Editorial

A bad rapper doesnt make good role model

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Impressionable young people today hold in high esteem a number of role models after which they often pattern their lives.

This is nothing new.

For as long as anyone can remember, young people would look up to star athletes, musical entertainers or Hollywood stars and try their best to be like those larger than life individuals.

Yet like everything else, today's role models are often less than perfect models and provide examples that are less than acceptable.

Case in point is a rap concert this week in California featuring the ever-popular XXXTentacion, a 19-year-old rapper with a checkered past.

So here's what happened.

While XXX - we'll call him that to save time - was "performing," fellow rapper Rob Stone walked on stage, sucker punched XXX and knocked him unconscious.

Security guards quickly tackled Stone and, according to one report, beat and stabbed him. Those reports are unconfirmed.

Stone has a history of interrupting rap concerts with his sucker punch routine. Earlier this year, Stone walked on stage and punched Ski Mask the Slump God - yep another rapper.

You first have to understand that Ski Mask the Slump God and XXX are close friends and tour mates.

Thus, apparently they are the common enemy of Stone.

But young XXX has more to worry about than some random sucker punch in front of a young audience.

Next week, XXX will be in court to face charges of beating and strangling his pregnant girlfriend, forcibly confining her and trying to bribe her not to testify against him.

So apparently these are the faces of today's emerging role models.

Kids fork over big bucks to attend "musical" concerts with the virtual assurance of a fight on stage between warring factions of the rap world.

They look up to a 19-year-old rapper facing prison time for a violent act with the expectation that their ticket will buy them a front row seat to yet another violent act.

What in the world can we expect from tomorrow's generation if these are the role models after which they hope to conduct their lives?

Granted, there are several potential good role models for kids. There are those "stars" in entertainment or sports or even public service who could serve as excellent examples for young kids to follow.

But XXX and Stone and Ski Mask the Slump God unfortunately attract far too many to follow their path to fame.

All you have to do is read the current headlines from urban areas to see what their influence brings.

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