A generation of boys is growing up with inadequate male role models and see crime as a short cut to wealth and power, a minister has warned.

 

David Lammy said boys were seduced by the "get rich or die trying" lifestyle - echoing the title of an album by US rapper 50 Cent.

 

And the problem was not just confined to those from poor backgrounds.

 

Middle class children were often starved of parental guidance too, he writes in The New Statesman.

 

"While there may be young men on estates missing fathers who left them, there are also children in Middle Britain whose parents become strangers in a culture of long working hours," said Mr Lammy.

 

'Bling culture'

 

The Tottenham MP - who was himself brought up by a single mother - called for more male role models in the community, of the kind he had when he was growing up.

 

He also urged society not to "demonise" single mothers - blaming wider factors such as the disappearance of traditional male jobs and the rise of consumerism.

 

"In society, the fetishisation of money and the growth of consumerism add new pressure.

 

"In a "bling culture", criminality easily becomes a short cut to symbols of wealth and power that will otherwise take years of hard work to achieve.

 

"Inequality plays its part, as young men from poor backgrounds feel they have less to lose.

 

"Why, one boy asked me, was I worried about his grades at school, when he might not live long enough to get a job?

 

"This is the world of 'get rich or die trying'."

 

'National civic service'

 

Many young males grew up unable to control their emotions or relate to their peers other than through violence, the skills minister says.

 

And they carried knives or guns not because they hope to use them but because they are seen as symbols of status and power.

 

"The issue is one of self-image. In a warped world of gang culture, carrying a weapon has come to be associated with being a man.

 

"Rather than being seen as a risk, the knife confers "respect"."

 

Mr Lammy called for a compulsory "national civic service" and universal entitlement to apprenticeships to tie young men into the world of work.

 

He also suggests companies should be encouraged to offer mentors to young men - and says advertising's impact on young people should be investigated.

 

Source: BBC news

Is he right in his warning?

yes.

 

 

I have to say that I agree with the guy... He's talking from experience as well, clearly from a humble working class background himself.. The "Bling" culture is everything that's wrong in today's society, the attitude of "get rich or die trying" is basically a follow on from 80s Thatcherism and "greed is good", these things are inexorably linked, the likes of Craig can argue until the cows come home, mindless Consumerism and the rampant, amoral Capitalistic lifestyle is what is causing harm to society, simple as... "Gangsta Rappers" like 50 Cent are also part of the problem..

 

I'm also glad to hear the bloke talking about "Civic Service" rather than some dumb-ass, reactionary nonsense like bringing back "National Service".. Yeh, what a great idea, all that would do is create a fitter breed of thugs who would actually have a better idea of how to kill people quickly.... Civic Service such as Charity work, working with kids or old people, contributing to society and their communities in a POSITIVE way would be a damn sight better than field-stripping an automatic rifle or Square Bashing....

 

I'm all for this bloke's suggestions... People like him should be running the country, he's obviously sensible and has good ideas....

Agreed.

I cant stand hearing male rappers. Its all the same bull and then if you play a GOOD female artist, its suddenly "gay".

Theres one thing i dont completely agree with though. The lack of male role models. Yes, there arent exactly world class but not every teenage boy is out doing crime. Yes it may be the majority but....

lastly, FINALLY someone can see sense about carrying knives and "self-image". Took a while... The usual self-defence bull$h!t annoys me so much..

Agreed.

I cant stand hearing male rappers. Its all the same bull and then if you play a GOOD female artist, its suddenly "gay".

Theres one thing i dont completely agree with though. The lack of male role models. Yes, there arent exactly world class but not every teenage boy is out doing crime. Yes it may be the majority but....

lastly, FINALLY someone can see sense about carrying knives and "self-image". Took a while... The usual self-defence bull$h!t annoys me so much..

 

The male rappers who do anything to "get rich or die tryng..." and the female pop "divas" are 2 sides of the same coin. What´s with those female singers who are better known from their arses then they´re voices, do anything to date cool and rich guys, put no ideological content in their music, etc... What´s the difference between 50 Cent and Victoria Beckham, despite one being male, and the other female??? They´re both icons of the greed culture to me, and I don´t get why criticism should be confined only to black rappers. White celebrities have been playng this role since Marilyn Monroe, and it seems now people are started to be ofended that suddenly, black people are getting greed too... In fact, I think average male rappers put more effort and personality in their music then the average female "divas". Most of them are nothing but sexy "icons" used to promote the product developed by some ugly producer/songwriter whose body is not fit enough to be used in a videoclipe.

:lol: Because writing a song about whores and their latest pull takes so much more effort than showing a bit of flesh....

Rapping IMO is almost nil talent... There are very few rappers out there who actually have got talent and use it effectively (50 cent not being one of them...)

What´s the difference between 50 Cent and Victoria Beckham, despite one being male, and the other female???

 

None :rolleyes: They're both trash -_- Whoever listens to 50 cent's music to get rich or die trying might finish by the second situation :D

Now getting to the real point of this conversation, I agree too with the real effect of this music upon the young generation :( Sadly, all that they see are re-maked females (that look good only because the producer of the video is an expert :P ), really expensive cars and loads of money and gold <_< Now, why nobody got the point that the trashy 50 Cent was shot 6 times, but none of the bullets managed to kick him away 8from Mother earth :D ), before infecting the charts with his music??? Do all the young people today feel fortunate just like the "coin" dude, so maybe they will survive in an attempt to a rubbery or whatever???

If David Lammy is so preoccupied, maybe he can try to "alterate" a bit the image of this SOOOO RICH persons and maybe show the real facts of their life? For sure 50 coin sleeps quite badly at night, because someone might still have somenthing to do with him. And I'm sure some teenagers will not admire this lifestyle, of "trying not to die, because now you're rich" :arrr: xox.