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The beginning of 2004 marked the somewhat anticipated release of "Jimmie Hatz", the new "Hip-Hop" condoms .

So you're wondering if the condoms play music when you open them, or if they include a secret code by which you can secure tickets to the next "Chingy" concert, or maybe they give you some tips on writing a really good rhyme. No, in fact the only thing different or "Hip-Hop" about these condoms is the packaging: a shiny rapper with a cartoon picture of a pit-bull or rottweiller sporting a gold "Mr. T. starter kit" chain immediately lets you know the company behind these condoms is after a certain market. My best guess is youth and namely, youth of color.

I suppose it was only a matter of time since hip-hop, top-selling musical form, has already infiltrated the commercial industry. It is a proven fact that hip-hop sells and where there's money to made, usually the weasels are hot on the trail.

According to Harry Terrell, CEO of the company behind Jimmie Hatz,

"Basically, what we've tried to do here is make it the cool thing to do, the 'in' thing to do, to protect yourself."

That is cow dung. Mr. Terrell's statement alone should be a red flag to anyone who has the good sense God gave them. The evangelical outpost posted a good article a month or so back on the condom conspiracy.

There is a gigantic lie parading around in truth's clothing that condoms are the best form of protection. The is based on the ideology that teenagers do not nor cannot have self-control. They are just rabid beasts, succumbing to the whims of their flesh, so we might as well slap a condom on them in hopes that they won't get somebody pregnant or contract HIV.

It always amazes me that people forget that there are huge corporations making an inordinate amount of money by pushing out condoms to the masses. This is not Social Concern 101. This is Economics 600. There is a lot of money to be made in the condom industry and don't be fooled into thinking Harry Terrell, Trojan, or any other company is even the least bit concerned about abstinence education or the HIV problem among "urban youth". Although Mr. Terrell would say, "It's a full blown effort on our part to save our community," I assume Mr. Terrell's goal is help our community by giving young people a means to continue to seek false gratification by filling up their emptiness with pre-mature intercourse, lengthening the list of their sexual soul-ties, and inevitably adding to the number of un-wed mothers, young fathers, and further continuing the cycle of poverty in many urban communities.

This is far worse than the effects of pop (or for you east coasters "soda") machines in elementary schools. There is a sound of truth that needs to resound on this issue. These condoms are the last thing hip-hop needs, more importantly they are the last thing my generation needs. Mr. Terrell needs to be called to the carpet on his actions. So where's the NAACP now? As usual, nowhere to be found.

Other related stories on "Jimmie Hatz":
- "Hip-Hop Condoms to hit stores" - CNN
- "Hip-Hop Condoms to hit stores next year" - BET (the always credible)
- "The 'rap'-per makes a difference" - Pittsburgh Courier
- JimmieHatz.com, where the company offers statistics to support their social cause.