AN OPEN LETTER

TO THE HIP HOP/RAP COMMUNITY

TO: ALL HIP HOP AND RAP ARTISTS

FROM: MILLIONS MORE MOVEMENTS MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

SUBJECT: AN APPEAL TO HIP HOP AND RAP ARTISTS

DATE: 1/15/2006

CC: THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL, THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL, THE MILWAUKEE COURIER, THE MILWAUKEE TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, THE USA TODAY AND OTHER PRINT/TV MEDIA

This letter does not condemn all Rap and Hip Hop artists nor does it condemn all hip hop and rap music. It only applies to those and that which is destructive and dangerous to our community and its inhabitants.

This appeal goes out to some of you, the Rap and Hip Hop Artists, who our African American young people look up to and model their lives after. For those of the industry who are not participants in the type of behavior we speak of, we appeal to you as well to try to use your influence to help us change your peers.

We voice our displeasure at the Thug/Gangster lifestyle and offensive language in some of the music that you offer. You cannot know and understand how much this denigrates the history of our people, how you, whether knowingly or perhaps unknowingly are destroying our culture and the very lives of these young people.

You have managed to add value to the destruction of our community by taking your ability to become self-sufficient and economically independent using your talent and in turn putting out lyrics and living lifestyles which thwart the preparation of our youth for the management and control of our community's future in areas outside of the music industry.

Surely you can understand the effect your words have on the young tender minds of the youth. Surely you should be aware of the impression that you make on them. We guess the real question is: Do you really care?

The youth are responding to your messages of self-hate, violence, drugs and educational apathy by:

• dropping out of school in record numbers

• school truancy and tardiness are at an epidemic level

• an increase in gang related activity and fighting at all grade levels, drug use is now rampant at the middle school level

• School expulsions and suspensions for drug and gun possession are on the rise

• teen sexual behavior is leading to a steady increase in teenage pregnancy, along with AIDS and STDs

• disrespect of women, seniors/elderly, parents, teachers and any authority is growing

• open use of curse words ("H", "B", "N" and "MF") are like a second language amongst the youth these days.

 

Anywhere in the community you can see these behaviors as commonplace along with the belief that education is not needed anymore or important and sadly some parents have succumbed to this mentality.

Some parents themselves can't read or perform any math functions in daily life much less those needed to help their children with their homework. There must be an end to the influences that support this behavior.

We seek to rebuild our communities over time as the future unfolds by preparing our youth to become the next wave of business owners/entrepreneurs, educators, construction/postal/government workers, architects, engineers, doctors, lawyers and overall productive members of our community.

We are adamant that the next wave be better then the previous one. This cannot be done if our community's residents don't have the skills and education necessary or understand the need for the collective efforts we will need to seek available opportunities, self-determination and economic empowerment, now and in the future.

We need you to decide on what is important in your life, for your family and our community as you operate in a "Free" Society. Remember that "Freedom Ain't Free!!" Our history teaches us that a price was paid by many others who came before you, so that you can do what you do!!

Being defiant is a good thing, but it does not come without responsibility, nor does it mean that you are to be self-destructive. You must above all, learn and respect YOUR history. The money and lifestyle you've earned comes with a heavy price as we look at the destructive nature of those who attempt to live out your lyrics and imitate your projected lifestyles from videos, magazines and concerts. In their imitation of you, they are destroying our communities.

Because the youth look up to you as role models and heroes, you do have a responsibility to put out the right messages to them as well as give them something they can enjoy.

To those of you who are already doing the right thing:

You are a positive example not only for the youth but also for your peers. We send you our thanks and ask that you "keep on keeping on." Try to influence your peers because we know that you can see the detriment that they are causing.

We are proud of the accomplishments that the Rap and Hip-Hop movement have afforded you all, but if you have no community to return to because your music, messages and projected lifestyles have influenced others to destroy the neighborhood/community you once occupied, how long will that pride last as it spirals down to disgust?

Due to your accomplishments you have now abandoned and vacated those very neighborhoods that you grew up in; now they are virtually war zones. Neither the young children nor the elderly are safe on the streets; there is no peace, and bullets have no name in untrained hands.

We reject your destructive messages and ask you to seek Atonement and Forgiveness for the violence and destruction you advocate to our community through your music and projected lifestyles. Our challenge is to those of the Rap and Hip Hop community who need to make a POSITIVE CHANGE and assist our communities in getting our young people ready for Today and Tomorrow.

With your ability of rhyme, rap and rhythm, changing from a negative message to a positive one in your music will not put a dent in your income. As a matter of truth, we know the youth will still support you and buy your music, and then we will, too.

So, think about it, and make the change to help our young people change and bring peace to the streets.

Sincerely,

The Millions More Movement Committee of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Northside Organizing Committee

• Oshi Adelabu

• Stanley Cole

• Merrie Felder

• Ifama Jackson

• Marvin Jones

• Terrence Ray

• Paster A. Caples

• Tyrone Dumas

• Ruben Hopkins

• Ron Johnson

• Glen Mattison

• Mac Weddle

 

For More Information Contact:

Tyrone Dumas

tpdumas@earthlink.net

phone: 414-468-6657

Ruben Hopkins

rubenhopkins@aol.com

phone: 414-931-0358