10/24/06 - Rhymefest Pens Letter To British PM In Defense Of Hip Hop

that-damn-good · 10-24-2006, 01:50 PM

On October 19, 2006, I met with Tory Party leader [and very likely the next Prime Minister of Great Britain] David Cameron at the House of Commons in London last week to discuss Hip-Hop music & culture and policy issues. This originated from some comments he made about Hip-Hop and the subsequent letter I wrote to him in response to his comments. For this week's blog, I wanted to simply present the letter for those who have not read it, and I have also provided a Google link to a list of online press reactions to our meeting from around the world. Read the letter and the reactions, tell me your thoughts on the topic, and we will discuss what this really means in the next blog. Let's get started...

OTHER SIDE OF RAP
BY RHYMEFEST
Rhymefest
C/O Beth Brookfield Sony BMG
Bedford House
69-79 Fulham High Street
SW6 3JW

Dear Mr. Cameron,

My name is Rhymefest. You may not have heard of me, but I am a US rap artist and I wanted to write to you in response to your views on Hip-Hop.

After reviewing the comments made by you on the state of Hip-Hop and hip hop culture, I tend to agree with you more than not.

I agree that rap music and urban music depicts a life in the inner cities and poor communities that is often violent. I also agree that by glorifying and promoting violence via radio, TV and videos, it does give an acceptance for that behavior that is then negative for the community.

As a Grammy Award-winning artist, who has worked and written with many other rap artists such as Kanye West and ODB, I myself on occasion am guilty of contributing to the culture. I believe that the hip-hop community is definitely in a state of denial about our complicity with the glorification of drugs and violence. If I was a middle-aged politician who knew nothing about rap music and I turned on the radio, then I would understand exactly the way you feel about urban music.

However, although I agree with you that we are role models that affect our community and our music does play a role in people's behavior, beneath the surface there are artists making changes and making the difference and there is more to rap than what you see.

If you look closer and you examine beyond what is promoted to you as hip-hop, you'll see artists such as Kanye West, Common, Estelle, Lupe Fiasco and myself, Rhymefest, who don't make foul music at all.
Myself and Kanye West won a Grammy for this and it is a song that is recognized worldwide.

Common, who made an album called Be, conveyed that we can just be ourselves and be free to explore out own spirits and it has no negative connotation to it at all.

I think it is very easy to explore the negatives and it is very easy to exploit the bad in rap music. What I think you need to see, Mr. Cameron, is the other side to rap music. If you don't like it then you can come out and say that you don't but I know that you will like it.

My challenge is to ask that you sit down and have a cup of tea with me. In fact, let me come and perform for you. I am sure you will see that rap music is more than murder music or knife culture. If you truly believe this is a democracy then sit down and discuss with me the issues that you see.

And if you are correct, and your opinion of rap music is the same, then we should come together with the community; rappers, politicians and radio DJs, and have a wider discussion.

I think this is a better way to convey a point and make change than to just be against what appears to be rap culture.

Because, Mr. Cameron, this generalization is not all of us, it's just a few bad apples that spoil the bunch.
So I say to you, and to all of us, let's have a real discussion.

Let's solve the problem of the rap community in a civilized way and in a way that music can still be entertaining.
This way it can benefit everyone. Amen. I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,
Rhymefest

source:

_RottenApple_ · 10-24-2006, 02:02 PM

Props On This

Chobie · 10-24-2006, 02:17 PM

I HATE David Camron!

faraiking · 10-24-2006, 03:26 PM

fuk the tory leader he can suck my dogs dik

Fabuless · 10-24-2006, 04:11 PM

haha props...rhymefest? aint he the rapper on brand new..with kanye?

SouthSider · 10-24-2006, 06:38 PM

david cameron is an asshole, i dont mind blair. and of all the rappers to get...rhymfest?

Zhiwai · 10-25-2006, 12:48 AM

Props on this

adversary · 10-25-2006, 01:14 AM

wut a faggot, fucc him and fucc redcoats

10-24-2006, 01:50 PM	#1
that-damn-good Cerebral Assassin Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: MTL Posts: 7,589 Repped: 859 Repped 4,150 Times in 472 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	10/24/06 - Rhymefest Pens Letter To British PM In Defense Of Hip Hop 10/24/06 - Rhymefest Pens Letter To British PM In Defense Of Hip Hop On October 19, 2006, I met with Tory Party leader [and very likely the next Prime Minister of Great Britain] David Cameron at the House of Commons in London last week to discuss Hip-Hop music & culture and policy issues. This originated from some comments he made about Hip-Hop and the subsequent letter I wrote to him in response to his comments. For this week's blog, I wanted to simply present the letter for those who have not read it, and I have also provided a Google link to a list of online press reactions to our meeting from around the world. Read the letter and the reactions, tell me your thoughts on the topic, and we will discuss what this really means in the next blog. Let's get started... OTHER SIDE OF RAP BY RHYMEFEST Rhymefest C/O Beth Brookfield Sony BMG Bedford House 69-79 Fulham High Street SW6 3JW Dear Mr. Cameron, My name is Rhymefest. You may not have heard of me, but I am a US rap artist and I wanted to write to you in response to your views on Hip-Hop. After reviewing the comments made by you on the state of Hip-Hop and hip hop culture, I tend to agree with you more than not. I agree that rap music and urban music depicts a life in the inner cities and poor communities that is often violent. I also agree that by glorifying and promoting violence via radio, TV and videos, it does give an acceptance for that behavior that is then negative for the community. As a Grammy Award-winning artist, who has worked and written with many other rap artists such as Kanye West and ODB, I myself on occasion am guilty of contributing to the culture. I believe that the hip-hop community is definitely in a state of denial about our complicity with the glorification of drugs and violence. If I was a middle-aged politician who knew nothing about rap music and I turned on the radio, then I would understand exactly the way you feel about urban music. However, although I agree with you that we are role models that affect our community and our music does play a role in people's behavior, beneath the surface there are artists making changes and making the difference and there is more to rap than what you see. If you look closer and you examine beyond what is promoted to you as hip-hop, you'll see artists such as Kanye West, Common, Estelle, Lupe Fiasco and myself, Rhymefest, who don't make foul music at all. Myself and Kanye West won a Grammy for this and it is a song that is recognized worldwide. Common, who made an album called Be, conveyed that we can just be ourselves and be free to explore out own spirits and it has no negative connotation to it at all. I think it is very easy to explore the negatives and it is very easy to exploit the bad in rap music. What I think you need to see, Mr. Cameron, is the other side to rap music. If you don't like it then you can come out and say that you don't but I know that you will like it. My challenge is to ask that you sit down and have a cup of tea with me. In fact, let me come and perform for you. I am sure you will see that rap music is more than murder music or knife culture. If you truly believe this is a democracy then sit down and discuss with me the issues that you see. And if you are correct, and your opinion of rap music is the same, then we should come together with the community; rappers, politicians and radio DJs, and have a wider discussion. I think this is a better way to convey a point and make change than to just be against what appears to be rap culture. Because, Mr. Cameron, this generalization is not all of us, it's just a few bad apples that spoil the bunch. So I say to you, and to all of us, let's have a real discussion. Let's solve the problem of the rap community in a civilized way and in a way that music can still be entertaining. This way it can benefit everyone. Amen. I look forward to your response. Yours faithfully, Rhymefest source: __________________

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10-24-2006, 02:02 PM	#2
_RottenApple_ Expectin' Jun3 1st. Join Date: May 2006 Location: Paradise Posts: 3,375 Repped: 973 Repped 386 Times in 57 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Props On This

10-24-2006, 02:17 PM	#3
Chobie Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Posts: 2,610 Repped: 35 Repped 759 Times in 337 Posts Neg Reps: 107 Neg Repped at 173 Times in 115 Posts	I HATE David Camron!

10-24-2006, 03:26 PM	#4
faraiking Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: HOOD Posts: 1,091 Repped: 71 Repped 271 Times in 38 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	fuk the tory leader he can suck my dogs dik

10-24-2006, 04:11 PM	#5
Fabuless Producer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 5,285 Repped: 2,380 Repped 204 Times in 59 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	haha props...rhymefest? aint he the rapper on brand new..with kanye?

10-24-2006, 06:38 PM	#6
SouthSider Mr. What It Do Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tha Infamous (Southside LDN) Posts: 1,685 Repped: 455 Repped 774 Times in 160 Posts Neg Reps: 28 Neg Repped at 25 Times in 19 Posts	david cameron is an asshole, i dont mind blair. and of all the rappers to get...rhymfest?

10-25-2006, 12:48 AM	#7
Zhiwai G_unit_soldier_Chang Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 9,469 Repped: 15 Repped 49 Times in 8 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Props on this

10-25-2006, 01:14 AM	#8
adversary Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CA Posts: 1,613 Repped: 301 Repped 94 Times in 25 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 2 Times in 2 Posts	wut a faggot, fucc him and fucc redcoats