If you listened to 2live Crew, NWA, Sir Mix a lot would you let your tweens listen to today's equive

[Anonymous]

I was driving down the road the other day an baby got back came on and I remembered when I started listening to it very young. After listening to the lyrics closely I am conflicted. When i was ages 10-12 i started listening to what I would consider very unsavory music because my parent's didnt really know about it. Would you let your tweens start listening to today's equivalent or even the original ones?

[Anonymous]

Depends what you mean by unsavory. If it's just swearing, I think my attitude would be that that's not appropriate to listen to with your parents, and (depending on the age of the kid), I'm not buying it for you.

If it's homophobic or misogynistic or racist, that's a whole different level of inappropriate for me, and I'd be sitting down to talk about what the lyrics mean and why I think they are offensive--and being clear that we don't think that's something in our family that we want to support or put money toward.

[Anonymous]

True I understand that but most of the rap music at that time was for example baby got back, talking about big butts and banging them, then there is 2live crew which was banned and then NWA is talking about gangster lifestyles. I am not sure there is really any "safe music", maybe bieber or some of the poppy stuff. As much as I hate that music I can see why parents are more inclined to be happy with the "pop" stuff.

[Anonymous]

2LiveCrew had a song called, "F*** the Police" or something to that effect (IIRC). I think that's just crap and wouldn't want my son listening to wholly uncivilized ideas /messages.

Baby Got Back is fairly harmless though and I don't consider it any different than Sexy Back or something like that.

[Anonymous]

On that note, "My anaconda DON'T WANT NONE UNLESS YOU GOT BUNS HON!"

[Anonymous]

NWA did F the Police PP.

I remember my brother watching Raw by Eddie Murphy and then running around calling girls fat hairy bitches. Not ok.

To the extent that I could control it, I would not let them listen to extremely sexual songs. Or at least have some sort of ongoing dialogue about all the sexuality in our culture.

Songs that reference inner city struggles or whatever wouldn't necessarily be banned. There's legitimate anger in those old Ice Cube/NWA songs. And duh, police brutality still exists.

[Anonymous]

Sure, but why encourage those hostile feelings in a bunch of kids who DIDN'T grow up in those areas?

[Anonymous]

you I mean if you look at the exact lyrics its pretty raunchy but I listened to them without really hearing the the exact words.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/sirmixalot/babygotback.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NWA did F the Police PP.

I remember my brother watching Raw by Eddie Murphy and then running around calling girls fat hairy bitches. Not ok.

To the extent that I could control it, I would not let them listen to extremely sexual songs. Or at least have some sort of ongoing dialogue about all the sexuality in our culture.

Songs that reference inner city struggles or whatever wouldn't necessarily be banned. There's legitimate anger in those old Ice Cube/NWA songs. And duh, police brutality still exists.

I agree with this poster. I find the misogyny, violence, and homophobia troublesome, but while there was talk of violence in Fuck Tha Police, there was also a reason for that anger.

I don't have tweens, but if I did I don't think I'd be in favor of listening to today's mainstream rap because in most of the songs the message is missing but the misogyny and violence remain. There's good (non-mainstream) hip hop that has a message that I'd let them listen to.

[Anonymous]

We continue to listen to music with unsavory lyrics, so it's just part of my daughter's everyday. I listen to a fair amount of music that doesn't reflect my own ethical/political ideals and I think it's fine for my daughter to do the same-as long as she understands the difference between song lyrics and the actual life she is living. I think there are some kinds of music I just would not want in my house-say neo-nazi death metal-but we have not had to have that conversation yet.

I'm okay with songs like "F the Police," but she would have to listen to my lecture on the history of police brutality in African American communities. Similarly, misogynistic lyrics inevitably lead to a lecture on feminist theory-so she can listen to what she wants, but I try and make it a little less fun.

[Anonymous]

I am curious if the people who claim that its ok to listen to F the police are in fact AA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious if the people who claim that its ok to listen to F the police are in fact AA

Two questions for you

Why does it matter?

Have you ever listened the song or read the lyrics?

[Anonymous]

It is not ok, however, as a mom to an almost 14 year old, they listen to it. My son listens to it on his phone and his friends tell him. The messages and lyrics don't really resonate, just like when we were kids. We talk about the music alot though.

[Anonymous]

I listened to the most vulgar stuff but was respectful enough not to do so in front of my parents. I will probably allow DD to do the same. She will be exposed to it and kids are way smarter than us when it comes to modern technology. I'm more concerned about images in videos and magazines and honestly don't have a plan yet.

She's 2 and overheard Nicki Minaj's "Bees in the Trap" ONCE and has been singing the hook for a few months. Can't stop her!

[Anonymous]

Baby Got Back is about liking girls with big asses, and what a guy wants to do sexually to girls with big asses. There are other songs about raping young girls so roughly that their backs break. Big difference.

You know what? If the ONLY music they liked was that stuff, it'd probably bother me a lot more than if that was one of many types of music they like.