Despite his goofy name, Big Tigger (WPGC 95.5, 2-6 pm weekdays) has a pretty even, intelligent approach when his show discusses all the hot-button issues facing hiphop music, DC’s black community, and black America as a whole. He gets all kinds of crazy texts and e-mails that make Kanye’s “George Bush hates black people” sound diplomatic in comparison.
Earlier in the week, Tigger raised discussion about the free concert planned for victims of the Virginia Tech shootings earlier this year, and the controversy over Nas’ intent to perform. Of course, several families of the deceased are up in arms over selected Nas lyrics, such as: “They shootin, I made ya look/ You a slave to a page in my rhyme book,” charging that he is an inappropriate act for such a concert.
Now, in come the e-mails about blaming hiphop for violence, white America not understanding hiphop, and how Nas has several songs that are intelligent, nonviolent, and even uplifting (One Mic and I Can were often cited). It’s true. The man has incredible talent. I listen to his music.
But I don’t hear the songs I listen to on the radio. During this broadcast, Tigger and his guests talk about how hiphop is misunderstood, how people need to listen to more of his music before making a judgment, and how non-hiphop fans are wrong when they claim that all rap radio is violent, misogynistic, and unintelligent. But when the talk breaks for music, what do you hear on 95.5? Promotion of violence, misogyny, drug running and use, materialistic messages… This week’s Billboard top hiphop/rap songs:
Fantasia: When I See U… R. Kelly & Usher: Same Girl… Plies & T Pain: Shawty… Shop Boys: Party Like a Rockstar… Lil Boosie: Wipe me down.
Does that scream “intellectual” or “uplifting” to anyone? Of course not. I’m not saying rappers have to be saints; I’m a Jay-Z fan. But if DJs, radio listeners, and hiphop/rap fans are tired of their genre being stereotyped, there’s a simple solution: Play some Roots.Play some Lupe Fiasco. Play some Nas besides “Shoot ‘em Up.” I have never heard Talib Kweli on the radio, not even public radio. I never even hear Black Star, which qualifies as a hiphop supergroup. You don’t have to look very hard for hiphop that does more than glorify the double-time booty shake or movin’ wet off the step, but you’re not going to find it on the radio.
It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again: If all you’re going to broadcast is Luda, 50 Cent and T.I., don’t be aggravated when the image of black music (let’s be real, that’s the issue at hand) is negative. Furthermore, if you actually play a range of hiphop, I’ll listen to something besides NPR in the car.
