Random thoughts this Friday morning...
Couple of things on my mind today...
1) Everyone is talking about Michael Jordan and his divorce settlement with ex-wife Juanita. They're like, "Ooh, she's taking him for half," etc. But you know what? I think she deserves the money. Everyone's talking about pre-nup this, and pre-nup that, but truthfully, I don't really believe in them.
I guess if he got remarried, perhaps he'd sign one. But take my hubby and I for example. We are both doing "okay." Not great, not spectacular just yet, but just "okay." If my writing career takes off and I suddenly find my getting bylines in tons of mags, my own radio shot, guest stints on shows like "Today" or "The View," etc, what does that mean for my husband? Was he there on the sidelines supporting me? Helping me get to where I am? If so, then maybe he does deserve some money. Same thing with Juanita and MJ. I don't really know what type of wife she was, but we know being married to a superstar like MJ can't be a picnic.
2) I didn't want to weigh in with the Don Imus situation, but I feel like I have to now after hearing some of Snoop Dogg's comments. He says that what Imus said is different from rappers from rappers only call women from the hood hoes. Women who aren't doing anything with their lives.
Sigh. I don't even know where to begin. I'm so over Snoop at this point. I've been disgusted with hip-hop for a while now and haven't listened to a full rap CD since Jay-Z "The Black Album." (Although he's not the most clean-cut rapper either.) But Imus did have a point. Rappers disrespect women right and left. And even if their lyrics don't, their videos sure do. I've had to fight long and hard not to succumb to the video girl ideal and I damn sure don't want my daughter growing up and thinking this is okay. I want my daughter to know her best asset is her brain.
1) Everyone is talking about Michael Jordan and his divorce settlement with ex-wife Juanita. They're like, "Ooh, she's taking him for half," etc. But you know what? I think she deserves the money. Everyone's talking about pre-nup this, and pre-nup that, but truthfully, I don't really believe in them.
I guess if he got remarried, perhaps he'd sign one. But take my hubby and I for example. We are both doing "okay." Not great, not spectacular just yet, but just "okay." If my writing career takes off and I suddenly find my getting bylines in tons of mags, my own radio shot, guest stints on shows like "Today" or "The View," etc, what does that mean for my husband? Was he there on the sidelines supporting me? Helping me get to where I am? If so, then maybe he does deserve some money. Same thing with Juanita and MJ. I don't really know what type of wife she was, but we know being married to a superstar like MJ can't be a picnic.2) I didn't want to weigh in with the Don Imus situation, but I feel like I have to now after hearing some of Snoop Dogg's comments. He says that what Imus said is different from rappers from rappers only call women from the hood hoes. Women who aren't doing anything with their lives.
Sigh. I don't even know where to begin. I'm so over Snoop at this point. I've been disgusted with hip-hop for a while now and haven't listened to a full rap CD since Jay-Z "The Black Album." (Although he's not the most clean-cut rapper either.) But Imus did have a point. Rappers disrespect women right and left. And even if their lyrics don't, their videos sure do. I've had to fight long and hard not to succumb to the video girl ideal and I damn sure don't want my daughter growing up and thinking this is okay. I want my daughter to know her best asset is her brain.
I remember seeing Snoop on the red carpet with the women on the leash and I couldn't believe my eyes. As ugly as Imus' comments were, I don't think it compares to what Snoop did and has done. Why aren't we mad at the rappers? Why is it okay for them to treat women the way they do?
From this point on, I have to be more careful about the music I listen to. I'm not listening to artists whose message I wouldn't want my daughter to hear. [Kind of off the subject, but have you heard Corrine Bailey Rae's CD? It's wonderful.] My upcoming project with Ms. Bowles will help be part of the solution I hope [details coming soon!]
7 comments:
Hopefully the Imus controversy will put pressure on rappers to clean up their lyrics...but i doubt if that will happen-
I agree. Now that I have a child, I don't listen to alot of music that downgrades or is negative. I have that Corrine Bailey rae and I love it... anyway, I hope that this and Michael Richards' comments will force us to look at ourselves and watch what we say. But just because someone else says or does something doesn't make it okay for you to do it.... especially when you are grown and know that it's wrong..
Amen and amen, Tara!
I can't believe Snoop has those women on dog chains! Sad that they complied.
Lord help up all...
MJ needs to give up half. It is what it is. I don't feel sorry for him; he won't go hungry.
As for rappers like Snoop Dogg, I have some opinions, but first I'd like to day I haven't purchased a rap CD since Common's last and I do not listen to hip-hop radio if my son is nearby. That said, how mad at Snoop can you be if for some sad reason he can find women willing to wear collars? I'm sure he didn't have to hold them down, he just had to pay them. Maybe the fight isn't against rappers at all. Maybe we should be trying harder to teach our young women to love and respect themselves so that rappers won't be able to find women willing to do anything to be in a music video.
Quick: I'm glad Imus put his foot in his mouth because now perhaps a dialogue can start.
Sincere: Isn't that Corrine Bailey Rae CD amazing? It's one of those CDs I can just put on and go about my day, a nice little soundtrack to my life.
Paula and Keith: I know Snoop is only half the problem. I want to grab those women by the shoulders and say, "Wake up! This is not what you need to be doing!" But what do I know? *shrug*
I agree with Juanita- she is definitely getting fairly compensated and I can not even begin to imagine how difficult her world has been these last 20 years. On Imus I have been working on my own post. I won't bother to include his name in there but I will agree that the dialogue that is opening right now is the most refreshing I've seen in some time. My sons have never seen the degrading videos or been exposed to the mainstream rap music. Mainstream being the key word. There are plenty of positive artists out there but the record companies will never endorse them since they only believe filth and garbage will sell the numbers they want. Until people stop supporting the trash the garbage won't ever get taken out. Looking forward to hearing more about your new project.
That Journalist,
1. Half of two million is still one million Micheal Jordan will survive. And YES she deserves half super stardom comes with a very personal sacrifice...privacy!
2. Imus's statements are about 6th on a list of things he has said in the past in the order of racism, sexism, and homophobia. The networks needed an out believe me. If you listen to conservative talk radio they are turning Don Imus into somewhat of a martyr. This does not bode well.
Finally Hip-Hop to me died a long time ago somewhere after Public Enemy but before NWA. I can't turn on BET without seeing that skin sells, drug promotion sells, and that we are powerless to stop it. No matter how much Snoop pulls those women on chains believe me Al Sharpton wont step up to stop him.
Alex D
http://theapocalypsepapers.blogspot.com
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