Dig this, if the hustler in the crew used his money to fund the flyest dude’s fashion consultant career, the artist homie’s gallery shows, MC Bang Beezy’s rap career and circulate that money to control the hood in a positive way, we would all be in a better position.

In most cases, money in and of itself is not a problem. But it’s the messages that comes with the money that can make it dangerous. For example, in hip hop, artists are praised for being thugs, gangsters and pimps…not for being scholars.

Young people don’t raise themselves. A point sorely lost with many elders insistent on generational blaming, and casting insults at the hip-hop generation from the sidelines, instead of taking ownership of their failures. Criticism absent an action plan makes for empty speeches, redundant press conferences, and misdirected marches portraying young folks as the new Negro problem.