Simmons on Rap

Russell Simmons, the undisputed king of hip-hop entrepreneurs, describes rap music as an art form that sends a message of street danger to the kids in Bel Air and Beverly Hills (Interview, Opinion, Aug. 27). But Simmons is kidding himself. Rap lyrics spewed out at a 90-mph clip are simply incomprehensible jabber containing (when slowed down) silly shock ideas and lots of four-letter words. To the kids who don’t live in black neighborhoods, rap music is simply entertainment of a titillating kind. It also may be entertainment to some of the kids in the Crenshaw area, but for many it’s an escape from the hard work and self-discipline of school education and provides an easy “racism” excuse for descending to the dead world of gangs and drugs.

Rap music doesn’t express rage as much as exploits it, to the benefit of profit-seeking hip-hop entrepreneurs and their thrill-seeking customers. Who are the victims? The kids who live in the Crenshaw districts of America.

SEYMOUR W. CROFT

Marina Del Rey