Collegiate Times

Byron Hurt screened his Hip-Hop film for the Tech last night.

The audience erupted in applause as the credits rolled on Byron Hurt's documentary, 'Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes' last night in Squire's Commonwealth Ballroom.

The 56-minute film was shown last night at 7 p.m. to a packed room. The film, produced, directed and written by Hurt, was made in an attempt to bring to light the misogynistic and discriminatory nature that dominates today's hip hop culture.

Throughout the presentation, clips of rap star Nelly's "Tip Drill" music video flashed across the screen. Members of the audience sang along to Fat Joe and Busta Rhymes.

Hurt, an ex-athlete turned anti-sexism activist, spent two years and several hundred thousand dollars in pursuit of his final cut that would address the objectification of women in music videos and in rap lyrics. Throughout the film, Hurt stressed that from an early age, men are exposed to women portrayed only as objects.

"They have become desensitized to these images as young men," Hurt said. " Hip-hop is trapped in a box."

It is part of a cyclical problem in our society that condones the actions of television stations like BET to extort women and give men a sense of power over each other with violence, Hurt said.

Many of the rappers and activists featured in the video such as Fat Joe and Talib Kweli, stated that they felt that BET only offers one dimension of the rappers' lives.

Hurt explained that these controversial rap videos and songs equate manhood with power, violence and heterosexuality.

"It is important for the students to understand the difference between the words that (the rappers) say and the meanings behind them," said Jennifer Underwood, vice services coordinator for the Women's Center that helped to sponsor the event.

"I felt that his message was timely for today's culture," Underwood said. "We are all exposed to the language and images that Hurt explained in his film and it is important for us as community to dissect it."

Patricia Lovett, who sponsored the event on behalf of the Athletic Department is said he hoped that Hurt's message as an ex-athlete will inspire the athletes of Virginia Tech to become more aware.

"It is important to get this message across to our minority athletes so that they can begin to make a difference," Lovett said.