bet awards and the current state of hip hop culture

The 2024 Bet Awards were held this past weekend in Los Angeles, California. They were hosted by Taraji P. Henson, who we all know to be a seasoned, respected, and iconic African-American actress. This was an excellent selection of the host for many reasons. As of late, Black Women have had more recognition and importance placed on them, and this is not only a beautiful thing, but also a very necessary step in propelling our world forward. Throughout the ceremony, Black Women were highlighted in the many different aspects of their artistic expression. Glorilla, Ice Spice, Latto, Megan The Stallion, Coco Jones, Sexyy Red, Tyla, Victoria Monet, Tanner Adell, Muni Long, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Keke Palmer, Tinashe, Marsha Ambrosios, Summer Walker, Chloe, Teyana Taylor, Childish Gambino, Shaboozey, Will Smith, and YG Marley all graced the stage. Feminine energy dominated the line-up, and there was also a decent balance of different styles of music. This is important because there have been many discussions about the negative impact of music on our youth, especially mainstream music. I have gone back and forth with myself and others about the issue, but when I really objectively reflect on it, every emotional expression is necessary to maintain harmony in the world. Although we may only want positive, uplifting music to be released, not everyone is always in that space, and we as a culture have to acknowledge that. So as women have been stepping more into their power, they’re expressing all the years and years of rage, pain, betrayal, disrespect, and mistreatment that they’ve experienced. And we as a culture have to embrace, hold space for, and allow women to unload and unpack all of the emotional baggage that we’ve dumped on them. The polarity to that would be men stepping up and creating more platforms and opportunities for women to express themselves in healthy ways. It would also be for men to validate and sincerely hear and address the issues women have, and actively build solutions. As men, we also have a duty to promote and encourage women that are pushing healing, respect, high morals. We cannot just complain all day about how the world has been getting worse, when we are the ones who have been entertaining the bullsh*t. Men and Women both have to make efforts to be more understanding, focused, loving, and solution-driven. What I believe is the real problem is that people have been brainwashed into aligning their morals and standards with television, movies, social media, and society, instead of their own personal values. Many people don’t know who they are, and get caught up in narratives and storylines that actually devalue and misrepresent them. The fact that rappers are still dying and people are still glamorizing lifestyles that lead to demise, destruction, and death, even though we’ve have been down that same road millions of times, shows just how deep the programming is. But the truth is that when someone wants to change, they will take steps in that direction, and those who are on that same path will support and guide them. So, we here at KAFREE take pride in being leaders, warriors, and upholders of truth, freedom, justice, love, respect, honesty, righteousness, and unity. Those who resonate with and share those same values and principles, lets keep pushing. We got work to do. The culture needs us.