To be shocked and appalled by music video by rapper "AarDee" (and also shocked that there doesn't seem to be any backlash that I can find?

[theDudesmummy]

OK, so my world would never normally intersect with the world of heavy UK teen rap (or whatever the correct name is for the genre), but I was with my DS at a barber shop today, a trendy one where they show the latest music videos, and while his hair was being cut I happened to see the video to a song called Hello Mate by this guy AarDee (Googling him I see he is 19 and comes from Brighton).

I am very far from prudish or pearl-clutching, was a pretty counter-culture heavy rocker in my day etc. I've seen and done a lot. I am not easily shocked and am strongly in favour of freedom of expression. But: this video has to be seen to be believed. Unless I am mistaken and I was watching some sort of elaborate piss-take, it depicts a couple (AarDee and a girl) going into a shop with a baseball bat and gaffer tape, terrorising and tying up the staff, wrecking the shop, stealing stuff including lots of booze and then retreating to a mansion to celebrate merrily with a huge pool party. The main dude "AarDee" has a constant arrogant and self-satisfied look on his face.

Now, I am sure many people would agree that this guy is probably an arrogant little twerp (irrespective of the merits of the music, which would be subjective, but which I imagine a lot of people like, given his apparent popularity). And the entertainment/music industry has always been full of arrogant twerps and worse, obviously. So that's no big deal. But this is a graphic video, presumably aimed at teens as the boy is a teen, totally glorifying crime and violence, revelling in it. I had a look around the internet for what I imagined would be multiple mentions of this angle, but all I could find was fulsome praise of the guy and his music, including this song. No-one mentioning what the video actually shows. This is just normal then?

Am I alone in thinking this is a real problem? Am I missing something here?

The actual violence was, as had been mentioned, pretty stylised, what bothered me more was the complete glee and glamorisation shown around threatening people, smashing up the shop, stealing stuff etc. Possibly worse than if it had shown actual violence, as it was clearly supposed to look like a load of fun rather than anything serious.

Yeah I used to watch The Professionals and sadly never had a curly perm, fast car, gun or leather coat

You need to get a grip.

There’s literally rappers rapping about stabbing, shooting and killing people. Worse things have been done/said in a music video

Another Ali G tribute act.

Do you also blame video games for teenage violence?

Drill videos have been shown as evidence in trials.

Because they demonstrated intent, not because they're a bad influence

@brightnesses I know, I know. I was an avid Eminem fan back in 2001 when Stan came out (very dated reference, I know, but I don't have anything much later!) So I am a hypocrite, I guess. Maybe because I have a teenage son now and didn't then? Or just senescence?

@PonyTime no I don't, the studies have pretty much debunked that theory.

Then why worry about the content of these videos on young minds?

I agree with you, OP, and actually the video put me in mind of the recent raids on McDonald's by gangs of teens.

The same Arrdee who made a great song dedicated to his sister with Down syndrome. Yeah his not exactly the worst rapper out there.

you should hear the words to freaky girl by Nicki Minaj I bet her video is pure filth based on the words. No murder though just sucking dicks and that.

YANBU OP. The glorification of violence is never ok and I actively discourage my children to watch anything like this

@SleeplessInEngland I was waiting for somebody to mention this video! Very very well made and directed but very controversial. The OP would have a field day with that!

Nothing surprises me about rap. You only have to listen to the foul lyrics, to see how violent it is. Can't stand the racket either.

@theDudesmummy so you liked the Smack My Bitch Up video, but are moaning at a rap video?

Good thing you don't have to listen to it then isn't it

@PonyTime that was not exactly what I said. It is not the direct effects of the video on any specific "young minds" that may be watching it that I expressed concern about. Kids are not going to watch the video and directly connect up the dots to going out and turning over a supermarket so they can have a party.

It is more about the evolution of the social milieu in which we live (whether knowing we do or not). The depiction of crime/dissocial behaviour by teenagers as glamorous/cool/great fun, without it being questioned by anyone it seems, surely has wider effects on society as a whole, subtly and over time. I would not want the video "banned", but I think it is worth talking about.

Hence my not storming out of the barber/writing to The Times or 4Music (the channel that was showing)/starting a campaign against ArrDee/telling my DS not to watch videos. Instead I started a (I hope) civil conversation on a parenting website, to see what others thought, acknowledged I am a dinosaur and in the minority, and thought about what conversation I would/will have with my DS if he watched this video or similar ones.

Are explicit songs aimed at teens under 18?

Downside of online songs there no age restrictions. Remember getting refused service when I was around 14 and wanted to buy some explicit lps.

Well it was showing at 11am on 4Music, in the school holidays. So presumably deemed to be OK for all ages...

That is hypocritical. On the same album as 'Stan' there is a line in the song titled 'Kim' (about Eminem murdering his girlfriend and her young son) that goes "There's a four-year-old little boy laying dead with a slit throat in your living room, HA HA!"

That sounds way worse than the music video you described. That's without all the mentions of murdering his mother, raping lesbian women, shooting gay men, etc, etc.

That was Aitch, not Arrdee

@theDudesmummy I've just been watched the video. I thought it was no worse than other videos of the same genre.

I haven't seen this one but speaking about music videos (and lyrics) in general I hate the misogyny.

*just watched the video. Damn predictive text!

@Keyansier yes you are right about that album. And I thought it was a work of genius, then and now. The first time I listened to it I actually had to pull my car over to the side of the road, so affected was I.

Maybe I am just hypocritical, but thinking about it, perhaps there is a difference in that Eminem was presenting something acknowledged to be dark, disturbing, violent fantasy. He was purposely and explicitly exploring that part of his own psyche. Therein lay the art. This ArrDee video is presented as frothy and glamourous sunshiny fun with his friends. There is a difference, surely?

Or maybe not and I am just an ancient hypocrite who lives in the fabled better past!