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Posting on THECOLI & MIND MY BUSINESS..
Dr. Umar Johnson expresses strong support for 21 Savage's "F*** the Streets" movement, viewing it as a courageous step to challenge the glorification of negative street lifestyles (0:15). He acknowledges criticism from artists like Boosie, agreeing that if one denounces the streets, their music should reflect that change, advocating for a shift in hip-hop towards more positive cultural messages (1:02-2:04).
Dr. Umar believes that the backlash against the movement often misinterprets its intent, asserting that rejecting "the streets" doesn't mean disavowing positive lessons or relationships gained from those experiences (2:06-3:58). He argues that the ghetto, or "the streets," was a system created by external forces, specifically white America, through resource withdrawal, leading to desperation and illegal activities for survival (4:56-5:50). He highlights that this environment became the only place where Black men could historically feel a sense of power or control, albeit through illicit means, due to a lack of legal opportunities (7:08-8:54).
For the movement to have real impact, Dr. Umar emphasizes the necessity of creating a new "ecosystem" (9:06) that facilitates the transition of Black men from street life to legal career and business opportunities, enabling them to support their families (9:16-10:06). He urges 21 Savage to convene a conference to establish this "corner to corporation" movement and offers his assistance (10:08-10:36).
