In an exchange with writer Dream Hampton, rapper Too $hort opened up about an controversial XXL blog video which seemed to encourage young boys to assault girls. The rapper discusses both his reaction to the criticism as well as where the mindset which led to the video originated:

I’m not going to lie to you¦my eyes are opening just from reading the comments, the stuff that is coming from people. They say stuff like, “Does he get it?” I’m reading it and I am starting to get it. I am looking at this and I am looking at all the stuff that they put out, completely from the entertainment industry, from the movies I watched when I was a kid. A rape scene in a movie was pretty normal. They don’t really do it that much anymore, (but) back then a guy would take it and the girl would enjoy it. They put those images out there over and over again and it’s like so much society is ok with the images of aggressive male and female sexuality. I’m just reading this and I’m reading that, and I’m like I am so much a part of that whole thing.

The rapper also describes his regret, and his plans going forward:

I hate that this had to come out like this but I really feel blessed. I feel like I am going to kick in and kick back a lot positive energy in something that I have been kicking out a lot of negative energy in a lot of years¦I am not expecting anyone to say I forgive you or anything in that nature. It may not be the biggest mistake in my life, but it was a major mistake, looking at the camera and saying those words.

If Too $hort is sincere, then this is a breakthrough. One can only hope that he shares his revelation with other rappers.

Original Post: KultureKritic