Something that I noticed about hip hop: we have a real misguided perception of what respect is. Too often, we associate respect with fear. We hear it all the time in songs and I have to believe that this false sense of respect ultimately leads to a staggering amount of disrespect within our communities, as well as a lack of respect for ourselves and, in all honesty, life in general. 
 

I think this idea first became real to me when I heard WC say “Cuz I’d rather be feared than loved” on “Gangstas Make The World Go Round”. I’ll be the first to admit that I love the entire Bow Down album (although it may not be the most “positive” of albums), but I’m also not mistaken that this is a poisonous mindset. How can we expect to grow and unite when we don’t even want to be loved?! We would instead be feared because, somehow, to many, that fear represents respect. Meanwhile, we have Marvin Gaye’s song “What’s Going On” sampled in many of our hip hop songs, where he sings “Only love can conquer hate.”

The images we should be respecting are those of fathers taking care of their children, people working demeaning jobs instead of falling victim to the drug game, the young people going off to school and getting an education, and the person that gave back money/resources and time to their community. Instead, we glorify, and simultaneously fear, the person that constantly praises undoing the work of many of our forefathers (and mothers). These are the people that we “respect” because they “demand” it. Since when was respect something that you literally demanded? I thought you demanded respect by carrying yourself in a certain manner; and that manner certainly wasn’t by popping bottles in the club and totting guns.

We have come to shun love and accept fear as the equivalent of respect when, in fact, love and respect are what truly go hand-in-hand. Unfortunately, too many people grow up believing that without having people fear them, they will never get the “respect” they “deserve” and much of the music does nothing, but reinforce this mentality. We need to break this way of thinking and demonstrate that respect is a factor of love and admiration for people that are willing to do the right thing (i.e. some of the things mentioned in the previous paragraph). 2 + 2 ≠ 5 and Fear ≠ Respect.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Why has fear become a synonym for respect in hip hop? How do we change this? Leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comment area below. You can always e-mail at straightouttahiphop@gmail.com.

Peace.