Is Urban Musing Destroying Our Youth? You Be The Judge!
Written by Tim Beachum
I consider myself a fan of all genres of music; I enjoy everything from Frank Sinatra to Jay Z. As I take a look at the history of music I cannot help but wonder how did we digress from such meaningful names such as “The Miracles, The Temptations, The Supremes.” I’m talking about names that were composed of words that had true meaning. I’m talking about names that made you feel good when you mentioned them. I find myself in a disheartened state when I see such meaningless names as C-Murder, Bow Wow, T-Pain etc… For a current list of names with no meaning take a look at the Billboards top 100 list.
While I’m on such a rant I would also like to know whatever happen to songs that actually had substance. I’m talking about songs that when you listen to them really struck an emotional chord. I find myself listening to songs that are degrading and filled to the brim with absolutely zero substance. I don’t mean to seem so pessimistic, so let me dig deep within and find a little light at what seems to be a dark abyss.
After staring hopelessly at the screen of my laptop for what seems like an eternity. I feel that I can honestly say with conviction that I find the beat, or instrumental aspect of today’s music to be the most pleasing.
In order to make my rant complete I cannot over look the literary aspect of today’s music. Lets take a look at the meaning of some of the bastardized words that we comfortably refer to as the English language. For example the Ying Yang Twins had a hit called, “From The Windows To The Walls”. This slang term derives from prison terminology meaning a man who licks another man from one end to another (if you know what I mean). What about “Booty, booty, booty everywhere?” Booty is a word derived from the term prize. Which coincidently was a term used when slave masters sold the black woman (Moorish women) at auctions. The winner of the auction got the booty or prize. Black woman were often referred to as Booty.
In my personal opinion the state of today’s music is for the most part destroying the minds of our youth. We are not watching music videos we are witnessing the souls of our youth being sold at a cheap price right before our eyes. As usual I do not like making such a rash statement without having something to back it up with so here I go.
Back in the days of old once the slaves were free, the slave masters would hire them. Thus giving the illusion that they were the masters of their own destinies. Behind the scenes the money that the ex-slaves were being paid was nothing in comparison to what the true masterminds were actually making.
Now lets leap into modern day – and make a comparison once again. According to my research the urban music industry generated approximately 6.5 Billion dollars last year. Grab a pencil and paper although none should be needed and lets do some simple math. Lets take some of the music industries top moneymakers; in fact I will list the top 10 as of 2006 for you:
1. P. Diddy $346 Million
2. Jay-Z $340 Million
3. Russell Simmons, $325 Million
4. Damon Dash, $200 Million
5. Neptunes, $155 Million
6. Dr. Dre, $150 Million
7. Ice Cube, $145 Million
8. Eminem, $110 Million
9. 50 Cent, $100 Million
10. Jermaine Dupri, $60 Million
According to my calculations if you add the top 10 so called music moguls fortunes together it still doesn’t add up to 2 Billion Dollars. That still would leave one to wonder what happen to the other 4.5 Billion Dollars? Ask the slave master I’m sure he knows. Well that’s it for my little rant.