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'Macho idiot rappers'
Earlier Culture Minister Kim Howells caused controversy when he appeared to lay part of the blame for rising gun crime figures at the door of rap music.
"For years I have been very worried about these hateful lyrics that these boasting macho idiot rappers come out with," he said.
"It is a big cultural problem. Lyrics don't kill people but they don't half enhance the fare we get from videos and films. It has created a culture where killing is almost a fashion accessory."
Mr Howells was particularly critical of the London group So Solid Crew three of whose 30-strong membership have been linked or convicted of gun charges.
"Idiots like the So Solid Crew are glorifying gun culture and violence," Mr Howells said.
Earlier Culture Minister Kim Howells caused controversy when he appeared to lay part of the blame for rising gun crime figures at the door of rap music.
"For years I have been very worried about these hateful lyrics that these boasting macho idiot rappers come out with," he said.
"It is a big cultural problem. Lyrics don't kill people but they don't half enhance the fare we get from videos and films. It has created a culture where killing is almost a fashion accessory."
Mr Howells was particularly critical of the London group So Solid Crew three of whose 30-strong membership have been linked or convicted of gun charges.
"Idiots like the So Solid Crew are glorifying gun culture and violence," Mr Howells said.
How about blaming the muppets that commit the crimes for once. How about taking criminals off the streets? How about increasing the number of Police to deal with these problems? How about dare I say it, strict immigration laws? How about a corodinated effort to instill some sort of personal responsibilty into the general population and that you only get what you work for?
Hmm.. this guy's a bit of a populist isn't he really..
Unfortunately, this isn't a black & white (ahem - no pun intended) issue.. Anyone who can say that NWA, Ice-T & others haven't helped perpetuate gun culture and provide it with a legitimate social context has never heard the music or paid significant attention..
However, rap music is as popular with white middle-class kids as it is with black 'underprivileged' kids and you don't see gangs of white yoofs shooting each other in Solihull or Swindon..
Oh and a lot of rap music is a form of well written & witty social commentary. Kim Howells is an asshole who's trying to encapsulate a massively complex social phenomenon and blame it on music performers.. which is bollocks if we're being honest.
"Comin' staight outta Hampshire.."
Edit: Anyone remember the film CB4? Must see pisstake of the whole NWA phenomenon.
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Monday 6th January 16:04
Unfortunately, this isn't a black & white (ahem - no pun intended) issue.. Anyone who can say that NWA, Ice-T & others haven't helped perpetuate gun culture and provide it with a legitimate social context has never heard the music or paid significant attention..
However, rap music is as popular with white middle-class kids as it is with black 'underprivileged' kids and you don't see gangs of white yoofs shooting each other in Solihull or Swindon..
Oh and a lot of rap music is a form of well written & witty social commentary. Kim Howells is an asshole who's trying to encapsulate a massively complex social phenomenon and blame it on music performers.. which is bollocks if we're being honest.
"Comin' staight outta Hampshire.."
Edit: Anyone remember the film CB4? Must see pisstake of the whole NWA phenomenon.
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Monday 6th January 16:04
"I've got 21 seconds to go, I've got 21 sconds to go, I've got 21 seconds to go, I've got 21 seconds to go, I've go..." "OI STOP! Know any other lyrics?" "Err.. no sorry"I'd like to know the source of that cos it sounds like bollocks to me.
M@H said: Mentioning immigration laws, I came across a statistic the other day that suggested that since 1950, 15 million immigrants have been let in/illegally entered Britain.
...thats about 25% of our population !
I have to agree that the music industry has glamourised gun violence - FFS even one of the genre is called "Gangster Rap".
It's interesting that the gun problems we have had up until now have been typical white "quiet" men with a fasination with guns and target shooting (think Huntington etc.), however we have moved from that to it seems gangs of predominatly black youths.
Music isn't just the problem - the whole drug cluture that surrounds sections of the community that find that crime is easier to pay for the fast cars/girls/food etc. than working means that the social underlying problem is there.
However, personally I wouldn't mind if they banned it altogether (although that wouldn't stop people listening to it) as I can't stand the music - but freedom is exactly that so you can't take it away.
I fear it won't be long now before we see a mass arming of the police - already large sections of the police are armed daily (just wander around London to see that) and soon it'll be the same elsewhere.
Sad really - but if we will have a north/south black/white/asian divide then we have to put up with the consequences.
Finally - interestingly it seems that in this case the gangs have their own "rules" - namely you can only shoot other people involved with the other gangs - normal members of the public are "off limits". Makes you feel real safe doesn't it - NOT.
J
It's interesting that the gun problems we have had up until now have been typical white "quiet" men with a fasination with guns and target shooting (think Huntington etc.), however we have moved from that to it seems gangs of predominatly black youths.
Music isn't just the problem - the whole drug cluture that surrounds sections of the community that find that crime is easier to pay for the fast cars/girls/food etc. than working means that the social underlying problem is there.
However, personally I wouldn't mind if they banned it altogether (although that wouldn't stop people listening to it) as I can't stand the music - but freedom is exactly that so you can't take it away.
I fear it won't be long now before we see a mass arming of the police - already large sections of the police are armed daily (just wander around London to see that) and soon it'll be the same elsewhere.
Sad really - but if we will have a north/south black/white/asian divide then we have to put up with the consequences.
Finally - interestingly it seems that in this case the gangs have their own "rules" - namely you can only shoot other people involved with the other gangs - normal members of the public are "off limits". Makes you feel real safe doesn't it - NOT.
J
Hmm - I wouldn't be so sure. Plenty of "white" areas now have a gun problem as well according to some senior police body on TV yesterday...
CarZee said:[/iHowever, rap music is as popular with white middle-class kids as it is with black 'underprivileged' kids and you don't see gangs of white yoofs shooting each other in Solihull or Swindon..
Scary isn't it!
J
It's a chicken and egg problem. The gangster culture produces the music, and the music reinforces the gangster culture. (E.g. I hold these bleeding gangsters responsible for ruining the music charts)
Talking about trying to instil some social responsibility, what does it take to get the other 3/4 of the party-goes in Birmingham to actually talk to the police? FFS, how are the police supposed to operate without any witnesses? These idiots almost got mown down with a submachine gun, yet that apparently isn't enough to encourage them to cooperate with plod. God help us all.
Talking about trying to instil some social responsibility, what does it take to get the other 3/4 of the party-goes in Birmingham to actually talk to the police? FFS, how are the police supposed to operate without any witnesses? These idiots almost got mown down with a submachine gun, yet that apparently isn't enough to encourage them to cooperate with plod. God help us all.
absolutely true!
ATG said: It's a chicken and egg problem. The gangster culture produces the music, and the music reinforces the gangster culture.
Well, let's not forget that this is an example of a malaise which we've identified previously - ie that as a result of the police being used as a tool of the state to opress motorists and to 'blitz' areas with specific problems, for political ends, a gulf is opening up between the police and the public.
Talking about trying to instil some social responsibility, what does it take to get the other 3/4 of the party-goes in Birmingham to actually talk to the police? FFS, how are the police supposed to operate without any witnesses?
As far as the black community are concerned, well, any who weren't always convinced that the police are racists sure had that misapprehension put to bed by the infernal MacPherson report, n'est-ce pas?
It's down to this government and their short-termist populist strategies, misguided attempts at 'doing good' and their allowing such boides as the CRE to heighten tensions amongst ethnic groups and MacPherson and Speed Kills causing the relationship breakdown between the public and the police...
I grew up with James Bond, Clint Eastwood, Jonh Wayne Mad Max etc, didn't make me want to carry a concealed weapon or kill indigenous Americans
OTOH, if I did carry a weapon when I was a kid I'm sure I'd have had a right royal kicking from plod, and when I got home I'd have got another, and the officer in question would have been invited in for a quick glass of port rather than being sued for unneccessary use of force
OTOH, if I did carry a weapon when I was a kid I'm sure I'd have had a right royal kicking from plod, and when I got home I'd have got another, and the officer in question would have been invited in for a quick glass of port rather than being sued for unneccessary use of force
CarZee said:
Edit: Anyone remember the film CB4? Must see pisstake of the whole NWA phenomenon.
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Monday 6th January 16:04
Straight outta locash, a crazy motherf****r named Gusto,...(cant remember in between!)blah blah blah I f**ked your cat, I would have f**ked your mother but the b!tch is too fat!
Bloody hilarious, can recommend to EVERYONE. Soundtrack from Blackstreet "Baby be Mine" was actually better than the version on the BlackStreet album. This film is seriously funny, just don't take it serious.
I think it is ridiculous to put part of the problem of gun crime at the doors of the rap artists, the headlines on yesterdays paper was that gun crime had doubled under the reign of Blair, is this labours way of shifting the blame? At least one Labour MP has a bit of sense, see quote below. Also we have been watching film and TV since it began that shows plenty of gun crime and violence and they are not being blamed in any way.
"Let's not pretend that ending gun criminality on the streets of Hackney or Birmingham is as simple as getting people to sing different songs"
Dianne Abbott, Labour MP
>> Edited by Mrs Fish on Monday 6th January 16:46
"Let's not pretend that ending gun criminality on the streets of Hackney or Birmingham is as simple as getting people to sing different songs"
Dianne Abbott, Labour MP
>> Edited by Mrs Fish on Monday 6th January 16:46
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