Dr. Michael Eric Dyson @ BET Hip Hop Awards 07 -'Injustice'

http://www.blacktree.tv/

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, and his son Michael Dyson Jr., stopped by to chat with BlackTree TV Host Tashia Anderson to talk about hip hop, injustice and the Jena 6.

Hip Hop vs America or America vs Hip Hop: A Tale of Two Trials by Min. Paul Scott




Hip Hop was on trial twice last night. One was Hip Hop vs America Pt. 1, a prerecorded attempt by Black Entertainment Television to appease its viewers after years of complaints which came to a broil after last Summer's ill advised "Hot Ghetto Mess" Reality Show. The other was "America vs Hip Hop," sponsored by the Subcommittee of Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce . The first one was catered towards a predominately young, black teeny bopper audience who had just finished watching videos on "106 and Park" and wanted to to see if Nelly had gotten any new gold teeth since his last CD. The other was for the rest of mainstream America who have grown sick and tired of a bunch of young black "thugs" ruining "their" country.




The BET special was pretty much what you would expect from the company, a weak attempt at self criticism with bumpin' videos and applause signs. Perhaps Part 2 will get "deep" but Part 1 did little to elevate the "rap" beyond the realm of where it has been since C. Delores Tucker dissed 2 Pac (Tupac Shakur) back in the early 90's.




"You don't understand Hip Hop!"




"And you, young man, need to pull your pants up!"




You still have the same panelists from the older generation trying to to be a parent/buddy friend to 30 somethin' year old millionaire Hip Hop artists. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson did the Biggie rap thing that he has been showcasing since the mid 90's and rappers, Nelly and T.I. proved once again that loud "don't" make it right.




T.I. kinda lost me with the whole "I have to trick my fans into learning" logic. (or lack thereof)




Not to mention his brilliant theory that the problem with Hip Hop is "you got fake thugs rappin' about being real thugs who never were thugs instead of real rappers rappin' about being real...."




Oh, never mind.




And then Nelly came with the "it's not fair to judge me based on a four minute rap video with credit cards being slid through a black woman's booty" defense.




What else can we judge you by Nelly? Your PH.D dissertation on "The Juxtaposition of Capitalism and Marxist Leninism?"




Down the way in DC, "From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images," hearing called together by Senator Bobby Rush featured Master P and David Banner along with activists and industry big wigs such as Edgar Broffman and Doug Morris.




Needless to say, the theme of the hearing was problematic in itself.




Although Hip Hop activists have raised this issue over the last five months, it cannot be overstated that this current national discussion on the state of Hip Hop is a diversionary tactic in the aftermath of the Michael Richards/Don Imus controversies to take the focus off of institutionalized racism and white male bigotry and replace it with a focus on dirty dancin' and baggy pants.




While the efforts of former Black Panther Bobby Rush may be commended, would his time not have been better served making sure that a thorough congressional hearing on Reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans takes place. Or hearings on COINTELPRO, for which groups like the Jericho Project have been advocating that could result in the exoneration of his former Panther comrades and other political prisoners still locked in jail and in exile ?




Also, it must be also noted that if we look at the emphasis that America has put on Hip Hop compared with the coverage of stories like the Jena 6 and the black woman that was tortured in West VA, the comparison is troubling.




What is unfortunate is that many of us do not see this current Hip Hop controversy in socio-political terms. While the kiddie converation on BET may have had a better looking stage, the meeting in DC could set public policy for generations to come.




Did anybody think to ask where the Hip Hop discussion fit in the agenda of the Subcommittee of Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection on a highly compartmentalized Capitol Hill?




Did anyone notice that the committee is in charge of dealing with some Homeland Security related matters? So which part of Hip Hop are the feds really concerned about; the "misogynist" lyrics of a Nelly or the inflammatory political rap of a M1 of Dead Prez?




http://energycommerce.house.gov/




At the end of the day , were we any closer to improving Hip Hop than were were before the BET program and congressional hearing?

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[chrisandlaw14]

Dr. Dyson is what hip hop needs and what not just hip hop we as ppl. Dr. Dyson knows the words to every 2 pac song and knows everyword in the dictionary. He is not against hip hop at all he supports it and research more of him and u will see.

[spowell619]

What a man! Thankyou Mr. Dyson for always bringing clarity to the lost minds in America.

[TheBustedGut]

Hey look...it's the black pied piper for all young ignorant black men. Get on wit cho bad self, my brotha!

[sexykatie90]

thumbs up if you like Dr. Michael Eric Dyson @ BET Hip Hop Awards 07 -'Injustice'

[IMFLORIDA305]

The interviewer needs to be educated on how to become a "natural" black woman.

[idiotfinder911]

racist!

[Campbell7204]

Or Michael Bell could just stop going around beating the crap out of people.

[jayrush93]

hey hey dont stereotype all white hip hop heads!!! I dont listen to fiddy... hip hop to me is about the graf artist and funky plus one more and kurtis blow that evolved to public enemy,rakim and krs!!! I dislike stereotyping!!

[robertosixninesix]

this guy is a true motha fuckas, realist of the real

[herbalthaternation]

BET= pop rap not hip hop

[jameelahere]

his son IS fine.