Readings/Viewings:
- Sullivan, Rachel. “Rap and Race: It’s Got a Nice Beat, But What About It’s Message?” Common Culture Reader, pg. 237-251.
- Chang, Jeff. “It’s A Hip-Hop World,” Foreign Policy, Nov/Dec. 2007 (handout).
- View: bell hooks, Pt8 Cultural Criticism (rap music)
Questions (choose from sets below):
1. Sullivan calls rap an “interracial socializer.” What does she mean by this term? What are the positive and negative consequences of using rap in this role? Do you think that rap has the power to bring people of different backgrounds together? and if so, why? how? (be sure to make reference to readings)
2. If you had been asked the same questions as those surveyed in “Rap and Race,” what would your answers have been? Would your responses be similar to those who responded? And how might your cultural background influence your responses? (Be sure to reference the readings).
3. Chang, in “It’s a Hip Hop World,” suggests that if you look beyond stereotypes, it’s clear that hip-hop culture has become one of the most far-reaching arts movements of the past three decades. Do you agree or disagree with this assessment, and why or why not? What arguments does Chang offer to support this argument? (Be sure to reference the readings).
4. Why do you think the article,”It’s a Hip Hop World,” would be in a foreign policy magazine? What impact do you think Hip Hop potentially has on foreign policy? (Be sure to reference the readings).
5. After reading both articles, why do you think that Hip Hop has become not just an American cultural phenomenon, but a global phenomenon? Explain, being sure to reference the readings.
6. After watching bell hook’s video on Rap music, would she agree or disagree with either of the authors? Why or why not? Be sure to make specific reference to both hooks’ comments on her video and the readings.
Popular Culture Class Blog 
Questions number 5 i am going to ask. I think because hip- hop is so popular that everybody want to listern to it. Like they wa saying sometime hip- hop can be a postive affect on young people and sometime it not. I feel that hiphop is like when differnt rapper express thier how they fells about the world , thier life, thier career, and how they are being so rich. I think hip -hop is both american phenomeon and global phenomeon because everybody want to be rapper, everybody like the style of hip -hop music. i think sometime raper think rap is a foundation of how they live. Hip -hop got to the point that it is so popculture that every race on the world want learn how to rapper and be in the rap business. Let be for really rap is the way of life for effect to do so. like 50cent, tupac, big nortiontures, jay-z , and lil wayne the new hip- hoplehure of this hip -hop. Also people look at them differnt rap as thier hero . The reason for is becuse when young people around the world of every race look at them like them the hero thta courage to same what you fell that if you want to be a raper. Did young peopel actually the most like to be the generation to really learn to to raper did other type of music. the reason why i say because he got to the point thtaa young people sell drugs , dressing like the raper, singer, acting like them, and want make moey like. thta just not united state that is every in pop culture phenomeon. Sometime some people don’t like rapper because of the messages in the song to day world. That some true hip- hopraper think noe today rapers are mess up the real true mean of hip- hop. The reason why they say that is because that how was back the day it was real hip- hop. So i think that why the articte and the read in the book only point out true hip – hop raper because they more legend did raper out here today. So that why i think hip hop is most bother american and global phenomeon.
If I would have been asked the same questions as those surveyed by Sullivan, I assume my answers would have resembled those of the average white female.
Rap music has never been my favorite type of music. I would probably give it 3 out of 10. I try to be open-minded when it comes to music, so sometimes I do stumble upon a rap song that I like. Chances are that like most of the white adolescents Sullivan surveyed, I would like the song for its “nice beat”, though every now and then the lyrics might be an additional reason for me to like the song.
Even though rap music isn’t “my thing”, I think I’m knowledgeable enough to name 3 rap artists, and I think that the people who couldn’t name 3 rap artists just don’t have enough knowledge of current music in general (and not just rap).
I don’t dress like a rapper and I don’t use words or phrases similar to rappers – I’m just a nice white Jewish girl! Okay, not completely nice – I can have a rather dirty mouth if someone pisses me off… but not a rap style dirty mouth…
I think that the bottom line is that like most white people, I just don’t relate to rap music – it doesn’t speak to me. I do want to distinguish though, American rap and rap from other countries. I’m sure anyone who isn’t originally from the US would relate more to rap music from their own country (assuming it speaks of local issues). I completely relate and love (though not always) rap music from Israel (my home country), simple because I can understand the issues that is talks about. That’s how my cultural background plays into this issue…
You are welcomed to check a really nice video clip of a very famous Israeli rap due called Sabliminal & Hatzel. Even though you can’t understand a word, it’s really nice… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUoW8VKobr0.
For the question how much do I listen to rap music? I would have marked 5; I listen to it a little. So might have been in the 8.57 group. For the most part my response would similar to the reading. Two of question the author asked do you fined your self wearing cloth similar to rapper or find your self using the words and phase similar to rappers. For both these question would be no, I do not talk like a rapper or wear similar clothing rapper wear. Surprising my culture dose not influence my response. People in neighborhood wear the same clothing rapper wear they even talked like the rapper do.
I would like to answer question group 4. At the very beginning of the article “It’s a Hip Hop World”, Chang has told us the message of rap music proved its appeal to youth all around the world; and “hip-hop is evolving into a truly global art of communication”. These information means hip-hop is not only found in the United States, but also spread all over the world. So, to the United States, those are not native are foreign. Hip-hop can be performed in different language such as Chinese, English, and French. I have ever seen some Chinese boys performed “Street Dance” in an amusement TV program in China. That was like what the picture in the page 4 of the handout shows. They had healthy physique and adroit movement to turn over their body. Their hips even didn’t touch the ground. When they were interviewed, they said they had learned this kind of dance for five years. I think “Street Dance” is one form of hip-hop. I know young people in Asian countries like this kind of dance because it represents the vigor of youths. In the article “It’s a Hip Hop World”, several organizations and activities which are not native and they are challenging the limit and traditional policy of music or dancing in the world. In other words, hip hop is the epitome of global art movement. “Create spaces for a globalization from the bottom bringing people together across the barriers of geography, language, and race.” This is the most important impact of hip hop on foreign policy. Rappers from Africa, Europe, or Asian gather together and compete or communicate with their skills and experience. Foreign policy magazine also contributes as a media of communication. Through the magazine, we can know how popular the hip- hop is and what kind of people perform it. Therefore, I believe Hip-hop is fetching in foreign policy.
Hip-Hop is known for American and Global phenomeon because everybody want to be like Jay-Z, 50 cent, Nas, Rasheeda, Trina, LiL Kim, Snoop Dogg, and Busta. Hip-Hop can be both positive and negative affect on the younger generation. “Rap music has long been the target of criticism from the popular media”. Hip-Hop has been target of criticism toward women sexuality. The blame that Don Imus said about the girl’s basketball. The race and rap artists such as 50 cent, Snoop Dogg, and members of their squats are using profanity and sexuall assault toward women in their lyrics. “Hip-Hop saved a lot of lives” because rap artist help people who are living in poverty, people who are dying from disease, and donate alot of money to schools and organizations. Hip-Hop is all around the world. “Although hip-hop is mainstream in many places today, it is still considered a voice for the oppressed”. Hip-Hop is new vision for global harmony. The music known as peace, unity, love, and having fun.
Throughout the readings and the you-tube video the differences of opinions ans how rap affects people focuses on either a white person or a black person. Being hispanic the readings never really goes into it. Like when going into the survey if i had answered the questions I think I would have answered differently, although it dosn’t seem like my answers would matter. I for one don’t find myself dressing like rappers. I do, however, find myself using words and phrases like them but I pick them up from the people I hang around with and my family and those ppl, by most, would be considered “ghetto.” Now on the qusetion about racism I don’t think I can fairly answer. I look white so I’ve never really faced racism. Even my best friend or my brother who are both half black or half hispanic(and clearly look it) have never faced racism to the point where it severly affected them. Why do I listen to rap? To be honest rap today is listened to get ppl pumped up. Rap today is commercial. Rarely does it hit back home unless you’re listen yo underground stuff. And the underground stuff I listen to hip/hop and that’s where it’ll hit back home. It’s also informs you politically.
My point is: that survey is out-dated and irrelevant. It doesn’t really tap into hispanic views on rap. And my cultural background clearly contributes to my responses.
(I chose to answer number 4, foreign policy)
There are many clear examples of why “It’s a Hip Hop World” would be featured in a foreign policy magazine. Hip hop is breaking down barriers like language, race and culture. Michael Wanguhu, filmmaker, is quoted in this article saying, “Hip-hop in Africa is like the new Pan-Africanism, it’s diffusing all the borders we have and creating new organizations and expanding the whole market.” It is not only Africa’s borders, it is global. Breaking down borders is not the only major issue in this article. It speaks of business, which means money! Hip hop brings “$10 billion worth of trend-setting luxury and consumer goods every year”. So of course hip hop is an interest of those reading foreign policy magazines, it encompasses borders, money, and political issues, foreign and local. I found the captions of the pictures very interesting. One stated, “Senegalese hip hop artists tackle themes of poverty and oppression”, another said, “Young Palestinian rappers give voice to their generation’s political frustrations”. This music has a lot of power in the global youth.
I chose to write about number 4 before I read the readings. After reading the second part of the question here, “What impact do you think Hip Hop potentially has on foreign policy?” I did not think this music had much influence on foreign policy. After reading (the article especially) I have completely changed my opinion on this matter. I did not realize how globally powerful this music is. So, to answer the question, I now feel that Hip Hop potentially has a great deal of influence on foreign policy. For starters, poverty; I was unaware that Jay-Z came from poverty or was a drug dealer. If Hip Hop can do what it did for him, think of the other lives it can change. I also had no idea the movement in 1973 by Cindy and Clive Campbell, bringing together people on the streets with music and helping lessen the violence, as well as Bambaataa who was “stopping bullets with two turntables”. I think hip hop did what no police force or political leader could have done. One of the most wonderful things about this movement is that they did it for themselves and others in the same area and/or situation. They may not have known it would have become such an incredible movement, but they made lemonade out of lemons, so to speak. Public Enemy’s “lyrics decried police brutality, racial profiling, gang violence, and political apathy” convincing “skeptics that hip hop could be a lasting, potentially lucrative, even socially important art form.”
Hip hop seems to be bringing people together and talking about issues the way comedy does. The artists are not afraid to write about real life, serious issues that people can relate to. I was touched about the music in Africa and the Middle East. These regions need something to bring their people together, especially the youth. It has the power to change the direction of their countries, since it is the current youth that will be running the countries in the future. This gives them a positive way to express themselves instead of adding to more violence.
i always listen to hip hop since i was small, the first perosn i ever heard was tupac shakur and since then i been listening to hip hop. the reason why hip hop has become a global phenomenon like what the reading said about that hip hop is still considered a voice for the oppressed, and a provocation to those in power. since hip hop was born from the kids in the ghetto who were neglected by the government in the 80’s so it should be right that kids all over the world who are neglected by their government to embrace this music as their own and blend it with their culture and use it to express their political views just like the kids in the 80’s. i agree what the reading said that it’s the voice of the streets and that hip hop has always connected with the powerless.
when i was attending columbia college and i went to a open mic night i saw so many different races from blacks,asians,whites,latinos, and middle eastern. i was happy to see that so many people could come together by a art form like hip hop and just to come to listen and talk about hip hop not just as music but as life style and since i’m a graffiti stencilist and graffiti is one of the four elements of hip hop i felt right at home. i don’t listen to that mainstream hip hop/rap music, i listen to the underground hip hop. underground hip hop is different from mainstream rap music in that it denounces the values of popular culture and most mainstream rap is a desire for wealth, this wish is part of the american dream and this reflects the desire of popular culture in america.
Rap sometimes have a smooth beat where it seems when I hear it my head begins to rock, it’s like the beat catches your attention. I mainly think rap is the struggle for African Americans it’s like we thrive off one of our own people speaking the truth.
Do I find myself wearing clothes similar to rappers? No, is rap a truthful refection of society? Yes, & Do I find myself using words or phrases similar to rappers? Yes.
As the hearing said “rap is diverse” and the reading saying “during the 1980s, genres of rap became more noticeable, & many rappers turned to more overtly political themes. They addressed gang violence, police brutality and other political charged issue, such as poverty & racism.” I agree with the black girl from the text that rap tells the truth about how us black people live being raised in the ghetto. Everyday in the area I lived in, a.k.a the GHETTO I saw a lot of gangs, shooting, drive bys you name it. So when I listen to Lil Wayne, Jeezy, Jay- Z, & Kanye West I immediately feel and can relate to what they are saying. High school years………….I went to Simeon Career Academy and I remember walking to what we called the “9” (79th & Vincennes) and the gangs would meet up with the students shooting at them and even chasing them to the nearest buses or the train which was about 8 to 10 blocks away from school. I remember feeling like Damn am I going to make it home from school today.
In Response to Question 4…
In “It’s a Hip Hop World, Jeff Chang, argues that beyond stereotypes, hip-hop culture has become one of the most far-reaching art movements in the past three decades. To this arguement, I must agree. As described by Chang, hip-hop can broken down into four elements(MCing, DJing, b-boying, and graffiti). These four elements could be seen in the image of Chinese boys tagging on a wall, or the “battle of the year” or the world cup of hip-hop dance, and the rap battles, Iron Mic, in China. All of these examples are just a few of many examples that show the diversity of hi-hop. The popularity of hip-hop can be seen as a “lingua franca that binds young people together” (Chang 60). The reason for this is that as believed by Afrika Bambaataa, that the core values of hip-hop are peace, unity, love, and having fun (60). At the same time these values “tackle the theme of joblessness, poverty, and the older genration’s failures (64). With that said, I agree completely with Chang in his perception of hip-hop. The fame given to hip-hop is because it holds a special connection with most people that are facing social and political instability. Hip-hop is only a mean for expressing their view on their life and their country. These views could be of complete struggle for survival, like that seen here in American of the “hustle mentality” of by any means providing for one self and/ or family. At the same time, political criticism is also present, like that of Public Enemy.
Many people here in the U.S. believe that hip-hop is dead because the reasons that hip-hop were created are no longer seen in many artists. That form of hip-hop was mostly present during the “golden age” in the U.S., but now is mostly seen around the world. Many people around the world living in third world countries are in much worse conditions compared to that of those here. For that reason, hip-hop is still alive in them because they are able to express all of the political instability and their struggle for survival. That is what made hip-hop so popular and what is mostly missed by many Americans. The reason for the presumed demise of hip-hop in America is mostly due to capitalism. As stated by Chang, HIP-HOP SELLS BILLIONS! For that reason, artist are going to adapt to what is “hot”. Similar beliefs are seen by bell hooks, in that she argues that hip-hop artists “find a product that gives max. profit and push that profit whether they agree with it or not” (hooks). In its own unique way, this form of hip-hop is still similar to the past in that only of the “hustle” mentality. This type of capitalism only increased their sales by presenting their product to the rest of the world and for that reason, this form of hip-hop can be present in the rest of the world… if not already.
In response to the 1st question, I would agree with Sullivan that rap is an “interracial socializer,” because it presents a view of life, a reflection of a certain life-circumstance from a mostly Black perspective, that amny White kids would not know otherwise. Of course there are both positive and negative consequences of this socialization. ON the positive side, if white kids listen to the more politcal themed rap music and pay attention to the messages these artists are trying to get across, then maybe their eyes will open to the strife and struggle that exists outside of their “safe” world (assuming that white=safe and black=strife; it’s hard to talk about rap/race without using stereotypes and assumptions in order to make a point). According to Sulivan’s study, though, the white listeners were less likely to care about the messages in rap music; they liked the “good beat.”
So, on the negative side, if white (mostly male) audiences are into rap because of its outward trappings – the beat, the bling, the attitude- they may be getting the wrong message. If not the “wrong” message, at least an incomplete one. By identifying with a style of rap that leans more toward violence and misogyny, both white and black audiences may make unfortunate assumptions about black culture.
As Bell Hooks says in her cultural criticism, rap (like everything else) is subject to capitalist forces. We’ve seen in this class how sex and sensationalism sells. Hooks argues that rap artists become a part of the machine of the music business and lose their authenticity as artists. So just like every other part of our culture, rap music should be looked at as a whole, its message and its”good beat”; its sexism and its political activism. If you’re going to rely on a for of entertainment to educate yourself about an entire culture, you should listen, absorb and analyze the widest variety of the form as possible. Unfortunately, I don’t think that most people do.
After reading both the readings, I believe Hip Hop has become a global phenomenon because it relates to every one not just a specific age group or race in my opinion. Sullivan said in the reading that Hip Hop and Rap music that it can a re affirmation of one’s identity, which it true because Hip Hop and Rap music send a message through it lyrics whether it be good or bad. In Its A Hip Hop World, it said Hip Hop artists are truth telling that reflects on life, loves hope and fear, etc.. It also said it about transformation this goes back to Sullivan reading the re affirmation of identity. I wasn’t always a Hip Hop nor Rap fan, I’m what you can say a girly girl so as for music Hip Hop nor Rap it didn’t even come close to me but when I met my boyfriend I start listening to Hip Hop more and it not so bad. lol! Anyways going back to the readings Hip Hop as well as for Rap it has gotten alot critics in Its a Hip Hop World it said it materialistic, racist and violent, I dnt totally agree with this but it kind of true for example the materialistic because through artists in their lyrics and music video use gym shoes, clothing etc.. in many fans want what their favorite artists has. This goes into the marketing business, for example 50 Cent lending his name to a drink like it said in Its a Hip Hop World. Hip Hop And Rap Music has become global phenomenon because it relates to EVERYONE, that just in my opinion.
well all the readings as well as the video means so much to me, because i myself am a rapper and although i am not famous, i can realate to a lot of the thigns discussed in the readings as well as bell hooks. however, i would have to diasgree with some of the things bell hooks said. as far as rap being associated with mostly blacks, and coming from “black roots” i most definitely agree…i mean although the ghetto does not necessarily consists of all blacks, and being in poverty(growing up in a hard way) is not soley just for the black community. this is where it first started, there were way more blacks in poverty or in the ghetto originally, just do to the fact that our ancestors came straight out of slavery not having anything, which would leave a trail of poverty to follow.with that said yes we orginated the whole “hip hop” thing in associating our past experiences with the present and expressing how we feel. but just like any phenomenon it doesn’t just apply to a particular people because now, anybody can experience the same things, rather black, white, chinese etc. so i think with hip hop being another form of art to express yourself it became a global phenomenon for that reason alone. now for example dana burton went over in china and supposely started hip hop there, and with that became rich. but i don’t believe it was originally done for the money but to give the chinese a way to express themselves as we do in america. and so followed many other countries who has something to do with hip hop. because if we consider to be an item for example, an item thats very attractive, others all over the world are going to adopt this because they want it and feel in some way it has something to do with them, or they can relate to it, so yes hip hop is a global phenomenon for this reason alone. now when it comes to bell hook i do not think she would agree with the articles at all…the reading states that the preference for rap was not significantly different for blacks and whites, and although blacks are more knowledgeable about hip hip/rap, that just goes to say that it affects this particular more, simply because this is where it originated, and maybe we feel we can relate to it more. but its definitely interracial, because blacks is not the only one who falls into the hip hop/rap phenomenon. lets take eminem for example he is a GREAT rapper in the hip hop industry, and he’s white. but in comparison (besides the skin color) just like every other rapper, expressing something in his past or present that links to growing up in hard times etc. bell hooks pretty much associates rapping and hip hop soley to blacks, she falls more into the stereotypical aspect of it, which a lot of people does. and i will admit if i seen a white rapper, or a chinese guy wearing baggy clothes and trying to rap it would at first seem odd, or wrong, but what bell hooks doesn;t realize and what most people don’t is that this white or chines guy might have the same story to tell as the black guy aorund the corner. it’s all about your enviroment, now it is true that most videos associated with hip hop has the female with the “black body” big butt, big breats, etc. but thats just like with any sort of tv advertisement all these people gon have a perfect body to fit that situation. but on realistic part (outside the hip hop and tv world) we all have different bodies, that look alike, if u know what i mean. fat, skinny, short, tall, etc. so to me i don;t look at hip hop/ rap no more than what it is…an art, in which you are expressing yourself verbally, that you just so happen may make a lot of money off of. and a art that started in america and now is known all over the world.
I agree with Chang when he suggests that if you look beyond stereotypes, it’s clear that hip-hop culture has become one of the most far-reaching arts movements of the past three decades. Hip-hop is the biggest thing out in the world today. Anywhere and anything you turn too, you see a form of hip-hop. Turning on the TV and watching MTV, you see hip-hop music videos and hip-hop shows. Turning on the radio, you hear hip-hop music. Even walking down the street (depending on where you are from) you can see any form of hip-hop, ranging from graffiti to break dancing even to people singing and playing an instrument to make money.
Hip-hop has not only been a cultural significance in the US, but has been a larger cultural significance in other countries outside the US; China, Japan, Africa, Europe, etc. In his article, Chang talks about how hip-hop has changed the lives of others from different countries by teaching it to young ones who would be inspired and by using it for a way to keep children out of trouble (gang affiliation). “Thousands of organizations from Cape Town to Paris use hip-hop in their communities to address environmental justice, policing and prisons, media justice, and education. In Gothenburg, Sweden, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) incorporate graffiti and dance to engage disaffected immigrant and working-class youths. And indigenous young people in places as disparate as Chile, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Norway use hip-hop to push their generation’s views into the local conversation.”(60)
Chang also talks about how much hip-hop is seen in movies and shows. I agree with him on that part too because in the past decade you have seen movies come out that refer to hip-hop or the different forms of hip-hop; Step Up, Step Up 2: The Streets, Save The Last Dance, America’s Next Dance Crew, etc. Chang talks about one movie in particular, Planet B-Boy. A documentary by Benson Lee, a film director, who captured the 2005 competition of the Battle of the Year, which is like the World Cup of hip-hop dance, in Braunschweig, Germany. Elimination competitions are held in 20 countries and the finals consist of 20 teams featuring 200 dancers to represent their country of the main stage of Braunschweig’s Volkswagen Halle. He also talks about how the hip-hop events are. “Hip-hop events such as the Battle of the Year create spaces for a globalization from the bottom, bringing people together across the barriers of geography, language, and race.”(65)
Here is the trailer for Planet B-Boy. http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/planetbboy/trailer/
Reffering back to question (# 2) if I was to answer an question about Hip-Hop and Rap would I respond differently or the same. Infact, I think that I would vote the same. In addition to the (Common Culture Book) it stated that black often just rap about whats going on and an majority of the time about proverty/welfare. As to my opinion I think that’s just a voice to be reconized that this is what we have to do to get some sort of reconization or attention from the world. Not really knowing that it was going to be alot of people of all shapes and sizes becoming more and more instrested.
My cultural backgroud was influence from the media of course… To go back to thats how a majority of people get influenced, I was never the type to let rap music shape the way I act and feel . In contrast it is no different because, when I listen to (Keisha Cole) my favorite R&B singer she influence me by telling the world she “was” just like us. So to go back it depends on that person style of feelings. This type of thing with music make you feel happy or happy with your situation. Perhaps some get lifted by listening to ruff music to ease there minds. Rap/Hip-Hop is truley a world phenomenon! It impacts with out notice now this is the way our young people and older people want to be. Some get influenced the right way as to some get a different message and just let that remain to be just MUSIC and not anything higher than that.
Okay, well answering question 2, my answers would have been totally different than the ones answered to my race in “Rap and Race.” The text noted that 13.3% of Black College students listen to rap music all the time and 29% of those students listen to it often. As far as I am concerned, those statistics are untrue for me. I used to be a huge fan of Rap music back in 1998. Rap music used to have some type of meaning back then. For example, in 1991, Public Enemy made a song called “Fight The Power.” The song was about black empowerment. The song actually meant something among that black community. Two years later, Snoop Dogg made a song called “Gin and Juice” that basically degraded women and reinforced stereotypes the world has against black people. If I was giving this survey back in 1998, even though I was 12 at the time, I would probably said that I listen to rap music 88% of the time. Now in 2008, Rap music is almost none existence in my life. My brothers listened to rap music all the time which made me start listening to it. Now, I’m more into pop, punk-rock music and I guess friends around me have influenced my taste in music.
I would agree with Chang’s assessment that “if you look beyond stereotypes, it’s clear that hip-hop culture has become one of the most far-reaching arts movements of the past three decades.” I believe this analysis to be true for several reasons, the first of which because of Hip-Hop’s ability to cross borders. The borders in which it is able to cross are cultural, linguistic, and hegemonic. Because Hip-Hop is as much of a lifestyle and expression of opinion as it is a communication tool it is able to be utilized in all sorts of societies and social climates. Chang sites that Hip-Hop is “… defusing all the borders we have [in Africa]…” He also claims that the language that is used to express opinion is as important as the message itself (“One rapper… [scolds] the other for not speaking proper Mandarin. His opponent… in a trilingual torrent of Cantonese, English, and Mandarin, [disses him] for not representing the people.”). So although rap (one part of the Hip-Hop nation) has Anglo roots, it has evolved to a point that it has become a way of delivering the message, not the language that the message is delivered in.
Additionally, because of Hip-Hops vast marketing capabilities it has the versatility to become an international tool for the massive corporations (“… the potential purchasing power available to [the Hip-Hop] market in the united States alone is worth $70 billion.”). It is argued that nothing speaks louder than the all mighty dollar, and that people often find a way to allow globalization through capitalism. As a result of Hip-Hops marketing power it has evolved and spread easier than any other movement in the last 30 years.
As far as Hip-Hop being considered an art form you would only have to look to its roots to find an agreement. Chang mentions that there were four original elements to Hip-Hop “MCing, DJing, b-boying (or “breakdancing”) and graffiti.” Because of the diversity in which Hip-Hop is expressed, both nationally and internationally, it can only be considered an art for rather than a form of music. Students of Hip-Hop have learned to express themselves, and their distaste for the status quo, in so many numerous ways that it cannot be ignored as a true expression of art. And, unlike other musical movements of the past, Hip-Hop has questioned not only daily life (“my girlfriend broke up with me”, “I’m flat broke”, etc…) but challenges authority and larger issues on a regular basis (“… the group’s [Public Enemy] lyrics described police brutality, racial profiling, gang violence, and political apathy.”). Isn’t that the true definition of art, that it speaks to a larger meaning?
If I had did the survey, my answers would most likely be similar to the average black male. On a scale of 1 to 10, my liking of rap music would have been a 10 since this is my favorite genre mostly due to the fact that this is the music that I grew up to. On average I listen to rap music about 8 to 10 hours a day. I dont feel that rap music has influenced me in any extreme way, because for the most part its just entertainment, but it has influenced me to make a couple of purchases that I probably wouldn’t have made if I didn’t listen to the music. My response of why I listen to rap would be similar to a few responses that the black teens stated; I listen because I can relate to alot of artists and songs, and how these artist talk about the ways they have struggled and even the ways they may celebrate. I also listen to it because once again I was raised on rap music, so its kind of part of my culture…
If I were asked the same questions as in “Rap and Race” my answers would be very similar to those surveyed. I love rap music, I have since I can remember music. Since I was born in the 80’s when rap became popular I would disagree with Sullivan’s hypothesis that blacks have a stronger preference for rap music, because we all grew up on it. Black, white, Mexican, and Asians. I was not surprised to see the results that both blacks and whites prefer it. I strongly believe that rap is a truthful reflection of society as did both the blacks and whites. I don’t know if I relate to rap, but I enjoy the raw, tough lyrics. I also find my style reflecting the style of female rappers that I admire. Rap is a huge style influence from the runway to Kmart. I tend to use rap or ghetto slang a lot in my life outside of school and work. I find when I get together with my friends who also enjoy rap we speak similar, but only with each other. I listen to a variety of rap acts, but I do think that black would know more underground acts. I do not know if rap has effected my options on racism. I have always thought that I am not racist at all. I believe rap music has thought me not to judge anyone by the color of their skin. I believe the way I grew up might be a reason I love rap. I grew up poor in Milwaukee Wi, were everyone I knew listened to rap. I was a rebel who smoked blunts and didn’t go to school and I don’t know if rap tought me that or if because I did that I listened to rap.
Hip Hop has been called a cultural phenomenon. because ofits different races. in the article it talks about how hip hop its a cultural thing now. well my pooint of view is that hip hop has united many cultures together. its not just a black music anymore as some people may call it. And its heard all over the world. Ive heard people from the middle east make hip hop songs. What gets my attention is how sometimes they portray people in movies. such as the asians beign the hip hop person in the movie also different others. they do this because of my opinion stereotypes. they think hip hop does not go into any other cultures besides blacks. I personally dont agree with this. music is created for everyone. i started to listen to hip hop when tupac was alive many peopleloved him and they still do. What i really like about him was his poems, he put so much emotion on his poems its not even funny. His music has never died since his death. And many people today no matter what the culture or diversiy theylisten to his music. now days hip hop has become for me the most popular music genre in like ever. hip hop in my opinion can have the opportunity to make feuds, i think it unites people. they crezt new friends they express themselves, they inspire our culture, they LIVE THE MOMENT!!!!
In respond to question number 4:
In my life ever since a young girl i always listen to hip hop, hip hop have been the best type of music that i ever listen to, whan i was young girl i always listen to tupac and that was beacuse my brother was a big fan of his he had all his cds and posters of him, my brother had his little crew and what they did is rap they mad telant shows in school i justo watch my brother alot and not just because of that i like hip hop i like hip hop becuase is the best the songs they make has so much trueness to the word their saying.the reason why hip hop has become a global phenomenon like what the reading said about that hip hop is still considered a voice for the oppressed, and a provocation to those in power. The hip hop music is true you now it was made for the people in the gotto becuse is the some culture, but many people come from the getto. As hip hop grows ever more popular, it becomes squeezed in the uneasy space between commercial and economic global alization from above abd borderless, culture grassroots globlization from below. But like the article says hip hop saved alot of life to young kids now becuase kids are in to hip hop they have places to spend and not got in trouble in the streets. i agree what the reading said that it’s the voice of the streets and that hip hop has always connected with the powerless. in this time of days people go carzy with this kind of music, people has their own crew they go to battols and compeat with other people. My respond of why i lisean to rap music is becuase i like the word that this artist talk about and i can relate to alot of songs, and i could say that must of the people i now all they talk about is hip hop and rap music.
To answer the last question:
I have to agree with Bell hooks Video on hip hop and on the reading…I mean they both mentioned that white consumers do not really understrand or comprehend the meaning of black hip hop.. Women are in general looked upon as sex objects as she mentioned but black women are more prone to be shown as basically the nasty down and diirty type of female that have all the assests to re-inforce the way rappers think of their black women..Being that I am black I see this daily of how males consider women asses and breast before gettin to decide if they want to talkn to that person inside of the outward apperance not sayin all black men are like this..but they get this attitude from the hip-hop videos.
Thewhite consumer often listen to hip hop based on the beats but in time migrate back to pop, rock n roll, and music that is very opposite of hip hop. Because Belll states that the lyrics in actiions of hip hop impacts society to becoming violent I can agree with that in some ways but black as stated in the reading know some of the struggles in those lyrics and have experienced some point in their life racism sexual objectivity, or vulgar things being said throughout time so to others its more of a way of ime than anything..I personally love rap music especially KANYE WEST..he relates to me as a person his lyrics are sicck and he states things I am thinking and it turnes out GOOD… HERE AN EXAMPLE
kANYE wEST:
Music is the reflection of the people’s expression of their feelings. People’s attitudes of their feelings toward music have their own similarities and differences which depend on their ages, races, and genders. One example is people’s opinions of rap music.
First, age is the most significant factor to differentiate people’s opinion toward rap music. For example, it is my experience of rap music. I am 28 years old, male, currently a college student in the U.S., and born in Mongolia which is located in the center of Asia. When I was around 20 years old, Hip-Hop music had become popular in my country. I liked the pop music and there were only a few rap groups. I didn’t like them because their songs weren’t good enough and seemed as childish for me. Only teens in middle and high school liked to listen to rap music and they intended to dress as rappers. Right now, I sometimes enjoy listening to rap because of its beat. However, when I see my three younger brothers, they really enjoy listening to rap music even though they aren’t teens right now because when rap music became very popular, they were age around 13-18 years old. When I see my parents and grandparents attitude toward rap music, they hate it because its sound is too noisy and the messages seem stupid to them. Therefore, people’s attitude toward rap music depends on their age group.
The second factor is differences for a tendency to like rap music between races. According to Sullivan’s article, in the survey’s questions “Why do you listen to rap?” The conclusion of this question’s answer was “Whites seem to be listening almost exclusively because of the aesthetically pleased sounds. “Many young African Americans appear to be looking at rap for its message about life and its aesthetically pleasing sound. . . .”(Sullivan, 246). This statement indicates white and black people’s tendency to like rap is different.
Another factor for making differences for people’s attitude toward rap is gender. In Sullivan’s article, Kuwara found that “Black men have a stronger preference for rap than Black women. Also, 51% of white men listen to rap music seldom or never, but white women’s percentages were almost 70% in the same answer.” Another example of gender that makes a difference is people’s desire for music. In Mongolia listening to rap music, boys listen more times than girls. Most boys who like rap music dress like rappers and they didn’t listen to other types of music. However, girls almost don’t dress like rappers and they listen to other types of music, also. We can find that from these statements, gender makes a difference in people’s opinion of rap music. Finally, I agree that rap music creates a bridge between races, even while it may create gaps between age groups. Rap music tells about people’s real lives about their problems and their feelings. Black, white, and Asian have similarities toward music, but they have differences which depends on their races. They are different from each other physically and sociologically, so their problems and feelings must be different. Therefore, their messages on the rap music are different.
After reading the readings, it is clear, as it has always been, that hip-hop culture has become one of the most far-reaching arts movements of the past three decades; but it is certainly not the only one. As Chang puts it “Hip-hop is about rebellion, yet, but it’s also about transformation”. As this all may be true, hip-hop is not the only music form that has been rebellious to the music world- in fact all of the music that we listen to today has been some sort of rebellion and most definitely some sort of transformation one way or another. Punk for example has been around since the early 60’s, whether you want to argue that it started in the U.S. or in Europe, it has been a form of music that had reached out to so many countries such as Australia and has not been dead contrary to popular belief (take a listen at Bullet Treatment). If anything, new forms of music have combined together to bring more genres of music that still hold the basics of punk. I understand that Chang’s focus is about hip-hop, however, hip-hop is not the only, as he puts it “a brave new art form”, or the only materialistic, racist, and violent music out there. Country songs promoting the KKK were full of violent lyrics and rock n’ roll had well been on the rise. Music is constantly changing and for hip-hop being seen as the only rebellious form of music would be an overstatement to the music world.
As we had discussed in class before, hip-hop is considered to be part of “low art”, part of the underground world of music, which with all music is where it starts. Something that I picked up on all of the references was that, hip-hop and rap were almost always referred to in some way as violent, hateful or even sexist. I know not all rap consists of those offensive lyrics but as Bell Hooks had touched upon on her video, its easy to rhythm words with bitch and ho. Also, when you look at the marketing aspect of it with supply and demand, if the audience likes hearing obscene lyrics, why not make more songs with those lyrics to make more money. Once this has happened, as Hooks pointed out, there is no marginal location for the rapper’s music, loosing the authenticity of their lyrics.
I think that one of the main reasons why hip-hop is one of the most far-reaching movements is not because of the obscene lyrics that it spits, more so of the dance aspect that it creates. From hip-hop music has come an array of slow, fast, and daring dance skills and movement that most other music would not give their audiences to feel. With rock or metal, the most you would probably get is a good mosh pit, but with hip-hop, you are actually able to feel and portray the music within you with rhythm that can choreograph dance. The diversity that hip-hop reaches out to really comes out in this way; not everyone can be looked at as a serious rapper, certainly if you dont look the part, but if you can dance, theres no escaping what you can do if you have the moves. Without this part of hip-hop, I do not think that hip-hop would have reached the status in music that it has.
Well after reading and analyzing. I have come to a conclusion that Rap music is indeed an “interracial socializer” because not only did she say that but also, she said “the 1980s saw the popularity of rap music expand dramatically. Artists such a Run DMC.LL Cool J, Salt‘ Pepa, and the Beastie Boys all gained popularity not only with urban African Americans and Latinos but also with White adolescents outside the inner city”
That’s a very good observation, because not only is it interracial but it also brings other cultures from different countries together. Furthermore, I also believe there is nothing bad or negative in her statement because Rap brings races together.
But the only problem with Rap is its connotation and message. And for the 21 century, it is almost an impossibility to find a Rapper who doesn’t cause or abuse. And that’s due to its resent noxious messages to society. But apart from that, it unites our diversities with unity.
my comment is in response to question number 3…
i agree completely with chang’s assessment that by looking beyond your typical stereotypes hip-hop has become one of the most far reaching forms of art. he argues that hip hop has reached youth far greater than it has done so in the US. by addressing current issues, many turn to hip hop as a form of expression. youth from other nations (as well as in the US) are inspired by hip hop artists to stay off the streets and find other means of productiveness. hip hop is ever so present in today’s media. according to the article over 59 million rap albums were sold in the US alone, and just to point out, that number is only a small percentage of hip hop influence.
what i believe sullivan means of the term interracial socializer is that it brings people of different races together in some way or form to relate to what the subject is about. whether it beig finanancial problems, personal problems, or problems in their neighborhood.
sullivan basically did a survey to find out how ppl relate to rap from different cultures. and even though the majority is african american many other races understand the message they try to send in some way. because they put their own personal thought into it. the posiive thing about using rap as an example for this term is that it is very mainstream even though there are different types of hip hop most ppl understand what its all about so people can put their own thought into how they like that genre or not. but also the bad thing about too is that since there is so many types. someone may not know what type they are talkin about. therefore not understanding the concept of the what message they are talkin about.
i believe rap does have the power to bring ppl together because event though someone may not relate to it. they can try to understand through the eyes of the people that is happening too. since problems are in everyones lives the only thing is that their problems are different.