Hip-Hop...The Real Deal?

An attempt to define hip-hop...

Before starting the investigational portion of this assignment, this question would have been very difficult for me to answer. In reality, I still do not have a full understanding of the entire scope of hip-hop and cannot fully express all of the elements that make up the genre. Except for in recent years, I had never truly been introduced to hip-hop or the culture it comes from or that it can possibly produce. Having been under the tutelage and guidance of a largely conservative Caucasian influence for the majority of my life, this was not a realm that I learned much about. My parents never listened to hip-hop. My peers in school were directly opposed to some of the values that are expressed in lyrics of hip-hop music.  Plus, I try to avoid listening to music with a lot of objectionable language imbedded in the lyrics. The rhythm, rhyme, lyrics and style of hip-hop, however, can appeal to a vast audience, regardless of race, if they share similar experiences or appreciate the same musical qualities.  Especially today when “pop-y” sounds have been given to much of the hip-hop industries’ work, more and more people are being drawn to the genre. Artists like Danity Kane are sometimes placed next to artists like Ludacris. However, for the most part, true hip-hop is THOUGHT to be directly associated with African-Americans. The music has an overwhelmingly charged backbone, in which certain life experiences, desires, lifestyles and cultures are described and sometimes promoted. Some content is laced with sexual references, some with mentions of drugs, alcohol and hustling, and some about certain hardships life throws at people.  

A few hip-hop artists that are new to me are: 

DMX

Gucci Mane

Ice Berg

Ice Cube

2pac

Nas

Some of the music videos I had not seen before are: 

• “Hi Hater” (Original version) by Maino: The overall premise of the song/video can be seen in this selection of the song’s lyrics “ You see me,
Hustle hard, Stack paper,
It's alright, y’all haters,
It's nothing, We major…Yeah, Dolla Bills ya'll, Lotta bills y'all,
New year tryna touch me a mill y’all,
Came up now, I'm what's up now,
When you shine all these haters wanna talk down,
I don't feel a way about what a n**** say,
It's alright love, I let a hater hate…When they hate on you, then you know you doin somethin”
  
• “Be a N***** Too” by Nas: The song describes exactly what it is to be a “N*****”, including what experiences it requires, etc. The video shows a lot of guns, tense relationships between blacks and whites (except Eminem) and even includes a shot of a KKK Klansmen.  It also shows African-American prisoners in hand cuffs and a lynching… To view the artist's myspace page, see http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=259106729
  
• “Magnificent” by Rick Ross: “Ain't nothin free, I'm chargin' to breathe air, if it's not a Maybach, really who da hell cares?
My money long, My n**** my money strong, If you ain't gettin' money dat mean you done somethin' wrong (Boss!)”... aka money makes you worth something and it makes people want and respect you.
  
• “One More Drink” by Ludacris: If you've heard the term "beer goggles" you might get an idea of what the premise of this video was... “And you know how far one drink could go,
Start slurrin' my speech, Slowin' up da floow,
Hikin' up these skirts,
Climbin' up your shirt,
It's Mr. Latenight Luda and I like to flirt…If I take one more drink, I’m gonna _____”
  
• "Just to Fight" by Pastor Troy: “Them n***** came to the club just to fight…All I see is a nigga gettin buck…Oh s***, now a b**** done got slapped…Somebody need to call the police…These n***** don't want no peace…"

Some corporations that have utilized hip-hop to advertise their products are: 

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., makers of Kool cigarettes (see http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/food-stores/4483371-1.html) 

Pepsi (see http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/22/161943.php)

Where else can you find the influence of hip-hop in the media?  What things if any have come from hip-hop and become part of mainstream culture?  

It seems as though the nonchalant use of the term "n*****" in hip-hop has allowed for many people to discount the heavy context of this word. Historically, this word was used as an extremely derogatory term, from the days of slavery throughout the decades following into the years defined by the Civil Rights movement. However, today, it has become a relational term, in some cases, amidst in youthful African-Americans today. But, Caucasians' use of the term is very suspicious. Most do not, and I believe, should not, feel comfortable using it. Yet, in some cases, the thought that the context of the word has changed enables some to feel as though they can sing along to lyrics that use the term and it has no true significance. On the contrary, ask any Black individual how they would feel if a Caucasian referred to him/her as this and the answer is not so nonchalant. 

Also, in the 1990’s gangster genre of film, one can see a heavy influence of hip-hop and all that is entailed in its lyrics. These films portrayed a lifestyle that only some have experienced and is very difficult to fully understand, just as hip-hop music does.  

When we look at an album cover and see (typically) an “explicit” content warning on countless hip-hop artists’ work, some may wonder why this isn’t found in such magnitude on country or pop albums. One reason resounds – the content is heavy. Much of it is real, and most of the content coming from this genre deals with issues that society is not ready to talk about openly. Therefore, when many people think of hip-hop, they simply stereotype the genre by looking at the typical 2009 male hip-hop artist with gold chains, tattoos, a foul mouth, baggy clothing, girls surrounding him, and discount him as just another rapper getting rich off of some production companies’ lyrics. 

As I discovered in this assignment, though the beat maybe be incredible, it can be hard for some people to listen to music that comes from this genre because of the content, language, etc. that is used. They can’t readily relate to it. While learning about these artists, listening to their lyrics, and watching them perform, I felt as though their work was not designed or created for me. Just as some may not listen to country because they don’t identify with the content or message of the songs, I am not in a position where I completely understand every element or image that is being portrayed in hip-hop music. I don’t know what it’s like to hustle drugs to better my economic standing or deal with gunfire and gang violence on the streets of the suburban neighborhood I call home.  

There comes a time when music surpasses beats and rhymes and moves into a very personal experience.  When this shift occurs is the time that many people turn away from hip-hop.