| There has been a little stink in the press lately | | | | "Koreatown," basically called for the torching and |
| regarding Oprah Winfrey's snub of various hip-hop | | | | burning of stores in the Korean section of Los |
| artists. Several rappers, including 50 Cent, Ice Cube | | | | Angeles. This along with a positive outlook of the |
| and Ludacris have complained Winfrey is either | | | | "Rodney King" riots that led to the death of scores |
| distant, disrespectful or hostile to hip-hoppers. Of | | | | of people for the "crime" of being white, Asian or |
| course, Oprah denies it and says she plays some of | | | | any individual at the wrong place at the wrong time. |
| the music despite never making her show a forum | | | | Again, does Oprah want to touch this past with a |
| for such individuals.50 Cent pretty much said Oprah | | | | 10-foot pole? Rapper Ludacris seems tame in |
| could give a hoot about hip-hop saying she caters to | | | | comparison. Just a bunch of "I'm better than you" |
| "old white women." Ice Cube is simply mad in general | | | | crap.Hip-hop has scores of individuals with arrest |
| saying he has never been invited on the show calling | | | | records; not too many engineers and doctors coming |
| himself a "rags-to-riches" story which she should | | | | from this crew. Shootings, stabbings, drug-dealing, |
| appreciate. Ludacris did appear on the show, but as a | | | | death, are routine along with horrendous social |
| promotion for the movie "Crash" which he had a | | | | messages. Fast money, quick sex, low-class |
| part.First, why do these guys care so much? Each | | | | treatment of fellow citizens are the messages over |
| one is very rich and will never have to work a real | | | | and over again. Who can blame Oprah for staying |
| job again in their lives. They have no connection to | | | | away? |
| Winfrey other than the fact all involved are black. But | | | | As usual, the assault on Winfrey has a great deal to |
| so what? Perhaps something deeper here is at | | | | do with her race. Hip-hop is basically black, urban poor. |
| play.No matter if you like the hip-hop form of music | | | | Oprah was a woman from the South with no history |
| or not, two things are obvious: It sells well and caters | | | | in such culture. She had her own traumas growing up |
| to a violent, depraved way of life. | | | | but rose to a level as a television reporter before |
| Billions of dollars have been spent to buy cd's, tapes, | | | | becoming the "Queen." Hip-hoppers expect her to be |
| etc. The few big-shots in the industry have made | | | | "black" and have them on. Oprah has far more |
| alot of money. The promotion of the "bad ass" image | | | | respect than that because she knows such a |
| has struck gold. Various record companies spend big | | | | showcase will promote brutal stereotypes of blacks |
| dollars to sign rappers ranging from "Snoop" to "Kim." | | | | being ill-mannered and violent which hip-hop is. |
| The above-mentioned individuals are in the "elite" of | | | | Only successful black people seem to go through |
| the industry.Which brings us back to Oprah. Why | | | | this. Having such people on her show is the equivalent |
| wouldn't she have these people on her show? Or any | | | | of actor/talk-show host Tony Danza( |
| other ones for that matter? It appears to be simple: | | | | Italian-American) having on mobsters. He simply would |
| She does not need them. Why should Oprah | | | | never do it because he does not want to promote |
| Winfrey, a woman of insane wealth and power; a | | | | the negative stereotypes of Italians. Thus, why |
| woman trying to promote a consistently positive | | | | should Oprah promote a negative stereotype of |
| image on her show, have on people who brag about | | | | African-Americans? She should not.50 Cent says |
| being shot or rap about shooting police? It is not a | | | | Oprah caters to older white women. It seems more |
| direction she wants to go in and should not.Let's look | | | | that Oprah caters to Americans of all types. And |
| at the record. 50 Cent was a crack-dealer from | | | | whose social messages are far better for a nation, |
| Queens. His "claim-to-fame" was being shot up so | | | | Mr. No Cents or Winfrey? Not even close.Perhaps the |
| many times without actually dying from it. Then he | | | | hip-hoppers are resentful for the obvious: They made |
| made his push into the hip-hop world. Does Oprah | | | | it through promotion of violence, resentment, hatred, |
| really need to hear this? Ice Cube, while now known | | | | envy and pride. Oprah made it through hard work |
| as being an actor, has been an extremely anti-police, | | | | and decency. Maybe the inferiority complex is |
| anti-authority individual in his rap songs. His one song, | | | | showing? |