"In The MEE Report, we found that the television and print media had not been very effective in positively affecting urban youth. Rap seemed to be a promising key to opening the lines of communication, since 97% of Black urban teens like and listens to rap music. In addition, more than 90% watch rap music videos on a regular basis. But rap isn't perfect. The symposium gave us a chance to look more closely at rap music. That examination led to one of the key findings of the symposium: that rap is a sort of one-way street. Rap music is not effective for sending mainstream messages into the hip-hop culture. However, it is an invaluable tool urban teens use to describe their realities and send messages to each other and the 'powers that be'-who so often aren't listening. We knew from talking to young people that, to reach them, a message must be 'from the street,' (come from within the culture) and accurately represent their world view, behavior and styles of communication."
