THE M YOU SIC

My poet I had to ponder the gist of your beautiful analogy and the systematically manner for which you have shared your views on gun violence in America and abroad. Whoever will come to realize a gun, the most preferred weapon of chose made in Chine will cross borders and become a living nightmare for some and a necessity power tool for others.

As you know I used to work the front lines as being an ER Critical Care/Trauma Nurse, Level III (the blood, guts, death of its manifested glory), and I’ve witnessed the horrific sights. As being a Director of Nursing, it still hinders me, as to how far I’ve come, yet, to hear bodies still are being brought to the ER, or by airlift is still appalling to me.

Therefore, I am an strong advocate to anyone using a weapon to violently dismember, or kill someone. Nonetheless, to defend one person is by law a constitutional right in regards to bear arm. It is not the reason of who hold the gun, it becomes a catalyst where laws are blurred when someone with ill intentions pulls the trigger of that gun.

You mentioned lyrical rapping. Yes, there should be more censorship, even so, the question is by whom, the parents? the industry? No one can raise anyone's child but the parent, and to be truthful, if a child or even an adult takes the art of such and enlist its values of what they hear to imitate life then yes we have a serious global problem, but when you begin to point fingers, please be advised one is pointing your way just the same. It takes a village to raise a nation.

That is why it is very imperative we teach our future generation by the oral dialect of our mouth as a parent(s) and not deem technology, music, or the media to benefit from what goes into their fragile brain database.

The Hip Hop is a billion dollar industry in recorded sales, and what I could only assume, the promoters, mangers, agents are not sympathetic when the rapping is getting festering, whereas, it boils down to gun on gun violence, however, it becomes that much more detrimental when imitating what the ears hear, and what the eyes see is reaching urban areas at an alarming rate. You have other rappers who are just as affluent of other nationalities, yet, there are no surges among that segment population when it comes to gun violence, other than mass shootings and no real data to support if listening to any type of music is a culprit. And let’s just face the facts, most, not all does listen to some form of rapping rather hardcore of not.

Consequently, we need to take a closer look and not banish at what we listen too, but to better school our future generation to advise them what they listen to does have dire consequences when using such deadly liberations for all the wrong reasons.

A very nice poem and thank you for allowing your platform to raise the consequences of promoting gun violence through lyrical or rapping, in addition, welcoming my observation on your canvas to explain mine.

Have a great day my poet and much admiration and poetic respect went into my comment.

SKC,

Thank you again for your insightful comment. Based off of your response, I think that you may have misconstrued what I was attempting to convey. First, I'd like to say that I listen to rap all the time. I actually love listening to so called "gangsta" rap and gangsta/hood type movies. I consume it for its intriguing, entertainment value and know that it isn't wise to emulate the characters. I'm from D.C. and have seen some things first hand. It's just that, as I get older and somewhat enlightened, I feel conflicted about it. I, by no means, am not advocating for censorship of any artform. I can't really say that I'm an advocate of gun control. We need more self control of our tempers and other emotions. At the same time though, artist of all types (musically, poetry, etc..) should also be aware of the impact of their art. It isn't the artist responsibility to raise or be a role model for anyone's children other than their own. I'm just making an observation of how violent and detrimental this particular artform, that I still love, has become. It is not an attempt to chastise anyone for what they choose to convey. To each his or her own. I'm sure there are many who feel some kind of way about what I convey in my poetry. To quote Nina Simone, "an artist responsibility is to reflect the times". That may, indeed, be exactly what they're doing. I just wish that our youth didn't believe that those artist are literally "'bout that life". Many of them aren't and never have been but that seems to have become the blueprint and script that most go by nowadays. We are what we consume, so, all forms of "entertainment" has an impact on our psyches. The onus of anyone's actions is on that individual. I own several firearms but have never killed a man, so, the solution isn't taking guns away. Guns don't kill people until people pull the trigger. There is no law that can be implemented to stop that.

Well thank you for clarifying your stance a little more; it’s certainly more comprehensible from  reading your above principles.

I was kind of apprehensive in regards to who does not or have not heard rap music at least once in their lifetime, however,

I stand with you to say, and it is becoming increasing difficult for some of the youths here today to differ what is real and what is not real; to simulate what they hear and then portray it on the streets, it’s quite saddening, mainly, when we have to stand in unity to combat police brutality and then raise our voices in solidarity, within our communities to discontinue the bloodshed, it is disheartening and since we cannot censor what is put out in the universe, we must take the oath as adults to educate our youths.

Apparently in some urban areas they are not benefiting from mainstream offerings to better the communities, to equip them to deter gun violence.

You have corner stores that sell poison to the community, accessible toxins to pollute the body and dumb down the potential growth of the intellect, in addition, no Communities’ Centers to bridge the community.

But that is another fight for another day my poet.

Thank you sincerely for responding in merit my poet... and have a blessed day in its entirety

You have a blessed day as well.

I shall and thank you my poet

Perhaps, those beefing rappers should be guided away from each other, and redirected towards actual enemies

A thought provoking write that raises a number of issues and insights.  Nicely written.

Thanks Cipher

Nice tight write ... great flow ... excellent rhyme ... poignant message ...

Thank you LilD

I think you really pointed out a problem in some of today's music, glorifying the violence when lyrics make it seem cool, or hard to cold hearted and easily take life (that and treating women as bitches and hoes, but that can also be another entire subject).

Yes, music is a big influence on society, from clothes, lifestyles to manner of speaking, but in the end, who really benefits from it all? The studios and executives.

Thought provoking write sir.

You're right bro. Media in general has a stronghold on people's minds. Is art imitating life or is life imitating art?