New Rap Album Intentionally Rated G
The new CD from East Bay group BTP NATION, "Elevation of the Mind,"
distinguishes itself from virtually every other rap release these days. It doesn't have an "Explicit Lyrics" warning sticker. "We have no cursing or lyrics degrading women on the album," said the groups member P-Anti.
The emcee hopes that the hip-hop album will mark a return to rap's pre-gangsta days when few rap artist cursed on record, noting that old-school rapper Rakim's recent re-turn album was also curse free. "The whole curse thing has gone way overboard. We want music that anyone, including young kids, can listen to," he said.
On the albums 20 songs, not once is the B word uttered. Mean-while, the N word has been replaced with the word "trigga." "We strongly object to the use of both degrading terms," said D-Mann of the four-member group.
So could cuss-free release mark a trend in rap music? "A lot of the rap-buying public's mentality is 'no curses - no purchase,' but ultimately it comes down to the quality of the music," said Karen Pearson of Amoeba Records in San Francisco. Most in the rap industry do agree, however, that rap is in a creative lull and hence open to some fresh force.
"That whole genre is hurting for something new, so you never know," Pearson said. "Curse-free rap could be the next big thing."
-Billy Jam
