Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Musical Observation:Lyrical Freedom & Domestic Abuse


Just the other day, I came across the name of an female hip hop artist whom I recalled a short interview revealing her struggles and sudden drift away from the industry. Immediately, I began to think of the other female MC's who in other outlets have voiced her same struggles at one time or another. How hard it must have been for them to fight for their spot on a platform, not often utilized for the positive impact on communities it had been capable of, only to see it whisked away by other men and women with misguided ambitions and dangerous love of money. At this time I'm sure you are wondering what artist are you referring to and what struggles do they have in common? The struggle I answer you is: Domestic Violence.

Although I know for myself that love is clear and everything good, not blind. 
I can't help but think of Female rap artist 'EVE' most successful songs, "Love is Blind" where she tackles the very personal story of how domestic violence reared its ugly head in her life and the life of someone she loved and knew.

It seems that a good handful of female hip hop/rap artist, while being vocal about their rights and dislikes, were living in personal bondage behind their lyrics. Let me be clear, I am not telling you that EVE was in any abusive relationship nor implying so. I am however saying that she represents a handful of female artist who came out with such a strong presence, it's sad that some of her peers or those who preceded her were suffering in silence unknowingly to their fan bases. Whether they were in the middle of long term relationships or made the wrong relationship decisions after their career started, they have not in many cases stated.

Questions of why they did not reach out to each other as peers, where were their families, and how are they now come to mind. Now, I'm not asking where are they now to show an interest in wanting them to come back out with any musical material, NO. I'm asking how they are now as it pertains to the condition of their heart & lives. Coming back out is not even the last thing they should be doing, but the first thing they should not be doing. Many times I think some artist mistakenly take the interest of where they are  now, as a sign of they need to make a come back, which is not so. The former audience of some of the most popular groups just need to know, there are people out here that genuinely have a concern of them the person and their freedom from the past. Yes, there are groups of people who want to see them with families, businesses, making positive impacts in their community and not being stuck on what was and what could have been.