Lupe Fiasco: Hip Hop Culture Was A Factor In Derrion Albert’s Murder
Lupe Fiasco
As recently reported on www.hiphopwired.com, rap artist, Lupe Fiasco says that hip hop was a factor in Derrion Albert’s murder. Albert was the teen who was beat to death in Chicago last month.The article went on to say:
“Speaking with the Chicago radio station 107.5 WGCI, Fiasco opened up more on how rappers must take notice of what they say.
“Hip-Hop has to take some fault for that. Just in the fact that the amount of violence and the amount of negativity that’s in Hip-Hop and the music, it attributes to so much that goes on, negatively, in the hood.”
He added that another overlying issue is the fact that positivity is not endorsed as heavily in outlets such as the radio. Oddly enough, people must not want to be lifted and told that there is a better way.
“It lacks entertainment value. It lacks a certain kind of hype around it. A certain “coolness” about it. So it doesn’t fit on the radio.” “
What do you think? Did Hip Hop play a role in Derrion Albert’s murder? Can musical influences have more influence than factors in the home, school or social environment. Do we scapegoat hip hop when we say that hip hop played a role in Derrion’s murder? What do you think?
Tags: Chicago, Derrion Albert, lupe fiasco
About the Author
Yasmin Shiraz is the President of Still Eye Rise Films, an independent production company which films educational and thought provoking documentaries that chronicle the lives, traumas and experiences of youth. Her first production, Can She Be Saved?, a documentary that examines violence among middle school girls, was an official selection of the 2009 Roxbury Film Festival and recently won a 2009 Indie Award of Merit from IndieFest.
Yasmin Shiraz is the Award winning Author of Retaliation a novel about a community’s response to youth violence. In 2009, it was selected as one of the top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by the American Library Association. She is the author of The Blueprint for My Girls: How To Build A Life Full of Courage, Determination & Self Love (Simon and Schuster) and five other books. Her best selling “Blueprint” empowerment series is utilized as a self esteem, motivational, and educational tool at middle and high schools, after school programs, non-profit youth centers, as well as Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the country. 
2 Comments for Lupe Fiasco: Hip Hop Culture Was A Factor In Derrion Albert’s Murder
November 5, 2009 at 7:25 am
We’re quick to blame our young minds for everything. Surely there’s violence in some Hip Hop. However, I don’t think these artist should accept all of the responsibility. I don’t think they should accept more than 50% of the responsiblity. I certainly wouldn’t put a murder charge on them. In working with youth in juvenile corrections, their esteem is low. When I walk in the door they are quick to accept responsibility for their crimes. Which is good, but I always say wait a minute. You aren’t totally responsible. That’s how I feel here. I’m not going to detroy our young minds esteem. Let’s call for some redirection. Hip Hop should not accept more that 50% of the responsibility. Like our ancestor Asa Hilliard said, “You have puppets and you have puppeteers.” Hip Hop artist are just puppets. There is an unseen hand working here that’s manipulating our young minds. Let a system, a government that’s gone mad on war, and greedy promoters accept some of the responsibility if not most of it.
November 10, 2009 at 7:36 pm
let me start by saying, hip hop is not responsible for the negative ills of our community..but I will say, positive music can have positive results … Hip Hop is more than just “music” .. seems we have gotten away from what hip hop really means, and just attributes it to music – these artist don’t even know their history, and think hip hop is just rapping – now, we are faced with negativity from all angles these days, and it’s up to the home to guide the children thru – if there is a breakdown in the home environment, don’t blame hip hop… blame society