Anger and Sadness at the State of the World
by Jessica Thompson
What
is truth? What are lies? This is not an article based on objectivity.
This is an editorial to you, the Madison public written during a moment
of anger and sadness at the state of the world. This evening I was
witness to an event that has hurt me to the core. I grieve for the pain
that this has not only caused me but the pain it has caused a man that I
hold in the highest regard.
A fight broke out at the King Club this evening during the
MadisonHipHop.com show. The source of the fight was not gang related.
The source of the fight was not racial related. The source of the fight
was not Hip Hop related. The fight was though, alcohol related. A very
drunk woman that was not part of the show, thought that it was a good
idea to get on stage, grab a microphone, and start making drunken
comments to the guest of honor, Brody Rose. She refused to leave, even
when an employee from the King Club tried to get her to leave the club.
Her rude and obnoxious behavior caused a fight to break out just outside
the club.
My anger is a direct result of her behavior towards Brody Rose. Brody
(a.k.a. Bro DJ) is the founder of MadisonHipHop.com and spent years here
in Madison trying to dispel the negative attitudes that individuals form
about Hip Hop. He, along with several other local Hip Hop artists,
worked hard to build community, fellowship, and love in the Hip Hop
culture here in Madison. Their positive efforts created a movement in
the city, a movement which has helped not only the music scene, but the
work being done with the youth in building positive outlets for
creativity and self-esteem. Brody moved to D.C. last summer and has
returned to Madison every so often to perform and partake in the
community that he helped build. Tonight’s concert was supposed to be
about that community and love. One Love.
So what happens now? Is Hip Hop blamed for yet another act of violence?
Hip Hop is not to blame. Stupidity and alcohol is. But that’s not what
the papers will tell you. That is not what is going to come out at
council meetings. The King Club was one of the last remaining venues in
which a positive Hip Hop experience could happen. But what now? The
movement shouldn’t be the scapegoat. There are too many positive
influences in this town that utilize Hip Hop as a tool in which to reach
our youth and enrich their lives. Without Hip Hop, there is no
Figureheads. There is no Roberto Rivera. There is no Josh Healy.
I write this in sadness. My heart weeps for the turn of events that made
one drunken girl ruin an entire night of fellowship and fun. One girl
that made rude comments to a man that has done so much for this
community. One girl that then caused a fight outside as Brody and others
retreated to the back of the club. One girl who has the potential to
ruin a fantastic spot to witness live local Hip Hop. One girl in drunken
stupidity has done so much to break down the vast efforts that Brody and
others have done to make the world see the positive influences that Hip
Hop can have. Remember. One girl, not one scene.
One drunken girl, not a genre of music. One girl, not the Hip Hop
culture.
My pain is yours Brody.
Any comments, questions, or suggestions can be emailed to contessasays@gmail.com