Rappers reach out to teens with positive message (& To Register Voters)

[Khephra]

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A group of rap artists will hold class Wednesday for nearly 2,700 Syracuse high school students in a unique summit using hip-hop's popularity to deliver a positive message about the importance of education and civic responsibility.

snip............

"What we are doing in Syracuse should be a model for other school systems around the country. We intend to celebrate hip-hop culture and inspire students to do their best in school, and to prepare to vote," said rap mogul Russell Simmons, whose Hip-Hop Summit Action Network is organizing the event.

snip.........

Simmons said the summit would address four general areas:

_Utilitzing hip-hop to encourage students to excel academically.

_Encouraging students to get involved in community-service projects.

_Exposing students to career opportunities in the recording industry.

_Giving students an opportunity to talk to successful artists about overcoming the challenges of poverty, drugs and street violence.

Another purpose for the summit is to register voters.

more................

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--hip-hopsummit0309mar09,0,3096517.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[MissMarple]

1. These are steps in the right direction. Rappers taking responsibility.

Now if they can just clean up the potty mouths and lose the superfluous violence, they will be making even better strides.

:bounce:

[DrWeird]

4. Fuck that shit.

That's like rewriting operas and Shakespearean tragedies so they have super happy sunshine endings.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

5. THAT'S RIGHT...............BIAAAAAATCH.......

[MissMarple]

7. Play nice, kids. A bit sensitive are we?

It's a trend, a fad. And while it does express...emotion, feeling, calling women names and promoting random violence is not a good thing. I didn't say make a law against it.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. This wasn't aimed at anyone in particular. It was a joke.

It is something that guys call each other, again as a joke. 25 years hmmm, that has to be the longest fad ever. I myself don't like all the materialistic and idiotic lyrics in the more contemporary songs. But I do like the music that came out during the 90s, which had a socially conscious message.

[MissMarple]

9. Twenty five years, has it been that long? Time does fly.

I get your point, but the language, the 'ho talk and the crotch grabbing which to me looks like genital insecurity, doesn't do well with my demographic. My children listen to it, my son more so, and I do understand it has a broad cultural relevance. I'll try to understand it a bit better. However, you do understand how misogynist it does appear? And I assume the violence is more reflective than instructive?

And again, I would never want a law against it. I am glad to see these guys giving back, they can be quite effective.

[tridim]

2. Time for the the FCC

to begin silencing these "anti-American" rap artists.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. Yes, and those Country "Music" "artists" can spread their....

right-wing hate all they want.

[wndycty]

6. You think O'Reilly had problems with rappers before. . .

. . .LOL Go brother Simmons! Go!

[JusticeForAll]

10. Uh oh

This will be really bad...in California they want to start giving voting rights to citizens as young as 14 year olds...and in New York, they are educating young people about social issues.


Stop the insanity now. Do we really want these kids to be able to think for themselves?

(sarcasm off)