Bernard Creamer Bernard Creamer

Who Stole the Soul–The Weaponization of Hip Hop

A Historical and Sociological Perspective

This book deals with the culture that is Hip Hop. The book is about how, like many other Black creative artforms, Hip Hop was co-opted and commercialized by the dominant culture, and then contorted and commodified to suit the agendas of the dominant culture, Black subjugation; Black elimination.

Excerpt:

The weaponization of Hip Hop was America’s answer to a Hip-Hop culture that was fortifying and cultivating the minds of young Black people.  

In the beginning, Hip Hop was a tool Black kids utilized to edify one another. It was eventually co-opted, controlled, and commercialized to be used as a weapon to debase those it initially helped to empower. 

What was thought to be a fad at first by record companies became a major platform used ingeniously by those who gave birth to it. Those who control the reigns to American society recognized Hip Hop’s power and sought ways to not only douse its positive social potential, they also sought ways to profit from what those clever Black youth had created. 

The paradigm began to shift. 

Hip Hop gradually went from a meal that featured a main course of conscious songs and culturally grounded artists, to offerings that mostly promoted the glamorization of everything negative. 

Positive and conscious artists were relegated to an underground while those who promoted Black death, misogyny, materialism, criminal behavior, and irresponsible drug and alcohol use were paid well and heavily promoted by record companies. 

Hip Hop was corporatized and consolidated to become an industry that cared little about Black people or Black culture; the priority was profits. It is difficult to profit from, exploit, and manipulate a group of people who are both astute and culturally aware, so rampant ignorance was infused into what Black youth consumed musically to make the artists easier to use. 

Eventually, Hip Hop no longer belonged to Black people. It was owned by those who decided what would be supplied, while at the same time, contriving a demand for what toxifies.  The culture was devalued while huge record companies profited mightily from what remained. 

The shift that began in the late 80s has regressed into what presents itself today as Hip Hop while retaining none of the components that served as its pillars at inception..”

Bernard Creamer

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Leila Wills Leila Wills

Video: Public Hearing Against Black-Targeted Radio Stations

Public Hearing against violent and pornographic radio content.

Sunday, June 13, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. CST/12:00 p.m. PST

Join us this Sunday, June 13, 2021, for the Public Hearing Against Black-Targeted Radio Stations. You will hear from radio executives, professionals, authors, and activists who make a strong case against the violent and pornographic content being pumped through urban radio.

We also have an update on the FCC proceeding and will discuss next steps.

Speakers

  • Bob Law, Radio Personality, National Black Leadership Alliance

  • Bernard Creamer, Author of The Weaponization of Hip Hop

  • Kwabena Rasuli, Engineer, Clear the Airwaves Project

  • Leila Wills, Producer and Journalist, Clear the Airwaves Project

  • Paris Eley, Radio Personality and Station Manager

  • Dr. E. Fay Williams, National Congress of Black Women

  • Dr. Obari Cartman, Author and Psychologist

  • Chris Curry, Entertainment Veteran

  • Speech, Artist from Arrested Development

  • Eugene Carson, National Black Leadership Alliance

  • Darryl Bradshow, Educator

This event is organized by Margaret Brewer.

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Zoom Link

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89212733956

Passcode: 038905

Or One tap mobile :

US: +16465588656,,89212733956#,,,,*038905# or +13017158592,,89212733956#,,,,*038905#

Or Telephone:

Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

Webinar ID: 892 1273 3956

Passcode: 038905

International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbgbDzb9gc

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