Hip-Hop and black crime

Brent Staples:

The problem with this code of silence is that it allows people to get away with murder. That is precisely what has happened so far in the deaths of legendary hip-hop stars like Jam Master Jay, who was killed in 2002, and Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., who were both gunned down in the 1990's.

That the hip-hop code helped to prevent the murderers from being brought to justice is easy to see. This connection, however, has yet to dawn on the music magazine pundits who lionize witnesses for not "snitching" while attacking law enforcement officials for failing to solve high-profile hip-hop murders.

The murders of Biggie and Tupac in the 90's sent tremors through the hip-hop world and sent fans into mourning. But that world has become inured to killings, thanks to recording executives who seem to be competing with one another to land the most violent material possible. Further fanning the love affair with crime are the "street bible" publications, which make violence seem normal through their editorial policies.

The July issue of the magazine XXL - "The Jail Issue" - trumpets "exclusive interviews" with "hip-hop's incarcerated soldiers."

That issue, which is consistent with the material emanating from similar magazines, hails rappers like C-Murder, (a k a C-Miller) who is serving time in connection with a shooting, and Drama, sent up for armed robbery and assault - as well as several others who are hailed as geniuses, with little apparent concern for their victims.

For the time being, makers of luxury goods seem to have embraced this "crime pays" marketing strategy. They buy into the disturbing vision offered by some of these magazines. The message is disastrous for minority young people, who are already at risk of spending their lives in prison or of dying prematurely from street violence.

Gangstas

At least for rappers, crime isn't paying