NBC News Series - African American Women & Hip-Hop

“Pour champagne on a b***h!” — Gemini

Yesterday NBC News, in their continuing series “African American Women: Where They Stand” provided a 10-min video on their website discussing , and dammit they lost when the first head you see speak is Superhead. Good thing she was on for exactly 3 secs. Michael Eric Dyson (author), Kendra G (radio show host), Kevin Powell (writer,activist), Irv Gotti (he’s an irv), Melyssa Ford (halloween catsuit-wearer). Irv wyld-out! He maintains that the glamorizing of hip-hop video gals is really just entertainment. Melyssa says its a job. Kendra maintains that women are consistently poo-poo’d upon. Kevin Powell, maintains that their is a responsibility with the balance of image. Irv was playing defense too much… a la Nelly in BET’s “America Vs. Hip-Hop”. And ONCE again, the media misses out on one of the most IMPORTANT factors in this entire issue: the media’s involvement.

Hahaha @ Irv…

Viacom, Clearchannel & Radio One are the corporations who owns the biggest mainstream media outlets. Why are they NEVER involved in the finger pointing?

I do agree that there is no balance being presented in the mainstream. But who owns these mainstream outlets? Not Murder Inc. Not DefJam. Via-friggin-com son!

Where are the female artists? There’s no mention of Jean Grae at all. No mention of the history of the better women rappers (who will go down as hip-hop hall of famers) like Latifah, Lady Of Rage, MC Lyte, and Salt N Pepa. So what happened to the women rappers? They became complacent, for the most part, with being the sidekick or “First Lady of whatever group”. Excessive focus on the excess. Lyrical accountability is low. Now while I’m doing all of this placing blame elsewhere, I’ma point at the fellas too. For some rappers and their audience, their whole career is fantasy. The bad boy rapper who sells coke and murders yet making millions and never gets caught by the cops. Of course they’re gonna have a state-ful of brizzawds led around on doggie chains. Nevertheless, the women do sign up for it. And it isn’t just women of color. It’s ANY woman who will be in that video damn near naked getting vodka thrown on her chest on my yacht in front of Bun B & Pimp C.

Irv still making me laugh.

Check it.

But yeah, NBC should run up on Debra Lee (President and Chief Operating Officer of BET), those Mays characters (Head guys at Clear Channel) and whoever else when they least expect it and ask ‘em these questions. All “To Catch A Predator” style and ask them why they only choose to promote one side of the fence.

Short answer: Since the beginning of time, hoes make money.