“Youth Can Lead” Movement Against Explicit Radio Rap Continues At This Weekend’s Real Talk Teen Conference in Missouri City

Soliders On a Mission (S.O.M.) perform at last month's Youth Can Lead event

The “Youth Can Lead” movement that began last month will continue to try and motivate teens to rebel against explicit rap music played on the radio at this Saturday’s “Real Talk Teen Conference” in Missouri City.

Pastor Craig D. Hayes organized the effort in partnership with his CrossingPoint Christian Church and Hightower High School in Fort Bend ISD (where he also sits on the board of their campus-based leadership team.) Part of the event will include performances from positive hip hop artists and a panel discussion about the variety of messages contained in rap lyrics.

“Not all elements of hip hop are bad,” Hayes said. “But with our conference we want give students and parents a deeper perspective on the music that’s such a large part of their lives.”

The “Youth Can Lead” movement’s current focus is to gather over 1,000 FCC complaint letters against the “Let’s Make a Movie” song by Chicago rapper Twista and R&B artist Chris Brown.

The track, which is currently in rotation at both 97.9 KBXX and Hot 95.7, is about the narrators' attempts to persuade a female to make a pornographic film.

Sample lyrics:

"And you know I think you a hell of an actress
Especially when I'm shooting you on a mattress

Shawty, straight to the top, that's where we headed
And I'ma see my name in the credits
and be the sh-t if you let it"

Attendees signed formal FCC complaint letters at last month's Youth Can Lead rally

The panel discussion will touch on that song, others like it, and also ask questions about the hip hop lifestyle image that is mass marketed versus the actual reality of musicians in that industry. Participants will include Pastor Hayes, Bobby “Tre9” Herring, Andre “007” Barnes (from the 5th Ward Boyz), Pyrexx (an affiliate of the mainstream rap group ABN), and a few selected students.

In addition exploring the influence of negative rap music on the radio, Hayes said his event will discuss dating violence, “sexting,” and bullying. All aspects of the conference are free and open to the public. It will be held from 11am until 2pm and include giveaways and sponsorship from local businesses like Chili’s, Chick-fil-A, Buffalo Wild Wings, HEB, Pizza Hut, and Demeris Bar-B-Q.

Hayes said he understands the delicate balance his event faces in a government-funded public school and does not intend to proselytize.

“We’ll just let our light shine and show how churches and schools can partner with one another to make a positive impact on our community,” Hayes said. “All it takes is some maturity on the part of the church and some openness on behalf of the schools. Together we can provide a real service to those around us.”

The Youth Are Listening Campaign from Von Won on Vimeo.