A popular trend is emerging amongst writers of children's bedtime lullabyes: the use of hardcore rap music and lyrics as the basis for the songs. The League of Christian Voters has denounced the trend as sinful, while the NAACP applauds the trend for "the unique ability to expose our children in a soothing way to the struggles of the African Americans in our inner cities."
"Waldo" McCarthy can be found at this cutting edge of children's bedtime lullabye
s; in fact, many experts credit him as one of the first musicians to create this new style (several other artists simultaneously, independently began experimenting with this new style in late 1998). Waldo's seminal "Gin & Juice" lullabye, adapted from Snoop Dogg's "Gin & Juice", can be found on the Charles Balter solo album here.
Childhood development psychologists are split over whether these new lullabyes are safe or harmful for children. Some experts point out that the melodies are soothing, and that children don't even know what the cuss words in the songs mean, and can't see that the songs frequently endorse or support drug and alcohol abuse, treatment of women as sexual objects, and the glorification of criminal activities. Other experts contend that these lullabyes will only serve to indoctrinate children into this debased culture, and that the songs should only be listened to by adults, if at all.
Musicians like Waldo frequently don't get involved in the fray. "I never use the words 'children' or 'lullabye' anywhere on my album cover art or in any advertisements I produce or endorse. This is simply my art; I let people take it as they may. I certainly don't intend for people to allow my albums, or television or video games for that matter, to raise their children, but the choice is theirs."
