We Love Crack

I have been caught up on this concept of crack rap all week. Ever since our excellent show last week on Brooklyn Bodega Radio I have been trying to reconcile our obsession with crack tales. My initial theory was that Crack was the inner city’s Dust Bowl and rappers were the modern day Woodie Guthrie’s. I still stand behind that rationale but over the past few days I have been thinking about the dark side of this argument.

The dark side is that crack was (is) a destructive force in the Black Community. And when looking at the entertainment and cultural history of this country there is a long record of people reveling in watching the self destruction of the Black community. From the building up and tearing down of Jack Johnson, Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. To the hero worship then demonization of Michael Jackson, America loves to see Black folks unravel, mentally and physically.

Crack was the lever that short circuited the advancement of Black folk in the 80’s. After the flood of heron in the 60’s and 70’s which derailed the ideology of SNCC, The Black Panthers and the rest, we got crack. For those in the city who saw it destroy families and friends crack was THE boogeyman. We were told not to touch it, don’t smell it less you become the ultimate failure – a crackhead. While this nightmare raged there were millions in the suburbs, rural areas and other countries who watch the epidemic like a car crash. This is how the word has moved from the deplorable noun to the celebratory adjective. “You nasty crackhead,” to “Yo this shit is crack.”

Raekwon, Jeezy, Jay, TI, Busta, and all the rest have realized that tapping into this pathology is a clear route to profit. The crack mythology turns them into warrior/poets while still satisfying America’s longing for the minstrel show. A tough guy and a fool all in one.

I am teaching as well as taking a few classes right now so I am really into the exchange of ideas rather than the lecture so I want to hear your thoughts.