THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 15, 1995 TAG: 9509150045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: TEENOLOGY: TEENSPEAK
SOURCE: BY LORRAINE EATON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
VAST NUMBERS of young people think they are not affected by politics, but something that millions of teenagers love is becoming a key issue in the Republican presidential primary.
In an attack on the entertainment industry, presidential hopeful and Senate Majority Leader Robert J. Dole raged on rap, in particular groups such as Cannibal Corpse, Geto Boys and 2 Live Crew.
``A line has been crossed, not just of taste but of human dignity and decency,'' Dole said shortly after declaring his candidacy. He called for the entertainment industry to regulate itself and to quit awarding contracts to hard-core rap groups, which he says promote juvenile crime.
Six Cape Henry Collegiate students at this week's Teenspeak agreed that any censoring of rap would be a mistake. They thought that Dole picked the wrong target.
``Violence is on an exponential rise,'' said senior Carly J. Cais, 16. ``He is saying, `There's this problem here and we've got to find a solution to the problem,' and instead of going to the place where there is a possible solution - like drugs, or families or education - he says, `Oh, it's music that is doing it.' ''
``Just blaming everything on paintings and music or movies or whatever, it's just an excuse to ignore the real problem,'' said Carolyn Fernandez, 15, a sophomore.
``I think they are targeting rap music because it's gotten so popular over the past couple of years,'' said Frankie Cabrera, 16, a sophomore.
Both Frankie and 18-year-old senior Kinte Smith are fans of hard core rap - Notorious Big and Keith Murray - but both wondered why Dole singled out rap.
``I`m guessing that its because it (rap) is produced by African-Americans,'' Carly answered.
``I don't really think that that's the sole reason,'' said junior Jaushina Bryant, 16. ``I think the sole reason is because rap has been advertised more recently, so it's become a bigger issue and the artists who are coming out now are more violent.''
Everyone agreed that rap lyrics are violent but were divided on whether it can prompt violence.
Jaushina: ``I don't think it's the music, I think it's something before that'' that makes people susceptible to the negative messages.
Frankie: ``But I think that the music can provoke you sometimes.''
Kinte: ``Yea, it can. I can feel it sometimes when you are listening to a song and it's talking and the beat is rocking and its got you hyped, I can feel my face . . . getting angry.''
``So it plays on your emotions?'' asked junior Bryan Rollins, 15.
``Art does that,'' Carolyn said.
``It's like the same thing as listening to Beethoven's Ninth symphony and going and writing the best story you've ever written in your life or listening to . . . Def Metal and then shooting yourself. Music provokes emotion,'' Carly said. ``And emotion cannot be censored by the government.'' ILLUSTRATION: YOUR TURN
Yo! We want to hear what you think about Sen. Bob Dole's
criticism of the entertainment industry, asking record makers to
stop awarding recording contracts to hard-core rappers. Is this a
good idea? This is your chance to speak out and be heard.
Call INFOLINE at 640-5555 and enter category 7553. Selected
comments will appear in next Friday's Daily Break.
But be sure to leave your phone number, or we cannot publish your
comments.
Comments will be taken through noon Monday.
by CNB