I have a few gripes with the hand that gangsta rap has had in characterizing our culture. There are a lot of positive elements that come from hip-hop, but sometimes the negatives are far more noticeable and, in this case, far more numerous. The obvious problem with gangsta rap is that it perpetuates negative stereotypes that black men are thugs; interested in violence, sex, drugs, money, and materialistic things that satisfies the self. In the same stereotype, black women seem to be money-hungry sex objects. Many of us are susceptible to falling into a pattern that parallels those stereotypes; just look around. Rap has emerged as a lucrative business and a major cash cow for corporations like Sony Music and Time Warner. And it is disappointing that some of us are still willing to sing and dance for the heads of industry while comparatively gaining some spare change. Spike Lee commented about how my Life got flipped turned upside down And I'd like to take a minute just sit right there I'll tell you how I become the prince of a town called Bel-Air In west Philadelphia born and raised On the playground is where I spent most of my days Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin', all cool And all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school When a couple of guys they were up to no good Started makin' trouble in my neighborhood I got in one little fight and my mom got scared And said, "You're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air." I whistled for a cab and when it came near The license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror If anything I could say that this cab was rare But I thought, "Nah, forget it. Yo home to Bel-Air!" I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8 And I yelled to the cabby yo holmes smell ya later Looked at my kingdom I was finally there To sit on my throne as the prince of Bel-Air.
