There seem to be few indications that rappers have backed off of the violent overtones that seem to go hand in hand with their images, whether their real-life background is truly from the hood, or looks more like Flushing Meadows.

Granted not all rap is "gangsta," if we can even continue to use that tired nomenclature. There's hip hop, and plain old every-day rap, and there's even some "feel-good- I'm gonna make the world a better place-rap". But there remains a core group of hard headed hardcore aficionados that seem to believe they have to carry drugs and guns everywhere they go, and every now and then they just have to blast away at each other because, well just because they are tough-guy rappers, I guess.

Consider these examples:

Lil Boosie is facing 1st degree Murder charges and the possibility of the Death penalty in East Baton Rouge as of last Thursday.

In Today's newspaper in NY, police are investigating rapper Fabolous' possible link to the murder of rival rapper G-Baby who was murdered outside a club in March.

C Murder is in prison for (surprise) murder.

The AP reported 44 minutes ago concerning Lil Wayne's latest plea agreement in Yuma Arizona on drug and weapons charges. Wayne had to make his court appearance by remote camera from New york where he is incarcerated for...(wait for it) illegal gun charges.

Foolishness. If you have a few minutes to read this interview of Summertime Johnny, it's as good as I've seen on this subject.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2009/09/ask_a_rapper_summertime_johnny.php

It's defiantly calmed down. I dont think either rapper had a part in the others death, it was people taking music to seriously.

These types of grudges happen all the time, this was just one case that got out of hand because of other people. Not because of what the artists were doing behind closed doors. I think people as a whole learned from this experience and modern rappers have nothing to worry about.