Hip-hop is rubbish- US Embassy man

No Image

It was a night of hip-hop with a twist when the United States (US) Embassy in Gaborone, in collaboration with HIV AIDS non-governmental organisation (NGO), Yoyo, launched a rap music album as an HIV AIDS campaign tool at the Maitisong theatre on Saturday.

The irony of it all was that hip-hop has been identified as a bad influence among the youth because of its violence-filled lyrics, which glorify gangsterism.  When the American embassy decided to pump half a million Pula into the rap music project here it was more than just another way of empowering the local hip-hop artists. The instructions were that they must come up with positive, inspiring, violence-free lyrics, which would make the youths realise the so-called good life promoted by rap music is in fact a breeding environment for HIV AIDS.

When a US Embassy officer, James Smith, got onto the stage as OJ, he may have  stepped onto the podium in basketball regalia, looking hip-hop,  but the hippy looking guy immediately slated  the  core of rap music, attacking the influence of the likes of Biggie Smalls, Tupac Shakur, Lil' Wayne, Jah Rule, and making it clear to the theatre that those rappers' music is bad influence that should not be copied. No wonder when the  US Embassy  chose someone to come to Botswana to work with local artists, they did not go for the established guys who rap sex, women, money and fast cars. They went for  Will Power, known only for his positive lyrics. It was the night of re-invention of the form of hip-hop as even the likes of Botswana's own  rappers, Scar, Kast, and Zeus, put aside their usual rap lines to do something more positive. On the night of the launch of the project, Zeus proved  that positive lyrics (without the  swearing) can still move the crowd when he performed a song called I am, which undoubtedly set the tone for the evening's performances, thanks to the vibrancy of the music that reverberated throughout the theatre hall. The back up dancers did their thing with grace, breathing a new meaning into hip-hop performances, while huge graffiti decorated the stage.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up