From: wattsww@ntmtv.UUCP (Warren Watts)
Subject: Re: New Albums
Reply-To: wattsww@ntmtv.UUCP (Warren Watts)
Organization: Northern Telecom Inc, Mountain View, CA
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 17:43:58 GMT

In article <1992Oct8.161612.16179@husc3.harvard.edu> mfreeman@husc8.harvard.edu (Mark Freeman) writes:
>
>By the way, some of my friends and I were wondering, and there's
>nothin' racist about the question, why whites seem to like gangsta
>rap so much, as opposed to other forms of hip-hop, like ATCQ. Now,
>don't flood the group with your "I like Tribe and De La and all them"
>cuz I know whites like them, too, but it seems like many whites
>concentrate mostly on NWA and the like, and, let's face it, them
>brothas ain't doin' shit for the portrayal of a positive brotha.

First, the most popular group among white rap listeners is probably
P.E., based as much on musical style as on lyrical content. The P.E.
sound definately appeals to metal and industrial fans, unlike most
rap.

However your point about NWA/Gansta Rap is definately true.  Especially
among white listeners who are violent and racist. The type of person
who is white and likes gansta rap to the exclusion of all else is
generally looking for a safe tour of the ghetto with out challenging
their assumptions about how black people behave. When I hear NWA
booming out of an all white fraternity house, I just want to go in
their and bust some heads, because I know those fuckers are just
reinforcing their stereotypes by listening to the music, and not
trying to understand what its all about.  On the other hand white
radicals are more prone to listen to P.E., Paris, or Disposable
Heroes, and I believe that their are more of this type of white rap
listener than the other.  In my home town, which is 99% white Paris
was booming at many parties when it first came out, and I only heard
NWA booming at a frat house once. There are also some very educated
white liseners, like myself, who listen to the whole range of hip-hop,
excluding top 40, and completely worthless gansta rap like the latest
NWA. Other than that I'll kick anything from Ice Cube to ATCQ, to BDP,
to DHOH, to DU, to Cypress Hill to whatever.  As long as the lyrics
are intelligent and the beats are phat I'll play it.

>I mean, I'm from the ghetto, and I know how bad it is, and they don't
>talk about how their moms had to wake up at 5:30 in the mornin'
>and catch a bus to go clean somebody's house. All they do is glorify
>black-on-black crime and perpetuate the cycle of violence, hatred,
>and racial misunderstanding---and they get paid for it!!! They probably
>put very little, if any, of their earnings back into the community. 
>Ice Cube at least helps his brothas out. So wassup wit dat? Please
>answer maturely and sincerely, and don't accuse me of racism or auto-
>racism or anything like that.

You know the flipside to this is all the young brothers that I know
from the ghetto (in this case East Palo Alto) listen to gansta rap to
the exclusion of everything else except militant rap. They definitely
dis Arrested Development, and even ATCQ is seen as phony by some. 
Actually I know the reason, basically the other stuff doesn't match
their daily experience, and at 14 or 15 you are into what your friends
are into.  The point is that this rap-stereotyping cuts both ways, and
in some ways self stereotyping is much more harmful.

Peace,
	 Warren Watts