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| by kenn on 3/06/2006 01:23:00 PM |
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Petty hip-hop beef diverts focus from serious matters
Source:
Already, 2006 is shaping up as a year when hip-hop is at a major crossroads.
On the downside, we've seen some of the foulest and ugliest things happening. The tragic shooting death of a bodyguard (Israel Ramirez) at a recent Busta Rhymes video shoot in Brooklyn was one example. The well-attended press conference where Cam'ron elaborated on his beef with Jay-Z was another.
Cam'ron was once under contract to the Def Jam label, which is now run by Jay-Z. He stated he was breaking his separation agreement with Def Jam by attacking the music mogul and, hence, would be fined, under terms of the contract, more then $1 million. He also boasted that, since he has lots of money, the fine is no big deal. (Wisely, Jay-Z has decided to ignore the dust kicked up by Cam'ron.)
While all this was going on, we were seeing distressing reports about Hurricane Katrina evacuees being put out on the streets because the FEMA money being used to pay for their hotels and other temporary housing had run out. I couldn't help but think that Cam'ron could have won lots of hearts and minds by donating some of that $1 million to housing assistance for hurricane victims. Heck, he could have challenged his rap rivals to match his contribution.
While we deplore the feuds, we definitely embrace the more constructive efforts of artists like Juvenile. On a recent trip to the Bay Area, he unveiled the video for his song ``Get Ya Hustle On'' from his new album, ``Reality Check.'' In it, the New Orleans artist makes a serious political statement about the recovery efforts in his home city, citing what he describes as a woeful lack of progress, particularly in his native Ninth Ward, which was completely destroyed.
Juvenile said he has lost a lot of property there, but even sadder is that most of his family and friends have lost everything. In fact, on his visit here, he had with him a number of Ninth Ward evacuees who had lost their homes. The video, which was shot in the Ninth Ward, despite warnings from officials of the dangers and threats of contamination, shows the devastation.
Juvenile said officials were unhappy that the video would show what was really going on. He noted the government was quick to rehab the city's tourist areas in time for Mardi Gras but has completely neglected the Ninth Ward. He also mentioned that developers such as Donald Trump have been allowed into the Ninth Ward to survey the land, while many of its residents are still locked out. The video shows various people wearing masks of George Bush, Dick Cheney and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, as they stroll through the Ninth Ward ruins.
For Juvenile to take such a shot is significant, especially to those who remember his expressions of support for, and of confidence in, the government during the early days of the rescue efforts. After doing benefit concerts for hurricane victims and getting knee-deep into attempts to restore the city, he has now come to a different conclusion.
What a shame it is that the Cam'ron beef with Jay-Z got more media attention than Juvenile's efforts on behalf of the Ninth Ward.
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