Hip Hop Is NOT Dead: English 249 Colloquium

Don’t listen to what they say- Not all Hip Hop is BAD, and she sure is hell ain’t dead!  She just moved to the South.

 

AUTHORED BY: CEDRICK ALEXANDER

 Alike many of the artists in black literature, hip-hop and rap are art forms that do not necessarily express the views of one group of people, but solely that artist’s experiences and perspectives. The music gives us messages, stories, and makes us aware of our community. Whether you agree with whether that they are glamorizing negativity or not, the message does exist for many people.  Given the lack of a formidable justice system, lack of opportunity in low-income areas, and a cycle of irresponsibility in some situations, a lifestyle that many people would not normally condone seems to be the only way out. At the very least, some artists that aspire from this “trap” of bad decisions are trying to raise awareness to the suburbs that these conditions exist, and hopefully try to give back to their communities to help end the cycle. These artists have progressed from that lifestyle and may find that selling themselves to the music industry to better their family’s economic situation is a better avenue than selling drugs and going to jail.

In actuality, hip-hop may save your life.

Unfortunately today hip-hop has transitioned from an artistic movement and culture to a fortified business. The result of hip-hop is to provide a product that is marketable to a large audience, be simplistic enough to provide a message, and generate revenue- bottom line. The creative process is designed to be enjoyable and fun and controversial angles are avoided: 1) because it is difficult to perform 2) or there is a lack of knowledge about the subject 3)refusal of their audience to engage 4)or simply lack of interest. When it is attempted such as in the case of Nas and his song "Sly Fox", this happens.

You can also listen to the actual song here.

Ref: Nas, “Untitled” response by Jim Jones

At the end of the day, art is general is designed to evoke a feeling of some sort. When reading poetry or literature, you are given characters and situations to help you engage in the story, and sympathize with them. Music is designed to provide listening enjoyment. If you choose to use any expression of art as your means of education, or subscribe to the messages provided by artists you will be greatly mislead. As a matter of fact, if you try to live your life other than yourself, you will be in a bad position.  The audience must know what they are getting into when listening to the music, understand that the artist is just that, a character. Why do you think rappers have rap names?!  He or she is not a role model or model citizen or even one who he claims to be thru his or her records. Often times, lyrics are fictitious and used to arouse some sort of emotion. It is more important to look at the overall composition of the work, rather than emphasize on the lyrics alone. No one is forced to listen to rap or hip-hop, and though a majority of black culture identify with rap it is merely what they enjoy for various reasons, and have chosen, or not chosen for some, identify with.

I think we can agree that it ain't all right, but hip hop has a lot of good in it that people fail to realize.

Essential Questions:

-Is it fair to require any artist to be socially conscience of their audience or be advocates of a culture given their vast audience and platform? As mentioned before, the majority of consumers in hip-hop are not African-American so do rappers have to cater to the minority of their consumer base?

-Music is an art form. Why are rappers persecuted for presenting their art if it is not in accordance with the progression of African Americans? This is not the case in rock or pop. Why is this debate unique to hip-hop?

- Can we look at rappers as individuals? Is it just a coincidence that the majority of the rappers are black? At what point, don't we associate with hip-hop with race? Consider Zora Neale Hurston and "How It Feels to be Colored Me" 

"At certain points, I have no race. I am me."

-Who is to blame: the consumer or the artist?

-Is hip-hop life imitating art or art imitating life?

-With the same motifs present in books, movies, and sitcoms, why is hip-hop so overly criticized?

-Is it just music? Where are we heading and what are the social constructs present in hip-hop? Sociology vs. literature

-What makes “good” literature? What makes “good” hip-hop? Reference: Baldwin and “Everyone’s Protest Novel”

-Hip-hop the business model employs minorities that may not otherwise have had the opportunity to excel. Is selling out to the industry is wrong to better your family? Is it all about money?

-If not for hip hop who would talk about the struggle? Who would be the voice of the streets? Or at least a semblance of that?