Killings prompt rapper to change his tune

Richie Diggs, aka Oowop (OOO-wop)
Guest essayist

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051218/OPINION02/512180307/1039/OPINION

(December 18, 2005) — I write from my heart. I use my rap lyrics to tell how I'm feeling about issues. So when the news headline reads, "16-year-old girl murdered today" or "17-year-old boy found dead," I'm crushed, thinking to myself: "What the hell is going on with these kids dying?"

After the third young person was killed this year, I thought, "Why aren't the police, the mayor — somebody — stopping this violence among our young people?" My next thought was: "What can I do?" I'm a part of this community, so are my friends and family. Will this violence directly affect me or them? It can and it does.

............

Homicides equal tragedy. Stop acting like peace is a hard decision. We all make choices every day. We have to teach our children to make good choices so that when they become teenagers and adults they will know how to make excellent choices.

The message should start at home and then be reinforced by the community: Please stop killing each other.



Please check the link for the entire editorial. It has the words to his rap song, along with a sampling of it. Unfortunately they didn't give the label where you can obtain the entire song; but, it is being played on WDKX in Rochester, NY so if interested you could contact the station and I am sure they can give you contact info.