A STATE OF EMERGENCY: OUR MUSIC AND OUR CHILDREN

Disclaimer: Before I begin, I want to make it clear that this topic will not promote a personal bashing of any sort and we respectfully honor the first amendment right to “Freedom of Speech/Press/Etc.”  This is what hubby and I have noticed in past years as major changes to music and the music industry… now let us begin! 

Nadirah’s Perspective:

           

Between hearing, “getting a big booty ho” on someone’s birthday, “bitches” bowing down, “_iggas” here and there, “what I can afford to buy” and you can’t, “money”  is the only thing on the mind, etc., etc., etc., I am repetitively barraged with negative messages/slogans on the radio.   Hopefully by now, you all have gotten the point!  This concerns our household because while working for years with children, I have learned one concrete thing… children are little tape recorders.  If you want to keep something secret and unsaid, do not speak of it in the presence of a child.  Nine times out of ten, it will be repeated and hopefully not at the wrong time or to the wrong person.  So what does it say about the reactions children get when they hear these blatant and subliminal messages through the radio, television, internet, and movies.  If a child is unfortunate to have guidance from a loving and attentive parent, family figure, or mentor, what do you think will be the end result of these impressionable young minds?  A great example of the outcome was given by Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco in a song called “Bitch Bad.”  If you have not heard of this song, please take the time to listen and look at it when I attach the video below.

 The title given above was appropriately labeled A State of Emergency because music has made some drastic changes over the years.  Marvin Gaye singing about love and being socially aware of the problems we are currently experiencing with the Earth and government, Public Enemy raising questions about police brutality and the powers that be, Whitney Houston just wanting to dance with somebody (not sleep with them), Aretha Franklin explaining the heartaches of love (but not busting the windows out of somebody’s vehicle),   Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross giving vivid accounts of how they want to provocatively seduce someone but not describing how fast it’s going to take, how long their package is, and how many women they plan on “hitting” that night. People it has gotten out of hand!!! We currently do not have any children but I am afraid to bring a child into this world without having a guideline on how to protect or curb them from all the exploits through the media outlets.  So hubby and I made plans years ago and now it is time to put said plan into action.  We’ve always believed that you are either part of the problem or part of the solution and we have vowed to be the latter versus the former.

 For the last year, hubby (Sir Troy), my brother (Mr. Muzic) and I (Lady Fuzion) have been working on music that is reminiscent to the days of fun partying, celebrating life, and embracing love for one another.   We are called Muzic Fuzion Factory and our music can only be described as a fusion of all genres: House, Techno, R & B, Neo-Soul, Jazz, and the list goes on and on.  We invite you to please be on the lookout for our singles which should premiere by mid-May and hope that everyone will enjoy and share our family friendly music just as you have with our blogs.  We are not saying that our songs will change the attitudes/mindset of everyone but it will definitely provide an alternative on the radio and other media outlets.  We are just getting started but for more information on our group, please visit  http://itsmyurls.com/muzicfuzionfctry to get complete access to all our social networks.  

Please like our Facebook fan page at: www.facebook.com/pages/Muzicfuzionfactory/575501122460942, follow us on Twitter: @muzicfuzionfact, enjoy the other social media outlets provided and continue your words of encouragement as we prepare for our upcoming album, Muzic Fuzion.    

Troy’s Perspective:

The current state of music and entertainment is at an unprecedented low.  I remember when I would turn on the radio and listen to my parents on the weekend play classic hits that jam-packed the air with love, inspiration and happiness. At the present time, the music occupying the radio waves is filled with hatred, disconnection and disrespect. Currently, radio and television bombards us with negative messages of violence and self-abuse. Music and entertainment have significantly transformed what is allowed on public radio and television in the past twenty years. The semantics of “Bitch, God-damn, Ho, etc.,” on television or the radio were never acceptable, until now.

I can only imagine trying to explain to my son or daughter about what is being said on the radio when the vibrations of “big booty bitch,” “watch me ball” or “Pass out, drank” frolic through the speakers. There is clearly no distinction between what’s suitable for children, adults and/or the general public. Further disappointing are the countless number of parents singing along to the impulsive and elicit lyrics broadcasted on the radio with their children taking note to every word mentioned in the back seat of the car as they are being transported to and from school. What meaning is this conveying to the child???   

I am not passing judgment on any parent. I do feel the overwhelming loss of love, community and togetherness in the music that we listen to on a daily basis. This continual cycle of relentless disconnection and hatred found in the current music only leads to selfish beings making rash decisions that negatively affect us all in society. We all have to strive towards improvement by encouraging better decisions and behavior. I hear that a new group by the name of Muzic Fuzion Factory is coming out with a new style that will entirely renovate the industry.

                                                       BITCH BAD BY LUPE FIASCO