When Washington Redskins safety, Sean Taylor, was shot and killed in his own home, it wasn’t just a robbery gone wrong. When a fight happens in the NBA, it isn’t just a situation where tempers flared in a highly competitive game. When Don Imus called those ladies of Rutgers “nappy headed hoes” it wasn’t just because he was a knucklehead making an ignorant shock joke gone terribly wrong.

It was Hip Hop’s fault.

And our lesson for today kids?

"Hip Hop" is the new codeword for “nigger.”

Now, before anyone goes on some rant that Hip Hop isn’t just black, I must pose this question to you…

When the news says Hip Hop what do you think of?

Lie and say you think of some white kid in a Lacoste shirt. Tell a fib and say an Asian with a fresh pair of slacks. Hell, humor me and say Talib Kweli and Lupe Fiasco.

The truth is you visualize a black man with sagging pants, tattoos, a ball cap and a mean mug. He probably can’t speak English well and brandishes a firearm at all times. He’s probably the type of guy that makes uptight conservatives cross the street.

Notice I didn’t say woman? Man. Black. Mean. Violent. Ignorant. Nigger.

So when they say “Hip Hop is responsible,” they really mean “Niggers are responsible.”

When they say “Hip Hop is ruining our children,” what they really mean is “Niggers are ruining our children.”

These niggers are responsible for everything these days aren’t they? Virginia Tech shooting? Niggers. Don Imus? Niggers. Violence? Niggers. Infidelity? Niggers. Degradation of women? Niggers.

Hip Hop = Niggers (They’re interchangeable…go ahead…try it!)

Although Hip Hop does its fair share of magnifying these conditions (to the massive approval of corporations who laugh all the way to the bank), it’s really unfortunate that in the 1900’s BHH or BN (Before Hip Hop or Before Niggers) that none of these problems existed.

What’s that you say?

Rape, violence, racism and various other things linked to Hip Hop was around before Hip Hop?

No way! *oozing of sarcasm*

It’s funny how “they” blame Hip Hop for the overbearing emphasis on ridiculous jewelry. I could have swore that people like Nicky Barnes and Frank Lucas were flashy before Hip Hop was mainstream. Curtis Mayfield didn’t make them who they were and the music wasn’t to blame for Wilt Chamberlain sexing up thousands of women. Sex existed before Too Short and Luke. Dope pushers were around before Young Jeezy. Pimping has been a part of society even before Suga Free.

For much of the media, Hip Hop somehow created all of these wonderful things and America was heaven on earth before Kurtis Blow rapped about basketball.

But it isn’t just Fox News that contributes to the new nigger word.

You have Toms (as in Uncle) like Jason Whitlock who lend their black handed stamp of approval on this nonsense. Let’s blame Hip Hop for the murder of Sean Taylor. Let’s not blame impoverished communities that existed well before the Sugar Hill Gang uttered a single word on record. The reason for black on black crime has nothing to do with Hip Hop – rather the conditions and volatile society that we live in which has existed for years. To point the finger at Hip Hop is about as outlandish as saying the video game Grand Theft Auto is responsible for the Columbine shootings…

What’s that?

They linked the two already?

Excuse me, my bad…

I’ve smoked a shitload of people in Call of Duty 4 but I never really got the urge to pick up an AK47 and go on a killing spree for “my” country. Hell, Mario never made me want to squish a turtle, pick up the shell and throw it at someone. But I enjoy the game.

If you think T.I. bought all those guns trying to find that one cool weapon Master Chief uses from Halo 3, then you are probably in the same line that says Michael Vick was influenced by “Who Let The Dogs Out?” I rest my case.

When Whitlock blamed Hip Hop for Sean Taylor’s death, he might as well have just said “Niggers are responsible for his death.” If you really think black folks are stupid enough to allow a 50 Cent song to influence crime, then you should also think that those same people would kill off “insurgents” because Arnold Schwarzenegger wacked his fair share in movies. Silly isn’t it?

Basically what I’m saying is that people don’t need a soundtrack to do dumb shit. They just do it.

Those young men were targeting a man who had more than them. Jealousy and envy isn’t Hip Hop. If I’m not mistaken, burglary existed well before Hip Hop. The concept of stealing from someone who has more than you isn’t a “Hip Hop” thing. Gun violence isn’t a “Hip Hop” thing. It’s the American way.

Don’t get me wrong, Hip Hop does reinforce some negative stereotypes in our community that has super conservatives shaking their head while saying “those niggers are at it again.” It does make it really difficult to defend the culture when all that’s seen on TV is a bunch of rubbish while the other elements of Hip Hop remain underground. But, to place blame on a culture that is much more than sagging pants and ice grills is outlandish. Continued on page 2 »