Luda and Snoop are the Wrong Choices

[Myrealname]

Interesting editorial from sixshot.

"Ludacris gets dropped by Pepsi. Snoop gets dropped by the Muppets. What is the world coming to? Can’t a self-respecting rapper get some mass media love and exposure? And who is this Bill O’Reilly? Why has he targeted our rappers?

Very recently Bill O’Reilly, host of the hugely popular Fox television show the “O’Reilly Factor”, writer of the bestseller “No Spin Zone”, and host of a radio show bearing his name created a national furor over Ludacris being signed as a Pepsi Spokesperson. O’Reilly argued that Ludacris lyrics “celebrate intoxication, irresponsible sex, drug dealing and violence”. Under intense criticism from O’Reilly on television and radio, and huge support by listeners of his shows, Pepsi promptly dumped Ludacris and pulled ads involving Ludacris.

Similarly, O’Reilly attacked the decision to include Snoop in an upcoming “Muppets” program. His reasoning? Snoop’s violent lyrics, his drug dealing past, his current active but non-acting move into porn, and on and on and on.

The hip-hop community has been up in arms about O’Reilly’s attacks on Luda and Snoop. O'Reilly's show has obviously had a major impact on getting Snoop and Ludacris pushed out of these mainstream opportunities and may have a lasting effect on the viability of other rap artists getting . Many people feel O’Reilly’s attacks are thinly veiled racism: Two successful black men, both lose opportunities to reach out to young people with their art. What about Brittany Spears? What about Christina Aguilera or other pop stars with their hyper-sexual lyrics and dancing? Why aren’t they attacked?

Well, I gotta be real when I say that O’Reilly is right. Luda as a national spokesperson for Pepsi? Snoop on the Muppets? I ain’t a hater, but I’m really not cool with those ideas. I’ve got a little sister, I’ve got little cousins, etc...I’m not really tryin’ to hear them recite “I got Ho’s” or lines from “G Thang” because now they know who Ludacris and Snoop are and want to buy their records and listen to their music. Some people think that shit is cute. It’s not. It’s irresponsible. Children should behave as children and shouldn’t be exposed to certain forms of adult entertainment and certain adult entertainers. And make no mistake about it, Snoop and Ludacris are adult entertainers.

A lot of people argue that there is no difference between Snoop and Luda and other entertainers or actors. For example, some would suggest that Snoop and Ludacris are creative artists much the same as David Spade, Brittney Spears, Dennis Miller, or other popular entertainers who have very adult aspects in their entertainment. First, I’ve never heard Brittney Spears, Dennis Miller, or David Spade talk about killing anybody. There is nothing dangerous about their brand of entertainment. It might be boring. It may sometimes be risque. But it doesn’t advocate violence, misogyny, or irresponsible sex.

Another major difference is that Snoop, Luda, and other rappers they swear they live the life they rap about. They blur the line between art and reality. They just don’t rap about a love for weed…they get convicted of possession. They don’t just talk about smokin’ fools…they get put on trial for it. You can rarely go a week without seeing a rap artist in a police press report.

I don’t have a problem with rappers going in and out of prison. But really, I’m not trying to have any entertainers who have a rap sheet influencing the young kids in my family. When I have my own kids, I’m not tryin to let my kids hear all that. So if a multinational corporation has Ludacris as their spokesperson, I will make a concious decision not to support them. And truthfully, Luda and Snoop already have major media exposure. They are already superstars. SUPERSTARS. All the Pepsi ads and the Muppet Show would serve to do is expose them to a younger market. It’s tantamount to a charismatic drug dealer or gang member hanging out at an elementary school. The kids will want to know who they are and want to emulate them.

So, drop the racism argument. Drop the fairness argument. Stop comparing Ludacris to Brittney Spears. If Pepsi or the "Muppets" wanted to appeal to a diverse, urban audience they could've secured Common, they could've got J5, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Erykah Badu, or Outkast. With or without Pepsi and the "Muppets" we can still enjoy Luda and Snoop, they can still make their paper, and my little sister can avoid getting a spanking for saying the wrong thing.

Do you agree or disagree?"

[muthafocka]

luda should'nt have been kicked offa pepsi but i have not heard the ads .. adults drink pepsi .. don't they ? Pespi made the same mistake when they took Madonna offa there ads coz of that "like a prayer" video ... but she got more publicity in the end plus that video looks pretty tame now-a-days..plus of what i hear of luda he isn't much of a crimanal .. however snoop 'n muppets just don't mix .. muppets are aimed at kids in particular and why would he wanna do that ? its wack SELLOUT  he is a real crimanal .. as O reilly  said  his carrer,really is "in the tank"

[infinite59]

I completely disagree!!!!!!!!!  Dennis Miller talks about killing people all the time.  I've watched his show.  He is a full blown racist!! Have you heard his comments degrading Arab people for their lifestyle and culture?  Have you heard him talk of blowing up whole countries of darker skinnned people?  

Secondly, Britney Spears, what does she stand for?  Her music is dishonest and oversexualized.  When Snoop and Luda talk about sex they are being honest.  But there is a great deception in Britney's music because he she is acting like a good girl who just doesn't want to be lonely, then next thing you know she's damn near naked saying sexually suggestive comments.  And she stands for nothing!!  I mean really, what does she believe in?  Does she have any morals?  No.

Snoop on the other hand has taken many stands in his carear.  He stood up against the East Coast/West Coast beef and did that sitcom with PDiddy telling kids they weren't going to beef anymore.  On his album the Doggfather he tells that kid not to be like him, that he could be much more.  He has many songs that touch on the social struggles of black and poor people.  Now he is quitting his weed habits.  

Snoop and Ludacris came up out of poor and destitute conditions to be the people they are today.  And just because they still carry some of that same dirt from that ditch or rut they dug themselves out of, does not mean we need to hide them and act like they are invisible.

[LIL GUY]

My only question is why is Bill only targeting rappers.  As much as you try to dodge it, it does have something to with race.  spears, and christina are showing their ass in video's and nobody targets them.  Snoop and Luda are not saying half the shit Eminem is saying but I don't see his movie getting protested.  Snoop never said "I wanna kill my mom"  "Luda never said, "Im gonna kill my wife".  Sure they talk about smakin' some ho's and violent lyrics, but what rapper don't?  Even common talks about serving peep's in the big pay back.  It may not be all about race but it does play a part in some way or form.

[.:Hercy Buggz:.]

My only question is why is Bill only targeting rappers.  As much as you try to dodge it, it does have something to with race.  spears, and christina are showing their ass in video's and nobody targets them.  Snoop and Luda are not saying half the shit Eminem is saying but I don't see his movie getting protested.  Snoop never said "I wanna kill my mom"  "Luda never said, "Im gonna kill my wife".  Sure they talk about smakin' some ho's and violent lyrics, but what rapper don't?  Even common talks about serving peep's in the big pay back.  It may not be all about race but it does play a part in some way or form.

Tru Said   I Agree

[infinite59]

My only question is why is Bill only targeting rappers.  As much as you try to dodge it, it does have something to with race.  spears, and christina are showing their ass in video's and nobody targets them.  Snoop and Luda are not saying half the shit Eminem is saying but I don't see his movie getting protested.  Snoop never said "I wanna kill my mom"  "Luda never said, "Im gonna kill my wife".  Sure they talk about smakin' some ho's and violent lyrics, but what rapper don't?  Even common talks about serving peep's in the big pay back.  It may not be all about race but it does play a part in some way or form.

Naw dogg.... you got it twisted... Bill O'Reily talks shit on Eminem all the time on his show.  Eminem is always hated on in the same breathe as Snoop and Luda.  He hates on Eminem as much as any of them.  The only difference is Pepsi and the Muppets actually dropped Snoop and Luda because of what O'Reily said.  Eminem doesn't do advertisements and he would never go on the muppets.

[DPG4lyfe]

I completely disagree!!!!!!!!!  Dennis Miller talks about killing people all the time.  I've watched his show.  He is a full blown racist!! Have you heard his comments degrading Arab people for their lifestyle and culture?  Have you heard him talk of blowing up whole countries of darker skinnned people?  

Secondly, Britney Spears, what does she stand for?  Her music is dishonest and oversexualized.  When Snoop and Luda talk about sex they are being honest.  But there is a great deception in Britney's music because he she is acting like a good girl who just doesn't want to be lonely, then next thing you know she's damn near naked saying sexually suggestive comments.  And she stands for nothing!!  I mean really, what does she believe in?  Does she have any morals?  No.

Snoop on the other hand has taken many stands in his carear.  He stood up against the East Coast/West Coast beef and did that sitcom with PDiddy telling kids they weren't going to beef anymore.  On his album the Doggfather he tells that kid not to be like him, that he could be much more.  He has many songs that touch on the social struggles of black and poor people.  Now he is quitting his weed habits.  

Snoop and Ludacris came up out of poor and destitute conditions to be the people they are today.  And just because they still carry some of that same dirt from that ditch or rut they dug themselves out of, does not mean we need to hide them and act like they are invisible.

tru tru very very tru dogg. im out!!!

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

fuck this O'reilly faggot...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Was Busta Rhymes dropped by Mountain Dew? Cuz I just saw him on a Miller Lite commercial...

[dexter]

This shit is foul. Get a life Myrealname.

[415 Playa]

I've just one thing to say : Ludacris was to fuckin' bad to go with Pepsi