Several years ago musician John Doe toured with Wilco, who were taking ...
"'Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other." --Alicia Keys
The R&B superstar had no problem airing her controversial theories in an interview for Blender's May issue.Posted by Kim Davis on Apr 15th 2008 1:00PM
Filed under: Potent Quotables
Reel estate, for real.
Hottest Artists on Tour: Madonna, Taylor Swift, Lady GaGa, Lil' Wayne, AC/DC,
Who's hot this week? Download a ringtone from our weekly Top 10 chart.
Choose your song now!
Spinner.com © 2009 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Download and listen to free music, Internet radio and MP3s; or watch free music videos, concerts and live performances. Use the music search function and read the blog to find information on new, established and indie rock recording artists. Get free music downloads on the MP3 blog and more on Spinner.
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
Black Sunshineat 4-16-2008
It was originally there to signal that violence is happening a lot into the poor black neighborhoods. But the sad part is that the black people who create that music may not care as much, either.
NJPat 4-18-2008
I take it she is not very well educated?
Dennisat 4-18-2008
Ok...so tell us how gansta rap convinced you to kill people. Oh, maybe it only holds power over some black people...but which ones? Could it be the ones who are homicidal maniacs already?
Heath Grinerat 4-18-2008
Nah, I think the violence was already happening before gangsta rap arrived on the scene. The breakdown of the family in inner cities is the root cause. Rap is just a symptom of a bigger problem.
Dianeat 4-19-2008
A ploy by whom? All the white gangsta rappers in the country? I'm disappointed in Alicia for making such an ignorant comment.
Faithat 4-19-2008
it's a ploy from record companies to keep people of color and poor folks ignorant and wanting bling rather than to better themselves and/or get out of the hood. she's partly right. it makes folks want to be violent, but not just because of the music, it's the image that's marketed through the music and that thing that says "well, if they made it out by being gangsta, then maybe i can make it too". you all need to understand that these really big music companies aren't owned by "the people", they're own by the same corporations that try to oppress folks across the board. before you claim that Alicia keys is ignornant, maybe people should open their eyes and educate themselves. When rap came out it was a very different thing but once the labels got a hold of folks.... it all went to hell. Luckily there are still politically conscious folks out there who aren't blinded by the promise of bling.
Gintrelleat 4-19-2008
It was a ploy by ignorant, lazy black men who didn't want to get a real job. Aside from the fact that Alicia Keys isn't black (she came out of a white woman), no one forced them to talk about that stuff. They claimed they were talking about how they lived. Of course they were lying, just like all musicians today. Ludacris is not a pimp, T.I. does not sell drugs (anymore), and metal singers do not kill people or hate everyone. She herself sings about "love" she is not in; what boyfriend do we know her to have?Everyone on tv has a gimmick. Apparently gangsta rap was a good one, because everybody things "gangstas" are cool. White men started sagging when they saw black men do it; white women think "thugs" are sexy. Her own mother is white! White people like the images they see of black people on tv. Black people like them, too, that's why they foolishly try to emulate them. By the way, I'm black, and I do not listen to gangsta rap OR Alicia Keys.
glendoat 4-19-2008
Anyone remember the "Last Poets" they were the original rappers. Unfortunately she is right in the sense that for the most part rapper do glorify the gangsta lifestyle. It is also demeaning to women and promotes an amoral lifestyle and greatly influences our youth and yes I am black and do not listen to that genre.
gitanat 4-19-2008
although a talented pianist and singer, alicia keyes is about as bright as a child home-schooled by poodles. why would anyone even react to a single thought she articulated?
gitanat 4-19-2008
75% of all rap is bought by white males between the ages of 14 and 25. it seems to me that the intent for monetary gain was in the hands of white producers to make money off the gangster rap.
BooBooat 4-20-2008
this post is a ploy for Alicia to get nekkid with me.
MUSICBUFFat 4-26-2008
SHE NEEDS TO STAY OFF THE CRACK PIPE
dawnat 4-29-2008
Oh great now we have to kill her because she found out our secret...Its good to know she thinks black people are so easily molded into killing machines and that we can make them hate through music...anouther laran hill who was so good yet will be a has been.
TOM DANIALSat 5-02-2008
YOU'RE RIGHT BLACK PEOPLE WERN'T KILLING THEMSELVES BEFORE RAP CAME ALONG....IDIOT. (AND RACE BAITER)
empressat 5-02-2008
Very ignorant comment indeed.....i'm curious...why is it that she only acknowledges her "black" ehtnicity? she did come out of a white, Italian woman, but never even acknowleges that....her mom must feel like crap.
Me-Hoeat 5-02-2008
Only Dicheads will be influenced by music. I'm 100% black straight from Philly, and a high school drop out
and no
I ain't no gangsta
what the fuck people
For anything The original Gangster's were the Mafia.
Now A days its any one who say they are, a drug dealer
a thug
a nig-ga
white people
cholo
all in all I don't see gangsta rap being a ploy for anything but to make the music industry money
thats about it to me.
Its ok Alicia
your still sexy to most of us
Jose Canuceeat 5-02-2008
She obviously attends the "church" of the rev wright.
watdafukat 5-06-2008
hope it works !
Cheriat 5-07-2008
You know that really irritates me when people make stupid statements like that. A "ploy" ... by who? Let me guess - "THE MAN". Like the other ludicris comments made recently, did THE MAN do this before or after he created AIDS? THE MAN really must be one busy SOB. I find it interesting that people never want to take responsibility for their choices or circumstances. Alicia, here's a big cup of SHUT THE F### UP B$$$$ ... hey that could be a rap song, because it was just oozing with love and respect.
Jordinat 5-09-2008
Alicia is quite educated. All of you should do your homework and you may understand where she is coming from. It takes an idiot to think that she is meaning that Blacks only began having issues in the community when gangsta rap came along. She is not saying that at all. She knows there was already a problem. Just as there where problems before crack hit the inner city. However.....Crack and Gangsta Rap added fuel to a flame. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that music can tear down as much as it can inspire. If I listened to a song that said "Kill the Niggas" all day long.....Sorry....It's not a stretch to wonder if I might be influenced into a certain mind set. MORONS.....STOP HAVING SELECTIVE LISTENING! KNOW THE CONTEXT OF WHAT IS BEING SAID BEFORE YOU RUSH TO JUDGEMENT.