Archive for Monday, January 14, 2008
Legislature to see proposal that would condemn gangsta rap
January 14, 2008
Advertisement
Topeka — The Legislature could make an unusual statement about popular culture this year and criticize gangsta rap for profanity-laced language and what critics consider messages that demean women and promote violence.
Rep. Peggy Mast, an Emporia Republican, plans to introduce a resolution condemning gangsta rap after legislators begin their annual session Monday. She’s doing so at the urging of Sonny Scroggins, a Topeka activist who has long liked rap — he names 50 Cent as a favorite — but is tired of the language rappers use.
While gangsta rap has been a target of criticism for years, a legislative resolution condemning it is unusual, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. In Kansas, resolutions typically are reserved for honoring people or notable achievements, expressing the Legislature’s position on federal issues or urging specific actions by an executive branch agency.
“It’s just that we can send a message that this is not something that Kansas approves of or welcomes,” Mast said during a recent interview.
Jonathan Lamy, a spokesman for the recording industry group, said it has heard of only one other legislative condemnation of gangsta rap, in Connecticut. One of that state’s U.S. senators, Joe Lieberman, has been an outspoken critic of some popular culture for years.
Also, last year, a congressional committee had a hearing in which gangsta rap was criticized.
Lamy noted that the industry began labeling music in 1985 so that parents and other consumers would know what contains explicit lyrics or content not suitable for children. The labeling program started in response to complaints about rock lyrics.
“The First Amendment tells lawmakers that they may lot limit speech merely because they find it objectionable,” Lamy said.
Top ads RSS
- STYLISTS Needed for full service salon in Lawrence, Ks. Full ...
- Technical Services Representative Lawrence Paper Company, an established leader in ...
- City of Columbia
- The Eldridge Full time front desk position. Must have prior ...
- Teaching Counselors Community Living Opportunities has immediate openings for Full ...
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- AP: McCain taps Alaska governor as VP running mate August 29, 2008 · 304 comments
- Blog: Sixth and Wakarusa loses another business August 29, 2008 · 38 comments
- Jubilant supporters fill Liberty Hall August 29, 2008 · 91 comments
- Field concerns August 27, 2008 · 79 comments
- Blog: KU grad could be on tap to take over Anheuser-Busch's North American operations August 29, 2008 · 2 comments
- Barack Obama wins historic nomination August 28, 2008 · 123 comments
- Report recommends Judges Malone and Martin be retained August 29, 2008 · 10 comments
- Kansas City gaining reputation as green city; Lawrence to study its efforts August 29, 2008 · 3 comments
- On the street: Are you interested to see who John McCain picks as his vice presidential running mate? August 29, 2008 · 73 comments
- Palin's rise to VP candidate caps meteoric rise August 29, 2008 · 27 comments
- AP: McCain taps Alaska governor as VP running mate August 29, 2008
- Kansas City gaining reputation as green city; Lawrence to study its efforts August 29, 2008
- Recycling effort at KU football games boosts charities August 29, 2008
- Jubilant supporters fill Liberty Hall August 29, 2008
- Rivera ready to go August 29, 2008
- An American in Prague: Koufax frontman takes inspiration from years straddling two continents August 29, 2008
- Lawrence public schools superintendent will retire at the end of the year August 28, 2008
- Pool season to end; dogs swim Tuesday August 29, 2008
- Time for new beginning August 28, 2008
- ‘Wild Science’ is coming to KU August 29, 2008
14 January 2008 at 7:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tanzer (Anonymous) says…
So what? Kansas government doesn't like gangsta rap - that isn't who the recording artists are selling to anyway.
14 January 2008 at 8:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
dminear60 (Anonymous) says…
If most people knew just how silly and useless some of the resolutions are that are read in both houses of the legislature they would have a fit. What a fine waste of the Legislatures time and resources.
14 January 2008 at 8:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Marion Lynn (Marion Lynn) says…
I remember that in tone of the yearbooks published by The Encyclopaedia Brittanica in '57-60, Rock'n Roll is referred to as “jungle music” and Elvis Presley as a promoter of Negro music.
I have a feeling that we are returning to those thrilling days of yesteryear and I don't like it one little bit.
Kansas..just as stupid and bigoted as you think it is!
14 January 2008 at 8:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
dminear60 (Anonymous) says…
scenebooster:
Laughable but oh so typical of Kansas Republican politics.
14 January 2008 at 8:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
moo (Anonymous) says…
The job of the government is to maintain roads, not dictate morality. Ugh. Waste of time and money.
14 January 2008 at 9:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
fu7il3 (Anonymous) says…
The government condemning something can only make it more popular.
14 January 2008 at 9:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
BrianR (Anonymous) says…
So I guess now wouldn't be a good time to propose a bill making Baby Got Back the state song?
Seems that Peggy is completely incapable of implementing positive change or understanding the unique character of her community.
14 January 2008 at 9:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Wilbur_Nether (Anonymous) says…
Rep. Mast is a very nice woman, and has a strong character. She is hardly the smartest woman I have ever met. I have not spoken with her in several years; I doubt she has listened to all that much gangsta rap, though. Even if she has, were I to see her today I would tell her I prefer our legislature spend its time on higher-impact activities.
Hmmm. Not a bad idea. I feel a letter to my legislators coming on….
14 January 2008 at 9:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
beobachter (Anonymous) says…
Don't these idiots have some real work to do?
14 January 2008 at 10:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Wilbur_Nether (Anonymous) says…
You should ask that question of their constituents. If Kansans want more reasonable representation in our legislature, we have to elect them. From ALL districts. We have no one to blame but ourselves.
14 January 2008 at 10:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Rabbitgoesthump (Anonymous) says…
I do not like gangsta rap at all, I think it is deemening and offensive and really annoying, and for that reason, I just dont listen to it….
But for some reason other people happen to enjoy it and thats there choice…
Honestly as much as I would like rap to just dissapeare its not fair to ban just one type of music, because a few people dont like it…
and if she thinks doing this will make all the black people move out of kansas, shes wrong, to do that you would have to stop offering welfare, then they will leave…
But dont go after the music…
14 January 2008 at 10:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Wilbur_Nether (Anonymous) says…
Wow, Rabbitgoesthump. Could you possibly have made a more racist post?
14 January 2008 at 10:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
MaryKatesPillStash (Anonymous) says…
Rabbitgoesthump, before you make generalizations about individuals on welfare (and what a broad, outdated word you use), perhaps you should know that most people on welfare are white.
http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-welfareb…
14 January 2008 at 10:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Wilbur_Nether (Anonymous) says…
I don't think “individuals on welfare” is the group that Rabbitgoesthump was generalizing about.
14 January 2008 at 11:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
dminear60 (Anonymous) says…
Rabbitgoesthump: It is a bad assumption on your part that only black people listen to rap. You know what happens when you assume…it makes an ass out you and me.
14 January 2008 at 11:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tolawdjk (Anonymous) says…
I've got to admit Rabbit, that has got to be the most stereotypical, racist comment I have read in here for years.
14 January 2008 at 12:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Agnostick (Anonymous) says…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9bS1dE0p…
14 January 2008 at 12:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Paul R. Getto (Paul R. Getto) says…
How about a resolution against gangster politicians? This would, of course, include both parties.
14 January 2008 at 1:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Reality_Check (Anonymous) says…
rabbitgoesthump is just an ignorant redneck. Kansas is full of his type, and that's, along with resolutions like this one, is why we are the laughingstock of the rest of America.
It never ends, apparently.
14 January 2008 at 1:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
kristyj (Anonymous) says…
maybe it's just me, but kansas doesn't strike me as the gangsta rap target market, so why bother with this? purely my own opinion, but it seems to me that a lot of the themes & words they're complaining about are just as prevalent in country music.
14 January 2008 at 2:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
hawklet21 (Anonymous) says…
Right on, kristyj. I mean, doesn't Carrie Underwood's song “Before He Cheats” promote vandalism? Let's ban that too!
If parents want to censor their own children's music choices, while I don't agree with it, is perfectly fine. But if you don't like it, just don't listen! It is really that simple!
14 January 2008 at 2:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Agnostick (Anonymous) says…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GovJ4jAnr…
14 January 2008 at 2:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
You all are way off on this one. The gang leaders in Compton have their fingers on the pulse of Kansas politics. They'll do whatever the state legislature says.
—
Rabbitthump - White teenagers are the largest chunk of folks that buy rap music. The next time at a Klan rally, ask your associates to go see what their kids are listening too.
14 January 2008 at 3:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
At least gangsta rap has a good beat. Country music has nothing.
14 January 2008 at 3:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Marion Lynn (Marion Lynn) says…
At one time, Nashville, the traditional home of Country Music, had the highest suicide rate in the nation.
14 January 2008 at 3:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
bd (Anonymous) says…
sorry, gangsta crap is not music!
14 January 2008 at 5:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Kathy Getto (Kathy Getto) says…
bd (Anonymous) says…
sorry, gangsta crap is not music!
___________________________________________
Delete gangsta and insert Beatles and this is the same sentence that emanated from my dad's mouth in 1966 or so.
14 January 2008 at 7:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
black_butterfly (Anonymous) says…
LOL @ racist comments on this board and even more funny that some people are still dumb enough to think that all black people are on welfare. Bob is right, white teens buy the most rap music and concert tickets therefore making the rappers rich. Are they going to ban all of the heavy metal music and satanic rock that promotes violence also? Give me a break.
14 January 2008 at 9:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Marion Lynn (Marion Lynn) says…
Merely pandering to the white Xtians who are skeerd o'them darkies!
14 January 2008 at 9:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Wilbur_Nether (Anonymous) says…
We're the ones who elect these people.
We're getting the government we deserve.
15 January 2008 at 9:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
lounger (Anonymous) says…
Silly waste of time on her part! I suppose all the Poor farm wives whos husbands listen to country songs about leaving their wives and drinking are fine though? This is a very narrow view and its not what Our money should be wasted on.