Hip Hop on the Juice

Disclaimer: This piece is intended as a light-hearted look at a very serious issue. If any offense is taken, accept our apology. Eat s**t… oh sorry.

Say it isn’t so. The use of steroids and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) is apparently not just reserved for pro athletes, with several high profile recording artists being named in a recent report, as American law officials continue to crackdown on the sale and distribution of performance enhancing drugs.

There were many questions and thoughts running through my head when I first read about these findings. Once the initial surprise wore off and I had a look at the names listed. Two gentlemen by the names of Mr. Jackson and Mr. Mosley stood out, and it felt more like realisation had me wondering how long it would take authorities to also catch on to a certain doctor and a dungeon dragon who also clearly had been doing more than just watching their intake of carbs.

However, it wasn’t those first two artists mentioned that caused the most surprise, although their star status alone makes it a big deal. It was some of the others being implicated in this investigation that really had me scratching my head.

There was the writer, director and actor behind the series of books and films based on the elderly African-American woman character Madea, Tyler Perry, who up until now had somewhat of a squeaky clean image. You mean the guy that pulled an Eddie Murphy, playing multiple roles of different genders in his films? Yes the very same.

Think about that for a second, a comedic author and actor feeling the need to enhance his physique. Well the drugs could end up doing him a service, as his shriveled up manhood as a result from steroid abuse could turn him into a woman permanently.

Then there’s Wyclef Jean; the man who has promoted peace and love for all these years, now trying to morph into some sort of Hip Hop incredible hulk. While a Fugees reunion may not be imminent, coincidently ‘Clef has named his newly enhanced ‘guns’ Pras and Lauryn, respectively.

Finally, the most surprising name of all, the one and only ‘Queen of Hip Hop Soul’; last time I checked being ripped wasn’t a pre-requisite to ruling the R&B world, unless you want to rule it with an iron fist, literally!

Now while the murder-suicide case of pro wrestler Chris Benoit was a bizarre and unfortunate situation to say the least, when steroids and more specifically ‘roid rage were linked to that particular incident it sort of made sense. Although, that media created theory fell apart when it was revealed that head trauma from years of abuse in and out of the ring were the cause behind the (usually reserved) Benoit’s shocking meltdown.

It is extremely hard to defend people who use steroids, which is not my intention. While you could possibly sympathise with their initial intentions or motives behind the life threatening abuse steroid and HGH users put themselves and their bodies through, it still doesn’t make much sense.

Although there are no cases of people passing away due to steroid abuse the harm it has done to people that abuse performance enhancing drugs is evident. Why would you risk your own well-being in order to gain a shortcut to enhancing your physique? Is dieting and exercising so excruciating that you would put your future on the line?

When recording artists and entertainment personalities, who are seemingly unattached to the sporting world, are using steroids and HGH then you know there is a serious problem.

For all we know, the claims made in the report may be unsubstantiated and the artists mentioned may actually not be guilty of buying performance-enhancing drugs. Also, the extent of that drug use was not detailed either, a couple of the artists may have bought it and not used it or they may have used it on one occasion or sparingly. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.