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THE MO'KELLY REPORT: Diddy - The Political Dunce
*Many of us began our day today taking our daily dose of vitamins, supplements or prescription medicines.
Maybe even a combination of all three if life requires as such. In any event, all of us know that before the first time we ingested this pill or that supplement, read the warning label.
Meaning, although the pills are intended for better health and increased quality of life; misuse or abuse could have catastrophic results. We’ll come back to this in a moment.
Meet Sean Combs.
Call him Puffy, Diddy, P. Diddy, Puff Daddy…whatever. He is an immensely popular and successful music mogul.
A few days ago in the blog version of The Mo‘Kelly Report, I broached the subject of Diddy’s recent video blogs which ostensibly touch upon “politics.” The email response was considerable, all in support of what Mo’Kelly had to say; which was a cue. Instead of doing a James Brown - hittin’ it and quittin’ it, Mo’Kelly needed to go back and go deeper into the topic.
And so, here we are…
Unless you’ve been under a rock you’ve seen the videos, heard the audio or read the more outlandish quotes courtesy of Sean Combs. From Diddy having to “fly commercial” because of the high gas prices or Diddy questioning John McCain’s judgment because “there is no Black people” (his bad grammar, not Mo’Kelly’s) or “crackheads” in Alaska.
Despite what Diddy might tell you, he’s not a comedian. He’s not even funny in passing. Despite what Diddy would also argue, he’s not even politically astute. He’s a grandmaster of self-promotion but politically astute, he is not.
What most artists and musicians fail to understand that there is a wide gulf in between politics and music. Music is art and an expression of one’s personal creativity. One honestly can’t “judge” art as it is akin to beauty, in the eye of the beholder. Political discourse requires and demands a bit more and is held to higher, different standards. Political discourse requires accurately informing oneself on present day issues as well as the historical context in which they fit. In short, it requires one to know what the hell he/she is talking about before they “step out there.”
Such is not required of music which specializes in yacht parties, hot tubs and video vixens. If African-Americans were ever in need of how to live a fruitless life of fleeting materialism, then Diddy should teach the class. If African-Americans should ever need advice on how to date a woman for 10 years, sire three children but fail to respect her enough to make her his wife…then by all means, call on Diddy.
But when it comes to informed political discussion…Diddy would do better to remain quiet.
And if Diddy can't...he should stay the hell out of Mo'Kelly's way. Diddy knows hip-hop and hot tubs...that's what Diddy does and does exceptionally well.
But political analysis…?
Stay in your lane Diddy and out of Mo'Kelly's way. Insightful political debate...that's Mo'Kelly's world. Step it up or step aside.
Just “having an opinion” isn’t enough and when you wield the level of visibility Diddy does and it’s woefully irresponsible when he repeatedly shares his uninformed one.
In this “free” country, Diddy is “free” to share any and all opinions which may come to mind. Conversely, Mo’Kelly is “free” to subsequently expose him for how ignorant they ultimately are. Don’t step up and grab the mic if you can’t rhyme and surely don’t grab this mic if you don’t know the time.
If someone wants to have a serious conversation about the economy and impact of gas prices; Diddy sharing how he’s been “forced” to fly commercial is a fool’s entry point to that discussion.
If someone wants to have a serious conversation about the qualifications of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, using the dearth of Black people and crackheads to support that thesis are tools of a fool.
Don’t get caught up in the supposed “benefit” of hip-hop moguls talking politics or encouraging young people to get involved and voting. It is a red-herring and young people need to more closely read the warning label on this prescribed medication.
Speaking of which, back to the pills we all took this morning.
When someone hands you a bunch of pills that ostensibly are for your benefit, yet give inaccurate and irresponsible instructions on how to use them; the consequences are tremendous.
Let Mo’Kelly say that again. Don’t gloss over it this time.
When someone hands you a bunch of pills that ostensibly are for your benefit, yet give inaccurate and irresponsible instructions on how to use them; the consequences are tremendous.
Telling someone to vote is bad and dangerous advice if you don’t also intelligently instruct someone how to go about making an informed voting decision. An uninformed voting decision is arguably worse than not voting at all. Hundreds of thousands of people will vote for John McCain November 4th simply because they wrongfully believe Senator Barack Obama is a Muslim terrorist sympathizer.
America would be better off if those individuals didn’t vote at all.
Telling someone to vote is bad and dangerous advice if as a hip-hop mogul you don’t also inform your fans that the lawless behavior (i.e. drug use) highlighted in hip-hop leads to voting (and civil) rights being taken away altogether.
In other words, you can’t wag the index finger of your right hand telling young people to “get involved” and “vote” while also holding a bottle of Ciroc Vodka and a blunt in the left. If Diddy is truly about the business of using his visibility and fandom to positively motivate the masses, he’ll have to do better.
Do better Diddy. Do much better.
And if you can't Diddy...stay the hell out of Mo'Kelly's way. Step it up or step aside. Hip hop is quick to check people having opinions about how hip-hop conducts its business or makes its music. So don’t get brand new now that Mo’Kelly is checking hip-hop on its supposed political consciousness.
Diddy’s video blogs have become fodder for unenlightened, ignorant political commentary across the web and televised media. The fact that he’s the poster boy for the so-called hip-hop political movement this election season is even more distasteful.
Sloganeering is often "cool," fashionable and marketable for artists these days. "Vote or Die" and other nonsense comes to mind. It's "cool" for musicians to align themselves with a political candidate or have something to say related to politics. But if the intelligence quotient isn't raised in the process, it's useless banter.
Diddy at this point is useless banter.
How about this slogan..."Respect and Protect African-American Women, or Die" Yeah, not quite as catchy or marketable. Yeah, it’s probably slightly problematic for Diddy to produce a video promoting the respect and protection of African-American women as long as Kim Porter also has internet access.
Honestly, Mo'Kelly would rather Diddy take a bit more of his free time trying to decrease the misogyny in his own art form instead of increasing voter rolls. The truth of the matter is that the excessive emphasis on this PRESIDENTIAL election for young people to become involved in is incredibly poor advice.
The local and state politicians, the bond measures and initiatives have a far more direct impact on our daily lives than simply who ascends to the oval office. Just weeks ago, Florida Governor Charlie Crist ordered the state’s parole agencies to better assist in restoring the voting rights of ex-convicts. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-felons2808aug28,0,5230407.story
How many African-American men might that impact?
Not surprisingly, Diddy omitted this important information from his “political commentary.”
And I guess Mo’Kelly also just missed the video blog where Diddy discussed the fight to improve the funding of Chicago public schools. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h25Dp22bLwMyo-g2MUiwq4f6qX0wD92V02NG0
How many African-American children might be impacted here? That’s just two issues. Give Mo’Kelly an hour and he’ll have 30 more.
Undeniably Diddy exerts more influence if not all-out control in the world of hip-hop REGARDING hip-hop than he does politics. If Diddy wants to make the greatest positive impact, cleaning his own house of hip-hop would be a perfect place to start.
When African-Americans need tips on hot tubs, vodka and video vixens, then by all means dial up Diddy. But outside of that, leave the political discussions and the other heavy lifting to the trained professionals.
So, for these pills Diddy…and in your own words…
“Take that, take that, take that.”
The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex and Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com. Morris W. O’Kelly can be reached at mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.
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