"Stand up and lay it Down"

[Satchwood]

Wow T & Kai - great work here!!  Unfortunately a very relevant message for today - and you guys nailed the emotion and seriousness!!

It would be great if your song & message could reach the troubled youth of our day and inspire them to "stand up and lay it down!"

[OsCKilO]

Thanks for your comments on this one Gents...

The youths that fall into this trap often aspire to make it into music.....

Having worked with some of these young people, I have found them to be of great intellect, and completely wasted where they are. This style of music relies on the construction of Rhyme and verse as per poetry.  Some of the stuff the young people come out with is utterly amazing in terms of structure, showing their high degree of innate intelligence.

The down side to this genre is that the lyrics are often so full of misguided hate.....

What is a young person supposed to think when they hear lyrics about making a million Dollars selling drugs, hustling and the glory of gang violence?

It offers them an easy niche to fall into, and due to the abhorrent glorification of the matter, the transition into this realm often leads the young people into a sub culture related to crime.

They are "voluntarily" separated from society, and remain as such due to the sense of identity they receive from the gang they are part of.

This sense of Identity is also craved due to other social factors that are evident in the young person's life.

It is also just part of being a teen.....  But this is a very different style of being a teen than we have encountered before in the U.K..... Especially due to the ready access to firearms that is now apparent on the streets.


I agree with Greeny that this genre of music can be extremely detrimental on society......

This is due to the fact it is often listened to by young people with very little life experience, who try to live vicariously through the lyrics and often misinterpret them........

I think it is time for decent people to reclaim the genre......It is fundamentally just a form of spoken word performances/poetic recitals (William Shatner style-Rocket man-Lol), with kick ass drums....

In the 90's, this style was all about the feel good vibe...... Peace not pain......

I would love to see the genre return to this!

I am going to try and start a youth project in Hackney , East London, relating to Music........ The MBR will help with this due to it's ability to instantly create music.....


Peace All

T(Osckilo)

[Bigsky]

All I can say is WOW. great job on the production and message. Good luck with the youth program.

[Ferryman_1957]

Wow, well said Tharek. Much kudos to you indeed. Perhaps the forum could think up a sponsorship idea to get you some funding for the project? You know, we undertake to produce a certain number of songs in a short period of time and we get friends and family to sponsor us? It could all be done on the MBR and would be a great advertisement for how you would use the MBR in the project.

Let us know if the project moves forward because if we can help in any way I am sure there will be lots of support.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Bosko Schwartz]

Wow, another genre jump!

And once again, you have done it as smoothly as possible.  It's so different from the rest of your music, yet still so very Osckilo.  I like the rap voice (is that you or Kai?) -- it somehow works quite well, although I admit I was ready to cringe when I saw the description.  I was thinking, "Oh no, a white boy trying to rap -- that's not going to end well."  Boy, was I wrong.  It totally works!  And the music is very soothing and grooving.  It fits perfectly!  More important than anything, of course, are the lyrics.  So poignant, so vital to today's issues, so motivating.  The US had a similar wave of gang violence in the early 90s; "gangsta rap" was linked to this, and although it didn't exactly help, it was more of a scapegoat than anything.  I don't think music can or should be blamed for a person's actions.  It was more about the incredible gap in class and wealth in our country and the lack of positive father figures in the lives of young adults.  The violence continues today, although, thankfully, the problem isn't quite as bad as it once was.

Awesome song, T.

[Vanncad]

"I might make you feel, but I can't make you think."
 - Jethro Tull (Thick as a Brick)

I strongly believe in the subliminal power of music and lyrics. This is why they invented elevator and shopping mall muzak. However, I listened to all the heaviest metal music in the 80's and never threw myself off a bridge or hurt anyone else. I think it's the collapse of the family unit and the lack of personal responsibility that feeds this crisis.

Like Guitarron, I am living in an area that has recently had some economic struggles. I was recently in Detroit and was shocked at the devastation there. It' s worse than a third-world country in some areas, and the more people burn and destroy, the least likely people will invest in business and the vicious cycle continues.

I think Bosko hit the nail on the head with his "father figure" observation. Kids need someone to respect that they can model their lives after. Lord knows we don't have it with Politicians, Ministers, Sports figures, etc. it's nice to hear you are working with youth. I am planning on doing a seminar at my daughter's school because with all the budget cuts, kids hardly get any musical education here any more.

Songs like this are important Osckilo. I hope the right people hear it and get the message. I think the only way it will change is when people start accepting their responsibilites in life and owning up to their own failures. Quit blaming everyone else and move forward. It sucks, and you may or may not directly benefit from your efforts, but the next generation might be inspired to carry on in the same direction.


That being said,

You did a good job on this. "Fought in the ring with more grace than you.." - very well thought out lyrics, good groove and voice. I'm interested to hear more.

Inspiring!

 - Vann

[OsCKilO]

All of these Views are correct .......

Apart from Bosko...... He is silly...... Only joking mate ....

Was me Chatting and Kai on the keyboards...... We are both mixed-herritage...Lol

Anyway......

I feel that the lack of a positive role modal has alot to do with the current state of play with young people falling into crime......

Not just because of absent fathers though......

The neccesity for single parents to work has added to the problem......

Kids being pushed from pillar to post with school and child minders, and then sat in front of a T.V/computer/stereo when the Parent/gaurdian does get home, because they are too tired to play with the child....
All to facilitate work......


This is a possible reason as to why Mainstream "POP-CULTURE" and it's variations have such a profound effect with young people. They spend more time with these influences than interacting from their carer.

The result:-  The message from the Lyrics/game/film is absorbed into the young persons mind, and they are offered no reference point to find grounding . They are often "left alone" (not literally...) as they are not causing a fuss at home when they are absorbed in this fantasy material .......

Children absorb information like sponges.....

I look at my son when he watches The Mickey Mouse's Club house on the T.V.
He picked up how to count to ten during one episode and he was only 16 months old....

This trait follows us around all our lives but is most potent in the formative years....

To say Gangster rap had no effect is without proper heed to the full circumstances of the subject.....

Without a positive role model present, the child will seek out influances from the media to take this place..... And take it as Gospal.


In situations such as these, which are created to a range of economic and social factors, I feel that service providers such as law enforcement and social services, should provide an enhanced response to combat the problem.....

The police are in a position to "pick-up the ball", or so to speak, in reference to the current situation in London....and have done in the past....



Recorded Crime "in general" may be falling in london according to statistics, but "quality of life" issues are still prevalent.

This is the gang on the corner.... Or the Bus...


Diversionary activities for young people who fall into crime has been proven to prevent offending.

In the area where I live, the summer school break would be a time where Anti social behaviour  would skyrocket.

A range of diversionary activities were organised during this period as well as dedicated police patrols.

Crime fell 70% in relation to the target offences and more, compared to the previous year (During the hours in which the initiative was being run) when the initiative was not used.

I am a great believer in the ideaology that a community raises a child, and feel that it is right to help out where others have failed if we can. 

I also feel obliged, as I wouldn't want my child being stabbed or shot by someone I wouldn't spare the time for.....  I cant afford to move, so hey......  The cheaper option.......Lol...... and the least scary....

I will try my best to get this project running.

Thanks for your comments all!

Your views are Highly relevant and expand the knowledge base which I will use to formulate the proposal with.....

Have there been any similar projects run in your areas which were successful (I.e music  diversionary activities)? 

If so, let me know......














Well......   That was deep...........

Time for a Funny yet relevant picture......

[Flash Harry]

That's me and ORH! where did you get that pic from, I thought I'd burned them all!

[OsCKilO]

That's me and ORH! where did you get that pic from, I thought I'd burned them all!

The internizzel (Internet) Knows All!

Serious Bizzle (Buisiness)


Humour keeps a man sane in this world.....



I'm sorry to detract from the subject!


But hey.......

Go mad otherwise!!!!!!!!!





Or end up on a clock tower.....



And that Just Isn't Productive........





!!!!NOW THE HUMOUR ENDS!!!!!

[OsCKilO]

O,k........


One More.........