Ellington

Have no fear, readers. Your friendly neighborhood rabble-rouser is back after a self-imposed hiatus. I had to take a short vacation to shake the haters off. But before your mouths start to water, I'm sorry to say I won't be dignifying those folks with a response. My mother said never give a fool (or in this case—fools) an audience. Unwarranted hating can be pretty costly in this day and age.

Case in point: former Copiah County Sheriff Frank Ainsworth has possibly cost that county millions of dollars because of recklessly hating on hip-hop. In case you're not up to speed, the legendary rap group 2 Live Crew, concert promoters and concert-goers sued Copiah County, seeking $15 million for what they said were unlawful arrests, searches and road blocks that prevented a June 2000 concert from taking place.

Ainsworth, who admitted that he didn't want the concert to happen, had nearly 100 law enforcement officers harass patrons planning to attend the concert. Vehicles were randomly stopped and searched without probable cause. As we all know, when you search that hard for something, you will usually find it. Officers arrested 92 people and got their wish—the concert never occurred.
But hip-hop won the day.

Just days ago, a settlement was reached in federal court with both parties opting not to send the issue to a jury. Copiah County Board of Supervisors' attorney Jim Shannon said he felt the decision was good for both sides. But they didn't come out looking good at all. In fact, I think the settlement makes a bold statement. No matter what type of power you wield, you can't stop the juggernaut that is the hip-hop generation.

Like it or not, the music is here to stay, and regardless of the personal preference of any police chief, sheriff, mayor, governor or president, our music and our message are too strong to be stopped. We've seen these tactics used in Madison County, as authorities there have allegedly crippled nearly every rap event scheduled to take place at the Canton Multi-Purpose Center. Folks don't wish to be harassed when they are going to enjoy a concert. And they don't deserve to be.

Hopefully the 2 Live Crew case will deter officials from using such means ever again. It's unfair for our music and its listeners to be stereotyped, and it's unfair for law enforcement to intimidate us based on those stereotypes. Businessmen and women deserve the right to throw concerts where- and whenever they choose. As long as it's within legal parameters, law officers should not be able to stifle a person's means of making money.

Now, I'm a realist. I doubt the plaintiffs will become millionaires on the heels of this lawsuit. After all, it's taxpayers' money, and the original $15 million lawsuit could cripple a county's infrastructure. Just to prove a point, though, not only should those promoters be awarded the tens of thousands of dollars they stood to make, but Sheriff Ainsworth and the officers that chose to participate in his ruse should go a couple of months without a check. That's the price you pay for being a hater. Class dismissed.

And that's the truth ... sho-nuff.

Previous Comments

ID

72586

Comment

great article, kamikaze. glad to see you back and at it again. many look up to you as an example, and you give them that. keep up the good work.

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-06-07T18:17:27-06:00

ID

72587

Comment

And people say rappers always turn to violence. A hiatus to shake the haters off is classic.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-06-08T08:19:33-06:00

ID

72588

Comment

I know. I agree. The haters ain't got nothin' on Kamikaze, no matter how low they stoop. And they stooped. Imagine, a bunch of fathers and mothers saying the stuff they did.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-08T08:26:06-06:00

ID

72589

Comment

Just yesterday, I was working on some Larry Brown footage and listened to him say writers have to develop a thick skin. Something I've been working on in writing AND just in everyday life. It's harder than I ever thought it would be. Not only am I adding Larry Brown's words to my quotes to think on list today, I'm also adding the words of Kamikaze's momma about never giving a fool an audience. Thanks for that one.

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-06-08T08:55:15-06:00

ID

72590

Comment

It is certainly true, and something writers must remind themselves of. We also have to remember that, if we are truly trying to get people to think, that not everyone will like us. They're not supposed to. I tend to judge how successful I'm being by how many haters hate my guts in fact. ;-) I'm always amused that people think that they can break your spirit, or bring you to your knees, or keep you awake at night, with petty insults or even downright lies. Speaking for myself, er, my business is publishing a progressive newspaper and Web site in the middle of Mississippi. Do they truly not think that I expect their ilk to come out of the woodwork. One of the best things that we—and Kamikaze is a master at it—can do is rattles those folks cages. The more they obsess about us, the more success we're having. Now, even they can go too far, as the haters recently did over Kamikaze, and have a time or two about people close to me, including their children. But whenever folks do that kind of thing, they lose credibility in spades and narrow their reach. So the net effect is good and that audience shrinks due to their own devices. As Todd says, you do the right thing and wait.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-08T09:06:37-06:00

ID

72591

Comment

the 2 Live Crew is one of my favorite groups of all time. they broke down barriers and blazed trails for most of the better groups of today. Their racey shows provided for some of the best entertainment in hip hop too.

Author

JSU

Date

2006-06-08T11:13:42-06:00

ID

72592

Comment

Yeah, they're the Larry Flynt of the hip-hop world. Or, he's the 2 Live Crew of the porn world. Take your pick. ;-) It's so vital to remember that you only understand the First Amendment if you believe it applies to the speech that offends you the most. It's not up to the government to tell us how to express ourselves.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-08T11:17:07-06:00

ID

72593

Comment

Hard to believe those guys are still around (minus Luke) and performing like they used to. But there are plenty of ol' school groups still kicking it, so why not? I remember jamming to them in high school! Of course, I always had to hide their tapes from my Dad, who would have whooped my butt if he knew I listened to that kind of "trash" in his car.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-08T12:05:26-06:00

ID

72594

Comment

2 Live Crew was way too much for me. I tried hard to see some acting or staged performing in them, but always felt I saw outright abuse, prostituting, ill-treatment, and desecration of women and morality. I hope I was wrong about them. Larry Flynt looked a little saner than Luke to me but the two are clearly kin folks or kindred spirits. If I ever catch my grandchildren singing or dancing to any of those old tunes or videos I will take them outside and shoot them in the head. Other than this, Copiah County was certainly wrong and I'm glad the Crew won in court.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-06-09T09:49:51-06:00

ID

72595

Comment

I remember being in sixth grade and boys on the playground singing the lyrics to girls as they walked by. That's about my only experience with them, and it was NOT a good one. However, I am glad they won.

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-06-09T10:37:53-06:00

ID

72596

Comment

I didn't know where to put this comment. It likely deserves its own spot. Anyway, I'm happy yo report that teachers, males and females, are apparently learning it's better to have sex with each rather than the students. The "smoking gun" is now reporting that teachers, Sepulveda and Wilbon, were caught having sex with each other during school hours in one of the classrooms while student peeped through a crack in one of the windows and watched. What makes this incident "rapworthy or newsworthy" is that the hit record "back that thang up" was playing on the radio as the performer imitated the lyrics. From what I read the performances were great and the students concentration I. Q. went up dramatically. In fact, one reportedly slow kid was able to recount what he saw with never before recognized accuracy and details. What would I give to be a school boy once again. These teachers are off the chain.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-06-09T11:25:16-06:00

ID

72597

Comment

When I was teaching, I was the "hot teacher" until I opened my mouth. Then I became the mean one that assigned to much homework. Sometimes I was a hater but then sometimes my class was crunk. Probably depended on my hormones that day. However, I never used performances pieces in my lesson plans. Fortunately, it was the firs year of tech prep, so I had the tv/computer combo for my visual learners. Perhaps our teachers should be better educated on power point?

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-06-09T11:34:37-06:00

ID

72598

Comment

I believe it Emily. I saw your picture on another site. Why did you forsake those kids?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-06-09T12:03:27-06:00

ID

72599

Comment

Kamikaze can't win this hip hop hateration battle on his own. The man needs some assistance. How is writing these article benefiting him personally. I'd love to know the answer to that Mr. Shonuff if you are available and/or reading this. Is personal fulfillment at being able to be heard enough for you....if so, that is truly commendable. Not many people can say that. Congratulations on another outstandingly, outspoken, well thought out, article. You are really good with words. As long as you have a voice, what can the haters do but hate!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Author

Queen601

Date

2006-06-12T11:38:21-06:00