Ranking Role Models

I like listening to rap music.

I purposely called it rap music because I know if I labeled what I listen to "Hip-hop" some random cat would stumble upon this post and point out that artists like UGK, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z don't really represent Hip-hop. And if I admitted that I used to blast No Limit and the entire Cash Money Records catalog in my youth, well the Hip-hop purists would have a fit if I lumped my music in with their "art."

That's cool.

In listening to rap music, I've become a pretty big fan of Jay-Z. Not only do I like the way he handles himself on the mic, but I've become a fan of the way he handles himself outside of the studio on most occasions. Sure, I have a problem with his glorification of drug dealing and his gross materialism, but does seem to be pretty intelligent cat who tends to look at the big picture. More importantly, his career arc, from corner hustler to CEO, is fairly impressive.

Need more proof? Read this.

That right there is a mogul move. Although the deal is built on the celebrity Jay-Z earned as a rapper, it is really impressive because of the business savvy it displays. The deal not only insures upfront revenue, but it establishes a continuous influx of funding while minimizing Jay-Z's own risk. This cat clearly has educated himself about business (after all he is a high school dropout) and is making very, very smart decisions.

So, is Jay-Z a suitable role model?

Before folks get really upset I've heard the "parents are the best role models" spiel many times and I agree with it. But, the reality is that way too many young black youth do not have positive role models in their homes and are eagerly searching for outside sources of inspiration and guidance. The question is should these children be looking up to hard-drinking, week smoking womanizer, who happens to be intelligent, hard-working and independent?

I would much prefer if Jay-Z had displayed the same business acumen while pursuing a career as a lawyer, doctor, stock broker or executive. If he was preaching education and moderation as much as he talked about hustling and splurging, well our young people might have a very different outlook on life. There can be no argument that music influences folks, and while that does not mean we should hold musicians responsible for the failings of society, we also should no ignore the realities of life.

Then again, lawyers, doctors, stockbrokers and executives have not exactly been immune to corruption and shady dealings, have they? As the recent subprime mortgage crisis and the criminal failings of BET have shown us, just because you have degrees and operate a legal business doesn't mean you aren't screwing up the world. In fact, given the paucity of rappers who have truly wide-reaching appeal, you could argue that it's us regular folks who are causing all the problems.

Personally, I think Jay-Z can serve as a role model. His music shows he possesses a real awareness of his place in the world and how he obtained that position. While his hustling mantra may wear thin, he rarely lies to youth about the risks and dangers associated with illegal behavior and he also tends to glorify hard work. More importantly, his core values--loyalty, independence, perseverance--are exactly the traits I would want any young person to possess.

There is no doubt that Jay-Z is a deeply flawed man, who presents an equally flawed example of how to live life. But, any role model that children choose will be flawed in some way, and most of them will be unable to capture the attention of today's youth in the same way that a millionaire rap star can. I'm not advocating for schools to start including Jigga in their black history month programs, but viewing him as symbol of all that is wrong in the world is equally misguided.

Holla.