In 2007, Sean "Jay-Z" Carter released a song entitled "Ignorant [expletive]" on his "American Gangster" album, which highlights numerous inconsistencies in society. Jay-Z discusses how people criticize him for his thought-provoking songs but praise his songs about trivial subjects. He also discusses how the themes in rap music are no different from objectionable themes on television or in movies.

The musician Nas also addresses this contradiction on a song entitled "Sly Fox" on his new album "Untitled" ("They say I'm all about murder murder and kill kill, but what about Grindhouse and Kill Bill?"). Recent developments indicate that Jay-Z and Nas may have been on to something.

Atlanta rapper Chris "Ludacris" Bridges made national headlines last week for a new song he released entitled "Politics (Obama Is Here)." The song has lyrics that criticize Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, John McCain and George Bush. Simultaneously, the movie "Dark Knight," which depicts the Joker as a terrorist who goes on mass-killing sprees and blows up buildings, continues to shatter movie records.

Are Jay-Z, Nas and I the only people who see a problem with this picture? Why is it that no one questions the Moral Police's arbitrary and capricious enforcement of its laws? It seems as though critics unfairly target the hip-hop community.

It should be the case that if you do not support violence or profanity, you should not support violence or profanity in any medium. I do not see the difference between violent rap lyrics and the movie "Wanted," about a fraternity of assassins.

The recent controversy takes away from the fact that Ludacris was recently inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame (and the first rapper to be inducted). He also participated in a reality TV competition with Tommy Lee entitled "Battleground Earth" to promote green initiatives.

I in no way justify the song by Ludacris. It would have been much more tactful to release a pro-Obama song without including anti-McCain rhetoric.

Nevertheless, the song is not that bad. At least he's trying to reach out to and instill civic duty in constituents who often feel marginalized by the political process. He must be motivated by something other than profit, because he will not receive any money from the song (the song was released on a free mixtape).

If you do not support profanity, then do not support any art form containing profanity. And if you do not support rap music, then do not support any form of rap music. But bear in mind that, in the words of Jay-Z, "it's only entertainment."

> A. Jarrod Jenkins is a student at the University of Georgia School of Law.