure that would have strictly forbid this kind of behavior? What will happen to the family especially as this phenomenon applies to the African-American community? On the one hand, many young people have been desensitized to live in booty. To some, it has become a common occurrence. Yet if asked, these same youths believe that it is best for a child to be raised by both mother and father. As long as "live in booty" prevails the traditional African-American, two-parent household might be on the verge of extinction.
One the one hand, there are those that would be shocked that this sort of behavior is allowed…On the other hand, too many people, especially young ones, feel as if there is nothing wrong with this strange, unacceptable and unprecedented behavior. What has happened to the family structure that would have strictly forbid this kind of behavior? What will happen to the family especially as this phenomenon applies to the African-American community? On the one hand, many young people have been desensitized to live in booty. To some, it has become a common occurrence. Yet if asked, these same youths believe that it is best for a child to be raised by both mother and father. As long as "live in booty" prevails the traditional African-American, two-parent household might be on the verge of extinction.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Notorious
Notorious, the movie about the life of the late Brooklyn rapper, Christopher Wallace, is enlightening. Some of us older African Americans faced with the educational, spiritual and social needs of youths have tried to ignore the phenomenon known as Hip-Hop. Along with the music came a disposition, an attitude and a behavior unlike anything seen or understood by previous generations. Yet to ignore what has developed is not only ignornant but impossible. This movie brought things to light. Why do young black men believe more in drug sales than education? This movie gives a clue.
Having published a book Bridging the Gulf: Understanding and Ministering to Hip Hop Youth, I realized that there were many things about the development of Hip-Hop that were clarified by watching this movie. Having heard the Hip Hop story from various youths, this movie helped me to understand that I already knew a lot. There were many things to learn.
This movie was as much about Sean Puffy Combs, aka Puff Daddy or Sean Jean as Notorious B.I.G. This was a logical observation after learning from the credits that Puff Daddy served as the executive producer. Apparently not only did Combs discover Wallace but the two of them arose from insignificance to riches together.
I had heard the name Little Kim and knew that Wallace was intimate with an artist by the name of Faith Evans. However, I learned from the movie that Wallace had an affair with Little Kim and even married Evans. All these artist appeared to have been discovered together by Combs and were placed on his record label.
The movie took a turn. At first the late Tu Pac Shakur was shown as a friend of Wallace. When Shakur was visiting Comb's studio, he got shot. The movie made it very clear that neither Combs nor Wallace or their entourage had anything to do with this shooting. In fact, the movie made this fact too clear. Shakur however was convinced that the East Coast rapping entourage had everything to do with the shooting. From that point onward, the feud began between the West Coast rappers and the East Coast rappers.
We all know the rest of the story. Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas. Nobody knows who did it. Wallace was to suffer a similar fate in Los Angeles. In fact, many young people throughout America are suffering, being gunned down using damnable Hip-Hop words and messages like, "Murder, murder, murder...Kill, kill,kill." The Bible states that the power of life and death lies in the tongue. What ones says is what one gets. Momma used to say, if you cant say something good, say nothing at all. We need to stick to what mom said and speak life if we want to live.
So what is next in the world of Hip-Hop. Is the rivalry over? Will black on black crime decrease? After all, there is a Black President in the White House. One thing that is puzzling. According to the movie, Combs was in the middle of every development yet unscathed and blameless. In fact, he is celebrated in Time Square with a big image. To have lost two major players like Biggie and Shakur and yet profit off their story as a Wall Street corporate tycoon is sort of weird and insensitive.
Having published a book Bridging the Gulf: Understanding and Ministering to Hip Hop Youth, I realized that there were many things about the development of Hip-Hop that were clarified by watching this movie. Having heard the Hip Hop story from various youths, this movie helped me to understand that I already knew a lot. There were many things to learn.
This movie was as much about Sean Puffy Combs, aka Puff Daddy or Sean Jean as Notorious B.I.G. This was a logical observation after learning from the credits that Puff Daddy served as the executive producer. Apparently not only did Combs discover Wallace but the two of them arose from insignificance to riches together.
I had heard the name Little Kim and knew that Wallace was intimate with an artist by the name of Faith Evans. However, I learned from the movie that Wallace had an affair with Little Kim and even married Evans. All these artist appeared to have been discovered together by Combs and were placed on his record label.
The movie took a turn. At first the late Tu Pac Shakur was shown as a friend of Wallace. When Shakur was visiting Comb's studio, he got shot. The movie made it very clear that neither Combs nor Wallace or their entourage had anything to do with this shooting. In fact, the movie made this fact too clear. Shakur however was convinced that the East Coast rapping entourage had everything to do with the shooting. From that point onward, the feud began between the West Coast rappers and the East Coast rappers.
We all know the rest of the story. Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas. Nobody knows who did it. Wallace was to suffer a similar fate in Los Angeles. In fact, many young people throughout America are suffering, being gunned down using damnable Hip-Hop words and messages like, "Murder, murder, murder...Kill, kill,kill." The Bible states that the power of life and death lies in the tongue. What ones says is what one gets. Momma used to say, if you cant say something good, say nothing at all. We need to stick to what mom said and speak life if we want to live.
So what is next in the world of Hip-Hop. Is the rivalry over? Will black on black crime decrease? After all, there is a Black President in the White House. One thing that is puzzling. According to the movie, Combs was in the middle of every development yet unscathed and blameless. In fact, he is celebrated in Time Square with a big image. To have lost two major players like Biggie and Shakur and yet profit off their story as a Wall Street corporate tycoon is sort of weird and insensitive.
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