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This program me contains very strong
language and discriminatory language
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A federal judge in Florida
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has ruled that a sexually explicit
record album is obscene.
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REPORTER: The rap group 2 Live Crew
performed the original lyrics
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from an album ruled obscene
by a federal judge.
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Shortly after the concert,
county sheriffs' deputies
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arrested lead rapper Luther Campbell
and one other member of the group
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and charged them with breaking
the obscenity law.
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What he was making was essentially
spring break music.
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It was Playboy or Hustler magazine,
if you put that to music, right?
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It was girls, it was some nudity.
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But Luke got taken to court
and he fought it tooth and nail
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to say that my First Amendment
rights are my rights,
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they're the same rights that are
given to every American at birth,
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which he won.
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The censorship started off
with that.
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The fact that rap music
also was becoming a language
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that brought commonality across
the world was a problem.
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Once hip-hop starts to
take a gangsta turn
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in the early '90s,
thanks to N.W.A. and Dr Dre
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and early Death Row,
the success of those records,
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the sales, you know,
it's phenomenal.
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But the misogyny just got huge.
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The way that women were spoken
about, the way that women
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were seen in videos,
the whole perception of women.
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When the most important figure for a
woman in hip-hop was the video girl,
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when she was more important
than the female MC,
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it saddened me because some of
our greatest MCs are women.
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For every song that came out
disrespecting women,
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we had to then, like,
do the debriefing.
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They say this, but look at us -
we're doing this.
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# Come on and get down
Uh, uh
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# Get, get, get, get get
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# Come on and get down
Uh, uh
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# Get, get, get, get get
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# Come on and get down
Uh, uh
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# Get, get, get, get get
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# Come on and get down
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# Fight the power
Yes, yes, yes, yes, y'all
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# Fight the power
Yes, yes, yes, yes, y'all
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# Fight the power
Yes, yes, yes, yes, y'all
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# Fight the power
Yes, yes, yes, yes, y'all
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# Fight the power
Yes, yes, yes, yes, y'all
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# Fight the power
Yes, yes, yes, yes, y'all
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# Fight the power
Yes, yes, yes, yes, y'all
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# Fight the power
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# We've got to fight
the powers that be. #
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Out here in Los Angeles,
you had the Rodney King incident.
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When that happened and then
they acquitted the officers,
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it was like, yo.
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You know what? We trying to be
Americans here...
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...and truth and justice
should be served,
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and it hasn't.
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I think 2,300 businesses were burnt.
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63 lives was lost.
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You couldn't breathe.
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It was horrible.
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It was so...
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...sad that we had to
tear up our community...
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...to hear us.
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Uprising did a job.
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We still trying to rebuild
from it 30 years later.
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That's the price we pay as a society
when the criminal justice system
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loses its legitimacy in the eyes
of many in the community -
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all hell breaks loose.
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Ancl so that's what we
certainly saw there,
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that those riots expressed that,
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they expressed our rage at the
utter loss of moral credibility
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and legitimacy when in
the criminal justice system.
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The police were on the defensive now
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and there had to be a way for
the police to grab the offensive
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in this culture war
against police brutality.
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REPORTER: Self proclaimed gangster
rapper Ice-T plays to raw emotion
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and outrageous themes.
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Today, a group of Texas
police officers condemned one
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of his latest songs, Cop Killer,
as an invitation to commit murder.
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I don't...| don't want somebody
going out, listening to these lyrics
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and deciding they're
going to dust a cop.
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The song was written
before the LA riots.
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Ice-T says it was a warning
to abusive police officers
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of simmering tension
in the black community.
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Ancl until these cops realise
that we're not just going to
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continually get our butts kicked
in the street and we will retaliate,
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they're not going to act
like human beings.
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# Cop killer... #
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HEAVY GUITAR RIFF
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This song, Cop Killer,
it's not a hip-hop song at all.
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It's actually a heavy metal song
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created by a heavy metal group
called Body Count,
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whose lead singer
happens to be Ice-T,
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who is on other records an MC.
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# Cop killer, better you than me
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# Cop killer,
fuck police brutality... #
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He launched his career
with this hip-hop song
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called 6 'N The Mornin'.
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But he wants to form a second act
and they create this album.
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# Cop killer
I know your mama's grieving
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# Fuck her
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# Cop killer
But tonight we get even
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# Yeah... #
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My art mimics me.
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So when you listen to my music,
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you're getting all the facets
of Ice-T.
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The dirty rhymes,
the political stuff,
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heavy metal, the gangsta shit,
that was part of Ice-T.
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# Fuck the police
For Daryl Gates
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Fuck the police
For Rodney King
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# Fuck the police
For my dead homies
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# Fuck the police
For your freedom... #
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GUNSHOTS
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That's why heavy metal and hip-hop
have a lot of affinity.
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A lot of it has to do with
exaggeration and overstatement
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and political speech.
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Cop Killer is a song to just allow
people to understand the rage...
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...of a person and how far it can go.
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The record is not a call
to murder police.
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It's just a way of saying,
this is how angry we are.
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Nobody got killed over my record.
Nobody.
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Ain't no record make you
go want to hurt somebody.
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Situations and issues make you
go want to hurt somebody.
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What Ice-T was talking succinctly
about - bad cops, abusive cops,
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one-sided policing, the Fraternal
Order of Police just thought that,
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"What the hell?
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"This cat got so much influence."
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The song goes on, "I got my brain
on hype, tonight'll be your night,
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"die, die, die, pig, die."
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Catchy little number, isn't it?
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Gangster rap... Gangster rap...
Gangster rap...
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That's more graphic than
the evening news.
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Critics call their music insulting.
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Why did they get mad at it?
You ready?
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It's the little white daughter
sitting at a table,
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her father saying,
"Oh, look at those niggers in LA.
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"They're rioting." She says,
"They're not niggers, Dad,
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"and the police have been doing
this and that for this many years",
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and she addresses all our problems
and he doesn't realise...
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...she's listening to Ice-T
and Public Enemy. Home invasion.
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That's the fear.
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REPORTER: The police here in Texas
were the first to call for a boycott
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of Ice-T and Time Warner last week.
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The effect? Sales of his album
have tripled in Houston,
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doubled in three other cities.
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This happened in 1992,
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not coincidentally,
a presidential election year,
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where George Bush,
the incumbent president,
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is being challenged by Bill Clinton,
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the Democratic insurgent.
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And this song will become...
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...a lightning rod in this campaign.
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APPLAUSE
It is sick.
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It is wrong for any company
to issue records
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that approve of killing
a law enforcement officer.
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It was a way for Bush to solidly
position himself as tough on crime.
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Which really helps with white voters
who are particularly...
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...predisposed to think
of black folks
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as the threat to their existence.
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It was an awful time...
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...and hip-hop became
the sort of punching bag
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in this presidential election.
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CHEERING
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Eight years of Reagan,
four years of Bush...
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...and the country was going
through the ending of R&B,
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that was Reagan and Bush, with
the hope that we were clearing out
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of the swamp and out of the muck
with a Bill Clinton nomination.
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Give us a job!
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4,000 Democratic Party delegates
are in New York today
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for the start of their convention
at Madison Square Garden.
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It will end on Thursday
with the formal nomination
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of Bill Clinton
as the party's candidate
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in November's presidential election.
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In the name of the hard working
Americans
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who make up our forgotten
middle class,
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I proudly accept your nomination
for President of the United States.
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CHEERING
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Bill Clinton, who is the governor
of Arkansas at the time,
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enters the presidential stage
as a candidate.
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Bill was interesting cos we saw
Bill Clinton on Arsenio Hall's show.
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Something as simple as that
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really kind of made Bill Clinton
appeal to us.
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You know, playing his music,
he hung out with black folks,
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he, you know, spoke in this
kind of charming Southern accent.
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He was from down-home Arkansas.
He was one of us.
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But there was a sense that
Bill Clinton was going to be
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someone who responded to the issues
we were having in our community.
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APPLAUSE
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White racism may be
black people's burden
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but it's white people's problem.
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We must clean our house.
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APPLAUSE
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He decides that he is going to
engage civil rights leaders.
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So he speaks at Jesse Jackson's
Rainbow Coalition Convention
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in 1992.
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But it's there that
Bill Clinton decides
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he's going to take on hip-hop.
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Namely, the activist component
in the form of Sister Souljah.
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It's definitely a warning about
the fact that we are under
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a police state, we are under
military domination in this country,
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and that we have
a criminal justice system
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that absolutely does not work
for African people.
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Clinton had been closely associated
in the minds of many people,
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many white Americans,
with black folk.
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CHEERING
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It becomes, "How can I demonstrate
that I'm not beholden
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"to these, urn, African-American
activists?"
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By then critiquing this rap artist.
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I defend her right to express
herself through music.
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But her comments before
and after Los Angeles
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were filled with the kind of hatred
that you do not hon our.
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She told The Washington Post
about a month ago,
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and I quote, "If black people
kill black people every clay,
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"why not have a week
and kill white people?"
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I know she is a young person
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but she has a big influence
on a lot of people.
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We met Sister Souljah,
Lisa Williamson,
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00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,175
as an organiser and an activist.
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We in Public Enemy thought
that, like, what can we do?
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00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:05,775
She doesn't rap but we could
include her voice - a dynamic...
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Probably one of the most
dynamic speakers ever.
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# We are at war
Come on!
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# Black man, where is your army?
Come on!
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00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,375
# The black man is so dope
there's no reason we can't win
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# Everybody's going to
have to get serious
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# Terminator X
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# I try to teach and reach
I drop bombs... #
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They used it as, "Oh, look
what she's talking about.
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00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,695
"She's being divisive. She's really
kind of, like, charging up
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00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:34,255
"these disenfranchised troops
of hers to make them think that,
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"you know, that they got to come
forward with the uses of violence
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"in the United States of America,"
and that was just bullshit.
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They used it as campaign fodder.
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She's talking to the black community
and the gang bangers,
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like, "Listen,
don't kill yourselves," right?
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00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:55,655
You know, "be able to understand
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00:13:55,680 --> 00:13:59,175
"that there's somebody bigger than
you that wants to kill you."
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00:14:01,560 --> 00:14:03,935
Sister Souljah was used
as a vehicle,
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00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,775
like black victims of racism.
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00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:11,535
A poor excuse for an agenda-less
candidate.
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00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:16,055
What is your relationship to black
youth beyond the patronising gesture
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00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,535
of picking up black babies
and patting them on their heads?
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00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:26,775
It was a way for Bill Clinton
to position himself.
241
00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:31,175
"See? I'm a Democrat and I support
liberal social policies...
242
00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,815
"..but I'll protect white voters
against the 'them'."
243
00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,415
In the end, Clinton wins.
244
00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,535
In just 11 weeks, the presidency
of the United States
245
00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,735
will change hands from George Bush
to Bill Clinton.
246
00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:01,495
CHEERING
247
00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,255
The American people have voted
to make a new beginning.
248
00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:12,135
Ancl perhaps most important of all,
to bring our people together
249
00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,735
as never before
so that our diversity
250
00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:18,695
can be a source of strength in
a world that is ever smaller,
251
00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:23,015
where everyone counts and everyone
is a part of America's family.
252
00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:24,735
CHEERING
253
00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:44,775
Not only did we have a new president
sworn in in the early '90s,
254
00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:48,255
but a whole new sound was
coming out of the West Coast.
255
00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:51,495
It would change hip-hop forever.
256
00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:58,255
We have our own way
that we sound in the West.
257
00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,455
I'm born in Oakland, raised in LA.
258
00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:09,255
We have our own tone of voice.
259
00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,215
We have our own energy.
260
00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,615
The West Coast is a car culture.
261
00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,615
Right? When you think about LA
and Oakland. That's significant.
262
00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:26,735
If you're a proper California girl,
you are checking out cars
263
00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:28,735
more than the guys sometimes.
264
00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,375
I used to see Ice-T...
265
00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,655
...driving around LA,
specifically up and down Crenshaw,
266
00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,735
in these amazing cars.
267
00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,015
See, the difference in LA
and East Coast music
268
00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,415
is East Coast is the train.
269
00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,015
Like, "Arrrgh".
270
00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,015
Which is more erratic.
271
00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:54,935
LA is low riders, so it's smoother.
272
00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,495
Hey. Matt.
What up, Matt? What up, Matt?
273
00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:05,055
Dr Dre went from
his N.W.A. persona,
274
00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:08,655
which was by and large forceful,
muscular, aggressive,
275
00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:10,735
angry and in-your-face,
276
00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,055
to a much more kind of chill...
277
00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,775
Like, he sounded,
"Yeah, it's the next episode."
278
00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,735
You know, he was...chill.
He was relaxed.
279
00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,855
Maybe they smoked a lot of chronic.
280
00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:22,495
Name that tune.
281
00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:27,135
Dr Dre just sonically hit hip-hop
where it needed to be.
282
00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,455
# Look at me now
and tell me what you see
283
00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,015
# I am what I am, it's only me
284
00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:36,015
# Little ghetto boy
285
00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,175
# Playing in the ghetto street... #
286
00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,735
Aesthetically and musically,
The Chronic...
287
00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,055
...was once again the genius
of Dr Dre looking at
288
00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:50,735
the total array of hip-hop
and rap music.
289
00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:55,495
Dre slowed hip-hop down.
290
00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,535
# 27 years old, up for parole... #
291
00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,015
You know? And he happened to find
a person that could ride
292
00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,175
that slow beat.
293
00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,975
Guy by the name
of Snoop Doggy Dogg.
294
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,015
# But now they blast, right
295
00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,135
# Wake up, jumped out my bed
296
00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,535
# I'm in a two-man cell
with my homie Lil 1/2 Dead
297
00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,055
# Murder was the case
that they gave me
298
00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,695
# Dear God, I wonder
Can you save me? #
299
00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,975
The power of The Chronic
was not only in the production,
300
00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,135
but he just debuted so many people.
301
00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,815
It was almost like
a compilation album.
302
00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:34,295
He really put a stamp on what
West Coast music sounded like.
303
00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:37,775
# Throwing them clogs,
getting that rep as a young hog... #
304
00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:41,575
Dre, to me the number one
producer in the world.
305
00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,775
He's our Quincy Jones.
306
00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:47,535
# Since I did the crime
I gots to do my time
307
00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:50,055
# Them say me grow up to be
nothing, look at me now
308
00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,055
# And tell me what you see
I am what I am, it's only me... #
309
00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:56,535
I think the difference between
The Chronic and all the rest
310
00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,895
of the records that came out
was how clean it sounded.
311
00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:05,255
Because you're used to hip-hop
being, like, super...dirty.
312
00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,215
But it sounded amazing.
313
00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:10,495
He really told other producers
to step up your game.
314
00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:14,895
# Now I'm holding a dub... #
315
00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:16,735
He was my step-brother.
316
00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,055
We built the chemistry between us.
317
00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:22,095
Me and Snoop and Nate and us
was living with Dre.
318
00:19:22,120 --> 00:19:24,135
We had parties everywhere.
319
00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,055
We would drink our beer,
smoke a joint here and there.
320
00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,895
It was just fun, and creating music
321
00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,735
and just feeL..just feel free.
322
00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,735
Whattupfl,!
323
00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:36,575
Get your ass outta here.
324
00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:41,055
# Playing in the ghetto street
325
00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,535
# What you gonna do
when you grow up? #
326
00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:45,815
People in Texas,
people in the Midwest,
327
00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,535
you know, they listen to those Snoop
and them Dre records,
328
00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,135
it's a little different,
you know what I'm saying?
329
00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,695
So it's like, that was dope, to
hear that new frame of reference,
330
00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:58,535
to hear new people saying
new shit, a new way,
331
00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:01,135
you know,
with new musical influences.
332
00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:02,775
It was great. Amazing.
333
00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,095
# No needing being calm
if you pack right
334
00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:08,055
# And learning just enough
to keep your sack right
335
00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:10,535
# Late nights, I wonder
what they getting for
336
00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,255
# Early morning on the corners
What they hitting for? #
337
00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:15,535
Lyrically, it's still X-rated raps,
338
00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:20,055
but it's just said over a beat
that feels and sounds better.
339
00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,535
Ancl that was a watershed moment
in the sense that
340
00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:30,015
you could take music that was very
abrasive and very confrontational,
341
00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:32,535
change the sound of the music,
342
00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:36,415
and all of a sudden,
a lot of people that for years
343
00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:39,015
had been disparaging rap,
and now, all of a sudden,
344
00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,015
"Oh, this is the greatest thing
even"
345
00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:44,015
# Cos you's a hustlin'-ass youngster
Clocking your grip
346
00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,015
# Playing in the ghetto street... #
347
00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:50,015
In ten years, rap music
has gone from ghetto streets
348
00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,055
to main street USA.
349
00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,695
Sales last year reached
an estimated $5 billion.
350
00:20:56,760 --> 00:21:01,495
Hip-hop was really becoming
an industry.
351
00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:03,735
The whole scene had matured.
352
00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:10,055
The ascendancy of
the gangsta rap scene.
353
00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,535
You also had a lot
of the major labels
354
00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:17,215
really starting to get
much more invested.
355
00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:21,175
You had, you know, magazines
that were dedicated
356
00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:22,735
to hip-hop.
357
00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:27,415
It meant a lot to me to become
editor in chief of Vibe.
358
00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:29,855
Because rap was hot,
we didn't have enough pages
359
00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:32,295
to cover all the people
that we wanted to cover.
360
00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,375
It just felt like hip-hop
was taking over.
361
00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:39,735
REPORTER: 72% of the rap records in
Los Angeles are sold to white kids.
362
00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:44,535
Here comes hip-hop.
363
00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,335
White kids, black kids
liking the same music.
364
00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:49,535
White kids love hip-hop.
365
00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:52,775
Just a different lifestyle
366
00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,535
and they just tell us
how they think.
367
00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:59,935
It's not really so offensive
as it is eye opening, you know?
368
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,055
When I was watching as a kid,
you'd see MTV Raps
369
00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,935
and you'd see somebody in an
interview saying that, you know,
370
00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,735
we're just basically reporting
to you what's happening
371
00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,575
on the streets where we live.
372
00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:14,535
You know what I'm saying?
373
00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:18,335
Um, my education
is from hip-hop, honestly,
374
00:22:18,360 --> 00:22:22,495
because that's... I look to rappers
to know what's going on,
375
00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:24,775
you know what I'm saying? And...
376
00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:30,015
it just felt like rappers, certain
rappers, were just talking to me,
377
00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:31,655
you know?
378
00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,375
A lot of people,
especially young white kids,
379
00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,775
very quickly learned that,
unfortunately,
380
00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:44,735
a lot of the music was based on what
was happening in the United States.
381
00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,735
Have you ever been shot at? Yeah.
What happened?
382
00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:50,495
Nothin'. I got away.
383
00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:55,735
People wanted to hear these stories
because they're authentic.
384
00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,535
It's like a tour guide
through the streets.
385
00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:06,095
I don't have to ride down Crenshaw
to find out what's really going on.
386
00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:08,095
I can buy me a gangsta tape.
387
00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,775
But the white establishment
didn't like it
388
00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:17,495
cos you had these articulate,
angry black men
389
00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:19,855
exposing some of the ugly truths
390
00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:21,535
of the United States.
391
00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:26,055
And that was intimidating, dangerous
and frightening to a lot of people,
392
00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:29,775
because now these guys
do have a voice.
393
00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:31,655
Now they have the microphone.
394
00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:37,695
In the '90s, you know, a lot
of things were escalated, and...
395
00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:43,415
...things were getting worse because
we had more police brutality.
396
00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:48,415
A lot of gang activity at the same
time, as far as a lot of drive-bys.
397
00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:50,015
SIREN BLARES
398
00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,655
POLICE RADIO CHATTER
399
00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,935
One of the things that it's
important to understand is...
400
00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,015
...crime as a whole,
and particularly violent crime,
401
00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:07,335
had been increasing for 20 years.
402
00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:08,655
SIREN BLARES
403
00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,375
He's got his gun out!
404
00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:12,735
REPORTER: Anger and tension
exploding here,
405
00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:14,295
as in so many cities.
406
00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,855
A feeling that crime
is out of control.
407
00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,055
Watching brothers get killed,
I mean, it can take a toll
408
00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,495
on your life, it can take
a toll on your mind.
409
00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:29,535
Urban communities, African-American
communities, Latino communities,
410
00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,335
are under assault.
They are under siege.
411
00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:34,535
What this is
is this is a search warrant.
412
00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:38,495
They are being ravaged
by drugs and by crime
413
00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:40,495
and by poverty and inequality.
414
00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,655
We're coming off
this erroneous belief
415
00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,215
that Democrats are soft on crime.
416
00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,495
REPORTER: This is a special report.
417
00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,255
President Clinton's
State of the Union Address
418
00:24:57,280 --> 00:24:59,015
to a joint session of Congress.
419
00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:00,655
Thank you very much.
420
00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,815
Bill Clinton is leaning into...
421
00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,935
...sort of, "We've got
to be tough on crime,"
422
00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,575
because Bill Clinton is trying
to save his presidency
423
00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:12,575
after losing the midterm election.
424
00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,575
Bill Clinton feels the pressure
425
00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,015
to prove that he can be just
as harsh
426
00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,535
and just as punitive as Republicans
427
00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,895
on the issue of law and order
and crime.
428
00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:29,695
In our toughest neighbourhoods,
on our meanest streets,
429
00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:34,735
we have seen a stunning
and simultaneous breakdown
430
00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:39,415
of community, family and work.
431
00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,015
This has created a vast vacuum
432
00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,015
which has been filled by violence
433
00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:48,295
and drugs and gangs.
434
00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,295
The Congressional Black Caucus
435
00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:56,055
approach the President
of the United States
436
00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,935
and they say, "Look,
our constituents are telling us
437
00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,735
"we need to do something.
We have to fix this."
438
00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,135
It's a shame that we can't
walk outside today.
439
00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,295
I'm scared for my children to come
outside because of the gangs.
440
00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:15,375
There are black people who are
represented by these people
441
00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,735
who live in these neighbourhoods
who wanted something to happen.
442
00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,255
They wanted people who
were repeat offenders
443
00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:25,295
to go to jail for a while.
444
00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,535
They wanted to have people
stop shooting guns...
445
00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:30,655
...freely in their neighbourhoods.
446
00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,135
I encourage all my colleagues
to vote for
447
00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:35,895
the bipartisan crime bill.
448
00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:39,935
One step is you must take back
the streets,
449
00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:44,535
and you take back the streets
by more cops, more prisons,
450
00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:47,535
more physical protection
for the people.
451
00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:51,055
It doesn't matter whether or not
they're the victims of society.
452
00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,375
The end result is they're about
to knock my mother on the head
453
00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:59,415
with a lead pipe, shoot my sister,
beat up my wife, take on my sons.
454
00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:04,415
Sol don't want to ask
what made them do this.
455
00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,815
They must be taken off the street.
456
00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:09,535
APPLAUSE
457
00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:13,815
When this bill is law, we will
have 100,000 police officers
458
00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,535
on the street - a 20% increase.
459
00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:20,495
It will be used to build prisons
to keep 100,000 violent criminals
460
00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:22,135
off the street.
461
00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,495
We will have the means
by which we can say
462
00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:26,735
punishment will be more certain.
463
00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:33,495
The weapons of mass distraction
have always been in play.
464
00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:38,055
People follow their sports teams
more than they follow
465
00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,695
the things that's going to
affect them every day,
466
00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,295
so a lot of times bills are passed
and politicians go back and forth
467
00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,335
and all of a sudden you turn around
and there's a crime bill
468
00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:49,375
that not only affects your present
469
00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:51,735
but really seriously affects
your future.
470
00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,495
Clinton passed a crime bill...
471
00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,495
...which allowed now 14-year-olds
to be tried as adults,
472
00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:04,495
more prisons being built.
473
00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:10,575
The impact of the crime bill
is devastating
474
00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:12,815
and felt almost immediately.
475
00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,295
For example, the three strikes law.
476
00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:22,255
This idea that if you
have three of fences,
477
00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:24,775
that you're out of here.
478
00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:29,175
Like, you go away. It increases
your sentencing dramatically.
479
00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,295
That is embedded
into the crime bill.
480
00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:35,055
BILL CLINTON:
..violent crimes should be told,
481
00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:37,535
when you commit a third
violent crime,
482
00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:40,495
you will be put away
and put away for good.
483
00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:43,695
Let's go!
484
00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:46,495
What were you guys doing?
Nothing at all, boss.
485
00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:48,775
Nothing at all.
486
00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,655
In fact, we have seen
sentencing discrepancies
487
00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:54,135
when it comes to drugs.
488
00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:55,735
Cocaine versus crack.
489
00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:57,775
Crack and cocaine.
490
00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,615
Cocaine versus crack cocaine.
491
00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:04,175
The penalty for possession
of 5g of crack cocaine,
492
00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:08,655
the drug used and sold by many young
blacks, is five years in prison.
493
00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:15,535
The penalty for possession
of 5g of powdered cocaine,
494
00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:19,775
the drug favoured by the white
middle class, is probation.
495
00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:21,775
Who in here has been
in prison before?
496
00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:24,895
Ancl that's why so many people who
got caught with very small amounts
497
00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:26,935
ended up doing really major time.
498
00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:32,135
Do you think you'll be coming
back here again?
499
00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,015
That's hard to say.
500
00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:43,255
As a result of the Clinton
administration policies,
501
00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,535
you had one in three black males
502
00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:49,855
caught up in the criminal justice
system, with the numbers climbing.
503
00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:57,935
These communities were asking
for help.
504
00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:00,735
We know that they were like,
"We have problems."
505
00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,055
But what they were asking for
506
00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,775
was to get to the root
of the problem.
507
00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:14,415
So that doesn't mean locking up
a generation of African-Americans
508
00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,095
or labelling every black man
who walks out of his house
509
00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:19,775
a gang banger.
510
00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,575
We can't really measure
the affect and impact
511
00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:28,295
that it has on us as a community
512
00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:31,335
cos it's impossible
to reverse the damage.
513
00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:34,855
I've got friends who got
sentenced to decades
514
00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:38,015
and because they were in prison,
they couldn't provide
515
00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:39,735
for their families.
516
00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:44,655
We don't know if they would have
possibly married
517
00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:46,535
and created families of their own.
518
00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:49,215
We don't know who they would
have grown up to become.
519
00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:55,535
Oh, man, I've got friends now
that if they're caught
520
00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:58,375
with a butter knife,
they'll be doing life in jail.
521
00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:01,335
It's incredible.
522
00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:03,495
It really hurt the community.
523
00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:07,295
After a few years,
524
00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:11,295
I didn't know a black family that
didn't have a family member that
525
00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:14,895
had been in jail and incarcerated
for a long period of time.
526
00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:19,055
A lot of men were being swept away
and, you know,
527
00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:24,055
the pipeline to penitentiary was
just heavy, put into place and thick
528
00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:26,695
and men were getting swept up
off the streets
529
00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:30,015
for low-level marijuana crimes.
Let's just start there.
530
00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:33,735
# It ain't easy being me
531
00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:36,735
# Will I see the penitentiary
or will I stay free?
532
00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,015
# It ain't easy being me
533
00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:42,455
# Will I see the penitentiary
or will I stay free?
534
00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:44,135
# It ain't easy... #
535
00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:47,495
Ancl a lot of people who got out
of the joint in the '90s
536
00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:49,455
ended up in hip-hop.
537
00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:51,895
# Wake up sweaty and screaming
cos I can hear them... #
538
00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:53,695
You know, it's in these records,
539
00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:55,695
talking about guys
who hit the bricks.
540
00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:57,935
There's a lot of references
to jail culture.
541
00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:00,455
# Lookin' out for these killer kids
cos they wild
542
00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:03,015
# Bill Clinton can you recognise
a nigga representin'
543
00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:05,055
# Doin' 20 to life in San Quentin
544
00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:07,135
# Gettin' calls from
my nigga Mike Tyson
545
00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:10,375
# Ain't nothing nice - "Yo 'Pac, do
somethin' righteous wit' ya life"
546
00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:12,735
# And even though you innocent,
you still a nigga
547
00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:14,455
# So they figure... #
548
00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:17,455
Tupac Shakur wrote It Ain't Easy
in the mid 1990s
549
00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,015
when he was facing jail time
of his own.
550
00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:22,055
# No, it ain't easy... #
551
00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:24,495
He was speaking directly
to the hearts and issues
552
00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:26,655
of young black men at the time.
553
00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:28,055
# It ain't easy... #
554
00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:31,015
'Pac was able to, like,
take the everyday life
555
00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:33,055
that he was even in the middle of
556
00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,135
and be able to come up
with a great song.
557
00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:37,455
# Keep an eye on the cops
while D-Boys slang rocks
558
00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:39,735
# It's the project kid
without a conscience... #
559
00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:42,055
Tupac was a social commentator,
560
00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:46,735
but he was also
a skilled rapper, MC,
561
00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:49,415
and had that revolutionary spirit.
562
00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:55,055
Are you rolling, Eddie?
OK. My name is Tupac Shakur.
563
00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:58,535
I think I'm growing up good,
in all sense of the word.
564
00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:00,735
I think I'm growing up
and learning about
565
00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:02,655
responsibilities and everything.
566
00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:05,735
My mother was a Black Panther
and she was really involved
567
00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:07,695
in the movement, you know,
568
00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:11,375
just black people bettering
themselves and things like that.
569
00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:29,295
She could have chose
to go to college
570
00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:32,495
and got a degree in something
and right now been well off,
571
00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:36,095
but she chose to analyse society
572
00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:39,375
and fight and do things better.
573
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,935
When we think about Tupac,
you can't...
574
00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:46,695
...understand Tupac as an artist,
as a person,
575
00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:50,375
without understanding, sort of,
where he comes from.
576
00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:52,695
This is a child
of East Coast Panthers.
577
00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,015
ALL: Power to the people!
578
00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:57,775
We're going to...
579
00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:03,015
They embraced a revolutionary
critique of American society.
580
00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:09,055
Tupac coming out of that tradition,
581
00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:13,495
we see the critique of capitalism
and the structures around us.
582
00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,415
We have to be supportive,
we have to be together
583
00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,655
as we move forward in this world.
584
00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:28,055
Tupac was a person
that fearlessly said,
585
00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:31,535
you know, I'm going to take
all of my attributes
586
00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:34,775
and all of my skill-sets
that I've learned
587
00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,815
and see if I can
incorporate this into...
588
00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:44,535
...my arts as an artist and an
activist and make it all work.
589
00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:47,335
And, um...
590
00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:49,415
...that he did.
591
00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:51,055
He's going to be so diverse,
592
00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:53,935
he's going to talk about single
mothers in Brenda's Got A Baby.
593
00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:57,415
He's got a touch in there
that's like, whoa!
594
00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:02,535
Brenda's Got A Baby, which I think
is one of the more political songs
595
00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:06,735
in the history of rap, especially
with regard to black women.
596
00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:10,055
Ancl it's wild that it's coming
from a black man, but it did.
597
00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:13,415
It didn't matter.
The politics were always there.
598
00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:19,775
He rapped about how Brenda's got
a baby and threw her in the trash
599
00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:22,175
and what a horrible
situation this is.
600
00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:26,055
He only did that because
he knew of these stories
601
00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:29,095
and he knew of these realities
and he wanted to change that.
602
00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:36,735
Tupac made the hardest records
ever to do,
603
00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:39,655
that people were afraid to touch.
604
00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:42,255
You know, Keep Ya Head Up.
605
00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:45,775
And Dear Mama.
606
00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:50,095
Come on, man. Greatest rap,
hip-hop songs of all time.
607
00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:53,855
Tupac represented a lot of things
to a lot of people.
608
00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:56,735
On the one hand,
he was very thoughtful
609
00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:58,775
and supportive of women.
610
00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,615
On the other hand, he had a lot
of songs disparaging women.
611
00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:04,775
# Take money
West side... #
612
00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:07,695
On the other hand, he had
a lot of political songs
613
00:36:07,720 --> 00:36:11,015
and he had a lot of songs about how
he wanted to shoot and kill people
614
00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:12,535
in the streets.
615
00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:15,775
People don't want to hear your
righteous side any more or as much
616
00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:18,055
because they're not looking
at you like that.
617
00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:20,495
They're like, "Nah, he's raw,
he's from the streets,
618
00:36:20,520 --> 00:36:22,295
"he's hardcore, he's a gangster."
619
00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:24,695
# Plus Puffy tr yin' to see me weak,
hearts I rip... #
620
00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:28,135
So, when people think about 1994,
people tend to think about the fact
621
00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,775
that that was the year that Tupac
was shot five times.
622
00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:33,055
# You know the rules,
Lil' Caesar... #
623
00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:35,415
That was the year
that he was found guilty
624
00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,975
of sexual abuse and sent to jail.
Like, that was a huge year.
625
00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,135
Mr Shakur, can we get a comment from
you at all? Hell, no. Thug life.
626
00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,935
Pardon me? Thug life. Thug life.
That's my comment.
627
00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:47,015
What does that mean?
I don't understand.
628
00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:48,855
Tupac's persona blew up.
629
00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:50,695
Yes, I am going to say
that I'm a thug.
630
00:36:50,720 --> 00:36:53,375
That's because I came from
the gutter and I'm still here.
631
00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:55,655
I'm not saying I'm a thug
because I want to rob you
632
00:36:55,680 --> 00:36:57,175
or rape people and things.
633
00:36:57,200 --> 00:37:00,255
Was that everything that he was?
No, it was a slice of what he was.
634
00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,775
As you came at him,
he came at you the same way.
635
00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:04,735
# The clique you claim,
Westside... #
636
00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:07,095
You come with the attitude of,
"Yeah, fuck you",
637
00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:08,895
he's on, "Fuck you, too."
638
00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:10,495
HE LAUGHS
639
00:37:11,560 --> 00:37:16,015
I think the general public
lost touch with Tupac.
640
00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:17,855
# You keep on coming... #
641
00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:21,495
They wanted to gravitate to
Hit 'Em Up and to the violence
642
00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:23,695
and to the rivalries.
643
00:37:23,720 --> 00:37:26,135
# Cut your young ass up,
leave you in pieces... #
644
00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:29,535
The fact that he had all
these other layers to him
645
00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:33,295
and some of the political stuff
just gets thrown by the wayside,
646
00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:36,775
unfortunately, because,
one, his life was so short,
647
00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,295
but then, two,
toward the end of his life,
648
00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:41,895
it was consumed by chaos
and tumult.
649
00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:44,495
# See?
Grab ya...when you see Tupac
650
00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:46,575
# Call the cops when you see Tupac
651
00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:49,135
# Who shot me,
but you punks didn't finish
652
00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:51,495
# Now you 'bout to feel the wrath
of a menace... #
653
00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:54,255
It started to feel like
hip-hop was losing its way.
654
00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:57,735
You know, the music was changing,
655
00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:00,375
the morals were changing.
656
00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:03,895
You know, the streets were
becoming very dominant.
657
00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:06,775
It was the "keep it real" era,
658
00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:10,775
and keeping it real was going
very wrong in a lot of ways,
659
00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:14,015
especially when you talk about
losing two of the biggest artists
660
00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:15,695
in the genre at the time.
661
00:38:15,720 --> 00:38:17,735
# When I'm serving ya... #
662
00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:19,535
We lost Biggie and 'Pac...
663
00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:21,735
# Guard your rank cos |'mma
Take money... #
664
00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:23,535
...'96, '97,
665
00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:28,655
and I feel like the genre in itself
was at a huge turning point.
666
00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:31,935
# First off...
and the clique you claim
667
00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:34,535
# Westside when we ride
come equipped with game
668
00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:37,055
# You claim to be a player
but I...your wife
669
00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:39,375
# We bust on Bad Boy...
for life
670
00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:41,535
# Plus Puffy tr yin' to
see me weak... #
671
00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:45,055
Sure, 'Pac aggravated some people,
no doubt about that.
672
00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:48,535
Tupac and other artists like
Snoop and Dre became targets
673
00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:51,015
in the debate over
censoring hip-hop,
674
00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:53,055
so it pissed a lot of people off,
675
00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:55,855
the way that they delivered
their rap content.
676
00:38:55,880 --> 00:38:58,935
They just looked at rap music as,
like, yo, you guys are talking
677
00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:02,815
murder, mayhem, gangs, sex, drugs,
rock and roll, that type of thing.
678
00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:07,055
This was seriously
a black urban angst
679
00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:10,175
that was delivering
a hell of a lot of words.
680
00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:12,335
# Fuck wit' me and get
your caps peeled
681
00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:13,775
# You know, see
682
00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:16,055
# Grab ya (flocks
when you see Tupac... #
683
00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:21,335
And some of the words were, like,
naughty in the English language.
684
00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,695
# Fuck you, too
All you motherfuckers
685
00:39:23,720 --> 00:39:25,615
# Fuck you, too
Take money... #
686
00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:29,255
We will begin the press conference.
Marilyn.
687
00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:34,295
Our crusade is against
gangster rap -
688
00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:38,495
rap that glorifies and promotes
violence with guns,
689
00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:40,735
knives or drugs.
690
00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:50,775
Dr C Delores Tucker
was a powerful voice
691
00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:53,775
standing against
the hip-hop movement.
692
00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:56,775
She is someone who had been
involved in politics.
693
00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:00,015
She had participated in
the Selma to Montgomery march.
694
00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:05,415
She took a stand against
misogyny in hip-hop
695
00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:09,295
and that was a huge statement.
696
00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:14,055
Gangster rap is not gangster rap.
697
00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:18,655
Much of it is just plain
old pornography, period.
698
00:40:19,720 --> 00:40:23,535
It is unfortunate that these
negative gangster rappers
699
00:40:23,560 --> 00:40:27,015
have learned to have
such low respect for women,
700
00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:29,935
especially African-American women.
701
00:40:29,960 --> 00:40:32,535
If you go back now
and you listen to the lyrics
702
00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:35,855
and then you look at her stance,
she was right.
703
00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:38,535
The music was misogynistic.
704
00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:43,015
It did misalign and misappropriate
the ways in which women
705
00:40:43,040 --> 00:40:45,015
show up in the space.
706
00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:50,415
The music was very, very dangerous
in the ways in which people respond
707
00:40:50,440 --> 00:40:52,015
to black women.
708
00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:56,095
Ancl for some reason it was OK?
709
00:40:56,120 --> 00:40:59,095
She was one of the few voices
that said it was not OK.
710
00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:03,535
The corporate gangsters in
their entertainment suites,
711
00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:06,695
the true cause and propagators
of this filth,
712
00:41:06,720 --> 00:41:10,295
not the young gangsters in
the streets who are exploited,
713
00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:14,935
are merely the victims of the
converging, malevolent forces.
714
00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:19,055
She said, listen,
this ain't playing out well.
715
00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:22,495
What I see is the corporations
that are pimping these kids
716
00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:25,015
and they...and they dangling them.
717
00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:28,735
Nobody out here wants
to look at the conditions
718
00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:30,375
and try to change them.
719
00:41:30,400 --> 00:41:33,775
Change the conditions and then
perhaps our music will change.
720
00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:36,895
There's a rift that develops
between the younger
721
00:41:36,920 --> 00:41:39,255
and older generation
in black communities.
722
00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:40,855
It's so wrong.
723
00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:44,975
As a black woman, I am not a dog
and I refuse to be called a dog.
724
00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:48,055
A rapper who changes
from positive to negative
725
00:41:48,080 --> 00:41:50,775
just to get a record deal
is just like a black man
726
00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,175
who will pimp his sisters
on the street just to make money.
727
00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:59,695
There are young folks
who are making these records.
728
00:41:59,720 --> 00:42:02,215
They're selling them out of
the trunk of their cars.
729
00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:05,335
Ancl then you have
the older generation,
730
00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:07,135
somewhat more conservative.
731
00:42:07,160 --> 00:42:09,975
Religious figures
like Calvin Butts.
732
00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:12,375
Recognise that this poison kills.
733
00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:16,535
It kills young men and women.
It kills old men and women.
734
00:42:16,560 --> 00:42:20,295
It promotes violence and sexism
in our communities.
735
00:42:20,320 --> 00:42:22,735
It's dangerous to our
police officers.
736
00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:24,815
It is just wrong.
737
00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:31,015
It didn't have to be
the Reverend Calvin Butts
738
00:42:31,040 --> 00:42:33,855
running over CDs in Times Square.
739
00:42:33,880 --> 00:42:37,455
It didn't have to be Delores Tucker
or any of these people
740
00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:40,055
that were just against rap,
against rap.
741
00:42:40,080 --> 00:42:42,815
It was a constant battle
and a constant fight.
742
00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:49,055
You have the misunderstanding
trying to govern misunderstood,
743
00:42:49,080 --> 00:42:54,895
and so it was, like,
eff all rap music, you know?
744
00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:57,175
There was a cultural division.
745
00:42:58,240 --> 00:43:00,775
We hope to create a climate
in our community
746
00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:04,055
that we believe once existed,
where this kind of thing
747
00:43:04,080 --> 00:43:08,295
is so intolerable that people
would dare not suggest
748
00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:12,695
that a black woman is a bitch
or any woman is a female dog.
749
00:43:12,720 --> 00:43:15,255
MUSIC: Gin and juice
by Snoop Dogg
750
00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:19,055
# With so much drama... #
751
00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:23,255
In to C Delores' office
comes Dionne Warwick
752
00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:25,855
holding Snoop Dogg's new album
753
00:43:25,880 --> 00:43:27,255
Doggystyle.
754
00:43:27,280 --> 00:43:29,055
# Every single day... #
755
00:43:29,080 --> 00:43:34,535
They feel that this represents
a nadir in hip-hop of misogyny,
756
00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:38,775
and as black women, they vow
to do something about it.
757
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:40,775
# In the livin' room
gettin' it on
758
00:43:40,800 --> 00:43:43,655
# And they ain't leavin'
till six in the mornin'
759
00:43:43,680 --> 00:43:45,295
# So what you wanna do?
760
00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:49,015
# Shit, I got a pocket full of
rubbers and my homeboys do, too... #
761
00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:51,175
This is our responsibility.
762
00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:56,055
It's not my responsibility,
it's not her responsibility,
763
00:43:56,080 --> 00:44:00,255
it's not her responsibility,
it's our... Our! ..responsibility.
764
00:44:00,280 --> 00:44:02,375
APPLAUSE
765
00:44:02,400 --> 00:44:05,495
# Sippin' on gin and juice
Laid back
766
00:44:05,520 --> 00:44:08,215
# With my mind on my money
and my money on my mind
767
00:44:08,240 --> 00:44:12,295
# Rollin' down the street,
smokin' inclo
768
00:44:12,320 --> 00:44:15,775
# Sippin' on gin and juice
Laid back
769
00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:19,055
# With my mind on my money
and my money on my mind... #
770
00:44:19,080 --> 00:44:23,535
Gangster rappers don't seem to
care if radios ban their music.
771
00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:27,055
Snoop Doggy Dogg's album
is already number one.
772
00:44:27,080 --> 00:44:30,055
Look at the people before me
that was black
773
00:44:30,080 --> 00:44:33,055
and successful and powerful
with words.
774
00:44:33,080 --> 00:44:36,175
Where they at now? Where's Martin
Luther King? Where's Malcolm X?
775
00:44:37,240 --> 00:44:40,935
I know rappers will always get
attacked by politicians though.
776
00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:43,695
A lot of it was just to
push buttons regardless.
777
00:44:43,720 --> 00:44:47,255
Ancl for you to take a lot of
these lyrics seriously is like,
778
00:44:47,280 --> 00:44:49,055
you're a fucking idiot.
779
00:44:51,520 --> 00:44:54,295
C Delores Tucker seizes
on this moment.
780
00:44:55,800 --> 00:45:00,855
She gets Congress to hold the first
hearings ever on rap lyrics.
781
00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:05,535
Our first panel today...
782
00:45:05,560 --> 00:45:09,095
...will be Dr C Delores Tucker.
783
00:45:09,120 --> 00:45:13,375
As I see it simply, there are three
things that prevent gangster rap
784
00:45:13,400 --> 00:45:16,055
from being a freedom-of-speech
issue.
785
00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:19,255
Number one, it is obscene.
Number two, it is obscene.
786
00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:21,655
Ancl number three, it is obscene.
787
00:45:21,680 --> 00:45:23,935
Thank you very much.
788
00:45:23,960 --> 00:45:28,495
Whether it was misogynistic
lyrical content
789
00:45:28,520 --> 00:45:30,615
or gangster, you know,
790
00:45:30,640 --> 00:45:33,255
it would have been unrealistic
to think that
791
00:45:33,280 --> 00:45:35,335
there wasn't going to be push back.
792
00:45:35,360 --> 00:45:40,015
But there was a feeling that
we didn't want to be policed.
793
00:45:42,160 --> 00:45:45,535
The issue here for hip-hop
is that...
794
00:45:45,560 --> 00:45:48,735
...this fight is coming from folks
outside of hip-hop
795
00:45:48,760 --> 00:45:51,535
who don't appreciate
any part of the culture,
796
00:45:51,560 --> 00:45:56,815
and then there are folks who defend
hip-hop against this attack...
797
00:45:57,880 --> 00:46:00,695
...and so they are literally
fighting a culture war.
798
00:46:00,720 --> 00:46:03,535
Mr Nelson George,
who's a journalist.
799
00:46:03,560 --> 00:46:07,295
A lot of people didn't like this
music and felt offended by it
800
00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:10,495
and thought it was, you know,
bringing black people down.
801
00:46:10,520 --> 00:46:14,855
But there were many conflicting
agendas that were at play.
802
00:46:14,880 --> 00:46:17,695
For me, the question of
gangster rap's role in America
803
00:46:17,720 --> 00:46:19,935
is not a question of the chicken
or the egg.
804
00:46:19,960 --> 00:46:22,775
The egg in this case is the
economic and social breakdowns
805
00:46:22,800 --> 00:46:26,295
that have taunted our cities since
at least the riots of the 1960s
806
00:46:26,320 --> 00:46:29,375
and that shows few signs
of really being addressed.
807
00:46:29,400 --> 00:46:32,295
The chicken is the culture
of cynicism of our government
808
00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:35,055
and verbal rebellion
that rap represents.
809
00:46:35,080 --> 00:46:38,055
If tomorrow every offensive
gangster rap record was removed
810
00:46:38,080 --> 00:46:40,775
from our stores, our airwaves
and our video shows,
811
00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:44,455
there would still be random
violence, teenage unemployment,
812
00:46:44,480 --> 00:46:46,855
teen pregnancy
and drug trafficking.
813
00:46:46,880 --> 00:46:49,775
The only difference is that
the musical backing for our youth
814
00:46:49,800 --> 00:46:52,695
would change, but the conditions
that frighten our nation
815
00:46:52,720 --> 00:46:55,335
and the Congressional hearings
on rap would continue.
816
00:46:58,040 --> 00:47:01,055
The hearings didn't amount to much.
817
00:47:01,080 --> 00:47:03,735
Hip-hop wasn't stripped
of its voice.
818
00:47:06,120 --> 00:47:11,055
This macho thing that black men
primarily brought out
819
00:47:11,080 --> 00:47:14,295
in hip-hop and rap that,
"Well, I'm being obscured,
820
00:47:14,320 --> 00:47:17,295
"so I'm coming out and not only
that, I'm going to be loud,
821
00:47:17,320 --> 00:47:19,055
"I'm going to be me,
822
00:47:19,080 --> 00:47:22,415
"and I'm going to be super
black male from my point of view.
823
00:47:22,440 --> 00:47:25,895
"And whether you all like it
or not, go eff yourself."
824
00:47:28,520 --> 00:47:30,695
The culture just was very masculine.
825
00:47:30,720 --> 00:47:34,255
It was almost like there wasn't room
for any level of femininity.
826
00:47:34,280 --> 00:47:37,775
It was difficult for women to find
their place and their footing,
827
00:47:37,800 --> 00:47:41,575
especially when the guys that
were out were so strong and loud.
828
00:47:41,600 --> 00:47:45,655
Even some women, you know,
dived in...
829
00:47:45,680 --> 00:47:48,775
...with a...a masculine manner.
830
00:47:48,800 --> 00:47:53,775
The good news is there were people
such as Roxanne Shante.
831
00:47:53,800 --> 00:47:56,455
CHEERING
832
00:47:56,480 --> 00:48:00,095
We came here tonight
to get started,
833
00:48:00,120 --> 00:48:03,615
to go at them or get retarded.
834
00:48:07,280 --> 00:48:12,175
I was participating in a all-out
Battle For World Supremacy.
835
00:48:14,520 --> 00:48:18,255
You would get this big belt that
says you are the best in the world.
836
00:48:19,920 --> 00:48:24,095
Ancl I'm the only female, the only
girl, and these are all...
837
00:48:24,120 --> 00:48:27,055
...MCs and men.
838
00:48:27,080 --> 00:48:29,615
I must have rhymed all clay long,
839
00:48:29,640 --> 00:48:32,135
until we got down to
the last two people.
840
00:48:33,280 --> 00:48:35,255
Ancl it was myself and...
841
00:48:35,280 --> 00:48:37,375
...it was Busy Bee, another MC.
842
00:48:38,880 --> 00:48:41,575
I'm seeing, like, "Wow, I'm getting
ready to be the best
843
00:48:41,600 --> 00:48:44,495
"in the world and the world
is going to know I'm the best."
844
00:48:48,480 --> 00:48:51,735
Ancl we got to the last battle,
845
00:48:51,760 --> 00:48:53,415
everybody takes their numbers
846
00:48:53,440 --> 00:48:55,935
and turns them up...
Nine, ten...
847
00:48:55,960 --> 00:48:57,255
Ten...
848
00:48:57,280 --> 00:48:58,495
Nine...
849
00:48:58,520 --> 00:49:00,415
Ten...
850
00:49:00,440 --> 00:49:01,615
Four...
851
00:49:04,600 --> 00:49:06,175
Four?
852
00:49:06,200 --> 00:49:08,895
And the crowd went crazy.
853
00:49:10,040 --> 00:49:11,215
Like...
854
00:49:11,240 --> 00:49:14,495
It was just, like, pandemonium,
people wanted to fight,
855
00:49:14,520 --> 00:49:16,175
I wanted to fight...
856
00:49:19,920 --> 00:49:23,495
I just walked out, and I never
looked at hip-hop the same,
857
00:49:23,520 --> 00:49:25,095
ever again.
858
00:49:26,560 --> 00:49:30,535
She won that battle,
859
00:49:30,560 --> 00:49:36,815
and she was deprived of
the World Supremacy title.
860
00:49:38,040 --> 00:49:40,895
Years later, I remember,
one of the judges,
861
00:49:40,920 --> 00:49:43,175
and he said,
862
00:49:43,200 --> 00:49:47,495
"The reason why I gave you four
is because we...
863
00:49:47,520 --> 00:49:50,015
"..were just starting to be
respected as a genre of music.
864
00:49:50,040 --> 00:49:53,135
"If they thought the best
in the world of this new genre
865
00:49:53,160 --> 00:49:56,415
"of music, the one that no-one can
beat
866
00:49:56,440 --> 00:49:59,975
"is a black, 14-year-old girl...
867
00:50:01,120 --> 00:50:03,655
"..there's just no way
they would have accepted it."
868
00:50:03,680 --> 00:50:07,575
He said, "So, I had to let you
lose in order for hip-hop to win."
869
00:50:09,120 --> 00:50:12,135
This is why I respect people
like Roxanne Shante so much
870
00:50:12,160 --> 00:50:14,975
and some of the other girls,
and it's because
871
00:50:15,000 --> 00:50:17,975
regardless to how many setbacks
they were faced with,
872
00:50:18,000 --> 00:50:20,415
they still continued
and I'm glad they did,
873
00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:23,935
because that knocked down doors
and that made room for the next set
874
00:50:23,960 --> 00:50:26,535
of women to come after them.
875
00:50:26,560 --> 00:50:29,975
What video do you want to see right
now, Freddy, on Video Music Box?
876
00:50:30,000 --> 00:50:33,855
Well, it would have to be the
latest video that I directed,
877
00:50:33,880 --> 00:50:38,455
which is Ladies First by
Queen Latifah, featuring Monte Love.
878
00:50:38,480 --> 00:50:42,415
# Ooh, ladies first, ladies first
879
00:50:44,080 --> 00:50:47,655
# Ooh, ladies first,
ladies first... #
880
00:50:47,680 --> 00:50:51,535
Latifah, she was really a pioneer,
very early on.
881
00:50:51,560 --> 00:50:54,895
Ladies First had an enormous impact.
882
00:50:56,400 --> 00:51:00,295
It was a record that influenced
multiple generations of women.
883
00:51:01,760 --> 00:51:04,095
You know, it's funny,
when you're doing it,
884
00:51:04,120 --> 00:51:06,255
you don't necessarily think about,
885
00:51:06,280 --> 00:51:09,935
"Well, this is going to be a
feminist statement for all time!"
886
00:51:09,960 --> 00:51:13,255
# Who said the ladies couldn't
make it, you must be blind
887
00:51:13,280 --> 00:51:15,655
# If you don't believe, well,
here, listen to this rhyme
888
00:51:15,680 --> 00:51:17,455
# Ladies first, there's no
time to rehearse
889
00:51:17,480 --> 00:51:19,935
# I'm divine and my mind expands
throughout the universe
890
00:51:19,960 --> 00:51:22,815
# A female rapper
with a message to send... #
891
00:51:22,840 --> 00:51:27,615
That video was a huge part
of making that statement.
892
00:51:27,640 --> 00:51:28,895
# Throwing down the sound
893
00:51:28,920 --> 00:51:30,615
# Totally a yes let me state
the position
894
00:51:30,640 --> 00:51:32,415
# Ladies first, yes? #
Yes.
895
00:51:34,280 --> 00:51:37,415
Monte at her side
and it was a great video,
896
00:51:37,440 --> 00:51:42,135
it had all of the fantastic images
of powerful black women.
897
00:51:42,160 --> 00:51:44,055
# Some think that we can't flow
Can't flow
898
00:51:44,080 --> 00:51:45,855
# Stereotypes, they got to go
Got to go
899
00:51:45,880 --> 00:51:46,935
# |'mma mess around
900
00:51:46,960 --> 00:51:48,895
# Ancl flip the scene into reverse
With what?
901
00:51:48,920 --> 00:51:50,815
# With a little touch of
Ladies First... #
902
00:51:54,240 --> 00:51:57,655
I thought she was very important,
as a powerful black woman,
903
00:51:57,680 --> 00:52:02,575
who stood with a straight spine,
as she wore that African garb,
904
00:52:02,600 --> 00:52:06,455
and celebrated her history
and where she came from.
905
00:52:06,480 --> 00:52:09,735
We needed that kind of messaging
as kids, and I think especially
906
00:52:09,760 --> 00:52:12,975
black women, young girls, needed
to see the Queen Latifahs.
907
00:52:14,080 --> 00:52:17,615
People like Queen Latifah
was able to cut through the noise,
908
00:52:17,640 --> 00:52:21,535
to kind of demand that women
have a space at the table
909
00:52:21,560 --> 00:52:23,935
in ways that they hadn't before.
910
00:52:23,960 --> 00:52:28,095
"We belong here, we take the stage,
we're speaking back,
911
00:52:28,120 --> 00:52:29,575
"we're not going to be sidelined,
912
00:52:29,600 --> 00:52:32,175
"we're not going to be
disrespected."
913
00:52:32,200 --> 00:52:37,135
She was doing a direct talk back
to some of the lyrics
914
00:52:37,160 --> 00:52:38,655
that were coming up at that time.
915
00:52:38,680 --> 00:52:40,855
And, "Who are you calling
the B-I-T-C-H?"
916
00:52:40,880 --> 00:52:42,855
And, "Are you respecting me?"
917
00:52:42,880 --> 00:52:45,855
Queen Latifah changed the game.
918
00:52:45,880 --> 00:52:47,615
# Who you callin' a bitch?
919
00:52:47,640 --> 00:52:50,055
# U-N-I-T-Y
You gotta let him know
920
00:52:50,080 --> 00:52:53,255
# U-N-I-T-Y
Come on, here we go, uh
921
00:52:53,280 --> 00:52:54,935
# U-N-I-T-Y
You gotta let him know
922
00:52:54,960 --> 00:52:56,535
# Love a black woman from...
923
00:52:56,560 --> 00:52:58,575
# You ain't a bitch
or a ho, here we go, U-N-I-T-Y
924
00:52:58,600 --> 00:52:59,975
# You gotta let him know
925
00:53:00,000 --> 00:53:01,855
# U-N-I-T-Y, come on, come on... #
926
00:53:01,880 --> 00:53:04,815
She told a story about a girl
927
00:53:04,840 --> 00:53:07,215
who's walking down the street,
guy hollers at her,
928
00:53:07,240 --> 00:53:09,895
she doesn't want to speak, and
because she doesn't want to speak,
929
00:53:09,920 --> 00:53:12,895
she's automatically
then deemed a bitch.
930
00:53:12,920 --> 00:53:15,255
It's not cool to do that.
931
00:53:15,280 --> 00:53:16,575
# You know all of that gots to go
932
00:53:16,600 --> 00:53:19,215
# Now everybody knows there's
exceptions to this rule... #
933
00:53:19,240 --> 00:53:21,335
I really think it had an impact.
934
00:53:21,360 --> 00:53:27,175
Because I felt like I got a lot
less male ego that gets turned down,
935
00:53:27,200 --> 00:53:30,615
calling me a
B-word...after that song,
936
00:53:30,640 --> 00:53:32,695
I think because they felt stupid,
perhaps,
937
00:53:32,720 --> 00:53:35,695
because Latifah called them
out on record.
938
00:53:35,720 --> 00:53:38,095
# One of 'em felt my
booty, he was nasty
939
00:53:38,120 --> 00:53:40,455
# I turned around red, somebody was
catchin' the wrath
940
00:53:40,480 --> 00:53:43,295
# Then the little one said... # "Ha-ha!
Yeah, me, bitch" # And laughed!
941
00:53:43,320 --> 00:53:45,735
# Since he was with his boys,
he tried to break fly, huh
942
00:53:45,760 --> 00:53:47,135
# I punched him dead in his eye
943
00:53:47,160 --> 00:53:49,375
# Ancl said, "Who you callin'
a bitch?" #
944
00:53:49,400 --> 00:53:53,095
The nominees were announced today
for the 37th annual Grammy awards.
945
00:53:53,120 --> 00:53:56,335
The Grammys will be held
in Los Angeles on March 1st.
946
00:53:57,800 --> 00:53:59,535
Queen Latifah...
947
00:53:59,560 --> 00:54:01,295
She was up against all men.
948
00:54:03,440 --> 00:54:05,295
Coolio...
949
00:54:05,320 --> 00:54:06,535
Snoop...
950
00:54:06,560 --> 00:54:07,895
Warren G...
951
00:54:07,920 --> 00:54:10,215
Craig Mack...
# The silent type, yeah
952
00:54:10,240 --> 00:54:12,535
# Ain't none of this worth gettin'
your face sliced
953
00:54:12,560 --> 00:54:14,695
# Cos that's what happened
to your home girl, right?
954
00:54:14,720 --> 00:54:17,215
# Barking with no bite!
She got to wear that for life... #
955
00:54:17,240 --> 00:54:20,255
Queen Latifah won Best Rap Solo
performance.
956
00:54:20,280 --> 00:54:22,615
# U-N-I-T-Y
Come on, here we go
957
00:54:22,640 --> 00:54:23,975
# U-N-I-T-Y... #
958
00:54:24,000 --> 00:54:26,415
She became the first woman
to win this category.
959
00:54:27,640 --> 00:54:30,895
I think, when she won that Grammy,
960
00:54:30,920 --> 00:54:32,855
a lot of people were in shock.
961
00:54:34,240 --> 00:54:37,615
They just said, you know, "That's
overdue, and that's Latifah."
962
00:54:40,480 --> 00:54:42,375
When Latifah won at the Grammys,
963
00:54:42,400 --> 00:54:46,415
hip-hop still wasn't a respected
genre within the Grammy association,
964
00:54:46,440 --> 00:54:49,935
at that time, and she
received her accolade,
965
00:54:49,960 --> 00:54:53,935
or what have you, during an
untelevised portion of the Grammys.
966
00:54:56,520 --> 00:55:00,175
Hip-hop still wasn't at the level of
respect that it should have been.
967
00:55:00,200 --> 00:55:02,255
And then, on top of that,
she's a woman.
968
00:55:07,600 --> 00:55:09,135
Even to this day,
969
00:55:09,160 --> 00:55:11,855
I'll meet women who were growing up
970
00:55:11,880 --> 00:55:16,735
and they'll say, "Oh, man, that
first Queen Latifah album...
971
00:55:16,760 --> 00:55:19,495
"That really.. .inspired me. "
972
00:55:20,640 --> 00:55:26,575
Now, there's a lot of
female players in the hip-hop game,
973
00:55:26,600 --> 00:55:30,135
Lauryn Hill, a brilliant MC...
974
00:55:30,160 --> 00:55:34,335
Missy Elliott broke through in
such a huge way.
975
00:55:34,360 --> 00:55:36,135
Megan...
976
00:55:36,160 --> 00:55:37,815
The success of Cart“...
977
00:55:39,240 --> 00:55:40,535
Doja Cat...
978
00:55:41,600 --> 00:55:42,935
City Girls...
979
00:55:44,840 --> 00:55:49,135
To a lot of female artists, she
really had a tremendous influence.
980
00:55:53,560 --> 00:55:57,495
Queen Bee is Queen Latifah,
she's always been the Queen Boss.
981
00:55:57,520 --> 00:55:59,695
SHE WHISTLES
982
00:55:59,720 --> 00:56:02,855
She is one of those people that...
983
00:56:02,880 --> 00:56:09,015
...people never really looked at
as, like, just a female rapper.
984
00:56:09,040 --> 00:56:12,255
As powerful as any male
there ever was in hip-hop.
985
00:56:12,280 --> 00:56:13,815
Even more so.
986
00:56:13,840 --> 00:56:16,815
SHE HUMS
987
00:56:23,360 --> 00:56:28,335
A lot of rappers who
had that conundrum...
988
00:56:28,360 --> 00:56:31,495
"I got one foot in the hood
and one in the boardroom.
989
00:56:31,520 --> 00:56:34,295
"Where should I be?
I'm straddling both."
990
00:56:34,320 --> 00:56:36,575
When you got power,
then comes responsibility.
991
00:56:36,600 --> 00:56:38,015
What are you going to do with it?
992
00:56:38,040 --> 00:56:41,015
It's gon' take a black president
to stand up, that has gone through
993
00:56:41,040 --> 00:56:44,335
all of that pain
and heartache and turmoil
994
00:56:44,360 --> 00:56:46,255
in their lives, and struggle,
995
00:56:46,280 --> 00:56:49,015
to be able to set things right
and balance the world out.
996
00:56:50,840 --> 00:56:54,295
Obama is the first
hip-hop president.
997
00:56:54,320 --> 00:56:56,095
What does it mean to have
a black president
998
00:56:56,120 --> 00:56:59,935
if the streets are on fire?
Our folk are dying! Wake up!
999
00:56:59,960 --> 00:57:02,975
Black Lives Matter got
pushed off the front page
1000
00:57:03,000 --> 00:57:04,695
with the presidency of Donald Trump.
1001
00:57:10,240 --> 00:57:12,855
The way that he
had divided the country,
1002
00:57:12,880 --> 00:57:15,015
some of the things that were coming
out of his mouth...
1003
00:57:16,080 --> 00:57:17,615
I don't know.
1004
00:57:17,640 --> 00:57:19,815
The headlines this morning belong
to Eminem
1005
00:57:19,840 --> 00:57:22,815
who released a scathing cipher
directly at Donald Trump.
1006
00:57:24,560 --> 00:57:27,335
Sometimes you might need to take
a stand and say certain things...
1007
00:57:28,640 --> 00:57:31,495
Why are African-Americans still
dying at the hands of
1008
00:57:31,520 --> 00:57:34,375
law enforcement in this country?
Ancl so are white people.
1009
00:57:34,400 --> 00:57:36,055
So are white people!
1010
00:57:36,080 --> 00:57:39,055
More white people, by the way,
MORE white people.
1011
00:57:41,760 --> 00:57:44,735
You see something
that's an atrocity...
1012
00:57:44,760 --> 00:57:46,975
It's going to get a hip-hop
response.
1013
00:57:47,000 --> 00:57:48,215
ALL CHANT: George Floyd!
1014
00:57:48,240 --> 00:57:50,375
All we gotta do is congregate.
1015
00:57:50,400 --> 00:57:53,455
We're going to posse up,
we're going to build up to it.
1016
00:57:54,520 --> 00:57:58,135
That's what surprised
the hell out of many.
1017
00:57:58,160 --> 00:58:00,375
They didn't think that
the world would posse up.
1018
00:58:00,400 --> 00:58:03,295
# 19...
89, the number, another summer
1019
00:58:03,320 --> 00:58:04,495
# Get down
1020
00:58:04,520 --> 00:58:06,055
# Sound of the funky drummer
1021
00:58:06,080 --> 00:58:08,415
# Music hittin' your heart
cos I know you got soul!
1022
00:58:08,440 --> 00:58:10,495
# Brothers and sisters!
Hey, hey!
1023
00:58:10,520 --> 00:58:12,255
# Listen if you're missin', y'all
1024
00:58:12,280 --> 00:58:14,095
# Swingin' while I'm singin'
Hey!
1025
00:58:14,120 --> 00:58:16,055
# Givin' whatcha gettin',
knowin' what I know
1026
00:58:16,080 --> 00:58:18,015
# Ancl while the Black band's
sweatin'
1027
00:58:18,040 --> 00:58:19,815
# Ancl the rhythm-rhyme
Rollin'!
1028
00:58:19,840 --> 00:58:21,615
# Got to give us what we want
Uh!
1029
00:58:21,640 --> 00:58:24,055
# Got to give us what we need!
Hey!
1030
00:58:24,080 --> 00:58:26,495
# Our freedom of speech
is freedom of death
1031
00:58:26,520 --> 00:58:28,455
# We've gotta fight the powers
that be. #
85584
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