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Sean Kingston

(2007, Hip-hop, by Sean Kingston, Label: Sony)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Reggae and rap without the hardcore content.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–13

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Overall message about being successful and good despite upbringing or bad influences; playful talk about pimpin' the clubs, but nothing sexist or too promiscuous.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Nothing explicit or overly graphic ("We can go to the slums/where killas get hung/little kid wit guns only 15/roamin' the streets up to no good" and "gang bangin' I inherited from my mother"). The track "Colors" refers to gangs and violence: "my people die over colors."

  • Sex:

    A few hints at innuendo ("booty so big/just tryin to get up in it," "we used to kiss and caress," and "I want a piece of that forbidden fruit").

  • Language:

    A few words here and there: "bulls--t" once, "bastard," and the "N" word a few times on "Colors."

  • Consumerism:

    Few references, but not bombarded: Kodak, Coke, Bacardi, Ferrari. Mentions other artists like Dr. Dre, Diddy, and Rihanna.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Mentions the drink Coke and Bacardi, "puffin' on crack and marijuana," but in reference to what needs to be changed about "the hood." Says "smoke chronic" in "Colors."
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Sean Kingston

Parents need to know that if your kids insist on listening to rap or hip-hop, this might be a decent compromise. There's minimal profanity (one use of the word "bulls--t" and the "N" word comes up a few times). Sexual innuendo is barely a flutter with phrases like "we use to kiss" or "wanna get up in it." There are some references to drugs in the tracks "Colors" and "Change," but in the sense of what needs to be changed about the "the hood."

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the way that many singers "cover" other singers' songs or incorporate them into their music, the way Kingston does on many of his, such as "I Can Feel It" (Phil Collins) and "Beautiful Girls" (Stand By Me). Does this make the original singers/songs more popular? Does it make the new song more interesting or marketable? Do you feel like it's cheating or banking on someone else's creativity when an artist does this?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    PYEsinc
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Pretty Good

    All that concerns me is one use of "b-llsh-t", one use of "b-st-rd", and (like all rap music, but not used as frequently) a few uses of "n-gg-r".

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Adult Reviewer
    Jumanji-lover
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 3.0

    not bad

    Sean Kingston is no where near the Kingston talent that Sean Paul shows us, but does a pretty good job, especially on the track "Take You There."

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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