It is a topic that is old as the music industry itself. Long before Elvis Presley horrified the nation with his twists and gyrations, other genres were considered the scourge of America’s youth. Ragtime, Jazz, and Blues...all caused parents to squirm and fidget; mostly because their fear was fueled by racism and ignorance. For White America, the aforementioned music was “Negro” music; and considered the harbinger of immorality and destroyer of all things good and pure. Ironically, the elders in the Black community shared similar trepidations. Most being church-going folks, they saw their children’s music as secular, the cause of drunkenness and loose behavior…all which was against the Word of God.
In spite of it all, each music form managed to survive the backlash, and eventually became an integral and respected part of our American history. They also paved the way for the many musical expressions we have today. The downside is that the morality bar has also been lowered as far as it can possibly go.
In comparison to what we hear on the radio today, the “risqué” songs of old were tame and harmless. As far back as the early 20th century, artists such as, Lightnin' Hopkins, Ethel Waters, Lil Johnson, Bessie Smith, and Leadbelly, tantalized the youth and infuriated the old, with lyrics depicting their raw and high-spirited sexual exploits. However, in many cases, their recordings were so lo-fi, or the allegories so ambiguous, the listener had no idea what was being sung or implied.
Today, that’s no longer the case. Digitization has made music crystal clear. Lyrics are no longer artfully scribed or playfully tongue-in-cheek. They are now “in your face”. So blatantly raw, even children have become desensitized by subject matters that would have made a seasoned porn star blush once upon a time. What’s worse is that many of these children emulate the music they hear. In their impressionable minds, the vulgar and often criminal behavior played out in the song, is not only allowed...but encouraged. And, according to one respected music industry insider, it’s brought to us courtesy of urban radio.
That’s why this past Saturday; one of Philadelphia’s most popular urban stations, Power 99 FM, became the target of 100-plus fed up citizens. Their concern: Urban radio places profits over principles. This perpetuates and promotes the moral degradation of African American youth, and the destruction of the already vunerable Black community. The message: Take it off the air or go out of business.
For those old enough to remember, this is reminiscent of 1990 when the late C. Delores Tucker declared war against Gangsta Rap, citing a concern that the lyrics were “misogynistic” and threatened the moral foundation of the African American community. Consequently, she was met with bitter repercussions from the same generation she had hoped to save, and the change she had hoped for never materialized.
Today, the battle Tucker so vigorously fought and miserably lost, has a new group of warriors. This time, they are not 60 year-old vestiges from a bygone era, out of touch with the younger generation. Today’s soldiers are vibrant, energetic, hip, educated, and most importantly, involved and respected in the same industry for which they are trying to change.
Enter the movement’s newest general.
Carving Haggins, a two-time Grammy Award winning writer/producer who has written and produced for artists like Will Smith, Justin Timberlake, and Music Soulchild, has taken up the cause, and his passion is no less intense. Unlike Tucker however, Haggins has an advantage she didn’t. He has the internet; and through social media, email etc., he can mobilize his army within a short time span. Also, with a few key strokes and a click of the mouse, his message can go viral. He is also far younger, and a successful player in the R&B/hip-hop community; thus making him the perfect spokesperson for this crusade.
Furthermore, Haggin’s strategy is different. Instead of the artists and record companies, he is going after the radio stations that air and promote what fellow protester, Chellene Freeman referred to as “R-Rated Music”.
Haggins has managed to recruit scores of like-minded individuals from within and outside the music industry. And last week, they stood together under a hot June sun…the young and not-so-young, all races and walks of life, to voice their collective frustration against what they consider the socially irresponsible practices of all urban radio stations, not just Power 99 FM.
Now, Haggins and his supporters are is asking, no, demanding, that urban radio remove the negative songs in rotation, and replace them with “positive” music. However, and not surprisingly, Haggins said when he met with representatives from the Clear Channel owned station. Their response was canned and expected. “We only provide what the public wants”.
Technically, it is what the advertisers want. They are the ones who pay the radio stations’ bills, and have the collective power to dictate what is aired. They would not hesitate to pull their ads if the threat of a mass boycott against them loomed over the horizon (just sayin’).
Last weekend’s protest was just the beginning. Rage against the Ratchet has sent a shot over the urban radio's bow, and it is reloading.
Haggins told one reporter, “Radio is the gate-keeper. They are the ones that bring the music directly to the people. If they promote it long enough…if they play it long enough, people will take it. They are going to have to change what they are giving or go out of business.”
Now, he intends to extend the protest to every radio station in Philadelphia, and eventually to every urban radio station in the nation. And if one thinks it’s impossible to fight something a large as this, remember it only took a handful of pissed off people to start and win the French Revolution; and one tired seamstress in Birmingham to ignite a civil rights movement.
It is ironic in a perverse sort of way, the amount of attention we give to one old man after his “racist” comments in a private (emphasis on private) phone conversation were made public. Yet, only crickets are heard when our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and sisters are constantly barraged with lyrics that belittle, berate and degrade the very essence of their very being women and as humans.
Songs that glorify and encourage lewd sexual acts, rape, murder and physical abuse have no place in our children's lives....therefore no place on our free air waves.
One can say it’s the parent’s responsibility to monitor such things, but let’s get real. Parents can’t be everywhere all the time; and you people (you know who you are) are not making parental duties any easier.
Rage Against the Ratchet should be commended for taking a very important stand. BACKLINE MAGAZINE stands with them and hopes you will too.
To support this cause, visit www.RageAgainsttheRatchet.com.
