Broccoli...On the Side?

A timely post from www.thesource4ym.com about current music. This follows this post about the movie "Birth of a Nation." This follows this post about the TV show "Designated Survivor." This follows this post about rap songs referencing Donald Trump.
You can follow me here.

 Broccoli...On the Side?Two Hit Songs to Remove From Your Kids’ Musical Diet An article from David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com

Tweet

No, they’re not audio files from a porn video. Nor are they old clips from interviews with Donald Trump. They’re just a couple of examples of what passes for music these days.

Fair warning: When you read these lyrics you may need Clorox wipes and rubbing alcohol for your mind.

Without a doubt, Billboard’s Top 10 is “the list” every musical artist wants to be on. Musicians who earn a spot on this list usually go on to be household names…on every inhabited continent. But just because a song has worldwide appeal doesn’t mean it’s necessarily positive, healthy, or responsible. Sadly, this week’s Top 10 has several songs representing some staggering lows. I’m going to unveil two.

Here’s a quick discussion of both of them…and a few tips for steering your teenagers around them (and other songs like them).

Broccoli by D.R.A.M. (featuring Lil Yachty)
When you’re a rapper and your real name is Shelley Smith, you reinvent your identity. Nowadays, Smith goes by D.R.A.M. which stands for Does. Real. Ass. Music. (I’m not kidding. That’s his stage name.) Though D.R.A.M. has had limited success in the past, his recent collaboration with Lil Yachty, another artist with the non-rapper-sounding-name of Miles McCollum, has raced to the #6 position on Billboard’s Hot 100 this week.

The song is titled Broccoli, which is slang for marijuana. But getting high is only half of D.R.A.M’s intention. He wants to get something else, too. Here’s what he repeats throughout the song:



In the middle of the party b**ch get off me
In the cut I'm rolling up my broccoli
Ya I know your baby mama fond of me
All she want to do is smoke that broccoli
Whispered in my ear she trying to leave with me
(She wanna f**k)
Said that I can get that p**sy easily
(I'm gonna f**k)
Said I can hit that sh*t so greasily
I'm a dirty dog I did it sleazily
Umm, that’s a lot of asterisks.

Aside from the vulgarity, the music video objectifies women so profoundly that it hardly ever shows a woman’s face, opting to focus exclusively on their twerking booties instead. Further, the online video, which has been viewed more than 55 million times on YouTube, shows D.R.A.M. repeatedly spanking the same girls as they bend over.

Broccoli is so coarse, so vulgar, and so demeaning toward women that it prompted bloggers to draw comparisons between what our hypocritical nation is upset about what national leaders to say versus what we allow musical artists to say.

Look, Broccoli’s message is completely out of bounds (in lyric and imagery). But at least it’s clear about its message. The same can’t be said about the next song….

Side to Side by Ariana Grande (featuring Nicki Minaj)
Anyone who watched the 2016 Video Music Awards on MTV - which weren’t that many, evidently - got a sneak peak of this song’s launch. Coming off of Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman album, Side to Side is the result of her partnership with songstress (and seductress) Nicki Minaj.

Just a few years ago, Grande was known for her portrayal of “Cat,” a harmless (and mindless) girl on Nickelodeon’s beloved Victorious. Grande soon leveraged the show’s popularity into a singing career which allowed her to become an international icon. However, the message in Side to Side is anything but kid-friendly...even if a bit of deciphering has to be done.

The reggae-pop chorus repeats the following lines in rhythmic fashion:

I've been there all night
I've been there all day
And boy, got me walkin' side to side (side to side)
I've been there all night (Been there all night, baby)
I've been there all day (Been there all day, baby)
Boy, got me walkin' side to side (side to side)
Where have Ariana and Nicki been all day (and night)? And why are they walking funny? The music video, which has been viewed more than 230 million times on YouTube, leads us to believe the girls’ soreness has something to do with long hours spent riding exercise bikes at the gym.

But clarity is granted once Minaj starts rapping.


This the new style with the fresh type of flow
Wrist icicle, ride d**k bicycle
Come true yo, get you this type of blow
If you wanna Minaj I got a tricycle
All these b**ches, flows is my mini-me
Body smoking, so they call me young Nicki chimney
Rappers in they feelings 'cause they feelin' me
Uh, I-I give zero f**ks and I got zero chill in me
Nope, the song has nothing to do with a sports-related injury. The song is about Grande having so much sex with her significant other that she can’t walk straight the next day.

Don’t believe me? The Huffington Post claims Side to Side is “way more sexual than we thought” and Grande even reveals the NSFW meaning of her song when she says, “That whole song is about riding leading to soreness. ‘Ride d**k bicycle’ is the lyric, indeed.”

I’ve been watching this song for the past five or six weeks. For a while, it wasn’t trending on Billboard’s charts, but now it confidently “rides” into the 10th spot on Billboard’s Hot 100. That means it’s been listened to by millions of young people millions of times, added to their playlists, and even downloaded enough that it has achieved the prestigious status of a ringtone.

But where will this “ride” take our teenagers?

If only these songs were an anomaly on the charts. Sadly, the No. 1 song on the charts right now, Closer, has the chorus, “So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover…”. And Bruno Mars’ new song 24K Magic, currently sitting at No. 5, says:

Oh sh*t, I'm a dangerous man with some money in my pocket (keep up)
So many pretty girls around me and they waking up the rocket (keep up)…
So how can we help our kids steer clear of musical choices like these songs above? Here are a couple of very simple ways parents and youth workers can do that.

1. Stay tuned in to what is popular. I didn’t say, “Stay tuned in to what your kids are listening to.” I’m actually saying, “Be mindful of all that’s out there that your kid will be exposed to...even if they don’t download it.” No, you don’t have to survey every song in the universe, but it wouldn’t hurt to take 5 minutes each month to scroll through Billboard’s Top 10 on their Hot 100 Chart. If a song is on that list, your kids will have almost certainly heard it. If you don’t recognize a song, do a quick Google search for the song’s lyrics. Read through them and then navigate over to YouTube to see if the song has a corresponding music video. (NOTE: Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. At other times, the music video might be released later than the song itself.) This is such a small investment of time, but it will keep you and your kids from getting sidelined by musical messages like these above.
   
2. Use today’s music to spur dialogue. The Source for Youth Ministry has a great list of songs used as MUSIC DISCUSSIONS that can aid in this endeavor and even help teenagers grow in their faith. Of course, we choose songs that actually have substance in their composition, unlike the two songs mentioned above. But songs like Broccoli and Side to Side can still generate insightful discussion with the teenagers in your life if you’re willing to ask some well-crafted questions. For example:
   
   Have you heard this song?
   What is he/she saying? How do you think that will work out?
   What prompts an artist to release a song like this?
   What does it say about our culture that a song like this would be so popular?
   What impact could this song have on someone who plays it on repeat?
   
   
3. Understand the need for ongoing conversations. In Jonathan McKee’s insightful book More Than Just the Talk, he shares research from the American Academy of Pediatrics encouraging parents to consider having repeated discussions with their children about many aspects of sex instead of just one “big talk.” Surveys show that kids have explicit questions (probably because songs and entertainment like this are commonplace) and are looking for explicit answers. The question parents need to ask is this: Do you want your kids going to Ariana and D.R.A.M. for answers… or to you? The conclusion of the study was simple: “The more parents talked with their children, the closer their relationships.”

Are you having these conversations? Not every time the radio turns on… but more than just that one talk last summer?

Stay aware of what’s out there and use every opportunity you can to teach your teenagers the values you hold dear.



David R. Smith is a 15-year youth ministry veteran who helps youth workers and parents through his writing, training, and speaking. David specializes in sharing the gospel, and equipping others do the same. He co-authored his first book this year, Ministry By Teenagers. David provides free resources to anyone who works with teenagers on his website, DavidRSmith.org. David resides with his wife and son in Tampa, Florida.

Cover Your Ears: Rampant Vulgarity Ruling the Charts

A very interesting book from  www.thesource4ym.com  about current music that is topping the charts. This follows this post about feminism that you can read on International Women's Day.  In the meantime, you can read two very interesting books HERE.


Cover Your Ears: Rampant Vulgarity Ruling the Charts

An article from Jonathan McKee and David R. Smith at www.TheSource4YM.com




Over the years, song lyrics have often dipped into areas of controversy causing some to debate their appropriateness. But music is art… right?



Regardless where you land in that deliberation, this week’s top songs can’t help but make you wonder, “Do these artists kiss their mothers with those mouths?”



The Good, The Bad, and The Downright Disgusting

Foul language in mainstream music isn’t anything new; just ask those who remember the 2 Live Crew controversy. But a quick glance across this week’s top songs on iTunes and Billboard’s Hot 100 might lead some to think that the frequency of vulgarity has increased…along with its acceptance by our culture.



Of course, not everything in this week’s music has gone vulgar. Taylor Swift’s I Knew You Were Trouble talks about the red flags she ignored in a relationship that recently ended, and she does so in a healthy way. Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man speaks (cleanly) about the regrets of lost love, a highly popular theme from 2012 that seems to be carrying over into this year. And since Harlem Shake, this week’s #1 song, only has 5 words in English, it’s fairly innocuous as well (even though it’s viral homemade videos might not always be so innocent).



But then there’s will.i.am’s collaboration with Britney Spears entitled Scream & Shout. In this dance hit, Britney repeatedly asks the DJ to “turn the sh*t up” and even refers to herself as a “b**ch.” If our kids happen to navigate to the extremely popular new music video remix of this song (still in the top 10 iTunes music videos as we write this), then they’ll encounter Diddy, Waka, and Lil Wayne joining in with too many vulgarities to list, including encouragement to smoke, drink, etc. (No need to go into too much detail, Jonathan unveiled more about that music video in his blog recently.) Suit and Tie, the offspring of a Justin Timberlake and Jay Z partnership, starts off with a repetition of “I be on my suit and tie sh*t, tie sh*t, tie, I be on my suit and tie sh*t, tie sh*t.”



Strange? Yes.



Unnecessary? Definitely.



But then we go shopping and it just gets worse….



THRIFT SHOP by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (featuring Wanz)

Thrift Shop, as the title implies, is a throwback to things of the past, from the gull-winged doors on the DeLorean…to the gaudy clothes from by-gone decades that the Seattle-based rapper picks up at his local secondhand store. This song, which has fallen from the top position to #2, has an almost comical sound to it, but many of its lyrics are anything but funny. See for yourself:



I'm gonna pop some tags

Only got twenty dollars in my pocket

I - I - I'm hunting, looking for a come-up

This is f**king awesome

Nah, Walk up to the club like, "What up, I got a big c*ck!"

I'm so pumped about some sh*t from the thrift shop

Ice on the fringe, it's so damn frosty

That people like, "Damn! That's a cold a** honkey."

Rollin' in, hella deep, headin' to the mezzanine,

Dressed in all pink, 'cept my gator shoes, those are green

Draped in a leopard mink, girls standin' next to me

Probably shoulda washed this, smells like R. Kelly's sheets

(Piiisssssss)



Thrift Shop is the rappers’ way of explaining their rejection of hip hop’s glam lifestyle. In an interview with MTV, Macklemore said, “Rappers talk about, oh I buy this and I buy that, and I spend this much money and I make it rain, and this type of champagne and painting the club, and this is the kind of record that’s the exact opposite. It’s the polar opposite of it. It’s kind of standing for like let’s save some money, let’s keep some money away, let’s spend as little as possible and look as fresh as possible at the same time.”



As you can see, this song is sort of messy to evaluate. I (Jonathan), blogged about this little diddy when it first went no. 1. The theme is noble, but the lyricist is a foul mouth. I talked with some teenagers about this song recently and found it beneficial to be objective in my evaluation. Let’s be honest. Teenagers are probably a little tired of adults complaining about their music. So I started by just asking questions about the song, like, “How is it musically?”



They were quick to tell me, “It’s awesome. I love the beat.”



I replied honestly. “I agree. It’s catchy and it’s funny. I can see why it’s popular.”



Then I asked, “What do you think the theme of the song is?”



They thought for a moment and then verbalized what they thought Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were saying. “We don’t need fancy clothes to feel good about ourselves. Why not buy something more affordable?”



I agreed again. Then I asked, “Is this a good message?”



They looked at each other as if it was a trick question, but asserted, “Yeah… that’s a good message.”



I agreed once again. They seemed surprised that an adult actually saw reality about this song.



“Now,” I continued. “Tell me how this guy decides to deliver this message.” And that opened the door to talk a little bit about his language and foul references. This kind of talk, while common in this world, probably isn’t the best way for a believer to communicate.



In the end, we had a healthy conversation where I challenged them to evaluate and think Biblically about the messages they were hearing… like the ones in this next song.



STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM by Drake

This is the song Macklemore just warned you about….



Young Money rapper Drake released this song last month, and so far, Started From the Bottom has done nothing but climb the charts, currently resting in the #6 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100. It’s got plenty of the elements usually associated with hip hop music: braggadocios amounts of bling, lots of alcohol, the objectification of women, and of course, plenty of vulgar lyrics. Take a look:

Started from the bottom now we’re here

Started from the bottom now my whole team f**king here

Started from the bottom now we’re here

Started from the bottom now the whole team here, nigga

Started from the bottom now we’re here

Started from the bottom now my whole team f**king here

Started from the bottom now we’re here

Started from the bottom now the whole team here, nigga

I done kept it real from the jump

Living at my mama’s house we'd argue every month

Nigga, I was trying to get it on my own

Working all night, traffic on the way home

And my uncle calling me like "Where ya at?

I gave you the keys told ya bring it right back”

Nigga, I just think it’s funny how it goes

Now I’m on the road, half a million for a show



The music video – with its foul language and scantily clad ladies – has racked up millions of views on YouTube. Started basically chronicles Drake’s rise from obscurity in a menial job to that of hip hop superstar. Instead of working the night shift at some corner store, Drake now claims he has become the intersection of wealth and fame.



When Drake released the song, he also gave an explanation for the song’s meaning. “My family and my second family (consisting of the best friends anybody could ever have) all struggled and worked extremely hard to make all this happen. I did not buy my way into this spot and it was the furthest thing from easy to achieve. I am proud of every part of my past and I’m excited for this song to find a place in your life as well.”



For way too many young people, that place in life is their playlist. This song is the antithesis of a godly and generous lifestyle, opting rather for debauchery, overt sexuality, and unchecked materialism described in shamelessly foul language.



But this isn’t even the worst song in the Top 10 this week.



LOVE ME by Lil Wayne (featuring Drake and Future)

When a song opens with “I’m on that good kush [marijuana] and alcohol, I got some down b**ches I can call,” you know it’s going to earn its explicit warning label.



Or, speaking candidly, when the artist is Lil Wayne… you know it’s going to earn its explicit warning label.



Love Me is Lil Wayne’s collaborative effort with Drake and Future that has absolutely nothing to do with love. There’s plenty about lust, but nothing about love as we’ve understood the term for centuries. But since the song has made a significant jump from #19 to #10 this week, it’s like Tina Turner said: “What’s love got to do with it?”



We’ve written about lots of foul music in our Youth Culture Window articles across the years, but this tune has to crack the top three most-vile songs we’ve ever covered. Here’s the song’s first verse:

Pu**y-a** niggas stop hatin'

Lil' Tunechi got that fire

And these hoes love me like Satan...

F**k with me and get bodied

And all she eat is d**k

She on a strict diet

That's my baby

With no makeup she a ten

And she the best with head

Even better than Corinne

She don't want money

She want the time we could spend

She said "cause I really need somebody,

So tell me you're that somebody"

And girl, I f**k who I want

And f**k who I don't

Got that A1 credit

At that Filet Mignon

She say "I never wanna you make you mad,

I just wanna make you proud"

I say "baby, just make me c*m,

Then don't make a sound"



There is no need to go into verse two; the song’s ultra-vulgar music video remains equally filthy throughout.



It’s terribly unfortunate that a person of Lil Wayne’s mass appeal and influence has chosen to produce such toxic lyrics for millions of young people to consume. The rapper was released from jail in 2011 and by the looks of this song, it seems he is making up for lost time.



I just hope his perverted definition of “love” doesn’t catch on with today’s teenagers.



Filtering the Filth

Media is a huge force in kids’ lives, but with the constant release of new music, it can be tough to keep up with all the influences competing for your teenagers’ affections. But, as you’ve seen from some of this week’s music, it’s important to know what’s out there. We can learn a lot about teenagers from iTunes and the music charts. Fortunately, there are a couple ways you can filter today’s music so that your teenagers steer clear of the filth.





1.Do your homework. When we lead parenting seminars (both Jonathan and David), one of the most frequently asked questions is, “How do you know so much about today’s music?” The answer is so simple; we use three well-known websites to stay current: Billboard, Google, and YouTube. We begin with Billboard’s Hot 100 and simply read down the list. If a new song has entered the Top 10 and I’m unfamiliar with it, I jump over to Google and search for the song’s lyrics. After perusing the lyrics, I turn to YouTube to see if the song has a music video. (Note: Some songs never become videos and some songs are released on the radio well before they’re released in video format. Thus, you may have to check back a few times. Just make sure you look for the “official” music video.) Depending on the length of the song, this entire process takes about 7 minutes to complete. This “homework” is simple, so make the small investment that will give you a big return on your kids’ lives.



Another great way to ‘do your homework’ is to let us do most of the work for you. We both are constantly writing about music, media and youth culture in these Youth Culture Window articles, our Parenting Help articles, and in Jonathan’s blog. Subscribe HERE for any of those free resources and we’ll send them to you each week.





2.Counter culture with truth. The three songs above reek of materialism, drugs, alcohol, greed, lust, sexual immorality, and more. Left unchecked, the messages embedded in these songs will soon embed themselves in teenagers’ minds and hearts. The best way to overcome these influences is with the truth of God’s Word. Fortunately for you, The Source for Youth Ministry has lots of totally free tools that can help you combat culture with the truth of Christ’s teachings. For instance, here’s a great resource about blindly seeking riches and wealth. This is another music-based resource that illustrates the pain of a party lifestyle. This YouTube Discussion Starter tackles the tough issue of lust and pornography, while this one shows that drug and alcohol addictions require the saving work of Jesus Christ.



Telling a kid to “cover your ears” stopped working when they were in preschool. As parents and youth workers, we must be far more proactive in helping our teenagers make pure choices regarding their music selections. The discernment they gain could guide them for life.



 Jonathan McKee,president of The Source for Youth Ministry, is the author of numerous books including the new Candid Confessions of an Imperfect Parent, and youth ministry books like Ministry By Teenagers, Connect: Real Relationships in a World of Isolation, and the award winning book Do They Run When They See You Coming? Jonathan speaks and trains at conferences, churches and events across North America, all while providing free resources for youth workers and parents on his websites, TheSource4YM.com and TheSource4Parents.com. You can follow Jonathan on his blog, getting a regular dose of youth culture and parenting help. Jonathan and his wife Lori, and their three teenagers Alec, Alyssa and Ashley live in California.







David R. Smith  is a 15-year youth ministry veteran who helps youth workers and parents through his writing, training, and speaking. David specializes in sharing the gospel, and equipping others do the same. He co-authored his first book this year, Ministry By Teenagers. David provides free resources to anyone who works with teenagers on his website, DavidRSmith.org. David resides with his wife and son in Tampa, Florida.