Today's Lyrics- Whose Really At Fault For What's Out There!

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

Music business hate me cause the industry ain't make me
Hustlers and boosters embrace me and the music I be makin
I dumbed down for my audience to double my dollars
They criticized me for it yet they all yell "HOLLA!"
If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be
lyrically, Talib Kweli
Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense
But I did five mill' - I ain't been rhymin like Common since
When your cents got that much in common
And you been hustlin since, your inception
Forget perception go with what makes sense
Since I know what I'm up against
We as rappers must decide what's most impor-tant
And I can't help the poor if I'm one of them
So I got rich and gave back, to me that's the win/win
So next time you see the homey and his rims spin
Just know my mind is workin just like them...
... rims, that is
Moment Of Clarity- Jay Z

I post this in the beginning of this discussion to speak to several points
One this speaks to why some artists don’t bring it like they want so they dumb it down for dollars. Now one side of the story is that they don’t hold their ground and do what it is they wanna do and give the audience what they need.
The other side of this argument is you the fans, the buying public who Jay addresses he dumbed down for, to double his dollars. Now this is meant to single Jay Z out, he is just the one who had the heart to talk about it on record but many of today’s top chart toppers are guilty of the same.
I wanna hear from you those who buy the records, those who request the videos on MTV and BET and request the songs on ya local radio station.

Of course there is the brainwashed argument that you hear the songs every 22 minutes you couldn’t help but to sing along and feel the song. I wanna hear what all of you feel on the subject, the good the bad the ugly.

We cant change the situation until we address it, here is your chance to have your say!
Holla back

[SistahKenya]

Okay..Where do I start? I used to love Jay Z. I'm just keeping it REAL!
Don't get me wrong I still respect him as the business man that he is but His rap game worries me some time. I mean he knows what's going on in the industry right now? How do I know? Cause he says so in his lyrics yet he participates in these shananigans(probably mis-spelled but 'yall know what I mean!) All to get a piece of the pie it seems. Or maybe it's because he's truly not ready to put the mic down and for that I don't blame him but let's be logical here. He of all people can afford to keep it real and Really KEEP it REAL!

I believe it is the consumers fault as well as some of the artist for what is currently in rotation on our air waves. I mean I never thought I would see the day when lyrics and rhyming would be so unprofound! Where is the philosophy? The empowerment of the people? The laughter for the soul?
All we feed ourselves now is greed and more greed, envy, strife, oh and lets not forget sex!

I guess when sistahs and brothas start coming together once again to support those who paved the way before us..those that are still in the game; then maybe that will be the time we can reclaim back what is rightfully ours. The lyrics of the artist, the words of our souls and the testimonies of our lives! I will start today..

Jay Z You got me Back..I support You! Bring Back the RealNEss and let's Keep it this go round. Each One Reach One!

Peace and Blessings***Sistah Kenya

[Heavy Rotation Magazine Radio]

Another arguement could be the major corporations own BET, MTV, ya commercial radio stations in every city, the major record companies, the major news outlets etc etc.
So it could be said they control all we hear and see and dictate what it is we listen to and what's considered hot at the moment!
What do you think?
Would love to hear everyone else's point of view on this topic!

[Natasha]

My 4 cents :)
I love good lyrics like some of Jay Z’s as well as many other artists out there today but at the same time, I love a good beat to just get me going when I want a mood lift. Unfortunately, the two don’t always go together. Does that mean I’m at fault for the rotation on the radio? Maybe…However, since I think we all have different sides to us in terms of musical tastes to match our moods, etc. we should have the freedom to choose crass or classy lyrics and shouldn’t be told which we should like. I’m for freedom in any form.

With that being said though, I agree with both Sister Kenya and Heavy Rotation Mag Radio. Personally I purchase a lot of edited music because I don’t want to hear certain phrases or words but I realize that the music industry will only cram what is “promotable” down my throat if I let them and it’s disappointing to hear and see the types of videos on BET/MTV, etc. (especially when my young family members are watching but that’s a different story for a different topic) as well as the artists who lack creativity and ingenuity in their lyrics. So really, I think it’s up to us as consumers to make our voices heard and purchase only what we deem acceptable music and continue to put artists like Common on top. Why DID it take this long for Common to hit mainstream and win awards although he had a large underground following? Because the industry didn't think the profit would roll in…Why did TI rocket to the top of the charts? Because he had a marketable sound and let’s face it; his music was good music for clubs and heavy radio rotation…Oh and yes, I like TI as well so that's the beauty of choices.

Ok, I'm finished :) Thanks for the discussion and letting me share my thoughts.

Peace,
-Natasha

[Michelle Reed]

When I was a child, I thought like a child and when I listened to bashment (Dancehall, raggamuffin) like a child I thought it was OK to be singing about sex, abortion, guns, killing and ting. It was "normal." The beat was sweet and I learned to wine my waist because it was my "heritage". Even though I lived in England, I yearned for my heritage and Dancehall was one aspect of this. Music is such a spiritual thing. It gets into your soul. Dance, singing, listening to music is such a spiritual thing it can put you in a trance.

As I got older it was very difficult for me to stop listening to certain tunes. I am so glad that we have some gospel bashment! Because I love the drum, love the bass, love the sound, I can smell Jamaica, hear the language (Patios) and feel IRIE. Now there are other versions of reggae I listened to and I still listen to those. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh for conscious reggae. I listen to some of the gospel bashment, I listen to lovers rock reggae. I love it because it is a sound of a people, a sound of struggle, a sound of freedom and redemption. It's a voice of expression.

But the basement - some of it although it makes me feel good, it is feeding my FLESH. When I sing certain lyrics like "if a &&%%#$ don't like me #%#$ your momma" that is def. not of the spirit, but it feels good because my flesh likes to get that anger out. The same song can be sung with positive lyrics. If a person don't like me, well Praise God coz He is the one who loves me the most - or something like that! That's the reason why some of those awesome gospel songs cross to the clubs because the beat is heavy, the sound is doing it, and the lyrics display some of the frustration we feel, the victory we want to feel etc.

I think we can address it by not playing this music in front of our youth. Fast from that music and pray that you can crucify the flesh. Start listening to positive music in the beat that you like. Thank God for spiritual hip hop and spiritual basement.

I can listen to my music.

Like bob Marley sings:

One good thing about music when it hits you, you feel no pain!
Hit me with music.
Hit me with music now.
This is trenchtown rock.
Don't watch that.
Trenchtown rock.
If you a big fish or spat.
Trenchtown rock.
You reap what you sow.
Trenchtown rock.
And only Jah Jah know!

[Kamal Imani]

Peace,

People who really care about seeing and hearing the positive should help stimulate and organize the independent positive hip hop, spoken word, gospel and soul movements. The industry as we know it isn't going to change without a massive revolt which we don't see happening anytime soon so the alternative is for us to support the independents and create our own infrastructures.

One love

Kamal

http://www.upintheatticmovie.com

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

well put my brother, I totally agree

[Logan]

We are responsible for our lyrics. We have to take responsibility for what we put out there, if we are doing this for God. We must check our motives for why we are doing Gospel music or why we are calling our lyrics gospel. We can fool people, but we can't hide our heart from God.
We are also responsible for what music we support. We will put our money into a secular cd, movie, or concert, but bootleg a gospel cd or movie. We want everything gospel to be free, but want others to cop our new cd for some change. This site is a good example of how many promote their own projects here, but won't support the site or other peoples projects that are posted. Check your heart!

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

thank u Logan,
I knew I could count on you to bring it

we all need to check our heart and while I have never dictated how others supported others on the site or post conditions on promoting themselves or what God is doin in their life ( I promote my book on here) but I do agree there are those who are only here to push their product and dont support the site or sow anything into the ministry....

I feel you on that my brotha!!!!!

I would love to hear from those who havent shared their opinion yet!!!!

[Logan]

Good luck wit that! LOL!!!

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

yeah right.... I still gotta try to reach em and leave that open invitation

[Logan]

Thats whats up AJ.