Colour Issue No. 7

Page 34

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CYCLE OF ABUSE AND FORGIVENESS

Cycles of Abuse and Forgiveness

It’s hard to deny the fact that hip-hop has be-

Dylan Wallace

Maybe the first step should be to stop giving

come one of the most popular music genres, it’s artists

them so much financial support. Bitch media, a website

sign multi million dollar deals with record labels, fashion

focused on highlighting and advocating feminism in pop

lines, and even major alcohol brands. The dominance of

culture and media, has a short article by Jasmine Burnett

hip-hop in modern day culture is undeniable, but what’s

that highlights the problem with profiting form abuse

even more powerful is the ability of hip-hop artists to in-

stating that:

fluence others. Many artists have come forward to fight against a multitude of issues such as gun violence, mi-

nority incarceration, and African American rights. They

that profits from it, have always accepted Black men’s

“The hip-hop community, and the music industry

have the ability to spread impactful messages through

violence against Black women and rewarded them with

their music and their actions, but it seems that artists pick

success. From Dr. Dre assaulting his ex-girlfriend Michel’le

and choose which issues they want support. One specific

and journalist Dee Barnes to Tupac spending eight months

issue that lacks attention is domestic abuse. Intimate

in prison for sex abuse to XXXTentacion’s sophomore

partner violence has been issue ignored by many prom-

album? Debuting at the top of the Billboard 200…. violence

inent artists in hip-hop since creation in the 1970. Art-

against women has been commonplace and occurs with

ists such as XXXtentacion, R Kelly, Dr. Dre have lengthily

-out serious consequence”

records of domestic abuse, yet it didn’t stop other artists from collaborating with them. The adoration of their fans

seems largely unchanged and this begs the question of

artists inflict upon women they are seen as a minor offen-

It seems that no matter what kind abuse male

why people seem less concerned and more forgiving of

ses or just another popular headline on social media.

hip hop artists who commit domestic abuse and how do

Being wrapped up in intimate partner violence can have

we hold them more accountable for their actions?

little effect on an artists and in many cases can even


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