Crabs In A Bucket

Where did it all wrong? An art form created in theCent and Ja Rule beef of 2003 became the talk of
Bronx in the 1970s initially united an entire generation.hip-hop, many rappers began seeing beef as a way to
Gangs who had been bitter rivals in the early 1970searn a quick dollar and destroy the career of an
united because of hip-hip culture and music.adversary in the process.
The hip-hop phenomenon began on the mean streetsConsequently, 50 Cent and his G Unit crewing began
of New York, and quickly spread throughout thebeefing with Fat Joe, Jadakiss, and Nas, for their
country in the 1980s. People who had once settledaffiliation with Ja Rule and The Inc. Records. After 50's
their differences in the streets began squashing theirprotégé, The Game refused to
beef on the dance floor or on the microphone. Emceeparticipate in a battle with Nas and Jadakiss, 50
and break dance battles quickly replaced violence asexcommunicated Game from G Unit Records.
the measuring stick to determine the hardest cat onThen 50 Cent went on a popular New York radio
the block.show to announce The Game's dismissal from the G
What started as innocent competition, however,Unit camp. After 50 Cent's diss on the radio, Game's
became deadly in the late 1990s with the senselessentourage attempted to confront the G Unit entourage
murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.at the radio station. The two crews exchanged gunfire,
Rap battles started becoming extremely personal andleaving a member of Game's crew injured.
eventually led to the demise of two hip-hop icons.After the New York radio incident The Game began
The hate that exists among some of hip-hop'sexchanging countless insults with the entire G Unit
brightest stars is reminiscent of the slavery era, whenroster, culminating in the November 26 incident in which
the division between African Americans gave birth toYoung Buck, a G Unit artist, allegedly assaulted a
the crabs in a bucket mentality. This theory stated thatdeejay for playing Game's hit single "It's Okay (One
whenever an African American made it to the topBlood)."
another African American would pull him back downWhen will rappers ever learn? Hip-hop culture has
before he made it out of his current situation.grown into a worldwide multi-billion dollar phenomenon
Recently, Nashville-based rapper Young Buck allegedlyover the years, and there is plenty of success to go
assaulted an Atlanta deejay for playing a record by hisaround for everyone. Just because a fan buys a
nemesis The Game.Game album does not mean he will not buy an album
According to SOHH.com, "Young Buck performed infrom a G Unit artist.
Atlanta's Club Nocturnal. After his performance, BuckYoung Buck's alleged assault in Atlanta has been a
announced he had some business to handle with Hotdetriment to his career because of the ban of his
107.9 DJ Will, who was deejaying prior to Buck hittingrecords at many radio stations. In attempt to bring
the stage. Although DJ Will stood up for himself, hedown an old nemesis, he may have brought down his
was outnumbered by members of Buck's entourageown career in the process.
who jumped in. As a result, Hot 107.9 program directorThe beef that exists between rappers is the main
Jerry Smokin' B has banned Young Buck from thereason the African American race has not been able
station's play list."to reach the potential that it has. A people filled with all
Young Buck's alleged assault led many deejaysthe talent in the world cannot reach the "promise land"
across the country to consider a ban of all of histhat Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about because of
music.his jealousy and envy.
Although rap music has always been highlyWhen will rappers learn that they have the power to
competitive, many current rappers are unaware of thechange the entire Black community for the better?
power that they have as role models, and choose toThey have the power to teach young children that
use their influence in destructive ways and not to upliftviolence is not the way to solve a problem. They have
the Black community. In past generations, Africanthe power to teach the youth that there are more
American youth emulated the preachers and theways to be successful than selling drugs on the corner.
teachers. However, in the 21st century, the nextRecently, New Orleans based rappers B.G. and Baby,
generation of Black leaders looks up to rappers andput aside their beef after the tragic death of Baby's
athletes for guidance and inspiration.sister. Houston rappers Chamillionaire and Mike Jones
After the sudden deaths of Tupac and Biggie, manyalso have squashed beefs and have even talked
rappers realized the power of words. That generationabout working together in the near future. Maybe the
of rappers understood the consequences of puttingentire hip-hop nation can see that as the true way that
negativity on wax, and chose a more positiveBlack men handle a negative situation.
approach to settling differences. However, after the 50