23rd March 2006, 1:44 AM
Well, I have to agree to some extent. Rappers like 50 do actively encourage imitators, whereas videogames do not (it's bad press). This is why there is a G-Unit line of clothing, G-Unit jewelry, etc. Now you can accessorize like your favorite rhythmic felon.
Plus, videogames, even those like GTA, are quite a bit farther in the realm of fantasy. You steal a car in GTA, kill the driver, and ram a cop off the road, rush to a spraypaint joint and the cops forget you even exist. Do that in real life and you're either going to die or go to prison for a hell of a long time.
With the music though, the consequences are almost a part of the mystique. Being in prison is major points for street cred. Lots of wannabe-thuglets love to idolize Scarface. Why? Because Tony Montana is a maniacal, psychopathic killer who spits catchy one-liners. He was also a drug-addled lunatic who quickly destroyed his massive business, himself and his entire family in most of a single night. He was a complete failure. Yet, you see kids wearing Scarface t-shirts, belt-buckles, gold dogtags, so on and so forth. They want to emulate a drug-crazed maniac.
The difference is, Scarface wasn't created with the intent of spawning acolytes. The plague of rappers out there do intend to spawn acolytes. It's how they stay in business. Perpetuate the idea, make them want to live it. Certainly, with 50 or Snoop giving young people the message that the criminal lifestyle is acceptable and in fact desirable, they are acting as a blatantly malignant influence. Yes, it is ultimately the individual who decides their destiny, but the influence is clear and present.
Plus, videogames, even those like GTA, are quite a bit farther in the realm of fantasy. You steal a car in GTA, kill the driver, and ram a cop off the road, rush to a spraypaint joint and the cops forget you even exist. Do that in real life and you're either going to die or go to prison for a hell of a long time.
With the music though, the consequences are almost a part of the mystique. Being in prison is major points for street cred. Lots of wannabe-thuglets love to idolize Scarface. Why? Because Tony Montana is a maniacal, psychopathic killer who spits catchy one-liners. He was also a drug-addled lunatic who quickly destroyed his massive business, himself and his entire family in most of a single night. He was a complete failure. Yet, you see kids wearing Scarface t-shirts, belt-buckles, gold dogtags, so on and so forth. They want to emulate a drug-crazed maniac.
The difference is, Scarface wasn't created with the intent of spawning acolytes. The plague of rappers out there do intend to spawn acolytes. It's how they stay in business. Perpetuate the idea, make them want to live it. Certainly, with 50 or Snoop giving young people the message that the criminal lifestyle is acceptable and in fact desirable, they are acting as a blatantly malignant influence. Yes, it is ultimately the individual who decides their destiny, but the influence is clear and present.
YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER
WE STAND AT THE DOOR
WE STAND AT THE DOOR