Chris B, surely the point of songs like Prince Heathen is to stop people from behaving the way they do in the song? I am not sure that it's particularly "grown-up" to ignore issues of human personal politics-and I am certain that MC doesn't sing this song in the spirit of innocent entertainment.
Maybe we don't need these songs to remind us how terribly people can behave as we now have the news on every day showing us full in the face; or maybe we need them more than ever. As the news washes over us in the background, perhaps the jolt we feel having something with that important message on the stereo is necessary? It's a message that has been passed down in the form of this song through generations-shouldn't we listen to that advice?
Sometimes difficult things can be said in music that you don't have the platform to say elsewhere-which is where, incidentally, I have no problem with rap music.
Sorry if latching on to this part of the discussion isn't appropriate, all. I have wondered about this in the past.
cheers,
x ec