We're troubled by Bill Cosby's hip-hop album almost as much as he's troubled by hip-hop

Bless Bill Cosby's heart.

Around this piece we promote respect for our elders. (The ones that deserve it, anyway.) No doubt Cos' work, particularly his sitcom, pushed America along, and, specifically for Afro-Americans, blazed a path so that a new generation could enjoy an easier, more equitable future.

That's why it must be all the more horrendous for someone like him to flick on TV and see, say, Bootz from "Flavor of Love" clucking on about her weave or have someone explain to him exactly what Soulja Boy supposedly means when he describes giving a girl a "Superman."

We get it. We truly do.

So Cos decided to do something about it. He's releasing an album. And it's called --brace yourself -- "Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency."

Oh dear.

There's so much wrong here, straight off the bat --the first being that I, a professional writer, had to look up 'cosnarati' to make sure I knew what it meant (if you find out, let me know, thanks). Which means that, for the general populace he's obviously trying to reach -- i.e., the people whose cultural references extend no further than '106 and Park' -- this is unfortunately going to fly over their heads. The title gives me jazz, it gives me intellectual mood music. Which is right up my alley. But, for mass market purposes, can we throw a 'booty' or 'thug' in the title? I'm kidding, but you know what I mean. Make it accessible, you know?

Further, what emergency? (And yes, the album actually opens to the sound of sirens.) And anyway, who elected Cosby the ambulance driver? I'm generally very leery of self-appointed saviors.

The release on this album more or less describes it as a social activist project set to funk and hip-hop --an album created to cleanse, open a dialogue, incite conversation in communities, churches and the like. A fabulous motive, if of course the messenger refrains from coming off as condescending and paternalistic. 

I personally found the music, which you can hear here, an unfortunate bore. Mr. Cosby, or whomever produced this, seems to have overlooked the fact that this generation is exceptionally savvy. No one likes being lectured to. Ask Jesse!

Whether Cosby or anyone else knows it, there are a lot of rappers making great, positive, uplifting hip-hop music; Mos Def, Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Common, Kanye West, K-Os, Q-Tip and scores of other hip-hop artists have long been making, and continue to make, music that's socially conscious AND fun. Those things don't have to be mutually exclusive. Further, hip hop music doesn't need a superman to save it from itself. It does need more people in positions of authority-- A&Rs, executives, music directors at radio stations, and yes, artists -- to say, 'You know what? We really don't need another shirtless rapper with a gun and a chain. Let's try something different.' Boom. Done.

There is expressing concern about where a generation is headed, and then there is coming off like a bitter, grouchy old coot. Finding that balance is tricky.

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