READERS REACT: EXPLICIT LYRICS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON OUR CHILDREN
In this Post, readers reacted to 12-year-old CJ Wallace Jr rapping over his dad, the late Notorious B.I.G’s song, “One More Chance”. Here are comments(in no particular order) from readers:
No wonder parents are raising future thugs. Please encourage your children to read and stop listening to b.s. If it’s not going to help our children get ahead, what’s the purpose? No wonder our black boys and girls are lagging behind everyone else. Yes, Nicole. Society’s way of thinking. I agree.I remember years ago when I went to see, “Set it Off.” You would’ve thought it was a Disney movie. SMH. I wonder how many kids went to see, “Akeelah and the Bee?” When I went to see that, 99.9% of the kids in attendance were white!~Teri
I guess it’s to each it’s own because I don’t see what’s wrong with it. Obviously Faith doesn’t have a problem with it so why should we? Doggone today’s society and their way of thinking. I have a 10 yr old son and I allow him to listen to this type of music. Obviously Faith doesn’t care what will be said about it cause she still allowed her son to rap along to HIS FATHER’S song~Nicole
I believe that as long as the black parents today are teaching their children right from wrong there is nothing wrong with him rapping over these lyrics. Because you allow your child to listen to these types of lyrics does not mean that they have no morals. A song can not raise a child… its up to the parents to do that. As long as faith is teaching him how to be a man, that’s all that matters~Bunny
Who cares if he’s rapping the explicit parts or not, he’s still ON the track, which implies that he’s heard all of it. It’s inappropriate and anyone justifying this needs to re-evaluate their morals and what they feel is appropriate for children~Tight2def
FACTS/OPINIONS:
- It has been suggested that the lyrics in HEAVY METAL AND RAP promote aggression, bigotry, deviant sexual activity, suicide, violence, drug use, and homicide (Ballard & Dodson, 1999).(Source)
- Click Here for the lyrics to One More Chance Remix
- Music is not usually a danger for a teenager whose life is balanced and healthy. But if a teenager is persistently preoccupied with music that has seriously destructive themes, and there are changes in behavior such as isolation, depression, alcohol or other drug abuse, evaluation by a qualified mental health professional should be considered.(Source)
- An artist’s music is an art, an expression of themselves and what they have been through. Changing their music, changes their art that they created.(Source)
BCK Says: Do musicians have as much responsibility as parents in censoring music with explicit lyrics from the youth of today?
Why do you think people listen to music to get them pumped up it must do something.
Personally, sometimes I can’t even take certain explicit lyrics - it just seems so unnecessary and vulgar to me - and there’s no way in hell I’d let any child of mine listen, or rap/sing to, songs with explicit content. But to each his own.
A musician can express himself/herself the way they choose. It’s the parent’s responsibility to raise their children with a moral foundation and to not expose them to anything that would be detrimental to their growing minds. Children are sponges, so why expose them to unnecessary garbage? Expose them to reading, writing and arithmetic - something that’s going to build their future not muddle it. My brother is an instructor at his local school district, and you’d be surprised how many kids can quote Lil Wayne and can barely put two sentences together. Why is this? He speaks of how many children get a consistent diet of BET, yet can’t and won’t turn in their homework. Some parents don’t stress education and their poor children are growing to be one of the many statistics that litter our communities. I agree with Jasmine - there’s some lyrics I don’t even want to listen to.
Ultimately it’s the parents responsibility, not the artists, to raise their children and to make sure they have the best advantages they can in life.
you cant stop the kids from listening to the music no matter how hard you try if musicians cleaned up there music it would help alot. This reminds of watching the an interview with 50 cent where he said he hadn’t been through most the stuff he talks about in his songs but he makes them and puts on a gangster persona because he knows thats what the kids will like and buy
Parents have the most responsibility. It is difficult to raise a child but censoring the music your child listens to is not. There are methods to block television channels, buy clean versions of CDs and most important, speak up when you feel the media is exposing children to anything suggestive.
Studies have shown over and over again that children exposed early in life to large amounts of violence do turn out to be more violent as teenagers and adults. Early sex education and openness in a loving and guided environment on the other hand actually leads to a decrees in early sexual contact and lower teen pregnancies. The numbers out of Europe, very open in sexuality, prove that the American way of blocking anything to do with sex and lack of sex education just do not work.
I agree with Teri. I was raised listening 2 explicit lyrics but I never really became violent or anything, neither did my brothers. I think the parents need 2 teach their kids to be leaders and not followers, I mean just because Lil Wayne sipis lean I wouldn’t go out and do it. I think parents in society 2day try 2 put the blame on everyone else instead of themselves. But, that plays back to people not wanting to take the blame for our own actions
If music causes children to go astray then I have to disagree with you -Teri…
Why is there so much emphasis on “black” music but none on rock music? What do you think the white children are listening too??? They listen to rap and rock but according to you they are the sensible ones… this don’t sit to well with me.
I have children and I used to never let them listen to music with explicit language but unfortunately, it’s all around and they will hear it rather I like it or not. I prefer to listen to the music they are listening to and then we discuss what is right or wrong with the song. I am confident enough as a parent that I am raising my children to the best of my ability by teaching them right from wrong. I have three teens and I have to say thank god…. music has not influenced them to be a menace to society. They appreciate ALL types of music.
I’m a mom, in my 30’s and I like music such as NWA and Bone Thugs and Harmony. I let my kids listen to that and my favorite is ‘F*ck The Police’ because it speaks to our angst about police brutality and racial profiling. I was on welfare and ‘First of the Month’ was the SHIZZIT beck when checks came on the first! I still like it.
But todays rap lacks any type of social commentary and glorifies misogyny and sex. I don’t censor but I try to balance what my kids listen too by mixing the new with the old - rap stars like Big Daddy Kane, Boogie Down Productions, Eric B. and Rakim, and Public Enemy, De La Soul, Kurtis Blow - they were some of my faves and I’m proud to say my a lot of that is on my son’s IPOD (yes, I know what’s on his IPOD, do you know what’s on your child’s?). I also listen to international (African, Celtic), country, classical, and R&B - and my children like varying music types also.
And leave BET alone unless you gonna fight to get betta programming ALONG WITH what they already got. If you you got cable there are dozens of cartoon channels, not to mention TLC, HGTV, History Channel, and the National Geographic channel - some of my favorite channels. And I love PBS. Set you own examples and start watching some of these channels yourselves. WHAT ARE YOU AS ADULTS LISTENING TO AND WATCHING?
and of course - TALK TO YOUR KIDS. Tell them why you worry and why you feel some of what they are watching is inappropriate and get their feedback. Did you know that children really do listen to you? They do. They listen and they will start to think.
btw - that song lyrics to ‘ONE MORE CHANCE’ really do suck. Tupac really was the better rapper.
WOW, even though i said i wasnt go to see notorious i went anyway and there were young children in attendance with their mother. when the nude scene came about, i saw one mother cover her child eyes. he shouldntve been there in the first place. and then i heard the child say ewww and he proceeded to say can i watch now mommy.
some of the way people raise their children is how they were raised and some people dont see a problem with it. i dont have children but i do have nephews and im in thier life. i tell them things and i hope they listen and adhere to them. of course parents cant be with their children 24′7, but if some parents instill morals and values into their children then maybe they wouldnt do half the stuff they have no business doing.
i barely listen to rap music so i know when and if i do decide to have a child, im not letting them listen to it. i’ll explain to them why i dont care for that particular music and how at times it have a negative affect on people.
Tamara, where did I say that white kids were the sensible ones? There’s emphasis on black music because that what kids of all races are listening to. My example has to do with black children because they are the ones that oftentimes lag behind everyone else academically and those are the ones that my brother interacts with. I also didn’t way that music ALONE was detrimental. All I’m saying is that some music is inappropriate for children. If parents choose to raise their children on a diet of music with crude and nasty lyrics, so be it. At the end of the day, I’m only responsible for what’s listened to in my house, and it is NOT allowed. No, you can’t control what your children listen to outside your home, but you d*mn sure can in your own. What others do in theirs, so be it.
Ok im 16 and i listen to rap music and i dont have violent thoughts so dont ban the music that teenagers like just b/c u dont like it and think it makes us have violent thoughts, True im a white 16 year old girl but there is no difference its just music ok! Maybe its other issues that are making teenagers these days think violent thoughts like idk maybe KIDS AT SCHOOL
Teri-u sound racist..do you have a book listing all black girls and boys that are lacking behind everyone else?..get ur facts straight