Throughout the history of civilization, mankind has been subject to incredible amounts of trends, social experiments, and cultural movements. For example, a rush of Western movies in the late 1960’s lead to a rise in the prominence of Western fanatics. Perhaps the biggest movement of the 21st century, Hip-Hop culture has risen to a zenith throughout the world. Due to the initiation of “Gangster Rap”, however, Hip-Hop culture has seen a shadow of disdain and is often wrongly blamed for a multitude of crimes. Through observation, it is evident that Hip-Hop culture does not promote violence, but freedom. Necessary as a precursor, in order to understand the desires of Hip-Hop one must know the origins of Rap. Hip-Hop/Rap began with a splash in …show more content…
Conventionally, there are more than twenty derivatives of Hip-Hop. The Hip-Hop style which is the most familiar to the world is known as “conversational rap” (Higgins, 2013). This form consists of the artist using a conversational method of rapping where they appear to be telling a story or holding a personal discourse. Conversational Rap is utilized by many of the industry’s current juggernauts. Some of the artists which use this style of rap are: Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Wiz Khalifa. It is universal to understand that Hip-Hop is indiscriminative. In his article Hip-Hop Judaica: The Politics of Representin ' Heebster Heritage, Judah Cohen observes that “Rap music, on the other hand, is anti-classical, a UN-friendly music with dozens upon dozens of subgenres to accommodate and account for the full range of experiences that make up the human condition—irrespective of one 's race, gender, age or geography.” (Cohen,14). Moreover, Hip-Hop/Rap’s most problematic form is known as “Gangster Rap”. This form of Hip-Hop/ Rap is understood to be the turning point in the world of Hip-Hop culture. The “thug life” movement within Gangster Rap started with rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur, known as 2pac. In her article titled “East Coast/ West Coast Rivalry, Yvonne Bynoe states that throughout the 1990’s, 2pac and New
Hip-Hop became characterized by an aggressive tone marked by graphic descriptions of the harshness and diversity of inner-city life. Primarily a medium of popular entertainment, hip-hop also conveys the more serious voices of youth in the black community. Though the approaches of rappers became more varied in the latter half of the 1980s, message hip-hop remained a viable form for addressing the problems faced by the black community and means to solve those problems. The voices of "message" hip...
“The Hip Hop Wars What We Talk About - And Why It Matters” by Tricia Rose explores what hip hop has done to society in recent years and what people think it has caused. Though it has become one of the most commercially successful genres in mainstream music Tricia Rose explains that the topics in hip hop music have narrowed. Commercial hip hop mainly consist of black gangstas, thugs, pimps, and hoes. In the book she looks into the different points of views of people who think whether hip hop invokes violence or if it reflects life in a black ghetto and if it slows down advancement for African Americans in US. The author goes back and forth with the opinion of the mass on hip hop, she says people view hip hop as a music like heavy metal which people associate with violence but she refutes most of these points by showing the positives of hip hop.
A race issue that occurs within the rap and hip-hop musical genre is the racial stereotypes associated with the musical form. According to Brandt, and Viki rap music and hip- hop music are known for fomenting crime violence, and the continuing formation of negative perceptions revolving around the African-American race (p.362). Many individuals believe that rap and hip-hop music and the culture that forms it is the particular reason for the degradation of the African-American community and the stereotypes that surround that specific ethnic group. An example is a two thousand and seven song produced by artist Nas entitled the N-word. The particular title of the song sparked major debates within not only the African-American community thus the Caucasian communities as well. Debates included topics such as the significance and worth of freedom of speech compared with the need to take a stand against messages that denigrate African-Americans. This specific label turned into an outrage and came to the point where conservative white individuals stood in front of the record label expressing their feelings. These individuals made a point that it is because artists like Nas that there is an increase in gang and street violence within communities. Rap and hip-hop music only depicts a simple-minded image of black men as sex crazed, criminals, or “gangsters”. As said above, community concerns have arisen over time over the use of the N-word, or the fact that many rappers vocalize about white superiority and privilege. Of course rap music did not develop these specific stereotypes, however these stereotypes are being used; and quite successfully in rap and hip-hop which spreads them and keeps the idea that people of color are lazy, all crimin...
Hip-Hop is produced on the role of coercion and power. The diversity of the culture supposes to create meaning not chaos. Social order is maintained by domination, and the power of the song lyrics. The black youth is more likely to be victimized by crime than any other group. Hip-Hop influence the music that we listen to that a new artist can directly affect how we dress, talk, dance and etc. For example, “prison inspired hip-hop styles like sagging black pants and oversized t-shirts” (Baxter & Marina 2008, 110). Sending a culture shock across the country, some may believe it could be a good thing and others may believe it could be a detriment to our youth and
In his novel: Hip-hop Revolution: The Culture and Politics of Rap, Jeffrey Ogbonna Green Ogbar addresses the traditional themes of Hip hop music. There are the traditional minstrel stereotypes caused from “the marketing of hip-hop” (Ogbar 2007: 41), the dehumanization of women in hip-hop culture where they must have a persona of “soft femininity or being one-of-the-boys” (103), and the “thug life” theme where violence against the police and gangs is deemed satisfactory in this way of life (156). Brother Ali similarly addresses these issues but the other way around. Instead of praising and accepting these common lyrical practices, he counters them by calling out the problems and promoting ways to fix them. By making this music, he also potentially setting an example for the black culture in the
Hip hop has permeated popular culture in an unprecedented fashion. Because of its crossover appeal, it is a great unifier of diverse populations. Although created by black youth on the streets, hip hop's influence has become well received by a number of different races in this country. A large number of the rap and hip hop audience is non-black. It has gone from the fringes, to the suburbs, and into the corporate boardrooms. Because it has become the fastest growing music genre in the U.S., companies and corporate giants have used its appeal to capitalize on it. Although critics of rap music and hip hop seem to be fixated on the messages of sex, violence, and harsh language, this genre offers a new paradigm of what can be (Lewis, 1998.) The potential of this art form to mend ethnic relations is substantial. Hip hop has challenged the system in ways that have unified individuals across a rich ethnic spectrum. This art form was once considered a fad has kept going strong for more than three decades. Generations consisting of Blacks, Whites, Latinos, and Asians have grown up immersed in hip-hop. Hip hop represents a realignment of America?s cultural aesthetics. Rap songs deliver a message, again and again, to keep it real. It has influenced young people of all races to search for excitement, artistic fulfillment, and a sense of identity by exploring the black underclass (Foreman, 2002). Though it is music, many people do not realize that it is much more than that. Hip hop is a form of art and culture, style, and language, and extension of commerce, and for many, a natural means of living. The purpose of this paper is to examine hip hop and its effect on American culture. Different aspects of hip hop will also be examined to shed some light that helps readers to what hip hop actually is. In order to see hip hop as a cultural influence we need to take a look at its history.
Hip Hop, a major influence on the young generation today, has encouraged bad behavior and violence through its corrupt messages and suggestive lyrics. Hip-hop is believed to have begun on 11th August 1973 by Dj Kool Herc as he was entertaining at the back- to- school party of his sister and decided to try something new (Birthplace of Hip Hop , 2017). In that case, he extended the instrumental beat making the people dance longer in the breakdance style. He then began rapping during the extended instrumental scratching. This happened at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, New York. This kind of music resulted in an entire cultural movement which altered the generational thinking from language to art to race to politics. The Cultural Revolution gave the music the freedom to express any element of culture which has created loopholes for entertaining violence and bad language.
Hip-Hop is a vast and popular culture, one part of Hip-Hop culture is the popular genre of music with lyrics spoken by old school artists such as Tupac, Notorious B.I.G, N.W.A, Grandmaster Flash and modern artists including Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Logic and more. Lyrics written and produced depict the hardships and reality for the artists. Contrary, lyrics also showed violence and stereotypes, and portrayed a certain image for listeners. Looking deeper into the genre, evidence shows that hypermasculinity is embedded into lyrics, videos and icons of Hip-Hop. The image of Money, Masculine Fragility and Appearance are prime examples that support the connection to hip-hop and the negative male image it imposes.
First, we must start with where rap originated from which is New York, specifically the Bronx which consisted in the beginning of rappers like Grandmaster Flash and Run Dmc. This was around late 1970 and the main components of Hip Hop at that time would be things like break dancing, graffiti, and dj’ing, it had a very funky and upbeat
In the culture of Hip, Hop rap began to rap in the streets expressing their thought and opinion through their songs, to get the attention of people. The attention the rappers wanted was to be heard and wanted other people to feel connected. In that time period, rappers became more popular because of what they produce based on their feelings. The rappers used their music to
The culture has entered everywhere from TV commercials to toys, video games, and also fashion industry. “Hip hop has been America’s most wanted music, both with sales and as the target of censorship. With its simultaneous focus on invention and tradition, hip hop has survived sampling lawsuits, FBI boycotts, Supreme Court obscenity hearings, mix tape raids, parody of the culture, pop crossovers, and the threat of white rappers taking over the music” (Hess 4). The lifestyle, that people thought would be a passing fade, it has grown to become a permanent part of world culture. Some hip hop artists like Russell Simmons have become some of today hero’s. Many other artists such as 50 cent, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg are now recognized as successful hip-hop moguls.
Hip-hop started out in the Bronx in New York City with DJ Clive “Cool Herc” Campbell. A man of Jamaica, he essentially birthed the new genre of music by carrying over the Jamaican tradition of Toasting, which “is boastful poetry or over a melody provided by a deejay.” (ROOTS ‘n’ RAP, rice.edu) Its creation can be accredited to the record spinning DJ’s of the clubs of the 1970s. From this, the Master of Ceremonies (MC) was created. He would come up with creative rhymed phrases that could be delivered over a beat or acapella at dance clubs. They consisted of boasts, insults, “uptown throw downs”, and political commentary. From there, hip-hop only grew more and more popular. Being that it was created in a dominantly African American neighborhood, it became a tool for blacks to express their problems with society and be heard by the rest of the country. Though it was a microphone for African Americans to express themselves to the rest of the country, there were some other things that happened within the black community through hip-hop as well. One of these things was a diss track.
Many rappers provide depictions of the struggles of daily life for urban youth. The oppression and marginalization of urban groups is a recurring and important theme. Rappers function as the primary voice and storyteller in hip hop(Todd, 2009). They depict images of their communities, voicing the struggles of the people. This allows these communities to feel what they have experienced matters. However, the artist’s genuineness is significant for the validation of the listener. If an rapper’s music does not portray the experience and identity of themselves, they may be seen as a “poser”. Selling out is a phenomenon when an artist compromises their morals and integrity for personal game, often times for money. Hip hop artists must be consistent with their everyday lives and their reputation as a
The genre of hip hop, rap and “Gangsta rap “ looks marginalized and discriminated against, nevertheless feels treated unfairly by society compared to other genres of music such as rock, pop, and country. Although other genres can get away with actions that hip hop cannot, the genre of hip hop is being blamed for problems in communities. A popular opinion towards hip hop music according to Edward Rhymes who is an academic in sociology with an emphasis on African American and United States History: The violent, misogynistic, drug-celebrating, and sexualized lyrics of rap and hip hop music remains unjust and scrutinized because of the racial double standard” (Rhymes 1). This can be supported by songs from other genres of music. It is peculiar that a song “Like So Hott” by Kid Rock and “Cover You In Oil’’ by AC/DC do not receive as much criticism as rap music does (Rhymes 2).
Ever since I was little, music has been an extremely important part of my life. My entire family is in the music business, and both my parents are extremely involved and aware about pop culture. Growing up, the only music that my parents would listen to was rock bands like U2 or the Rolling Stones, so that was the music I listened to as well. As I got older and became more involved with dance, I was required to take hip hop as well. Because of this, I fell in love with hip hop in both music and in dance. As of now, hip hop and rap is really the only music genre I listen to, yet I don't know much about the roots of it. Along with this, I have never even thought of hip hop as poetry, which shows how little I know about it. Being in this class