6A NEWS
》 LOCAL MUSIC
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2007
Rap music selling less; may need re-evaluation of values
BY MARK DENT
Television has taken on an MTV, PET image the last few weeks.
Rapper Camron told everyone to stop snitching on "60 Minutes." Common said all women were princesses on "Oprah." Snoop Dogg's explanation of how rapper's usage of words differs from Don Imus' played on several network news programs.
Their goal: to restore hip-hop's image in the wake of recent criticism stemming from Don Imus' now infamous words about the Rutgers women's basketball team.
But they may be too late.
Long before Imus uttered his "nappy-headed ho" comment, rap, the music part of hip-hop culture, was in a downward spiral. After about 30 years of growth, rap sales nationwide decreased 21 percent from 2005 to
2006. Sales of other kinds of music in the same timeframe only went down 6 percent. Those numbers, from the Recording Industry Association of America, include compact disc and digital sales.
Lawrence rap, which is usually grouped together with Kansas City as one scene because of the cities' close proximity and large number of venues in Lawrence, has also been affected. Sales have plummeted about 70 percent at one Lawrence music store since 2005 and crowds have decreased where rap artists play.
"The last few years have been terrible for rap," said Chuck "Jigsaw" Creekmur, co-founder and CEO of AllHipHop.com, a leading rap Web site.
You only need to look at the track listing on a few rap albums to see
the presence of misogyny in hip-hop culture.
Jermaine Dupri sang about "Jazzy Hoes" Ludacris distinguished women as "Ho." Jay-Z invites people to read the scripture of "Money, Cash, Hoes."
"The way they talk about women, the way they use the term bitches and hos and stuff, I think is a really sad commentary," said the Rev. Leo Barbee Jr., pastor of Lawrence's Victory Bible Church, 1942 Massachusetts St. "God has given us women to be an asset. To talk about them like that is to demean them."
Imus' comment may have sparked criticism against hip-hop, but studies and polls show people were tired of raps negativity long before.
That doesn't mean rap's declining popularity can be entirely blamed on some artists' perceived negative
"If people were sick of that," said Sean Hunt, also known as Lawrence rapper Approach, "then the radio would stop playing it."
messages.
Creekmur credits the decline to increased bootlegging and a lack of creativity in artists.
The style of local rap acts differs from mainstream rap, but violent incidents, including a murder at the Granada and the murder of Clacc, a member of the local rap group Da Bomb Squad have given hip-hop a bad name.
Rap sales at Love Garden Sounds
"With Lawrence, you have a really small town," said Laura Watkins, co-DJ with Jason Agron on Hip-Hop Hyp. "Whenever there's something like the shooting, people are just like, 'hip-hop, it's all bad.' That really damages it."
936-1/2 Massachsetts St., are down 50 to 70 percent from two years ago, and local venues are also attracting fewer fans for rap concerts.
Local rap's differences with the mainstream could actually be part of the reason it's struggling. Rap listeners, Hunt said, have become obsessed with hot singles that have ready-to-sing choruses. The songs are perfect for purchasing on iTunes or for a ringtone. Mobile phone and digital download sales have increased 98 percent and 71 percent respectively since 2005, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The artists and record companies who make those singles, Hunt said, don't always focus on making quality albums.
Local artists are using podcasts and MySpace accounts to increase their popularity. Hunt said he
expects these steps will help area hip-hop sales increase when several rappers come out with new CDs in the near future.
Changes like those could help local sales bounce back, but an improved image for all of hip-hop could be an even greater benefit.
Hunt said he's worried about the apparent dissension between the critics of hip-hop and the members of the hip-hop community. He wants the two sides to come together. Then, rap music can get back to its old status.
"It'll come back," Hunt said. "But it's not going to be one-sided."
Kansan sportswriter Mark Dent can be contacted at mdent@ kansan.com.
Peek-a-boo
Edited by Mark Vierthaler
Kyra Sizemore, 19 months, of Piedmont, S.C., looks through a window in playground equipment on Wednesday at Mineral Spring Park in Williamston, S.C.
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GREEK LIFE
Sigma Nu begins re-colonization
Suspended fraternity works to reqain charter
BY TRAVIS BROWN
Sigma Nu is coming back to campus almost two years after the University of Kansas members were ejected and the chapter lost its national charter.
Fraternity alumni have recruited some former members, who have been met and talked to high school seniors about the new group.
At least seven men who were in Sigma Nu two years ago will move back into the house Aug. 7.
executive director of the national Sigma Nu organization.
"The alumni have officially begun re-colonization," said Brad Beacham,
"They are working to meet basic operational standards so that they may become an official entity. I am confident in the alumni. It is one of the fraternity's most outstanding."
outstanding chapters."
Even though students will be living in the Sigma Nu house, national headquarters will not immediately recognize the house as an official chapter.
BRAD BEACHAM National Sigma Nu director
The re-colonization is largely due to the assistance of Don Raidt, former professor at the University of California, Irvine.
At first, the house will only be known as a Sigma Nu colony.
"They are working to meet basic operational standards so that they may become an official entity."
Sigma Nu was closed because of the chapter's treatment of pledges.
In a recent edition of Sigma Nu Inc.'s magazine, The Delta, the fraternity said it would lead Greek efforts to "militate against hazing."
The colony will work for University recognition once it regains its charter, said Ian Lang, Interfraternity Council president.
Shortly after Sigma Nu lost its charter, Raidt came to Lawrence to
The fraternity was left in shambles on Sept. 2005 after its members left. People had punched holes in walls, destroyed a toilet and stolen $700 worth of plaques and paintings according to 6News Lawrence reports.
Pitts' said she hoped for more time in the house because many fraternities must wait four or more years before they can begin recolonization.
Then, the second-story porch overlooking Emery Road was crowded with weathered couches. A year later, the balcony was covered in ivy - changes made when Alpha Gamma Delta leased the house from Sigma Nu.
"We didn't think they would come back as soon as they have," said Debbie Pitts, chapter advisor for Alpha Gamma Delta. "We were hoping to have the house for at least two years. But we wish the best to Sigma Nu."
meet with other alumni about rebuilding the chapter.
"We all were shocked," Raidt said, "It seemed impossible that this should happen."
the alumni chose Raidt to lead the recolonization.
He assembled a 12-man transition team and has the assistance of various alumni.
Raidt said he hopes to build a stronger relationship with the University. He intends to do this by bringing the University to Sigma Nu.
Raidt said the alumi plan to install audio/visual equipment that would give Sigma Nu the most technologically equipped house on campus. He said they want to allow small classes to meet in one of the rooms of the house.
Alumni said they intend to stay active even after students move back into the house.
They will monitor the reestablishment and tutor members of the colony.
Raidt said alumni considered grades and actions of members of the 2005 pledge class before they invited them back.
About seven of the original group intend to return.
Kansan correspondent Travis Brown can be contacted at editor@kansan.com
- Edited by Mark Vierthaler
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