I returned to anti flip mode and watched Souljah Boy Tellem aka Souljah Boy 's video for “Let Me Tell Em.”
The video opened with a public announcement of sorts about violence which I thought was a skit until the song started playing. Like Supaman, this song was accompanied with a dance, too; a sea of braided up teens posturing with invisible AK-47 and or assault rifle in hand. The symbolism was disturbing but the teens looked so happy doing their choreographed routine, that I dismissed the violent metaphors as being no worse than singing Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff."
Then I watched his video “Yaaahh” where he complains about the duties of fame and cries that too many people want his autograph.
And in the popular double video format, a clip of his latest song “Report Card” came on and my jaw hit the floor.
The chorus plays off of Rich Boy's “Throw Some D's On It” aka “Throw Some D's On That Bitch”, an ode to rims and spinners. Kanye's infamous verse in the remix flipped the song into a now ironic ode to breast implants
But this kiddie version was different. Teen hearthrob Souljah Boy was flossing his disdain for school. He pleaded with teachers that they offset his straight F's with some D's.
The lyrics go something like this:
"Ayyyy Soulja Boy Chillin Dog I Just Got My Report Card Looked At It/ All F's Took It To Tha Teacher Desk(Throw Some D's On That Bitch)/ I Just Got My Report Card(Throw Some D's On That Bitch) Just Got My Report Card Ayy.
Throw Some D's On That Bitch is the chorus.
Cleverness aside, it is an all time low for how teen stars are marketed, jump kicks the malady of under-achievement to new heights and once again sends an anti-education message echoed all too frequently in urban communities. Souljah Boy ends the segment with a crooked smile meant to double as boyhood innocence, where he says he's just playing and that kids should stay in school.
How did this song make it off the school yard? What irresponsible adult, said "oh, yeah, let's push this song to the kids of America?"
Adult hip hop stars and their teams have explained irresponsible lyrics away by slapping warning labels on cds. They tell angry parents on panels across America that their music is written for adult ears only, arguing that if you raise your kids right, they'll resist the omnipresence of the airwaves and and won't buy the song in the first place The argument is chock full of holes, but at least they recognize the inappropriate nature of the song for kids.
But you can't use this rationale with Souljah Boy, a Georgia born teen who's colorful videos are shot in classrooms and school gymnasiums. His music is hardwired for teen ears and teen ears only.
I was disappointed.
For the past few years, I've taught weekend classes to teens and discovered that a number of them believed a grade of D was acceptable. Some students had invested in the dream deferred, believing that as long as they showed up to school, got a point above failing and did the absolute minimum to pass, they'd somehow stumble into a windfall of prosperity that would make up for everything they never learned. While they all wished for their own slice of the American pie, the link between academic excellence and a happy future was foggy at best.
So to now give these same misguided students a song to sing that justifies low expectation, crystallizes self defeating attitudes, and promotes a dire form of self sabotoge that jeopardizes their future is just plain unacceptable.
"Report Card" gets a failing grade.
The video opened with a public announcement of sorts about violence which I thought was a skit until the song started playing. Like Supaman, this song was accompanied with a dance, too; a sea of braided up teens posturing with invisible AK-47 and or assault rifle in hand. The symbolism was disturbing but the teens looked so happy doing their choreographed routine, that I dismissed the violent metaphors as being no worse than singing Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff."
Then I watched his video “Yaaahh” where he complains about the duties of fame and cries that too many people want his autograph.
And in the popular double video format, a clip of his latest song “Report Card” came on and my jaw hit the floor.
The chorus plays off of Rich Boy's “Throw Some D's On It” aka “Throw Some D's On That Bitch”, an ode to rims and spinners. Kanye's infamous verse in the remix flipped the song into a now ironic ode to breast implants
But this kiddie version was different. Teen hearthrob Souljah Boy was flossing his disdain for school. He pleaded with teachers that they offset his straight F's with some D's.
The lyrics go something like this:
"Ayyyy Soulja Boy Chillin Dog I Just Got My Report Card Looked At It/ All F's Took It To Tha Teacher Desk(Throw Some D's On That Bitch)/ I Just Got My Report Card(Throw Some D's On That Bitch) Just Got My Report Card Ayy.
Throw Some D's On That Bitch is the chorus.
Cleverness aside, it is an all time low for how teen stars are marketed, jump kicks the malady of under-achievement to new heights and once again sends an anti-education message echoed all too frequently in urban communities. Souljah Boy ends the segment with a crooked smile meant to double as boyhood innocence, where he says he's just playing and that kids should stay in school.
How did this song make it off the school yard? What irresponsible adult, said "oh, yeah, let's push this song to the kids of America?"
Adult hip hop stars and their teams have explained irresponsible lyrics away by slapping warning labels on cds. They tell angry parents on panels across America that their music is written for adult ears only, arguing that if you raise your kids right, they'll resist the omnipresence of the airwaves and and won't buy the song in the first place The argument is chock full of holes, but at least they recognize the inappropriate nature of the song for kids.
But you can't use this rationale with Souljah Boy, a Georgia born teen who's colorful videos are shot in classrooms and school gymnasiums. His music is hardwired for teen ears and teen ears only.
I was disappointed.
For the past few years, I've taught weekend classes to teens and discovered that a number of them believed a grade of D was acceptable. Some students had invested in the dream deferred, believing that as long as they showed up to school, got a point above failing and did the absolute minimum to pass, they'd somehow stumble into a windfall of prosperity that would make up for everything they never learned. While they all wished for their own slice of the American pie, the link between academic excellence and a happy future was foggy at best.
So to now give these same misguided students a song to sing that justifies low expectation, crystallizes self defeating attitudes, and promotes a dire form of self sabotoge that jeopardizes their future is just plain unacceptable.
"Report Card" gets a failing grade.
1 comment:
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