Music: Make Us All Sick

Music is supposed to be healing. Music as an art form has been historically therapeutic. Since ancient times in Mama Africa, music's influence has epitomized our feelings: those of celebration, sadness, reverance...the ultimate communication.

What does our present day music say about us?

I am extremely upset about the current trend music has taken. For the last ten years, Black music on the radio has been on a downward spiral. When I thought it couldn't get any worse, I hear another song on the radio with a mediocre beat and SICK (meaning sick) lyrics. Hip hop dominates the radio waves in Montgomery, Alabama. The R&B radio station is boring, and the only other alternatives are country, classic rock and NPR. NPR usually wins, but in an effort to keep my ear to the street to listen to what our children are hearing, I occasionally set my dial to the hip hop stations 105.7 0r 97.9. It is important for me to hear it, instead of turning a deaf ear.

What is truly devastating to the young ears and minds listening is this disgusting trend of lyrics about sexually touching women without her consent. Now, I know you say this is nothing new, rappers been talking about women as sexual objects for years, but LISTEN my people...it is getting much worse. Respected Oscar award winner Jamie Foxx teams up with nasty ass Plies in "Please Excuse My Hands". The beat is ferocious and the mix is on fire, but the lyrics go like this:


...baby just excuse my hands/I apologize/they have a one track mind/ to squeeze on your behind/baby, just excuse my hands...


Now, not only does he touch her without consent, but he belittles her by apologizing for not being able to control his "hands"(his hands or himself?). Of course I feel for the young sistahs who have to endure the sexual abuse of listening to the song, and especially who are getting accosted by the brothas who have no self-control. But, mostly I am heartbroken for the young brothas who are listening and learning how to be a "respected" man like Jamie Foxx. Sex sells, huh Jamie? Well, brotha you done SOLD OUT.

Then there is a song on the radio right now by super sexual Ludacris and the popular T-Pain, "One More Drink". It goes:

...I see a nice round butt and some double D's...


and the chorus goes:


If I take one more drink/I'mma end up f**king you/is that what you wanna do, shawty...


Now, not only is a woman broken down from a human being with feelings and intelligence to a butt and double D's, but if he takes another drink he'll f**k her, whether she wants to or not. She can't control if he takes another drink, so why ask her if that's what she wants? He done already stated what he's gonna end up doing.

This is more than calling women bitches and hoes. This is more than women being objectified as pussy, ass or "brains". This is telling our sons it is O.K. to touch a women, cuz men just can't control themselves. And it's telling our daughters she has no choice in whether she gets f**ked or not.

Attention Mama's!!! We are poisoning our sons, training them to be sexual deviants. We are sacrificing our daughters wholeness. Take this seriously. Talk to your sons and daughters about why you must take a stand against this type of hip hop. Regulate what they can and cannot listen to. Listen to it with them and dialogue about why it is inappropriate. Send a message to the "artists" by not buying their music. Find appropriate artists for them to listen to with lyrics that are Black people affirming instead of demeaning. Go back in the day to some Mos Def "Umi" or even that old cut "Self-Destruction". Teach them the importance of keeping positive vibes flowing all around them, especially in the music we listen to and the company we keep. And if all else fails, TURN OFF THE RADIO, TURN OFF THE BULLS**T!!!

MANTRA: Breathe and let Light fill you. In order to have a healthy state of mind, I must keep positive thoughts flowing. I will surround myself with greatness and love.