Rap and the First Amendment

[Eklecticwon]

This country is great because in America, citizens have the right to say whatever they wan't, period. I'ts not up for debate. For instance, I have the right to say that "I'm tired of pussy-ass, thin skinned, freedom haters, looking to sue and ban everything that gives them a butt hurt". God bless America. Why would anyone want to change that?

[MrObenauer]

@buffsfan14 If you tell your history students that anything besides threatening harm to someone or slandering them isn't protected by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution you're deceiving them, and I don't want a bunch of people running around thinking that it's illegal to say controversial things because that will continue the decline of the Constitution in our society. The 1st Amendment is to protect controversial speech the popular speech doesn't require protection. Don't like, don't listen.

[jimmyjohnsonrocks123]

Yes, because the first amendment doesn't include obscenities.

[shortstuffsteph2]

my teacher showed this in american gov. funny stuff

[stewpidaso26]

there pissed about don imus? listen to most rap music. they say way worse about eachother. i dont agree with any of it. but the knife should cut both was. callin someone a racial word is racist whether if it come from someone who is black or white. in music or not in music. racial words isnt art

[buffsfan14]

It's called "Looking Over A City" by Quannum Spectrum.

[fender2850]

what is the song at 4:00?

[poopybutt554]

they guna have to know it one way or the other why bother blocking it, its stupid trying to censor shit life is life and who cares fuck em i know you cant give a fuck less about these kids b/c if most of you did we wouldnt have ghettos and hoods anymore.

[xcolompapi]

@poopybutt554 and this is why some people think that blacks, hispanics and other minorities are uneducated scumbags...curse, it's life....steal, it's life....talk like a moron, it's life....get high/drug deal, it's life...."bust a cap" or carry a weapon because it makes you "more manly" ( A COWARD I would say...too chicken to use his fists), it's life...Put some Rims on it, yet the car itself's a piece of crap. I'm cool!!!. I am Hispanic, don't include me in that brain-dead foolish urban culture

[rockboot90]

@xcolompapi call it a brain-dead foolish urban culture, but it's still a culture.

[andwithoutrepose]

Regardless if you like it or not, it is protected by the first amendment. It all lies on the parents actually doing some parenting and trying to filter what goes into the kids minds. Parents, I think, are too much like children themselves to realize that their kids can do nothing unless they are allowed too. Parents can control what a kid wears, listens to, eats, watches, when they sleep etc. So if your kid is "tainted" by rap music or words (all be they distasteful) the blame is w/ the parents

[philnoll]

The problem is that mainstream rap is controlled speech. The hip hop elite are all connected to the financial oligarchs. Its all part of an occultist agenda. Even the mainstream rappers I respect, I don't buy their message. Its illuminati.

[Carlosarroyo2010]

people plain and simple everybody in this world is a hypocrite .. that whats this guy making the video ... sorry buddy the truth

[FWYGINOND]

It's still gonna taste like piss... an I don't like piss.

[TazHall]

Yeah, it's too bad these rappers don't use their talent for something useful and speak truth to the masses instead of encouraging social deterioration.

I haven't listened to rap in for ever. I have found some new artists though, like Hazakim who are incredibly gifted and talk about some really unconventional stuff typical to rap. They even criticize rap WITH rap.

Speak truth to the masses, man!

Toss the "hate speech" legislation".

[1Mic89]

@TazHall not all rap is negative. check out krs-one for example. he speaks truth

[TazHall]

No, I agree. That's basically what I was saying, Mic.

I looked up that artist too. Sounds like some good old school stuffs, I like what I hear so far, thanks!

[hunterkiller232134]

I'm not a fan of rap, and I hate all the "offensive" lyrics, but the instant you try to say that I or anyone else can't say what they want, and spit on the First Amendment, then you're not an American.

[prowlifik]

Correct me if iam wrong but you want rappers to make music that would only please you ? sir with all due respect if you dont like the station then shut the fuck up and change it. you come accross as another conservitive that whats to take away rights from other americans.

[strolchi10]

Its simpel you dont like some lyriks dont listen to it you dont ned the goverment to take away the first amendment to protect youre ears you can do that yourself! Stop asking for big goverment and grow up!

[xxDogsoldierxx]

actually look around...the first amendment means shit these days...our constitution is being raped.

[chugshhh]

FUCK this shit its parents fault 4 letting their kids watch grown ups stuff plus what do kids lose by watching a video? innocence? nah they will find out sooner or later, plus rap makes the country better, for example 50 cent is rich 'cause of rap and he built a park on NYC, its one thing for the other.

[Chaoman60]

Our Constitution and Bill of Rights should be considered almost holy. Don't like it? Fuck you, cocksucking asslicking motherfuckers! As Americans, we have these rights and it shouldn't be turned down by unconstitutional legislation such as prosecuting hateful speech. Really, not to be racist or sexist, if i weren't white or if i were a chick, i'd get away with all kind of motherfuckin shit.

[Chaoman60]

Where the hell was i going with this? oh yeah. Government is supposed to PROTECT our rights, not turn them down. Government isn't supposed to discriminate like it used to, nor like it does now where white males are considered just plain bad and everyone else runs free. Damn reverse-nazis. Maybe I should go to Switzerland. I hate war. They have a strong military that noone fucks with AND they're neutral. And, being they're neutral I can't be prosecuted for treason just saying this.

[chuckdudeson]

I'm sorry i'm black this may come off as me crying racial profiling but i'm not i'm on the fence about this one but...its not like rap is the only genre of music that has offensive lyrics..there is actually a rock song called "touch me again and i'll stab you in the face with a screwdriver" if you're going to criticize rap criticize other genres too i'm not saying its wrong or wrong but if it is should be wrong for everyone

[803honda]

the first amendment is supposed to assure you the freedom to say whatever you want no matter how offensive others may find it but washington,dc is currently trying to overturn the 1st amendment with new "hate speech" legislation which would basically allow them to imprison you for sayin somethin they dont like.

[outlaw27870]

First of all the First Amendment does not give people the right to say what they want.... it was made to protect you from goverment. So Unless someone is making threats to someone or something, there is really no law to stop someone from saying what they want to. I hate rap music, but if you dont want to hear it .....dont listen to it, Trust me if there is that many people against it.. stop buying the records and they will quit. I wouldnt watch someone piss in my cup then drink it.

[Coachramsies]

How pathetic is it seeing an angry nigger trying to give a lecture on other niggers from his high horse...

They rap the way they do because many people LIKE it and it SELLS well, and they have every right to do it.

Who the fuck are you to judge them on the reasons and justification for their actions...

[premo881]

Bottom line regardless of pros and cons of rap music, you just CAN NOT stop or make a law AGAINST someone saying something, can you imagine this country if you were persecuted or jailed because of how you felt or what you just said...scary thought.

[WereSoDoomed]

In our politicly correct society which thumbs its nose at the 1st ammendment, a person can be prosecuted, thrown in jail or black balled by the media if you offend someone. So, why is it the offense shit that comes out of certain rappers mouths is acceptable? Why are they allowed to skate? I guess I should carry my harmonica in my pocket at all times in case I offend someone, that way I can get a 'get out of jail' card cause I can claim I'm an artist.

[baalyezidi]

look.. i dont really like rap.. i hate all that womanizers shits and all that badwords shit.. but guess what.. ITS THEIR FUCKING RIGHT.. PERIOD.. if u think thats wrong.. then u belong in another country..

Its simple.. u dont like certain shit.. DONT WATCH IT OR LISTEN TO IT..

Good video by the way..

[zencapopoca]

Fuck Yeah lyrics are protected....momma bought cable. I love hip hop, and not that gangster rap shit, Mos Def, Common, Viktor Vaughn,...ill shit. And though I disagree with the mentlify and the lyrics of 50cent, I will always defend his right to be the new American blackface actor.

[supak108]

alrite now not all rap is a positive i agree with u there however when u look at artists like ice t who invented gangster rap sure he is talkin about drugs nd murder however it opens peoples eyes to what goes on in the hood. maybe where u nd i grow up or grew up fuck or shit is a bad word. but when u grow up in south central those words are commonplace nd arent a bad thing to say. Rap can be bad in ur eyes but to people who live in the ghetto its a cry to show how people live in the hood

[John031989]

Great job! As much as I believe hip hop has a very negative influence on society, I have to admit it is protected by the first amendment. If anyone out there actually believes rap is has a positive effect on our country and culture, I would really like to know how. How on Earth can a massively consumed medium that takes pride in glorifying violence, prostitution, drug sale and use, and the degradation of women improve a society?

[Coreythecheese]

I dont think there are a great many people who would say that rap has an overall positive effect - but Earth actually would lose out if such music was outlawed or censored. Not specifically this music, but being told what you can and cant say is wrong, but also, your sense of right and wrong is probably different to mine. We are offended by different things, due to our upbringing and the way we see things, but because in our culture we are offended by certain things doesnt mean that other...

[Coreythecheese]

...cultures shouldnt have a right to express their views and upbringing. Would we censor someone on tv descrbing what it was like to grow up under Hitlers regime, being bombarded with lies and everything, but being in a situation where it was all they knew?

Maybe a drastic comparison, but I think its the same thing.

Whetehr positive or negative, these poeple have a right to express themselves. Yes, the genre is bullshit now, and has no artistic value anymore, but if they want to embrace...

[Coreythecheese]

...such trip, why not let them? its become a joke anyway, so stop feeding this genre the fuel it needs. Its on the hinges of dying, but by continuing the controversy we allow the mediocre crap to still have a market and well a voice.

Sorry for the long windedness XD

[John031989]

Yeah but there are certain universal moral standards that all reasonable citizens live by. Hip hop music and culture seeks to remove these from society, which couldn't possibly be constructive, and is therefore detrimental. But again I do agree that it is protected by the first amendment and cannot be legally regulated.

[Nawledge1]

You need to study Hip Hop again if you really think so...

[TeeAvo]

This is total bullshit.

The first amendment is THERE. It is there very fucking Clear.

Congress shall not make any laws to abridge the Freedom of Speech.

No matter what the fuck he says, he is protected under the Law. You know why? Because It's a free country, that's the principles that the country was founded ON.

If parents really gave half a fuck about this, they'll get off the goddamn couch and raid their goddamn kids.

[zaunbie]

You might not "like piss" but it doesn't mean it isn't protected speech.The first amendment exists to protect the speech we hate as well as what we like.I don't like country music but i'm not going to say it's not art.

[SouthdownJunkiez]

i disagree. rap is in fact a form of art as well as expression. one must extract a story each time simliar to that of the concept of a poem. And it is not only the black kids who may grow up in this environment. White kids may grow up in such environments making them express themselves exactly how any color rapper would....

[Harman117]

Very good!

[scboog]

Great job by the best teacher at BHS!