Ludicrous
by Chris Flickinger

"It's the bomb, Yo! Luda's spanking new joint is off the hizzel, and it's making mad ‘enz on the street." Translation: Hardcore rapper Ludacris released his new album titled The Red Light District, and it's reached number one on the Billboard charts.

Isn't comforting to know your children, and hundreds of thousands of young adults, are spending countless hours tapping their toes to the rhythmic, harmonious melodies of this young man who humbly calls himself "Ludacris." Some have criticized this rapper's music as being too raw, too perverse and too provocative. These holy-rollers fail to recognize Ludacris's music is full of wit and wisdom our impressionable youth need to hear. Who better to deliver a message of character, dignity, respect, self-esteem and responsibility than a man whose songs embody all of these traits?

For example Ludacris's new album contains a track titled, "Pimpin' All Over The World." Young men who hear this song can look toward the future with hope and optimism that their services will be needed in a managerial capacity within the global enterprise of prostitution. Young women who hear this song can rest easy knowing they will be gainfully employed in the coming years and possibly even get to travel the world.

And what about those who are leaving home for the first time, or those who are just entering the workforce and who will be moving out on their own? How can they fight-off the depression of being alone in this big world? Once again, Ludacris's lyrics save the day in a timeless classic, "I've Got Ho's In Different Area Codes." This song reassures young men and women they will never really be alone, and there will always be someone to hold or hump.

Come on! This is ludicrous. Here's a guy who's been promoted to stardom by delivering a message glorifying "pimps and ho's." It might just be music, but it's music that's listened to over and over, and you better believe it has some influence on youthful ears. But, it's not just music. Ludacris, and those like him, are being mainstreamed into movies, television and advertising. The Hip-Hop culture used to be found only in our troubled inner cities, but it has now spread to the countryside. Do you think Hip-Hop's message has changed for the masses, or do you think the masses are changing because of Hip-Hop's message?

I don't mean to pick-on Ludacris or Hip-Hop specifically, but I do mean to call attention to all artists who deliver messages similar to Ludacris's. If you want to rap, that's great. If you want to come-up with a unique beat, that's terrific. I can appreciate all of it, and I'll even listen to it. But, why are the lyrics so negative and degrading? Why do they promote immaturity, low self-image and a lifestyle without responsibility? If they think moral messages won't sell, they're wrong. Rapper/actor Will Smith has been successful and the group Boys II Men was around for years.

Bottom line – there is no reason why artists should not clean up their lyrics and messages. Parents certainly need to take a more active role in what their children are listening to. If mom and dad don't want to take away the CD's, at least they could sit down with their kids and talk about what's so Ludicrous about "Ludacris."

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