Felon Acceptance in Music
November 24, 2009
It seems that felonies and musicians are beginning to go hand-in-hand.
James Brown spent three years in jail for robbery, illegal possession of drugs, and for assaulting the police.
Paul McCartney spent 10 days in jail for illegal possession of marijuana in a Tokyo airport.
Soulja Boy spent one night in jail for loitering in an abandoned house and then running from the police.
T.I. has been in jail for a year for illegal weapon possession.
Now Lil’ Wayne has been convicted for illegal possession of a 0.4 caliber hand gun and marijuana on his tour bus. And this is only naming a few artists.
Whether by ill-judgment or for other unexplainable reasons, it seems that musicians have been in and out of trouble, in and out of jail, and in and out of the news constantly.
Yet, public reaction is more surprising. These crimes are often dismissed simply because of the popularity of the artists, when in fact it should not be.
Indeed, crimes such as those mentioned above are still looked down upon when heard on the news, but it is not viewed likewise when about a musical artist. For many hip-hop artists, these crimes add to the “gangsta” personality that is often sought after.
Overriding such misdeeds simply creates unfair double-standards. Yes, teenage and adult audiences are mature enough to know right or wrong, but that is no excuse as to why these situations are viewed with nonchalance. Even viewing such an offense with indifference is a crime in and of itself.
In fact, this now allows derogatory and violent lyrics to be accepted and almost banal in today’s music, revealing the shifting standards and ethics of society.
Music is meant to be a connection to people and universal emotions, and these artists have a large impact on their audience.
If popular artists do not step up and be the role-models they were meant to be, then it is the duty of the listeners to judge the crimes they committ, not ignore them.
Reema Rao, Editor in Chief
