I have a lot of respect for what Mizi and his team are doing for SA Hip Hop at Hype Magazine, but I was concerned with the Crack Boys fashion shoot in this month’s issue.
Do we really need to glorify drug dealing, gangsterism and gunplay in South Africa? Is this the sort of imagery we want to have associated with SA Hip Hop?
I know they are called the ‘Crack’ Boys, but as Cash has explained on numerous occasions on Africa’s Gateway, that is just a metaphor borrowed from Juelz Santana to explain the addictive nature of their music and the street hustle associated with selling it (although Cash does stretch the nature of that ‘metaphor’ to breaking point by having white powder on his CD cover, but that’s another issue).
Doing a photo shoot that actually portrays the Crack Boys doing drug deals, unpacking cocaine and posing with gats takes the concept beyond a metaphor. Hype Magazine is buying into, and implicitly supporting, the glamourous gangster fantasy that white corporate America has been force-feeding the world for years. Remember, we’re not talking about real life here - Hype is not addressing the reality of the social situations that lead to gangsterism and drug dealing - it’s just a fantasy fashion shoot.
Putting a red circle with the diagonal line through it over the guns doesn’t absolve Hype of their responsibility for promoting this imagery. Where is the red circle over the cocaine? Is Hype saying that guns are bad, but cocaine is ok?
50 Cent has a beautifully shot series of photos that portray G-Unit in a variety of strikingly similar scenarios. The difference there is that 50 actually claims that that imagery represents his real life, and has built his whole persona around this.
You could argue that Curtis Jackson has created 50 Cent as a fantasy gangster for the sake of entertainment no different to Ray Liotta playing Henry Hill in Goodfellas. Indeed, this is an argument often used by ‘gangster’ rappers when they get arrested. However, the point still remains; in a country that is afflicted by drugs, guns and gangsterism, is it responsible behaviour to glamourise gang culture, drug dealing and violence to an impressionable young audience?
What would have been wrong with showing the Crack Boys hustling their mixtapes at parties, choosing which Louis Vuitton bag to buy or investing in property? These are things that are based in reality and that would provide something positive to aspire to?
Wordsworth made a great point at the Red Bull Academy talk he gave in Cape Town recently. He said that rappers are often poor role models because, when interviewed, they just talk in cliches instead of saying anything that a young kid can listen to and learn from… “yeah, you know how we do”, “we’re grindin’ dawg”, “we ballin’ out of control”, “we thuggin’ it out big style” etc.
It’s ironic that Hype is guilty of putting out mixed messages. On page 7 of the same issue there’s a ‘Hype court order’ made out to Seida Crook for being involved in a cheque fraud syndicate. It says, “You’re meant to be a role model Crook. Do the right thing.”
Maybe I’m making way too much of this whole thing (it is just a fashion shoot after all), but the Hip Hop community and the media that represents it mustn’t forget its responsibility to the community at large.
Peace to everyone at Hype Magazine and The Crack Boys.
14 responses so far
LUMUMBA // Jun 11, 2008 at 01:21 p.m.
I think you right bro. there is a lot that can be shown to the readers rather than this ignorant pictures. we need to increase the PEACE in this country
one love to the max
Cash // Jun 13, 2008 at 02:53 p.m.
Whats Crackin people,
I think we did a great job with the photo shoot.
Unlike 50 Cent, drugs,guns and violence is not how we market our music. The photo shoot was merely an artistic representation of what we do.
We hustle(the drop off scene), we take what we need by force if we have to(the gunfight scene), we put in work( the packaging scene), we make moves(the dealing scene) and most of all we make addictive music(the fiend scene).
We love what we do and we always try to make a positive situation out of any negative situations.
Drugs,Guns, Violence are real. Although were not shying away from it, were also not glorifying it!
I think its great that we did a shoot that can spark debate and positive thinking.
I'm glad we have people coming forward with different opinions and interpretations of our artistic work. Its fulfilling and flattering.
Thanks to Pioneer Unit and all hiphop lovers for all the support and positive crit!
Its all white baby!!!!
Crackboys Get it Crackin vol.1 cd and dvd OUT NOW!!!
Crackboys Get it Crackin vol.2 June 30th!!!
Cash // Jun 13, 2008 at 02:56 p.m.
Oh yeah! Great website my niggas!!!!!
Dplanet:: // Jun 13, 2008 at 02:58 p.m.
Yo Cash, thanks for stopping by and commenting.
One!
Bondizzo // Jun 18, 2008 at 06:30 p.m.
Nice article, Its that Crack !
kroeskop // Jun 23, 2008 at 03:39 p.m.
u guys are part of the problem in terms of breaking the international market because what u do has been done and trying to use crack as something positive is like trying to use the bible to save yo soul and u can take that any way u want to...peace hardcore will never die
kroeskop // Jun 23, 2008 at 03:49 p.m.
u guys are part of the problem in terms of breaking the international market because what u do has been done and trying to use crack as something positive is like trying to use the bible to save yo soul and u can take that any way u want to...peace hardcore will never die
SIKHUMBUZO // Jul 11, 2008 at 04:30 p.m.
YEH GUYS MY POINT OF VIEW IS ITS WACK 2 FOLLOW AMERICAN TRENDS, ESPECIALLY DRUG RELATED SHOWBIZ. THOSE CRACK BOYS WANNA COME UP WITH A UNIQUE STATUE, THEN THEY SHOULD THINK OUTSIDE DA BOX. I MEAN Y NOT DO SOMETHING DAT IS AFRICAN RELATED, COZ ON A NUDSHELL WE AFRICANS GOT SO MANY THINGS 2 TELL DA WORLD ABOUT. OUR OWN CULTURE, HERITAGE, FOOD, LIFE STYLE .ECT,, MY POINT IS U WANNA BE AMERICAN COPY CATS GET A LIFE.
Busisiwe // Jul 20, 2008 at 06:42 p.m.
I am disappointed on how bias this article really is. You guys act as if we were never exposed to guns and violence. This article is simple case of jealous people who have got time to diss people who making moves in SA hip hop. Take a lesson from the crackboys and hustle. Geez I saw the pics and how come yall didn`t post the one of k-9 getting high on listening to that crack. Sure there are guns but so what. Play a video game, watch a movie, watch a cartoon. Sex,violence and drugs dominate the media because it is real. It was there before the crackboys or 50 cent. So if you want to play the blame game then blame the whole world because we are all partly responsible for this problem.
ovayo // Aug 5, 2008 at 04:32 p.m.
ja its wrong
sibabalwe aka trouble maker // Aug 7, 2008 at 02:21 p.m.
it is 100%wrong guys
sibabalwe aka trouble maker // Aug 7, 2008 at 02:22 p.m.
i also lyk ispaza and look for me soon
Emress Tania // Aug 21, 2008 at 11:16 a.m.
ahoy i watch your documentry on the 20 of August for the 1st time i would like to ask the rataman if e could come to elsiesriver hers a lot of eldres thet wants to answer your question jah bless
Emress Tania // Aug 21, 2008 at 11:20 a.m.
ahoy i would like that rastaman to come to Elsies River i think you will get a lot of answers here in Epping Forest Jah bless
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