Congress examines hip-hop language

[flashl]

Lawmakers, music industry executives and rappers disagreed Tuesday over who was to blame for sexist and degrading language in hip-hop music but united in opposing government censorship as a solution.

"If by some stroke of the pen hip-hop was silenced, the issues would still be present in our communities," rapper and record producer David Banner, whose real name is Levell Crump, said in prepared statements to a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing. "Drugs, violence and the criminal element were around long before hip-hop existed."

At the hearing, music videos showing scantily clad women were played; music executives in dark suits testified on the uses of the "B," H" and "N" words, and black civil rights leaders talked of corporate exploitation.

"We have allowed greedy corporate executives — especially those in the entertainment industry — to lead many of our young people to believe that it is OK to entertain themselves by destroying the culture of our people," E. Faye Williams, chair of the National Congress of Black Women, said in prepared remarks.

[TheUniverse]

1. How about instead of examing hip hop music...

Examine how to get the 40 million uninsured insured, or solving the mess in Iraq, or solving the deficit, or...

[flashl]

4. Remember this in April?

U.S. Congress Gives Final Approval to Legislation to Knock Out Organized Animal Fighting in the United States HSUS Now Asks President to Sign Landmark Anti-Cruelty Measure

[SacredCow]

2. What a colossal waste of time....

Hip-hop music is the way it is simply because it sells.

The much-scoffed MC Hammer put out music with positive messages, and, after a brief period of riding high, look where he is today. He was a curiosity, at best. Heck, he even tried to do the "gangsta rap" to salvage his career, but too little too late.

[Sanity Claws]

3. People are dying from war, no health insurance, FEMA incompetence

and Congress looks at hip-hop language?
What planet are they on?

[againes654]

5. Well I know the answer to this but,

why is it that hip hop gets blamed for so much, but I don't ever hear about the violence in movies, the overt sexual connotations on commercials, rock music, western movies, evil "scary" movies...etc.

Like I said, I already know the answer. Scarface (a rapper from Houston) said it best in one of his songs, "Hand of a dead body". Full lyrics @ http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/scarface/handofthedeadbody.html

We got this whole motherfucker on a mission
Now the whole entire world's gotta try to come up with a quick decision
They claim we threats to society
And now they callin on the government to try and make somebody quiet
For the bullshit they done to me
Gangsta Nip, Spice 1 or 2Pac never gave a gun to me
So gangsta rap ain't done shit for that
I've even seen white folks from River Oaks go get the gat
So why you tryin kick some dust up
America's been always known for blaiming us niggas for they fuck-ups
And we were always considered evil
Now they tryin to bust our only code of communicating with our people
Lets peep the game from a different angle
Matt Dillon pulled his pistol every time him and someone tangled
So why you criticize me
For the shit that you see on your tv
That rates worse than PG
Just bring your ass to where they got me
So you can feel the hand of the dead body

[Warpy]

6. Meanwhile, one sixth of the population has no access to health care

and even more than that faces bankruptcy if they do get sick insured or not.

Meanwhile, the housing market continues to be destroyed.

Meanwhile, Americans are going deeper and deeper in debt to buy things their wages won't allow them to afford.

Meanwhile, the country is involved in losing two wars it has no hope of winning. More of our children come home in pieces or in boxes every day.

Meanwhile, the country hemorrhages industry that we will need if there's another big war in this world.

Meanwhile, the country edges closer to bankruptcy, 100% of which is due to the GOP's reckless tax cuts for the rich and the corporate.

But hell, at least they know what's really important!

[bluethruandthru]

7. Oh for God's Sake!

Impeachment would be a diversion from the important work that Congress has to do??? This is the important work?????

[BushOut06]

8. Well, it's about time...

They were giving heavy metal the same treatment back in the mid-80s. I remember seeing Dee Snyder and Frank Zappa testifying before Congress. Nice to see that Congress is taking on important matters, such as what kids are listening to nowadays. Wonder who they'll subpoena this time around?

:sarcasm:

[flashl]

9. Catalog of House Hearings – 110th Congress (2007-2008)

There is a long laundry list of hearings here. The beginning of the catalog reads:

• USING OPEN-SOURCE INFORMATION EFFECTIVELY
  
• DETECTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND RADIOLOGICAL MATERIALS: HOW EFFECTIVE IS AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY?
  
• A PROGRESS REPORT ON INFORMATION SHARING FOR HOMELAND SECURITY
  
• THE SECRETARY'S SECOND-STAGE REVIEW: RE-THINKING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S ORGANIZATION AND POLICY DIRECTION PART I AND II
  
• H.R. 547, THE ADVANCED FUELS INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT
  
• BUDGETING FOR WAR COSTS
  
• WHY DEFICITS MATTER
  
• PROTECTING WORKERS FROM GENETIC DISCRIMINATION
  
• STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS: EVALUATING THE ECONOMIC SQUEEZE ON AMERICA'S FAMILIES
  
• Rules of Procedure
  P
• RESIDENTIAL SIGNING STATEMENTS UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION: A THREAT TO CHECKS AND BALANCES AND THE RULE OF LAW?
  
• STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS: FINDING ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS TO HELP AMERICA'S FAMILIES
  
• STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS THROUGH THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT
  
• THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE'S BUDGET AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
  
• NATIVE AMERICAN METHAMPHETAMINE ENFORCEMENT AND TREATMENT ACT OF 2007
  
• THE ANIMAL FIGHTING PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2007, AND THE PREVENTING HARASSMENT THROUGH OUTBOUND NUMBER ENFORCEMENT (PHONE) ACT OF 2007
  
• NATIONAL IMPERATIVES FOR EARTH AND CLIMATE SCIENCE RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS INVESTMENTS OVER THE NEXT DECADE