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Giving credit where credit is due

Posted by Channing-100Proof on October 11, 2005 - 9:38 PM

Well, I guess it's my turn to give my two cents on the Hurricane Katrina fiasco, but instead of talking about who screwed up (President Bush, Michael Brown, Gov. Kathleen Blanco AND Mayor C. Ray Nagin) I want to talk about people that did something right, rappers. Yes that's right; the rap community stepped up to the plate big time.

For years rappers have been called thugs (Bill O'Reilly vs. Ludacris), misogynists (Spelman vs. Nelly) and malicious (Bill O'Reilly vs. Kanye West). Whether or not any of this is true is up for debate but one thing is certain, these 'bad influences' came through when they were needed.

Society is quick to jump on people when they do something that we THINK is wrong but very few people step to say anything when people do right.

Shortly after the storm passed, rapper David Banner emptied his closets and brought his own clothes to area shelters. Banner, a Mississippi native and a graduate of Southern University in Louisiana, also organized the Heal the Hood Relief Concert to help those affected by the storm.

Nelly, famous for songs like Hot in Herre and Over And Over, sent two 18-wheelers full of supplies from St. Louis. He was also a participant in Banner's relief concert.

Jay-Z and Diddy (formerly know has Puffy, Puff Daddy and P. Diddy) each donated over a million dollars to relief efforts.

Let me try and put this in perspective for those of you that are not familiar with the world of rap. The dude named after the alter-ego of the The Incredible Hulk, the person that swiped a credit card through a woman's behind, the fella that dates Beyonce and the guy that has changed his name more times that I can count all responded to the hurricane better than President Bush, Michael Brown, and various state and local agencies. I'll bet you will never hear about it on the O'Reilly factor.

Say what you will about them, but you have to admit that these men came though in the clutch. These 'thugs' and 'negative influences on society' did their part to help and that is what was important.

I don't care how many butts Nelly runs credit cards through, as long as they consent to it. I am not concerned with how much David Banner curses. Jay-Z and Diddy can glorify material possessions from now until the end of time. As long as they as willing to put there money where they mouth this when the time comes, it's all good to me.

Maybe we should learn to pile on the praise as quickly as we lay out the blame.

Submitted by jadesmom on October 11, 2005 - 10:47 PM.

Guess whoooo?? Your pal and former co-worker, the former Amy Schultz (now Young, natch). Good start with the blog, C-Dogg!! Who knows...Maybe you'll win some sort of web Pulitzer now. *hehe* I'm bookmarkin' ya, so beware...Big brother may not be watchin' you but big sister IS!!

((HUGS))
~ Amy ~


Submitted by samantha on October 12, 2005 - 3:37 PM.

Go head Channing! csm


Submitted by splcspowers on October 21, 2005 - 11:39 AM.

I must admit that I did not hear about 'the rappers' great deeds that where done. I stopped watching the horrific devestation when the people that where stranded was telvised (all over the world) holding there babies up, saying stuff like, "what are you gonna do for me now." Where were they BEFORE the hurricane? Maybe it is just me, but, if I see devestation coming, my first thought is protecting my children. This did not just suddenly blow up overnight. I heard about a little boy that stole a herse to flee the waters. Where were his parent(s)? Thank God, He was watching over him. Anyways, I think YOUR article is racist, because nobody wants to give credit to the 'black' rappers. Need a titty to suck on? Sorry, but that's the way I feel. Everybody is like, "poor poor me." The rappers didn't feel that way when they sent truck loads and cleaned there closets out. By the way, is the first time they have done this, or do they do this often? Just wondering.


Submitted by Channing-100Proof on November 02, 2005 - 5:54 PM.

First off, thank you to everyone that read and commented on this topic. I enjoy getting feedback on my work (good or bad). I especially appreciate splcspowers' comments but I will pass on the breast to suck on.

I never said anything about black or whites. I am sure that white entertainers like Eminem and Kid Rock donated to the relief effort as did Hispanic artists like Fat Joe. My point was that a lot of people who were quick to point out what these men do wrong didn't say a thing when they did something right. Call me old fashioned but I believe in acknowledging good behavior. I don't care if you are black, white or other.


Submitted by LARRIE_GREER on October 22, 2005 - 12:04 AM.

Let me ask this, I am a native of the Augusta area, still read the paper everyday online, where were the rappers when Hurricane Rita hit the Texas gulfcoast? I have lived in Texas for over 12 years now. Let me assure you the people of New Orleans have been more than properly been taken care of by everyone including the by Texans and are still being taken care of by every organization available. They have flooded our hotels, houses, and apartment complexes that weren't torn to bits in our storm and we have over 20,000 people homeless from just the apartments alone that have been booted from their hometowns because of Katrina evaucees. Our help has been hindered and almost ceased to go back to help the people of New Orleans even more. We left as we were told to do. The biggest issue is that we have people here that are still waiting for help and can't get it because of Katrina although these people had jobs and were the ones who worked and paid in their tax dollars to FEMA and donated to Red Cross, Salvation Army and any of the other organizations. We had 2 days of media coverage and are still in a state of shock. Our towns are still torn up, but we get out and help our neighbors clean up their yards and businesses, we didn't loot and take advantage, I guess that's why there will be no benefit for us.


Submitted by maya_lucia on October 24, 2005 - 3:54 PM.

if i was a rapper i think i might sample that song by KATRINA & THE WAVES........

WALKING ON SUNSHINE is the song, right?

how ironic....

katrina.....& the waves.....

nevermind.


Submitted by LARRIE_GREER on November 02, 2005 - 6:55 PM.

touche and with that, good work in educating the public of our failure to acknowledge. Sometimes we overlook the little and big people.