From: dwarner@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (David J.)
Newsgroups: alt.rap
Subject: Gangsta Noise (was Re: New Albums)
Date: 12 Oct 92 16:19:45 GMT
Organization: Indiana University

In article <1992Oct9.174358.1282@ntmtv> wattsww@ntmtv.UUCP (Warren Watts) writes:
>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.  

I used to know a bunch of guys just like the ones you mention here.  I would
drop some of my rhymes on them, and all they would say was, "What is all
that?  You gotta put some bitches and buckshots in there.  Talk about how
you fucked some hoe and shot up suckers on a driveby at midnight."  It
became clear to me that these guys had no clue.  Most of these types don't 
know any black people, and they wouldn't know what to do if they met one.
It's an absolute shame.

>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.  

BDP, PE, Quest, De La, Arrested Development, Pete Rock & CL Smooth. I 
haven't listened to Paris lately, though - still waiting for his new
LP to drop.  I myself was surprised when finding out how many white fans
of the Native Tongues are out there.

Of course, I wouldn't call myself a radical, but I've been called worse.

>>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. 

If they only knew.  We need some more positivity, and fast.
-- 
- David J. ---- BLUE RIDDLE PRODUCTIONS ---- dwarner@silver.ucs.indiana.edu -
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