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Old 08-01-2003, 08:56 AM  
Deepundercover
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 312
Rappers Want To Be Pimps - Why?

http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Musi....ap/index.html

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ten years ago, it seemed as if every rapper wanted to be a gangsta. Now, everyone wants to be a pimp.

50 Cent and Snoop Dogg strut in full pimp regalia, surrounded by a bevy of beauties, in their new video "P.I.M.P." Rappers like Lil' Jon bounce through their videos holding jewel-encrusted chalices popularized by pimps.

Even old-school soul veteran Ronald Isley personifies the pimp style with his alter-ego, "Mr. Biggs," right down to his elaborate cane.

Modeling yourself after figures most people consider among the degenerates of society might not seem like the most respectable path to follow -- but no one ever accused rappers of wanting to be respectable.

"Rappers just always want to be something bad," said producer-rapper Jermaine Dupri, who's touted himself as a "young pimp" in his own lyrics. "Just the same way rappers want to be gangstas, rappers want to be pimps."

Yet the self-proclaimed king of pimps, Bishop Don Magic Juan, would disagree with the sentiment that pimping is a bad thing. Although he's given up the pimp business for preaching -- he's an ordained minister -- he's still a proud playa who sticks up mightily for his former profession.

"It's been portrayed negatively through movies and television," says Juan, who despite his new profession has not forsaken his pimp wardrobe. "Now people are seeing it for what it is."

Snoop Dogg -- perhaps the biggest pimp purveyor in today's rap game -- agrees.

"It's cool to look good, it's cool to have girls on your arm, and get money from them, and that's a good feeling, you dig? There ain't nothing wrong with it," he told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

"We're teaching people how to hustle and how to look good," he said. "I'd rather be a pimp than a gang-banger, because I grew up being a gang-banger, and I tell you, you live longer being a pimp."

The reality of pimpin'
Yet others point out that pimping is actually the business of procuring women and girls as prostitutes for profit.

"It's just like gang-banging and doing drugs," says the singer Monica. "I think it's one of those things that people have started to glorify, and really don't give the real situation of what really happens, the real outcomes.
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