The fallout from DON IMUS’ remarks is still rippling through mainstream media as we speak. Corporate sponsors are bailing out on his MSNBC telecast to such a degree that Universal has decided to cancel the program indefinitely. IMUS becomes the literal scapegoat for a corrupt and supremacist media machine that is at the heart of undermining values and perceptions.
Universal is willing to cancel the IMUS show because of a loss in sponsorship dollars, but NOT for reasons like content or context. Meanwhile, Universal gears up for the release of a new album by their Cash Money Millionaires.
Preview his new video called ‘Ask Dem Hos‘
I posted that video for information only. If there is a progressive political bloc of Black people out there in the real world let’s see them step to Universal and tell them that they haven’t done enough. I think that as long as the DON IMUS’ and RUSH LIMBAUGH’s exist Black people will always be distracted to the cancer that grows unchecked within their collective body.
I challenge all of you that read this drop with blogs of your own to open your voice on this subject. If you feel like the artistic movement of Hip-Hop has been bastardized and commodified then speak out. Put your feelings into the ethers of the atmosphere. We won’t just save Hip-Hop but we might just save a generation from being polluted by this trash.
damn…we stay losin’!
co-sign dp.
you know biochemical slang is down for the cause.
eff this imus fallout. you put it correctly: he is a scapegoat. a feather in their cap. the “proof” that they are anti-racism and pro-black folk.
but if we keep investin in this garbage, they’ll keep makin it.
PEACE
it’s pretty despicable (and predictable) how big corporations only wave the white flag once white people have crossed the proverbial line. But, will continue to allow black people to degrade themselves and their people.
Dallas I hear you but I’m leaving the niggers, bitches, hoes, and ignant ass thug characters behind. We’re on the cusp of a social-evolutionary shift and there are going to be more than a few that will be left behind, and HAVE TO BE left behind. Can only help those who wanna help themselves…
“And even after all my logic and my theory, I ADD A MOTHERFUCKER,
SO YOU IGONORANT NIGGAS HEAR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
L-BOOGI
AKA
LAUREN HILL
@ 40
Cosigning, but we were on the ‘cusp of a socio-evolutionary shift’ in the 60s. I don’t feel like there is sufficient strength/numbers/influence behind those of us who want to see realistic change. At least not yet..
i do remain idealistically hopeful that change is near. But is that change coming because change is constant or because we did something? I guess it doesn’t matter but i am damn tired of waiting.
F
Good post Dallas. Check the man Whitlock on the same topic
http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html
FBombs I think this column by Jason Whitlock sums up my feelings perfectly…
http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/_a/time-for-jackson-sharpton-to-step-down/20070411111509990001
“The n*ggers have GOT TO GO…” – Chris Rock.
@40
just read it. flawless.
^cosign 40, all the way! Reinforce and highlight the positive.
D, what picture is killing me. I really think Spike said it all with one of my favorite movies, Bamboozled. Up for the challenge and got stuff cooking in the kitchen, even though my audience consist of 3, including me, myself and I. You get props because you rock it with extra though provoking comedy, sarcasm. Keep building.
And I see that cat, BioChemical rocking it right. You come across some good images . . . thanks for that Marvin discography picture set.
Here’s Snoop on some off-the-wall, ignit sh*t about Imus.
According to an online MTV report, Dogg said, “It’s a completely different scenario… “[Rappers] are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We’re talking about ho’s that’s in the ‘hood that ain’t doing sh–, that’s trying to get a n—a for his money. These are two separate things. First of all, we ain’t no old-ass white men that sit up on MSNBC [the cable network home to Imus] going hard on black girls. We are rappers that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them mutha—–as say we in the same league as him.”
:: Source
The comments that follow . . . I don’t know. Some one should have checked him for walking those two girls on leash a while back
DP…ON POINT!!!! WHITLOCK…ON POINT!!!!
Most people don’t understand that Don Imus is being fired for loss of revenue and, not because of what he said was sensitive, wrong, or whatever.
I truly believe no one should be left behind. But it isnt my job to make them keep the pace, or not get lost along the way. I raise my sons with the principle that they are responsible for their choices and actions in life. I can mentor you, I can teach you, but I can’t walk the line for you. If you fall off the line I can help you find it again, but if only you start looking first.
and that is part of the issue, too many people are waiting for someone to lead them (or lead them astray) when all it takes each person to take the conviction that they want things to be different and it will snowball from there.
None of this shit about Imus has nothing to do with us as a race, except to point out that we hold other people to higher ideals than our own. Imus is a stupid jerk, that said something many of us may have said, yet we would be called jerks and he is called a racist. With all the true racist acts going on the world(racism is world wide, and not just about black folk.) why are we focusing so much energy on this trivial statement?
I heard comparisons to KKKRAMER, but i dont see it. What KKKramer said goes beyond what could ever be considered a joke. Tasteful or not.
^^^Lion you’re a better man than me, if I may be so bold I think you have enough work a head of you raising your boys to strong men. To expound a little its almost like trying to go out when you have 20-30 people at the house ready to leave for a function. Every time you think you’re ready to hit the road en masse someone forgets something, is in the bathroom, is waiting for someone else to show up, and the end result is either you’re inexcusably late or you miss out all together. When it comes to getting what I can in America I can’t sit around and dawdle to I can roll with the masses. I don’t do it with parties, I’m not gonna do it in life. If I know we’re all supposed to eventually get there then I’ll see you there. However I can’t sit outside the house with my engine idling (not at these gas prices) waiting for the convoy. I’ll load up my wagon with as many as I can that are ready as I am and we’re heading out. Some have gotten there before me and are killin’ the buffet and open bar already. Others are gonna sit around and bullshit and get there late and be stuck with scraps. Then there are gonna be those who just never got it in motion to get anything and miss it altogether. If the ship is sinking I’m not gonna hang out listening to the string quartet who’s going down with it.
^^^40 Point taken…..but I am no better than the next man, shit its taken me 40 yrs to reach this level of confusion….besides I leave people behind all the time, like I said “It’s not my job to make you keep the pace”. Some of my closest friends today I’ve known for less than ten years, meanwhile most of ‘childhood’ friends I can’t roll with any more cuz they are too stagnant. I try to get them to look to a positive future, but I can’t see it for them. My life got 100% better once I realized it was my fault for making idiot decisions, and only I can see it out till the end.
[sits off in the background smiling because of the dialougue and the fact that no one ever says “first”.]
Nice post D…love the quote fatboy…Lauryn never lied on that one. Ever find yourself dumbing basic english words down to get someone to understand your question?
Snoop like most of these other jigs are too ignorant. That was one of the most ignorant statements I’ve ever read. I’m still not over the “women” being walked in with leashes and if you recall, this was during a worldwide televised “music” (term used extrememly loose) awards show. Where was the fallout about that ish?
I think there are a lot of us who really want change especially as it relates to how we are portrayed in the media. One problem is that there seems to be more ignorant folks that there are of us. They love what’s out now!!!But hey, maybe there’s enough of us out there that’s willing to help make some kind of change (BET must go). I do think that many of us have gotten so tired of trying to help others that we just completely give up. I can honestly say that I’m falling more towards the later. How much can you do? How many kids can you try to mentor? Nowadays, it’s some of the parents that need mentors/parenting classes. WTF?
About the video…are these ‘ignant’ fools serious?
^^^^at vee.
glad you’re checkin biochemical slang. i made that collage of marvin. twas fun. i see what you’re doin as well. hot ish.
^^^^^at dallas: exactly. this post brought out some great discussion.
NBC and or Universal dropped Imus because the sponsors started pulling back. And they knew they were going to lose millions.
However, the sponsors pulled back because they feared they would lose the black consumer.
In the end, it wasn’t about the Rugeters women, Imus, or race; It’s about cold hard cash.
wordlife.
I apologize, but…….ask dem hoes > nappy headed hoes
*dies*
I know Hip Hop > cRap.
Power and money have and will always be the motivation for just about everybody in america…I see myself in politics and solving this conundrum troubles me daily. Currently anybody in a political position is a figurehead put there by the money….and I drew that from msnbc firing over money…smh.
you hit the nail on the head. i was thinking about bloggin about this topic and this post made it end up on my “to do” list.
For better and worse, white people need to step up on this too for a change to come. There’s too much mobility in this society to be able to keep things “in the community,” and there’s too much white money available to spend on black buffoonery for this imagery to fade without it being a worldwide effort. Note, I didn’t say “corporations” — they’re collecting these dollars from a lot of individuals of different shades, and I submit that collectively we’re endorsing their marketing techniques. Let’s be the chicken AND the egg.
DP, I interpret your phrase “progressive political bloc of Black people” as not exclusive to, uh, non-Black people… and this comment isn’t meant as criticism of any other to this post. (And I remember your post of about a year ago on that very subject). But not only are white people ALLOWED to sit out this kind of conversation, they’re DISCOURAGED from participating. But the train is down the tracks… white kids will ignorantly still keep buying cRap even if black kids don’t, long as Cash Money Millionaires don’t need ‘hood cred since they’ve lived up to their name. Corporations will keep their incentive.
Can anyone name a white public figure who could or would weigh in credibly on this particular post in a television roundtable? Credibly = knowledgeable, not racist.
Forgive me if this was nonsensical, it’s late. If I can improve on it in the morrow, I will.
I joined the chorus.
http://startsnitching.blogspot.com/2007/04/don-imus-vs-duke-lacrosse-whore.html
Kill (c)rap music!!!
Before it’s too late.
Imus isn’t the real bad guy -Jason Whitlock of KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html
I’ve joined the crusade.
searching4myswagger.blogspot.com
LM,
Thank you very much for appending my language. You are entirely correct by saying that the progressiv political bloc must not only be “Black” folks but include everyone that is… Progressive. My badd on that language.
Damn Dallas,
So F’d the F up…
“… I’m a beast… ho I’m a dog….
… I’m a beast… ho I’m a dog….”
It got really sad when I decided to check out the comments section on YouTube. I hoped that it would be filled with intelligent comments about that Weezie’s lyrics and their relationship to the current headlines.
Yeah right…
******
marlobaby (4 hours ago)
weezy been my favorite rapper since get how u live cuz he was lil nigga but he was spittin on dat grown man shit at what 12 13 and he just got betta aint nobody fuckin wit wayne
pokoce17 (19 hours ago)
i know i was bumpin weezy shit since he first came out on bg first album. cash money til death nigga
PrinceZeris (20 hours ago)
i feel you, family, and yes I was bumpin’ lil wayne back in the day. I’m only fifteen right now, so 99 was a while ago for me lol… But I still remember Tha Block is Hot and 500 Degreez
******
I hate to admit that I’m feeling a little “C. Delores” right now. She failed because she targeted the record labels, who had no incentive to adjust their business practices.
Today is a little different. CD sales have slumped and artists generate revenue from a wide variety of sources (cable, ringtones/wireless, product ties, etc.) Those sources (much like Imus’ advertisers) have a lot to risk by associating with comments that consumers find revolting.
We might not be able to get through to Snoop, but maybe Wrigley (Orbit gum) or Sprint/Nextel (Boost) might help him see the light. If we are really serious about changing the language (and changing the minds of those kids leaving comments on YouTube), then maybe we need to figure out how to “Imus” Calvin Brodeaus, Curtis Jackson, or Dwayne Carter Jr.
Any ideas?
^P-City…How about a Desert Eagle and a ski mask??…..I believe in non-violence towards black folk, but its open season on idiots.
Sorry..falling back into my old ways, but sometimes stupid people (like snoop) test my patience.
p-city,
C. Delores may have been ahead of her time but, well, that was part of the problem. She was seen as archaic, and to her discredit, she didn’t do much to engage Tupac and others on what she was protesting — at least not from what I remember. Charitably speaking, she wasn’t effective politically; less charitably, she dismissed everything hip-hop in her words and actions when she should have been more focused. To me, Bill Cosby is the C. Delores of this decade for many of the same reasons.
Without question Snoop and Weezy are far more impactful than Imus et al. But to me Snoop and Weezy have gotten just as lazy in their use of misogynist language as Imus et al have always been in their use of racist language.
As far as what to do, get kids to be critical, one at a time. A lot of kids grow up mimicking lyrics without regard to content, so by the time they grow to spitting age they’ve only accumulated mindless garbage to regurgitate. If you have kids break down what they’re hearing, the odds are a lot better that they’ll stop and think. Corny, yes, but it works. Unfortunately, doing that requires catching the attention of the affected audience (again, C. Delores downfall), so the teachers have got to know the subject matter.
Perhaps Rafi can “steal” more rhymebooks for use as texts.
“I believe in non-violence towards black folk, but its open season on idiots.”
Lion’s DVD player has been jammed shut with a copy of “Drop Squad” stuck in it.
@ Lion XL — I wouldn’t miss Snoop, Imus, etc. if they were all the way gone tomorrow. But that wouldn’t solve the problem, which is that they just happen to be the “idiots” who spoke in a public place. The rest are already infected but don’t even know it. We need a mass inoculation.
^40..thats hilarious….because I’ve never seen ‘Drop Squad’
LM –
I see where you are coming from and I think that we are both on the same page.
The way I see it, the challenges faced by us – the people who check out this blog and those who share our concern – are a lot like the challenges faced by the environmental community.
a. The world is polluted
b. Big business makes $ from the status quo
c. No one seems to believe or care
d. Ignorant consumers add to the problem
The environmental movement deals with all of these problems through a multi-pronged approach that addresses consumers and business.
a. They raise awareness of the issue
b. They target/boycott companies that pollute
c. They support “green” companies
d. They educate the public about the issues
I don’t see our different approaches to the problem as an either/or. I think that your approach is important and it in no way diminishes the need to reach in our economic toolbox.
By the way, Lion XL, were actually on the same page, too. I’m just talking about getting rid of people in a way that won’t allow them to come back like Tupac.
Dallas, you’re the idea man and the organizer. Powwow with CS and come up with a plan for the blogfam.
yo dallas:
biochemical slang is ridin with you.
one hundred.
this shit ain’t a game:
Biochemical Slang asks the Corporations to PUT YOUR MOUTH WHERE YOUR MONEY IS
this is what the internets is about. strength in numbers, brother.
Imus is responsible for what comes out of his mouth. the vile lyrics in hip hop is a separate issue .That issue has been addressed and protested for years by leaders like C. Delores Tucker, Rev Calvin Butts, Rev Al Sharpton,Bill Cosby, James Brown and many others. Many people of all races and both sexes buy those records and sing and dance to them too. Min. Farrakhan protested the lyrics in hip hop at the Million Man March and that was in 1995.
Oh, I have to disagree–with the recent actions of African-Americans such as Al Sharpton, Al Roker, and many more we as a community very well DID win. All of us as people of color, of African descent unified and proved that racially based, totally unwarranted attacks upon innocent people would not be taken lying down and that Imus would have to take personal responsibility for his actions and not slide by with a mere “i’m sorry”.
I fail to see the connection between hip-hop and kids with shiny teeth and a 67 year old mature White male radio host with 40 years of broadcasting experience and who was proven to possess a history of racist remarks.
When Imus chose to call the Rutgers women’s team “nappy-headed ho’s”, he was not “ordered” to do so by a hip-hop musician. There was not a hip-hop musician in the studio with him, urging him to make his move. How ridiculous! Hip-hop can be blamed for some things, but a middle-aged white man with a history of racist comments who decided to attack a team of innocent female athletes have NOTHING to do with it.
Incidentally, hip-hop is loved, supported, and BOUGHT by a a huge variety of races: many many whites, asians, latins, middle-easterners, etc. You can find a Puerto Rican and a Chinese guy boppin’ to the same “ho” lyrics in a rap song as hard as some African-Americans might be. Maybe they should also be told they have a “cancer that grows unchecked within their collective body.”?
Also, what does a picture of some grotesque looking caricature of a Black man and a silly little kid with shiny braces have to do with what a 67 year old white man with 40 years of broadcating experience, a history of racist remarks, and a listening audience of millions of people chose to say about an innocent group of female athletes??
No. Imus is not anyone’s “scapegoat”. He is a man who insulted and attacked innocent Black women and was made to take personal responsibility for his own actions. That is all.
Some really excellent content on this website, regards for contribution. “An alcoholic is someone you don’t like who drinks as much as you do.” by Dylan Thomas.