The bad rap on rap

One of the most annoying myths that was continually promoted during the Great Don Imus Debate of the past couple weeks was the notion that African-Americans give tacit approval to the use of racist and sexist language — particularly in rap and hip-hop music. Mostly white, conservative pundits spewed forth, essentially, that there's a double standard at play in which blacks are allowed to promote this language within their own community and particularly in music — so why can't whites? I won't even go into the notion of the double standard here; that'd take a novel to address.

But the truly irksome notion that came from this argument about a double standard was the presumption by this same group that there is no dialogue going on among African-Americans about the use of this language and how it affects the culture. This same group probably never heard of Nelson George, author of Hip Hop America or Greg Tate, who wrote Everything but the Burden: What White People Are Taking From Black Culture. These are just two of several noted authors and culture critics whom Salon roped together for Tuesday's "Audiofile" section to discuss the question: "Is rap racist?" I'm not sure there's an answer in there, but taken together the dialogue provided here shows rap and hip-hop do not exist in a vacuum, and that they are constantly under the microscope of black authors, politicians, religious leaders and culture critics.

Here's but one of many great points raised, this one by Bakari Kitwana, author of The Hip-Hop Generation and the forthcoming Does Hip-Hop Hate Women?

If the question is attempting to address the corporate, commodified and packaged hip-hop music industry, which has helped enrich major record labels and corporate conglomerates, then the answer is no because even within the arena of corporate hip-hop there are rap artists whose music doesn't peddle racist imagery. For example, Lauryn Hill, Public Enemy, the Fugees, Queen Latifah, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West have all created very popular rap music that does not promote racist imagery. The answer to this second question is mixed … yes, the corporate attempt to put hip-hop in a bottle has often relied on racial stereotypes: black men as criminals, pimps and hustlers and black women as oversexed bitches and hos.

Two warnings: You have to scroll down past the Wednesday "Audiofile" post to get to the story. And, Atlanta's Lil Jon doesn't exactly get lumped in with Common, if you get my meaning.