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Lyrics Often Promote sex, but Hip-Hop can Make a Difference
- By Erica Davis
- Published 07/20/2009
- Entertainment
- Unrated
Erica Davis
Erica Davis is the youth editor for African-American News&Issues. Send your youth items and photos to E.C. Davis via email: news@aframnews.com.
Although progress has been made in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, the epidemic continues to devastate the United States and the international community with 56,300 new HIV infections each year in the U.S. and an estimated 33 million people living with HIV worldwide. As the leading U.S. government institute for HIV/AIDS research, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is committed to conducting the research necessary to successfully end the fight against HIV/AIDS. Hip Hop has jumped on the bandwagon to fight against HIV and all STD’S around the globe.
Widespread, voluntary HIV testing and treatment for infected individuals could benefit both people with HIV and their communities. Studies have shown that most people who learn they are infected with HIV adjust their behavior to avoid transmitting the virus to others. In addition, when HIV-infected people start antiretroviral therapy and take it consistently; the treatment reduces the amount of virus in their blood and other bodily fluids to very low levels.
Not only does this protect their health, but it may also make them less infectious to others; a NIAID clinical trials network is in the process of testing this hypothesis. However, the test and treat model contains many assumptions that need to be validated and raises issues that require broad public debate.
For many years hip hop has had a negative connotation to it considering the explicit lyrics, degrading of women, and the promotion of sex. In recent times, Hip Hop has flipped the script and taken its listeners to a different level. In the weeks leading up a free Hip Hop for HIV Concert in Houston, nearly 15,000 young adults age 15-40 stood in line to get tested for HIV and syphilis in order to get an admission ticket.
Radio station 97.9 The Box teamed up with many community groups in Houston to promote the awareness of HIV and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). The concert was held at the George R. Brown Convention Center. In order to make this event a success, the list of performers included: Plies, Day 26, Letoya Luckett, Bobby Valentino, Young Problems, Melanie Fiona, GT, Yung LA, Gorilla Zoe, Pleasure P, Twista, Bun B and other special guests like model/video vixen Melyssa Ford.
In a positive, yet interesting interview with Gorilla Zoe, a hip hop artist from Atlanta, Georgia is very sincere about all ages getting tested for HIV and all STDs. He was asked “While performing one of your songs, specifically ‘Juice Box,’ which clearly promotes sex, do you find that contradicting or hypocritical?”
The rapper responded “I always promote safe sex in a positive and informal way.” Gorilla Zoe may reach his fans through his lyrics, but like many artists across the country and around the world, he does care and participating in the Hip Hop for HIV was just another way to show his love for the fans.
Teen HIV spokesperson Kandace Gray of Holy Ghost Catholic School also attended the concert.
According to the City of Houston Health Department, at the end of 2008, 23,744 Houston residents reported they were living with AIDS, and they also estimate that 1 in 40 African-Americans in Houston are living with HIV.
Rapper Gorilla Zoe says he always promote safe sex in a positive but informal way.
Photo by Erica Davis
Bun B. (Rap-a-Lot Records) is
another local artist who is committed to HIV/AIDS awareness.
Photo by Erica Davis
Kandace Gray, 13, is a
teen spokesperson for HIV/AIDS.
Widespread, voluntary HIV testing and treatment for infected individuals could benefit both people with HIV and their communities. Studies have shown that most people who learn they are infected with HIV adjust their behavior to avoid transmitting the virus to others. In addition, when HIV-infected people start antiretroviral therapy and take it consistently; the treatment reduces the amount of virus in their blood and other bodily fluids to very low levels.
Not only does this protect their health, but it may also make them less infectious to others; a NIAID clinical trials network is in the process of testing this hypothesis. However, the test and treat model contains many assumptions that need to be validated and raises issues that require broad public debate.
For many years hip hop has had a negative connotation to it considering the explicit lyrics, degrading of women, and the promotion of sex. In recent times, Hip Hop has flipped the script and taken its listeners to a different level. In the weeks leading up a free Hip Hop for HIV Concert in Houston, nearly 15,000 young adults age 15-40 stood in line to get tested for HIV and syphilis in order to get an admission ticket.
Radio station 97.9 The Box teamed up with many community groups in Houston to promote the awareness of HIV and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). The concert was held at the George R. Brown Convention Center. In order to make this event a success, the list of performers included: Plies, Day 26, Letoya Luckett, Bobby Valentino, Young Problems, Melanie Fiona, GT, Yung LA, Gorilla Zoe, Pleasure P, Twista, Bun B and other special guests like model/video vixen Melyssa Ford.
In a positive, yet interesting interview with Gorilla Zoe, a hip hop artist from Atlanta, Georgia is very sincere about all ages getting tested for HIV and all STDs. He was asked “While performing one of your songs, specifically ‘Juice Box,’ which clearly promotes sex, do you find that contradicting or hypocritical?”
The rapper responded “I always promote safe sex in a positive and informal way.” Gorilla Zoe may reach his fans through his lyrics, but like many artists across the country and around the world, he does care and participating in the Hip Hop for HIV was just another way to show his love for the fans.
Teen HIV spokesperson Kandace Gray of Holy Ghost Catholic School also attended the concert.
According to the City of Houston Health Department, at the end of 2008, 23,744 Houston residents reported they were living with AIDS, and they also estimate that 1 in 40 African-Americans in Houston are living with HIV.
Rapper Gorilla Zoe says he always promote safe sex in a positive but informal way.
Photo by Erica Davis
Bun B. (Rap-a-Lot Records) is
another local artist who is committed to HIV/AIDS awareness.
Photo by Erica Davis
Kandace Gray, 13, is a
teen spokesperson for HIV/AIDS.