Current Issues in Journalism

I think you did a great job on this piece Carnez and I was glad to hear him rap so that I could fully understand what positive rap mean't. The only thing I had a problem with was that he mentioned Kanye as a positive rapper and while some of his stuff like "Jesus Walks" and such is positive I do not know if I would classify him strictly as positive because while "Gold Digger" sheds light on women like that it still objectifies them. However, I am not going to get mad at the man for saying that it is not a big deal it just kind of stuck out to me but all and all I enjoyed the video. Job well done Carnez, job well done.

Along with this topic, in the April issue of National Geographic there is a long section about Hip Hop, where it originated, how it's being looked at today, etc. It's very interesting. i tried to look on National Geographic's Web site to find the article but I couldn't get it. If anyone wants to see it I can bring it to class. Just let me know!

hey nice job Carnez. I like how Donovan pointed out that there are positive hip-hop artists out there. I think it is harder for them to get their music out there because our culture is so driven by negative things like sex and oogles of money. Hopefully people like you will help spread the word about these artists that have a good message to send to their audience and they will rise above the nastiness our culture is obessesed with.

Ya, great peice Carnez. I think that it is refreshing to see there really is an underground movement against the delusional nature of some mainstream hip-hop. When I watched Byron Hurt's documentary I saw all of those freestylers spewing the same violent trashtalking that I heard around wichita and in the halls of my high school. Donovan makes a great representative and voice. I remember being shocked last year as I jammed with a few friends after practice, and one of my smartest teammates joined in with a rap. I mean this guy was brilliant; he could have taught our physics classwithout making an effort at it, and he had that cool, collected composure that producers try to paint on their artists. Anyway, he joined in with a rap about the same old nine's and moneyclips shit when he had the mind to rap well about anything in the world. I remember the shock I felt wasn't really the things he chose to rap about, I was saddened by the fact that a mind like his was caught in a box so small. If only he was exposed to a video as well done as Byron Hurt's and could see what you show us here; he has peers in wichita who represent something more.