disappointed

[kingLG]

 I am disappointed in the fact that Serch is hosting such a show; I am greatly disappointed in Prince Paul, dressing up in fake African garb and carrying a spear, and that whole segment was stupid. The questions they asked were dumb and had little to do with Black culture and more to do with Black-based pop culture. And is it me or has every Black woman on the show been a stripper?

 Some say the show demeans whites, but I think the show (NOT Serch himself) demeans Blacks.

[EastCoastHoney]

I have heard grumblings from both Blacks and Whites that the show demeans one group or the other.  I don't agree.  I don't think the show is demeaning to Whites or Blacks.  I think people need to lighten up and enjoy the show.  It's pure entertainment, nothing more.  All the Black women on the show have not been strippers.  There was one Black lady in the Barber shop when the rappers went to get haircuts and had to spit for the barbers.  There were also just regular, normal Black women in the audiences at the hip hop trivia game and the Affirmative Reaction show.  Serch is a good dude, so hopefully he will have Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, or another old school Black female rapper on the show as well.   

[kingLG]

 you make some good points, but I don't believe in the "lighten up, it's all in good fun" approach to race relations. A film which addresses this well (and features Serch in a small role!) is Spike Lee's "Bamboozled".

[DJ Queue]

kingLG makes the point; this is why i've not yet watched a single episode. Serch never used to so much to me, but nowadays is coming across as the white kid who always wished he was black...and screams and cries for it, or so it seems to me. He's then taking other white kids, puttin' em on, and stressing the same thing, which of course, makes him feel like the poppa of the rap shit, who's "been thru it all" and etc etc.

Whilst he's put in his time, I think this whole stigma he's bringing is in fact degrading to the white and black races alike. Perhaps it is or isn't the right attitude, but I never felt I ever needed acceptance from anyone of any race to spin records or touch a mic. If you have the passion for hiphop, and you can back it up in what you write or if you're all about freestyling, then fine. An MC is an MC when they've earned it.

Serch said on his myspace page that to earn those stripes, you have to have performed in front of all black audiences, or in all black hoods. I don't know how true that is, but I look at that, and think, i've mixed beats in front of both. I've never had an all white or all black audience. Does that mean i'm not a "real" DJ? Bologna. If anyone is going to involve themselves in hiphop, they must understand it is one of the most powerful tools for communication in the world. It is not a money tree. I see no decent reason why anyone, from any race, shouldn't or couldn't use it, so long as they do not misuse it.


It's sad though, I thought Serch was dope back in the day. He always seemed to be a protector of hiphop in a sense. He wouldn't stand for fake rappers or r&b rappers even back then. Exposing the fakes more or less, but this shit he's on nowadays doesn't seem to fall in line with what the old school Serch was about. Or maybe i'm missing something out here completely....


All I can say on a positive note is....The history and foundation of hiphop is knowledge alot of modern day rappers, white or black, seem to be lacking. It's pitiful. I can respect Serch's drive to teach that much.

One love.
  --Queue

[EastCoastHoney]

you make some good points, but I don't believe in the "lighten up, it's all in good fun" approach to race relations. A film which addresses this well (and features Serch in a small role!) is Spike Lee's "Bamboozled".

Believe me, I don't take real racial issues "lightly".  I would be the first one to stand up, speak up, and throw down if necessary.  I just think people are taking a reality show on VH1 about white rappers a little too seriously.  It's supposed to be entertaining...it's interesting, it's funny, it can educate someone about hiphop, but it also pokes fun at some parts of the hiphop culture.  I like the history channel, all the news channels, the true crime stories...but at the end of the day, sometimes I just want to turn something on that is fun, something where you don't have to think too much, and a show that you can just sit back and enjoy.  To some degree, the show plays on both Black and White stereotypes, but it doesn't seem to me that it is being done in a degrading, malicious, or hurtful way. 

I agree that if you are talented and have skills that you can become successful in whatever you want to do.  But, I also understand that race still matters very much in this country, whether you're a rapper, an airline pilot, a teacher, or a criminal.  Your race may not prevent you from reaching your goal, but you can best believe that there are going to be issues, struggles, and situations that a person is going to deal with depending on what their race is and the ultimate goal they are trying to achieve.  Maybe that is why Serch makes an issue about race and has a show about "white" rappers.  Because, although he is a well-respected and dope MC, I'm sure he dealt with certain "issues" and problems being a white rapper in a field dominated by successful Black rappers.  Black people and other minorities have to deal with this all the time at work when it may be two or three of them and everyone else is white.  It's not fair, but that's the way it is.  Anyone who thinks race no longer matters in this country is kidding themselves.  Peace.