Producers of music, and music entertainers on the whole, have a significant social responsibility in terms of what product and messages they create. Although they do not have an absolute responsibility, as entertainment in any form is firstly a market product like all others and can produce what they believe is most profitable. However, someone has to take on the responsibility of educating the fans, followers or supporters of these artists and who would do a better job than the artists and producers themselves? Entertainers know or, ought to know by now the kind of power they have as ‘role models’ for children and adults alike around the world. All commercial or mainstream entertainers should have a full understanding or what social responsibility is and how they can contribute and impact on different societies, genders, age groups, etc. Kids and adults look up to these public figures, try to relate to their ‘messages’ even when irrelevant and in some cases try to portray themselves as the images projected by the artist. The reason why they readily believe that Rick Ross is a drug dealer and Lil Wayne is a Blood is because of ignorance. People have the tendency to just throw their arms up in frustration because the kids don’t get it. As ‘role models’ entertainers should not only be encouraged to but should also feel inclined to set positive and wholesome examples for the youth, future leaders, educate them on how to separate their personal lives from the fantasy world of music and arts, be able to relay positive messages that can guide towards success and progress, promote health, education, love and peace while entertaining but some may see this as asking too much of them.
Entertainers may find themselves resenting the harshness and strictness of the standards and demands they face, but they really should feel grateful. Entertainers are people, too, and they may feel the stirrings of growing delusions of grandeur after gaining popularity. They may experience a kind of sense of privilege and they may experience the greedy desire to make more money. Once they think to themselves, “Who is going to know about it? And it is my private life, anyway,” and this is the kind of mind set that will prevent them from using their influence and understand that really and truly they are not just ordinary people living ordinary lives.
Popular artist such as Vybz Kartel, who is currently on remand for two murder charges, practically revolutionized dancehall music when his song ‘Clarks’ sent the sales of the Clarks shoes through the roof in Jamaica and surrounding Caribbean islands who strongly relate to his music. A powerful voice such as his own should never find himself in such a situation when about 80percent of his fans or followers are teenagers. Also, rapper Rick Ross reportedly suffered with two seizures as a result of smoking 100 blunts in 24hrs and the list could go on and on about incidents of these ‘role models’ exhibiting poor examples for children and adults alike. I can understand how artists may defend and attempt to justify themselves when critics lash out at them because of their lyrical content but surely not when they find themselves being charged for murder and so on.
Entertainers should ask themselves; who’s our responsibility to? Who do we do this for? Questions no doubt, you should ask the next time you see Wayne flying his red flag on the screen. If that’s what puts food on the table, and he can sleep peacefully at night with his decisions, we need not be blaming him for anything at all.
Ultimately, the decision will belong to the people.
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