Lupe Fiasco connects violent Hip Hop lyrics to violence in society.
While most use Sunday as a day to relax and reflect on the previous week, Lupe Fiasco took the day to reflect on the state of lyrics in Hip Hop.
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Taking to Twitter this afternoon, Lupe decided to write a short novel on the issue blasting off 19 tweets about the use of violent lyrics in Hip Hop music. Fiasco says he believes that violent lyrics give rappers “positive reinforcement” to commit negative acts.
“Violent music (and all violent media) effectively says its ‘OK’ to be violent. It provides positive reinforcement for negative actions,” Lupe said in a tweet. “If you rap and make violent music then own up to it. Stop hiding behind ‘art imitating life’ as a way to evade the guilt.”
Lupe Fiasco also referenced a Dr. Dre line in Eminem’s song “Guilty Conscience” quoting, “How the hell you gonna tell this man not 2 be violent?, Cuz he dont need to go the same route that I did.” Lupe’s latest Twitter anthology could be linked to 50 Cent’s appearance on CBS’ Sunday Morningprogram in which the Queens rapper said that his music doesn’t glorify violence. Lupe admitted that he himself has made violent music and committed violent acts in the past but questions why people continue to do such.
“Ive made violent music. Done violent things. Most my friends are violent. Lived in violent neighbors. Seen violence first hand,” he said. “A certain point you start to get tired of it. You ask why? why is it like this? what is causing this? why is this ok to live like this? Then you turn on the news and see that a 12 month old got shot in the face by two teenagers in Georgia for no reason at all.”
See all of Lupe’s tweets on the matter below:
Lupe Fiasco ✔ @LupeFiasco
Q: Does violence in music promote/cause/support/influence violence in the world and society? A: Of course it does. @Pro_OrangeTree
Violent music (and all violent media) effectively says its “ok” to be violent. It provides positive reinforcement for negative actions.
If you rap and make violent music then own up to it. Stop hiding behind “art imitating life” as a way to evade the guilt.
“How the hell you gonna tell this man not 2 be violent?, Cuz he dont need to go the same route that I did” -Eminem & Dr. Dre “Choices”
Sorry…”Bad Meets Evil”…
“Guilty Conscious”…sorry…lol
correct title of the song aside, U know what I meant! The issue stands that violent music puts violence into this world one way or another.
It creates the atmosphere that violence is an acceptable means to an end. Agree or disagree doesnt really matter at this point honestly.
But to not even acknowledge the possibility that violent music has even the most minute effect on violence in the world is frankly bullshit.
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@LupeFiasco How do you change that as our society has embraced violence and oppression/repression since its inception?
One Smart Cookie @2kind_by_Design“@2kind_by_Design I dont think we can honestly, not completely anyway. BUT I do know that you cant address violence with more violence.
Ive made violent music. Done violent things. Most my friends are violent. Lived in violent neighbors. Seen violence first hand.
A certain point you start to get tired of it. You ask why? why is it like this? what is causing this? why is this ok to live like this?
Then you turn on the news and see that a 12 month old got shot in the face by two teenagers in Georgia for no reason at all.
Then you hear a song on the radio talking about “shooting everyone in sight”…bad times man…fuck…
you may not give two shits about the next man and his troubles and thats cool with me…live you life…but I do and most people I know do
but dont sit there and act like high ass inner city murder rates are just falling from the sky for absolutely no reason…
everything plays a part…EVERYTHING. Take responsibility for the part you play. motherfuckers can at least start there.
yeah I got issues. My hood aint been safe in 25 years! At the point now u can die for nothing. just random death and disregard. tired of it
I know you don’t hear me. I guess its the LAST desperate act of a desperate man in desperate times. On one…peace…
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