Then can we do this?: Can we agree that gangsta rap, or more to the point its huge popularity, is a tragedy, even if the others are not? I'm familiar with RunDMC, their tribute to Dr. King a few years ago was good. The gangsta stuff, though, is hugely popular. Just as there are more liquor stores in poor neighborhoods, and more cigarette billboards, there are actually billboards for, as I mentioned above "Thug.com" in the poor neighborhoods here, as well as others of the kind. Why do we object, as thoughtful folks, to hyperpromotion of liquor and tobacco to our most vulnerable citizens, and not to something which socially legitimizes being a violent criminal.

I'm aware of rappers who are trying to do good, to get people to the polls, to speak against drugs. Let's celebrate them. And let's condemn the ones getting rich from the misery of lost lives at least as loudly. If it's art, fine, but it's also a disease, and I am offended by the moron in this thread who seems to imply that any criticism of rap is racism. That should be offensive to us all.

I don't mean to offend. Years of watching kids lose all chance of life has made me intolerant of some things, and gangsta rap is just one of them.

Chet