So Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (of Run-DMC) is hosting a new reality show called The Kings of Rap that will focus on discovering a “positive” rap star. That means a rapper who doesn’t glorify violence, degrade women, or use profanity.
Mike Bruno at EW.com makes a good point that this show has potential, so long as it doesn’t focus on “parenting” the contestants with a lot of tsk-tsk lessons about how terrible the rest of the rap world has become. If the series focuses on the exciting possibilities of “positive rap”—if it proves that “clean language” isn’t the same as “spineless dorkery”—then it might produce something great. Otherwise, it will only give negative rap more power.
I hope some of the contestants are women, since the disappearance of the female MC has been one hip-hop’s most disappointing recent trends. Also, I hope they get Speech from Arrested Development to guest judge. His music was always really positive, and I want to know what he’s up to now, damn it darn it!
What do you guys think? Would you watch this show? As Mike Bruno asks, who are your fave positive rappers?
While you consider those questions, please enjoy “Mr. Wendal:”
6 responses so far ↓
1 Rube Goldberg // Mar 5, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I probably won’t be watching this show — American Idol uses up all of my interest in singing reality shows. However, I find myself really conflicted about the mission of this show. There’s nothing wrong with the goal of trying to find a positive rapper, just like there wouldn’t be a problem with a show finding the next Christian rock superstar or the new Raffi. But this goal is being framed in a way that is a little too Tipper Gore for my taste.
Let’s take the premise that the show is trying to find “a rapper who doesn’t glorify violence, degrade women, or use profanity.” In terms of degrading women, rap is not the only genre that does this yet it is often the one targeted. Have times changed so much that the weekly Bret Michels Degradation Love-in on VH1 doesn’t even raise an eyebrow?
As far as profanity goes, there is the idea that sometimes you need four letters words to get a point, or at least the emphatic nature of a point, across. Substantive rap music is about challenging the status quo and points travel farther with “I’m mad as Hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” than “pardon me, but I verily disagree.”
The glorification of violence is an area of concern. Perhaps if the violence in rap music was more metaphorical it might not be such a big deal, but I don’t think that’s the case. Of course, this kind of goes back to the previous point that if the status quo is so closely intertwined with violence, artists are going to be mad and rap is a way of rising up to challenge what is going on in the society.
If the rappers on this show are able to create substance without four letter words, degrading women or violence, more power to them. Some of the rappers on Miss Rap Supreme were able to rap about topics (family and dreams, for example) that didn’t drop f-bombs all over the place. But if the raps are about puppies and rainbows and little substance, so what?
2 Mark Blankenship // Mar 5, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Very well said, Rube. There is a time for violence in art and for cursing. I do hope the rappers on this show can say something meaningful and not just make bland, inoffensive music (which is ultimately as bad as expletive songs about ho-slapping, really.)
I’m glad that we both watched Ms. Rap Supreme.
3 Nicole McPherson // Mar 23, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I think this is a good no great idea I represent a group that has been in the making called Understood Struggle it started in 07 between my two good friends chris and jason they make their own beats and write thier own lyrics, they talk about everything from struggles in life, war, family, friendships, love, pretty much everything, they have done open mic nights here and there and have gotten the same positive feedbacks on there performances people are at first stand offish when they hear a rap performance then are amazed at what they hear, chris sings and raps in songs and jason raps and does ablibs. We went to atlanta and recorded there first song together “Don’t Quit” which pushes people to know that whatever life brings at you to never give up and to keep going good huh?….Weve had people that listen to straight country bobbin there heads and crossin over to hear more of the influential songs they make which is a good feeling that obviously for once in a while positvive music thats rap is still around. So like i said I think this is a wonderful idea and hopefully you can keep us in consideration to coming on this current show to show there wonderful talents to you!! Keep posting more information please about this up comin reality show and i hope to hear or see yall really soon thank you for your time and this great oppurtunity!!
4 13th disciple // Apr 27, 2009 at 2:22 pm
i think this show will work since negative rap promotes the negative stereo typical images of blacks especially black men. we were stripped of our knowledge and self idenity through 400 years of slavery so since many of us have no self idenity or self knowledge we accept the negative images that society has labeled us as as we make them seem positive and we get paid millions of dollars to promote these negative images of ourselves thats all done by design to keep us in bondage to who we really are. originally we are kings and queens made in GODS image not societies image of us. world history, black history and old testament scriptures will tell us who we are. im a conscious hip hop artist and i would love to get the oppourtunty to become the next positive rapper how can i get on the show or submitt my music my email is disciple4god@hotmail.com cell 678 668 3483 gerald hall aka 13th disciple.
5 THE STREET PRINCEOPAL // Apr 28, 2009 at 1:53 pm
IVE ALREADY INVENTED THE POSITIVE RAP STYLES YEARS AGO” WHILE ALL THE EGO MANICS MADE MILLIONS I BEEN IN THE REAL GHETTO PERFORMING STOP THE VIOLENCE MUSIC, UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY EVENTS, CHURCH MUSICALS with WWJD WHAT WOULD JESUS DO AND MORE!…hOLLYWOOD CATS LIKE DARREL ALWAYS LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE OR REALLY TRYING TO BITE AND CAPITAVATE OFF A POOR MANS DREAM…POSITIVE RAP” I PENNED IT” I PERFORM IT , I LIVE IT” its a style of music created for people like run dmc stars to acknowledge , not rediscover like columbus did..
my rap PUT THE GUNS DOWN a positive rap found on my myspace page ….made GARY INDIANA Thugs/gangbangers put em down” Now gary indiana is no longer the no#1 murder capitol” yall act like you dont see me” ….BUT I KNOW YOU HEAR ME”…..STREET PRINCEOPAL;…Positive Rap music Founder”
…want me to perform it?..jus call me or e-mail me darel” its that simple”…and ye sim a big fan of yours…ya ouaugt ta know me dude” 4 real”
6 HooD Spiritual // Jun 28, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I think This is a great idea, I think this show, will show the true skill and talent of hiphop because, its easy to rap in a negitive fashion,and takes more skill to rap in a positve fashion and make people steal want to listen to it over and over again, check out my mypace page, Myspace.com/realest86 and you get the positive music that the world will see when the time is right Much Love HoodSpiritual
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