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GREENSBORO — As N.C. A&T’s administration decides whether to replace a gang-affiliated rapper at this year’s homecoming concert, a heated debate continues among students on campus.

The argument over rapper Gucci Mane — that his material does not reflect the values and history of A&T — is a microcosm of a larger rift in the hip-hop world and the black community in general, A&T students and professors said.

Bryon Turman is an A&T alumnus who now teaches courses on hip-hop at both A&T and UNCG. He said money, drugs and violence have been prevalent themes in rap since its earliest days. But with albums that celebrate crack dealing and gang life, Turman said Gucci Mane represents a type of “dope rap” that forgets why those things were discussed in early hip-hop.

“For a lot of poor inner-city kids, drugs, violence and gangs are a common experience, almost like a rite of passage,” Turman said. “So in early rap like Melle Mel’s 'White Lines (Don’t Do It)’ you have drug references, but even though he had a very serious drug problem, he’s preaching against it.”

Turman said the same can be said of everything from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s inner-city rap “The Message” to Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt,” an album about the artist dealing drugs to finance a way out of the ghetto.

“For whole generations now, hip-hop has been an exit from the hood, from a situation you don’t want to be in. It’s an outlet, a way out,” Turman said. “So of course we’ve had MCs with criminal histories. But with these cats like Gucci Mane and OJ da Juiceman, you have guys rapping about drug dealing like it’s a good thing, like it’s a lifestyle they love and they’re not giving it up.”

Turman, 40, said that’s particularly dangerous because many young black men now grow up idolizing rappers the way his generation idolized basketball stars.

Gucci Mane has played up his affiliation with the Bloods street gang in recent years, Turman said — a move common when rappers become successful but want to retain credibility on the street.

“Even on his early albums he rapped about crack-dealing and violence,” Turman said. “But then here recently you get albums more replete with explicit gang references.”

Beyond sporting red shirts, hats and bandanas to show his allegiance, the Atlanta rapper has recorded tracks like “Same Red Rag” and “Blood In Blood Out” celebrating the gang life.

“There’s something in the American consciousness that’s attracted to that sexy image of the tough bad guy,” Turman said. “That’s not just in hip-hop — you see it in the glorification of Al Capone, the romanticized versions of Billy the Kid and Jesse James. If cats in hip-hop can use that to sell records, they will.”

A&T’s homecoming has transcended the school, drawing tens of thousands of people from out of town to see the biggest names in hip-hop. For years, many of the stars powering the show have boasted about gang affiliations.

Last year’s bill featured Young Jeezy, who claims affiliation with the Crips street gang. In 2007 it was Lil Wayne, who has rapped about being a Blood.

Stephen Leeper, 22, is a recent UNCG graduate who has attended A&T’s homecoming regularly.

“There’s a long pattern of inviting this kind of artist,” Leeper said. “Right now there is a divide in the hip-hop community between more conscious rap and people like Gucci Mane. What’s surprising is this year students objected to the content of his lyrics and what he’s communicating with his music.”

Part of the debate is about the evolution of homecoming, Turman said.

“I remember when homecoming was something that happened on campus,” Turman said. “Back then it wasn’t as many people, but it was mostly A&T students. We would still get big headliners, but it was easier to control and you felt like it was about the school, the alumni, the students. It had those values.”

Turman said since the concert’s move to the Greensboro Coliseum 15 years ago, the show has become about making the most money — a motivation that can lead to booking an act to draw large crowds, whatever the content of the music.

More than 6,000 tickets have been sold for the Oct. 31 show. Whether or not Gucci Mane is replaced, Turman said the conversation about the soul of hip-hop — and A&T — will continue.

“I think it’s a good conversation for the students to be having,” Turman said. “This is the kind of thing we need to talk about.”

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian@news-record.com