Wow Race really does influence Hip Hop?....DUMMIES

Ok... I have to go back to the class discussion.....

IT'S 2011 AND PEOPLE STILL WONT ADMIT THAT RACE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN HIP HOP

Evidence
- Dang he can rap for a white boy
- Oh he can say nigga "he's down"
-Let's use the light skinned girl with the big booty so we can reach a larger audience (white people)

I'm about to blow your mind right now....

This is my extensive research that I have accumulated without a phd or a masters degree......

Ready for it?.......

PEOPLE ARE ASHAMED TO LIKE HIP HOP, BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE RACE CONNOTATION THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT!!!

Dionne....how do you know this?

This used to be me. I felt that if people knew I loved Hip Hop they wouldn't think I was a good christian, or they would just thing I was one of those hoochies off the video.

There is so much more to Hip Hop than what people see on B.E.T. There is an entire culture that needs to be studied. How can a genre of music influence an entire generation so fast?

We will never live in a post-racial society. We shouldn't have to. Culture is what makes us America.....It's just time we embrace it

Hip Hop in Politics?

I want to stray away from my regular "this is what we did in class today" structure this week and deal with different things that Hip Hop has influenced. I missed the first day of class, and in looking at my classmates blog I'm not sure I've been doing this right. But, nevertheless it is never too late!

So I found this video on youtube

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It baffles me how much they blame every negative thing happening in America on Hip Hop. These things were happening before Hip Hop.

Stealing didn't start with Hip Hop. C.E.O's of major companies steal all the time, and they're promoted not seen as the reason for a whole "lost generation"

Hip Hop is a form of expression. It has been here since before blacks were aloud to speak their feelings. So instead of risking being caught and whipped, lynched, or hung, we wrote a song to explain the feeling we have.

Hip Hop is an outlet.

Not a threat to humanity.

If anything Congress needs to team up with these artist and admit their influence so that they can make our communities better.

Movie Time!!

Man I wish I had more time for this wiki post!!!! I've dreamed of making a documentary-style movie about Hip Hop. But, before I discuss the wiki I'll discuss class.

Today we had class on skype again. I was grateful that Professor Wynn opened the quiz and wiki around times that I could definitely do more, and give more in-depth answers on my quiz. I'm making it through man....Senior year... really just ready to get out of school, but I must get out of that mind-set.

I have to stay motivated... Get back on my Hustler mentality.

Back to the Wiki....

My documentary would explore some of the most controversial stereotypes about Hip Hop Artist. It would first start off with a panel of prolific rappers and educators. The educators on this panel would be: Michael Eric Dyson, Cornell West, Roland Martin, Oprah Winfrey, and Maya Angelou. The artists on this panel would be: Jay Z, Lil’ Wayne, Wyclef Jean, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliot, Kanye West, and Mase.

These people would be picked, because they are some of the most controversial, outspoken people of our time.

The first discussion would be the lyrics of hip hop. There would be questions such as: Will there ever be a day when we don’t here the “N-Word”, Why is there so much vulgar language in your songs, Do you think your music would sell if you went totally clean.

The second discussion would be the evolution of the view of the women in Hip Hop. I’d then show a clip of this video.


Next this one.



We’d discuss the differences of the overly sexualized image that women must have to be successful now, in contrast with years ago when a nice flow was all you needed.

We’d wrap up the discussion with talking about the future of hip hop, and where our people will be if continue to go down the road we’re on

Wordologist

Definite early emcees would be Tupac, and Biggie. They spoke of political corruption as well as social activism. Most emcees before them used “fluff” lyrics. A fluff lyric is defined as music that really just makes you feel good, or music that is not lyrically complex. Tupas and Biggie used metaphors that sometimes you’d have to rewind the song just to understand exactly what they meant. Both, had the street menatilty that was popular at the time, but they aren’t put in the gangster rap category, because of their intelligent use of words.

In today’s time one of the most notable lyrical geniuses is Kanye West.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1GtBpIORJY

His word usage is foreign to “a straight A” English major. He discusses things that mainstream artist are scared to talk about. He also goes against the norm in his style. He’s not a thug, and he admits to shopping. He even wears “man bags”. He goes against the masculine image that most rappers produce.


Another rapper that sets their own path is Nas. He is the most political rapper known. He tackles subjects that journalists in America won’t discuss. He discusses things like African genocide, poverty in America, and the corruption in the penal system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCOURZ-yx4E

December 27

This week we're having class on skype, kinda different but I like it. I like the chance to get to convey my thoughts with my teacher without interruption. The only thing bad is that my wiki sucks, because I decided to work since I didn't have actual class. (bad idea)
We've had quite a few readings, and the tests have been challenging. But, I will get an A in this class! I've just got to work hard.

Today on Wiki we discussed where the connection lies with the readings and Hip Hop. Some of the reading were a hard read, but I made it through. I'm a history buff, and I believe that every event has to do with another.

History effects Hip Hop in more ways than one. Through out our readings they discussed how culture effects the lyrics of our most favorite rap songs.

Through out the timeline of Hip Hop the influence of history is evident. When situations arise people discuss them; this is what keeps the spirit of Hip Hop alive.

Asante discusses the influence that racism and the "jiggaboo" mentality has on today's rap culture. Even back then white corporations used black talent to exploit the culture.

There is no way of deciding where we are headed without deciphering where we have come from.

Timeline...yo

We had a really heated discussion today about a lot of different things. It's interesting to see how diverse this class is. Everyone has a different opinion, because of their upbringing and backgrounds. Today our wiki assignment was to put together a timeline. One thing that I've noticed is that many people fail to discuss Africa. Hip Hop didn't just appear; it has transformed to what it is now, but its origin is in Africa.

We can’t begin to discuss Hip Hop as an entity of American culture without discussing its origin in Africa. There is evidence of the same genre of music dated back pre-slavery.

Black people have always had an uncanny way of expressing themselves. Whether it’s music, fashion, or their demeanor.

The evolution of Hip Hop in my opinion has no origin; it’s always been a culture. But, it first began to have an identity around the 1970’s in New York, when people were hurting.

One thing about the black culture is the quality of doing whatever it takes to survive; some would call in the hustler mentality. So Hip Hop is evidence of expression. It’s being able to make something of a situation that is out of control.

This is the main cause for the development. These young people needed an outlet, and they named her Hip Hop.

At first, the audience that could relate to the lyrics accepted Hip Hop. People who didn’t live in the ghetto didn’t listen to the music, because they didn’t see themselves in it.

But, it began to spread because people realized that their whole being was Hip Hop. They could switch it in a way that relates to them without destroying its purpose. This is around the time that Hip Hop began to move west.

The elements of Hip Hop are still here. It is a powerful voice that no one can silence, because its message reaches the multitudes.

There are still the different genres of Hip Hop: dance, lyrical, drug, sex. As long as these things are prevalent in the American communities Hip Hop will never die.

It will evolve into something we may not be able to identify anymore, but it will never become extinct.

I remember when.....

Today in our wiki post we had to discuss the day we fell in love with HIp Hop...............

I hated Hip Hop. This statement is blasphemous now that I’m a breeder of this culture, I’m what keeps it alive.

I was young, couldn’t be more than 8 when I received my first dose of Hip Hop. I would visit my “hood” cousins in east OKC, and they’d blast this mess until the speakers would bleed.

I judged them.

My parents were educated; theirs were in prison, on crack, or dead. Our family car radio never left Gospel, Luther Vandros, or Earth Wind and Fire. That was music to me, and this was poison.

But, something happened one day when I was taking that reluctant ride to the neighborhood grocery store. I could actually understand what they were saying.

The album was CrazySexyCool.

At this moment I understood my cousins, and found a respect for the way they were. They were a product of their surroundings the same way Hip Hop is. I fell in love in that car with a culture that surpasses every trial it goes through.

I fell in love with the hustler mentality.