Re-Mix Hip Hop Lecture 3/1/07

After attending the Hip-Hop lecture I felt like I had a new understanding about the influences that Hip-Hop has on our culture and society. Personally, I am not a big rap or hip-hop person, but there are songs that I do like to hear occasionally. On the other hand the lyrics that are heard do influence people in different ways and can hurt people. I felt Eminem was a prime example of this because of his lyrics against homosexual people and other groups. Derogatory words such as "Ho, Bitch, and Nigger are destructive" according to Pres. Butts and I would have to agree with his assessment. Their should be a change made to fix these problems not only in single households but in larger society as a whole. The portrayal of violence, sex, and the mistreatment of woman must stop because it sets horrible examples for the youth in society. It is a shame that "mediocre, unintelligent, low life people exploit music to put money in their pockets such as artists and the record companies". (Pres. Butts) I agree, with President Butts and think music should be used to exploit the better qualities in society and according to Angie Beatty people can be empowered to change the negatives to positives through creativity, art, and being actively informed in their neighborhoods. Ultimately, free speech is one of the most important precedents since the beginning of our country and the responsibility is lies in the hands of the music artists and record companies to stop vulgar, profane, demeaning lyrics that can hurt the citizens of this country.