Geraldo Says Hip Hop Is Doing More Damage Than Racism

Geraldo Rivera is known for his strong opinions and attention grabbing antics.

Both traits were on display yesterday when the veteran Fox News personality spoke to HuffPost Live.

During the interview, Rivera goes in on Hip Hop, saying it's now more destructive to minorities than racism is.

"Hip-hop has done more damage to black and brown people than racism in the last 10 years," Rivera. "When you find the youngster – a Puerto Rican from the South Bronx or a black kid from Harlem who has succeeded in life other than being the one-tenth of one-tenth of one percent that make it in the music business – that’s been a success in life walking around with his pants around his ass and with visible tattoos…it is this whole ethos."

Geraldo also went after Russell Simmons, whom he considers a good friend.

"I love Russell Simmons, he’s a dear friend of mine. I admire his business acumen," Rivera continued. “At some point, those guys have to cop to the fact that by encouraging this distinctive culture that is removed from the mainstream, they have encouraged people to be so different from the mainstream that they can’t participate other than, you know, the racks in the garment center and those entry-level jobs. And I lament it. I really do. I think that it has been very destructive culturally."

It's more or less the exact opposite of what Jay Z said earlier this year when he argued Hip Hop has been great for race relations.

Do you think Geraldo has a point? Or is he just a 71-year old yelling at all the kids to get off of his lawn?