A couple of weeks ago I was watching a panel discussion on ESPN held in one of South Side Chicago's YMCA buildings. Many notable athletes from the NBA and sports analysts attended this event, as well as many of the teachers, parents, and children that live in that area. For some reason, this program caught my eye when I walked into the living room.

Some of the notable NBA players that spoke at this event included, Chicago Bulls player Rajon Rondo, and Milwaukee Bucks player Jabari Parker. A few of the topics discussed though there were many were, what athletes can do to prevent violence in inner cities, the state of America, and how athletes can give hope to kids in struggling cities around the country to chase their dreams.

Rondo when on the Boston Celtics

However, for me, yes I think that athletes need to be there and give struggling children hope to pursue whatever you want in life, but I also think that it is more important for singers and other entertainers to set a good example for kids, especially hip hop artists. These are the people who tour and travel the world spreading a certain message to everyone.

Just think of it, hip hop artists have so much control and power considering it is the most popular genre in our youth. Also, a lot of these artists come from nowhere and from a tough life and turn out very successful. One of my favorite examples is the rapper Logic. He may be one of the most popular hip hop artists out there, and he came from a horrible situation.

Logic with his rubix cube

Logic has seen his sister raped, his brother sell drugs to his own father, and his mother almost strangling him to death more than a few times. Oh yeah, he also dropped out of high school. But now he travels the world on many tours, and his overall message in his music is peace, love, and positivity.

Just think people like him have so much power. Logic once said himself, if he told kids at his concerts to go kill people, they probably would. But instead its amazing to see the amount of people at his concerts saying the same message he wants to put out, even in his music, which has so many layers to it, and discusses topics such as doing what you love in life despite what people may say of you.

Logic's second album

Other artists like Kendrick Lamar have that same positive message. Coming from Compton, California, he has the same message of getting out of tough times and chasing your dream in life no matter what the situation is. In my opinion, every artist not just hip hop should give people especially kids, hope to put in the effort to get somewhere in life.

So as we move forward in a very messed up society that we live in today, it is even more important for singers and entertainers alike to use their power and lyrics to spread a positive message around the world, especially on tour. They have the opportunity that many athletes do not have of actually meeting people face to face in different cities, not just one. So, although I respect what Rondo and Parker are doing, we can only hope that it is enough to help the world.