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thuggish man (only men then) spotting urban gangster or sports apparel with a cap drawn to the brow, dark glasses and lots of jewellery.
The picture was made complete with a sardonic, menacing or even a baleful look – being seen smiling and jovial was a sure way to lose street credibility.
Rappers were regarded as no nonsense hardmen never to mess with, and this was compounded by their physical images and lyrics whose main motif was violence, grotesque and extra-judicial killings, as well as hedonistic lifestyles.
I still remember the gangster rap pioneers NWA and Ghetto Boys once had trouble with law enforcement agencies in the United States due to their notorious lyrics and description of projects life and violence.
Although gangsta rap didn’t receive mainstream publicity then, the fact that it was underground and hard to come by in the record shops spurred it to another level especially with those who dealt in bootlegs (present-day music pirates).
Having a banned and underground album like NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton” or Ice-T’s “Original Gangsta” surely gave one a higher social standing and street credibility at the time.
Also during that time it was next to difficult to play some of the hardcore rap songs on the home stereo due to their lyrical content, in fact most adults regarded it as taboo – an abomination of nature.
Tipper Gore, then wife of United States Vice President Al Gore, advocated for the banning of rap music and had no kind words for Pac and Ice-T who she said contributed to the breakdown of the social fabric.
It was this secrecy, notoriety of rap as well as the rock star appeal that many rappers had that gave a boom to the growth of rap into a force to reckon with, but with serious consequences.
Many rappers became overnight superstars with obscene amounts of money as well as enviable lifestyles that was admired by many youths especially those from the projects.
However, the ugly head of rap started to rear itself when art began to imitate life and most of these rappers started believing in what they sang.
Instead of restricting their lyrics to records only, these rappers started living what they sang and even encouraged others to do likewise.
First, there were the beefs which started on vinyl, and later spread to the real world, we all know how Biggie Smalls and Tupac – two of the best emcees rap has even seen – fell out.
The cycle spread even further in that it’s not only these two rappers who were killed in the East Coast-West Coast violence, but several others including innocent misguided youths.
I still remember at high school a fight would break out over an argument on who was better Pac or Biggie or which was more defer Diddy’s Bad Boy Records or Suge Knight’s Death Row.
Such is the power of musicians that people, in most cases youths, fail to draw the line between what is real and what is just fantasy – their thought processes become clouded due to this fanaticism and worshipping.
Musicians are role models and celebrities, who most people look up to and thus they should be careful about what they say or do especially in public.
Such is the power of these musicians that even former US president Ronald Reagan sent a get well soon card when his favourite character got sick in his television show.
Companies also rush to these cats to have them endorse their products as they believe that will increase their stock.
I am talking about this because I am getting a little bit concerned about the behaviours being displayed by some of our celebrities in the mainstream media, which might influence society in the dark.
Snagga Jim, who is still fresh from another court case, was in the papers last week for assaulting a former girlfriend who had decided to end their romance.
The assault reads like a script from a movie and what makes the case even more disturbing is that Jim apparently never showed any emotion or remorse about the whole thing.
Then there was Roki who was also in the news for bashing his wife Pauline sometime last year.
Instead of putting on his self-important person airs, Roki should be thankful that he got away with a slap on the wrist compared to other wife bashers.
Our artistes should be more mindful of their actions especially if they are in public places and not try to act like the years-gone-by rappers.
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