Ya Heard: Crime sheds light on larger issue

Dennis Winn/Columnist
Published: June 26, 2008

Kenneth Anthony Wilson was arrested in October of 2007 for defacing a statue of the late Tupac Shakur at The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, Ga. According to the 43-year-old man, the crime was "my way of declaring an intellectual and artistic war against the gangsta rap community."

Tupac Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas in 1996 at the age of 25. Twelve years after his death, Tupac continues to be the number one selling hip-hop artist of all time.

Wilson, who is a black man, also went on to say "Yes, I defaced that statue of Tupac Sha-kur because the center is a cancer on the community… Tupac Shakur is no messiah, that's why when he stuck [his self] on his album cover and claimed he was not disrespecting Jesus Christ, God crucified [him] before the album came out."

We got a live one here, and he wasn't done as he continued on to say, "Tupac Shakur is not only a rapist and murderer of his own people, his center of the arts is in the business of molesting the young minds of our youths into believing that thug life is the American dream.... So [Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur] resurrects a statue of Tupac Shakur dressed as a reverend with the holy Bible in his right hand… Death Row Records did not destroy Tupac Shakur; smoking crack when he was in her womb did! Tupac Shakur was not only weak he was a complete fool who never for one minute practiced what he preached."

Interestingly enough, I find Mr. Wilson's opinion of Tupac to be rather insightful. Not that I agree with his assertion, but at least his argument denouncing Pac has a foundation to stand on. Unlike many critics and the like who have simply dismissed the entertainment legend for his explicit lyrics and image, Wilson seems to be basing his claims on the legacy left behind by Tu-pac.

I will say I can somewhat understand where Wilson's claims stem from. Since his untimely death, quite a few number of artists, fans, and members of what has been dubbed "generation hip hop," have grown to idolize Tupac Shakur. His image as being thor-oughly respected in the streets by men and adored/loved by women is an appealing act to desire, not to mention very profitable.

Pac's thugged-out sex symbol persona is an act that continues to be duplicated by artists such as Ja Rule, Lil Wayne and 50 Cent, among many, many others. It would be fair to say that Tupac is the godfather of what Wilson and others call "the gangsta rap community." Yet, his claims lose validity there.

While many people within the hip-hop community have attempted to receive just a small piece of the adulation that Pac received within his short career, none have yet come close to being put in the same breath as him. Tupac was an artist who spoke boldly from his heart and was like no other entertainer the world had encountered before. His actions and comments were, more often than not, quite intelligent and thoughtful. He was just as politically involved and aware of the world as he was of his music. The man was one of a kind. His strength was his passion and that is what attracted so many people to him. He was not an artist who tried to emulate anyone else, and that above all else is what continues to separate him from those who attempt to emulate him.

While many people are quick to want the attention Pac garnered, and continues to gain in death, few are willing to take the stances that he did while here.

As far as Wilson goes, he says "I have every intention of proving in a court of law not only the hypocrisy of the Tupac Shakur center, but also its immorality, injustice and illegality." A trial date has yet to be scheduled.

If anything, I would suggest that the energy displayed by Mr. Wilson toward Tupac should be redirected at the masses that have patterned themselves after the slain emcee, both inside and outside the recording booth. I'm sure there are many who share Wilson's sentiments, but no one person can be blamed for what some see as the ills of a generation.

THE OLD VS. THE NEW/YOUNG

The "current state of hip-hop" issue has again surfaced with the recent back and forth between the hip-hop legend Ice-T and the current hip-hop superstar Soulja Boy. On a recent mixtape Ice-T proclaimed "[expletive] Soulja Boy," suggesting the teenage sensation is part of the reason for hip hop's lackluster quality.

Well, Soulja Boy responded in kind via a Youtube.com video during which he stated, "This [dude] Ice-T is old! This [guy is] old enough to be my great grandfather. I Wikipedia'ed [him], he was born in 1958. [He] claims he's from the West Coast; you were born in New Jersey, dawg. Who is Ice-T, dawg? How you gonna make a song called 'Cop Killer' and 35 years later you're playing the police on TV, 'Law and Order.' This ain't no beef."

Ice responded by saying "hip hop has to last forever and it ain't gonna last with you doing that Superman, man. That [stuff] is whack, trust me. When I dissed you, there are no ramifications. You can't hurt my career because I'm caked out, there's nothing you can do to hurt me."

This exchange has come to represent the old vs. the new and some individuals are providing their input on the matter, including Mr. Kanye West.

According to sohh.com, Kanye expressed his feelings in a blog which read, "Soulja boy is fresh and is actually the true meaning of what hip hop is supposed to be. He came from the hood, made his own beats, made up a new saying, new sound and a new dance with one song. He had all of America rapping this summer. If that ain't hip hop then what is? [People] always talk about the golden age but for a 13-year-old kid, this is the golden age!!! Keep this [culture] fresh and original.... ain't no rules to this [game] and that's what real hip hop is to me."

Very good point and furthermore, Soulja needs to send Kanye a check, cause he was about to take an "L" from Ice before Kanye offered insight.

HIP-HOP TRIVIA

Ghostface and Carl Thomas did what song together on "Bulletproof Wallets?"

Be the seventh person to send me an e-mail with the correct answer to this week's trivia question and receive two free AMC movie tickets courtesy of the Potomac News and Manassas Journal Messenger. Remember to give us the name of the song as well … until next week, Peace!

Dennis Winn can be reached at 703-400-8301 or .