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The editorial page of The Times, in the person of Brent Staples, turns its attention to hip hop. Decrying the genre's descent into misogyny, materialism and murder (coincidentally the working title of Dr. Dre's new album), Staples argues that inner-city listeners who are already at risk of dying prematurely are being fed a toxic diet of rap cuts that glorify murder and make it seem perfectly normal to spend your life in prison. While the debate over art's effects on human behavior is hardly a new one, we're somewhat surprised by Staples' contention that [the fact that] this lethal genre of art has grown speaks volumes about the industry's greed and lack of self-control. Is it possible that it might also speak volumes about consumer interest? How many units did the last KRS-One record shift? AB

How Hip-Hop Music Lost Its Way and Betrayed Its Fans [NYTimes]