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Kiamsha Leeke
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 05:04 pm: | 
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My brother and I are currently writing a collection of short stories that explores how people fashion their lives when they adopt, create, modify, release, and accept the identities they receive at birth and from society, personal choices and experiences. The characters are greatly influenced by the music, lifestyle, culture and politics of the rap/hip hop movement beginning in 1974. Hip hop is the one thread that links them together. It blends their identities. It also separates them so that the reader can see their ethnic diversity. They deal with issues affecting race, gender, class, sexual orientation, religion and politics. Most of the stories take place in Washington, DC, Oakland, CA, New Orleans, LA, New York City, Maryland (PG County and Annapolis), and Atlanta, GA.
In an effort to develop the internal architecture of each character, we are seeking insight from various folks. See the questions below.
1. What was your first experience with rap/hip hop music?
2. Who is your favorite rap/hip hop performer or group? And why?
3. How has rap/hip hop music influenced your lifestyle, culture and politics?
4. Do you think rap/hip hop music has created a blended identity of its listeners?
THANKS AGAIN. Peace and Creativity, KML
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Kola
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 05:33 pm: |
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I think Hip Hop replaced the various Civil Rights movements, unfortunately.
Taking its cue from movies like "The Mack", "Superfly", etc. Hip Hop made it COOL to be "sexist" and "misogynistic"--and because it was mostly Black males engaging in this destructive behavior, the larger White society egged them on.
When I was a teen--it was nothing for black girls to drive around "rapping along" to rap tunes ALL DAY that called us "bitches and ho's". In fact, along with the word nigger--this was what we called each other freely and casually without a care.
I think the physical images sustained in rap/hip hop MUSIC VIDEOS also helped to destroy the self-image of Black women who LOOK black in America. While catering to women of OTHER or Mixed status, the videos made black women a kind of also-ran in the community and resulted in many teen girls self-destructing and then being blamed for their own self-destruction. Lil Kim is Toni Morrison's character from Bluest Eye--Pecola Breedlove--virtually come to life. She represents millions whose negative images of SELF were "confirmed" by their invisibility in the new Black man's social movement...but unlike Kim...they usually end up as "baby mamas" in the welfare line waiting on the next rap video to tell them how worthless they are and how they should look to the Pimp-Daddy and the Street Brotha to tell them what to think, believe, etc. Sista Soulja brilliantly essayed this mentality in her book "Coldest Winter Ever".
Again...hip hop/rap culture played on Black men's insecurities about themselves...and LIKE the civil rights movements, it encouraged them to fashion EGO-building "rhetoric" with which to make themselves feel invincible...even as they were tearing down their own communities and genetically killing off their own seed to become "THE MAN".
Recently, the Latin Americans taken over as the largest minority group in the U.S. Knowing the history of this country, it makes no sense whatsoever that Blacks should have ever let that happen...it's a mistake, in fact, that will probably become a definitive nail in the coffin to black power in this country....but with the hip hop mantra "NO COLOR LINES" firmly in place...blacks continue to ACT LIKE the American Indians and give away their house key, their culture and everything else to whoever flips them a compliment.
as you can see....I AM TOTALLY disappointed and repulsed by the Hip Hop/Rap movement. I feel that I'm lucky that I ran away to another country and escaped falling into the clutches of it...as I almost did (because I lost my virginity to a rapper from Howard University--"Truce").
Notice how the Black Community is mainly just a phantom title nowadays...more and more, it no longer really exists. Or maybe I just live in California and see a worse view than others?
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Kola
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 05:51 pm: |
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Oops/Sorry---I only listen to rap artists that I'm incredibly passionate about. This is my list of favorites.
Erik B. and Rakim (poets!)
Public Enemy
K.R.S. One
Lauryn Hill
MC Lyte
sometimes...Tupac Shakur (the most beautiful man that ever lived IMO). But I don't like Rap and Hip Hop other than those few folks.
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Troy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 08:14 pm: |
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Kiamsha
1. What was your first experience with rap/hip hop music?
I was born an raised in East Harlem my first experience with the music which came to be known as "rap/hip hop" was during a party around the time the "freak" dance was out. This would have been about 1976 or so.
2. Who is your favorite rap/hip hop performer or group? And why?
Public Enemy - I loved the lyrics and syncopated sounds.
NWA - I liked the aggression, the invincibility, and macho I don't give a F--k attitude
3. How has rap/hip hop music influenced your lifestyle, culture and politics?
I would be hard pressed to identify how this music has an impact on me in any of the above areas. Now if you would have asked me this question 25 years ago I might have had a different answer. Hip-hop is for young people. The whole baggy look is not my style, the music I listen does not really include much rap. While I have my original 12 inch versions of many of what are considered "all school today". When I want to really jam on music from back in the day I usually listen to the Ohio Players or something else other than RAP. Though I have to admit Eric B can usually get any party started
4. Do you think rap/hip hop music has created a blended identity of its listeners?
Of course not. What music does? There is not even a blended identity of the performers.
Kola: You obviously are not accustomed to pulling punches. Your words are quite strong Having re-read your post I can't really disagree with anything you've said (other than the bit implying that we should not have allow Latin Americans to take over as the largest minority group -- perhaps you can expand on that on a different thread)
Having been a youth seeing DJ's like Grandmaster Flash play in the park, or cruising with NWA, PE, or RUN-DMC blasting out my car window with my shirt off with and a beer in my hand; I was really into the music. I remember going to "Mr. Souls" and doing "the freak" with the willing young ladies or drinking a couple of 40's with my boys while listening to Eric B and Rakim. The biggest difference between your feelings and mine is that mine are tempered with fond recollections and nostalgia. As I've gotten older I realize that I wasted a lot of time back then. I did not really know better and I had a good time, at the time.
I can't blame hip-hop for the wasted time it just happened to be there at the time. I could have been listening to EWF, the Ohio Players, Parliament/Funkadelic and engaged in the same activities -- in fact we did.
I'm not trying to hate on all rap music. Last year I went to see MC Lyte, Milk, Stetsonic; Kool herc was in the house as well Red Alert and a bunch of other folks -- boy did they bring back memories and they did that without engaging in the misogynist, violent lyrics.
Hip-hop to me is simply a way to make money. You even have so called "conscious" rapper trying to shun the moniker because it stunts sales. 50 Cent is getting paid mad loot -- why? Some people say cause that is the evil capitalist trying to exploit us, again, for a payday. But remember this they can only sell what we are willing to buy, period.
All the discussion on culture and politics relative to rap hip-hop is essentially irrelevant to me. Unless you define culture as something you can grow out of. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 12:47 am: |
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Here are my response to your questionnaire.
1. What was your first experience with rap/hip hop music?
"The Last Poets." I was into jazz when they came out, and to me, they represented a kind of word jazz.
2. Who is your favorite rap/hip hop performer or group? And why?
(1) "Nelly." Because he represents for the midwest, and because his rapping has this playful, contagious vibe. He doesn't take himself seriously and he doesn't require that his listeners do so.
(2) Jay-Z. Everybody likes "Jigga." He gets the job done.
(3) Eminem. Because of the riveting dynamic way he performs his clever lyrics.
3. How has rap/hip hop music influenced your lifestyle, culture and politics?
To me, Rap is a guilty pleasure. I am not a rabid fan of it, but I am drawn to it because I admire anything that is creative and which requires skill. I am especially intrigued with how rappers use the language, with the way they make 2 words rhyme with one. In the past, rap put me at odds with many of my contemporaries. It's only recently that I have been partially vindicated when my claim that Rap was a legitmate music form was validated by the fact that the Grammys created a category for it. But I don't take on the role of defending Rap because there's no getting around the negative aspects of it. I am inclined to agree with much of what Kola says about rap.
4. Do you think rap/hip hop music has created a blended identity of its listeners?
Apparently so. It draws fans from across the board.
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sisgal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 08:24 am: |
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My first experience with Rap/Hip Hop was a while back with a group I believe was called THE FURIOUS FIVE, the song was...well it went "Don't push me, cuz I'm close to the edge..." I loved this song! It had great beat, serious lyrics, a first in rap. And of course I loved the earlier songs which were all about having fun. I followed rap through the beatbox years, and pop dancing. Then rap got serious with NWA, and Public Enemy to name a few. I would have to say my favorites are/were Kool Moe Dee ( I still play Wild, Wild West..., cuz I got the best of cd). LL, cuz he made rap romantic. I like Ice Cube, always will, and the duo of Snoop and Dre. But my all-time favorite is Tupac, a lyrical genius, and I felt everyone of his creations.
How has it affected me. Well, I'm taken aback by the negative affects of rap/hip hop. I see daily how the images (ghetto fabulous, bling-bling, gangstas and hoochies) in the videos have affected our young people. The young women have reduced themselves to whores and are proud of it. Whether they come from well to do families, middle class, educated or not, so many of them have adopted this image as their own. They disrespect their elders and women in general, and if someone tries to correct them they lash out with violence, or verbal abuse. Why are our young women reducing themselves to whores, or calling themselves B's like there is nothing else for them? There has to be a change. If hip hop/rap can make this kind of impact on a nation of young people, black, white, whomever, than they can also make a positive change, if not, will the future of these young people, be reduced to old, over the hill, unemployed rapper wannabees with no education and fallen dreams...I hope not, but the future doesn't look so bright. |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 12:20 pm: |
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My First Expereince with hiphop--The song "Rapper's Delight"
My favorite hiphop group--got none really--enjoyed Public Enemy, The Geto Boyx, Ice Cube, Outkast, Tupac Shakur, and the soundtracks from the movies "Fear of a Black Hat" and "Tales From the Hood"
How has it influenced me? I am a poet, and after listening to rap I lost my fear of rhyming, also began to appreciate that these kids (they were kids to me) had basically created their own style, language and music and that it has become part of the warp and woof of the culture.
I do not believe it has created a blended identity of its listeners. It's just like with Rhythm and Blues, Rock n Roll, Soul Funk, etc. The listeners dig the sounds, dug the style, but don't want nothing to do with the creators of it. |
smarti
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 08:42 am: |
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Hi all
You all mention mostly older or dead artists. Can I draw your attention to more contemporary conscious rappers such as Common and Pharoahe Monch (sp?), Mos Def and also Nas whose last album has some amazing lyrics on it.
Troy, it's a bit unfair to say that people are only being sold what they are trying to buy. If you have certain things pushed at you all the time, a lot of people will eventually succumb (hence the success of Pop Idol). I guess I don't have to discuss the intricacies of marketing with one such as you :-)
50 Cent is aimed at a white audience (who are now the majority audience for hip hop) because he perpetuates the myths about rappers. Common does not pander to these stereotypes hence he won't get played on the radio as much. (Although I have to admit that 50 Cent has some killer tracks on his album and I love his voice).
Tupac was indeed one of the most beautiful people ever to walk the earth. His lyrics however could sometimes be overly simplistic. Compared to some of his contemporaries, he was a poor lyricist. I don't understand how people can get so sentimental and eulogistic about Biggie Smalls. In my view, he started the bling bling mania. He does nothing for me.
Kiamsha, I get the impression we are all pretty much in the same age bracket on this board (thirties??), is that the clientele you wanted your questions to be answered by? Although hip hop started when we were teenagers or younger, it wasn't global then like it is now. The pressure on young people these days is a lot higher (to buy all the merchandise etc) and of course they have a lot more disposable income than we had (well ME anyway) and are therefore much more targeted by the record industry. (See, I even still call them "records" how quaint). First experience - "Rappers Delight", but the first one I bought was "The Message".
My favourite hip hop artist ever is Missy Eliott. She is consistently innovative and she has busted the parameters of how a woman is allowed to be. She is also supportive of other women artists. She is truly inspiring for the obstacles she has had to overcome and for what she has achieved. I won't mention the weight loss :-) |
Troy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 04:12 pm: |
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Hi Smarti:
I guess people mentioned older artists because we were asked who were our favorites. From a personal perspective the old artists were "better" I guess 'cause they brought something new to the game (at least to me) at that time and I was at an age where I could appreciate them on a different level. I'm sure if I was 20 years younger I would have selected other more contemporary artists. From my perspective the vast majority current artist's work it is more of the same stuff that has been warmed over from the last decade or more.
I also I liked Marshall Mathers when he first came out as he struck me as bringing some new to the game, but the question was favorite.
I've seen Common in concert I was throughly unimpressed; particularly when compared to the act he opened for: Macy Gray (she was all that). Mos Def, Nas even The Roots or Jurrassic 5 are all fine but again the question was favorite.
If I'm gonna try to rock a party I'm throwing on 50 Cent and Mystical not Mos Def or Common -- you said it yourself "Killer Tracks" and "love his Love".
It has nothing to do with being "Fair" when I talk about businesses selling what people want to buy. Rational people don't eventaully "succumb" to spend their money on something they don't want. If Lawrence Welk were the only albun in exisitance I would not buy it no matter how much it is promoted.
50 Cent sells more albums than a Mos Def simply because more people are willing to buy his stuff. It is really just that simple. Increased marketing is an attempt furture capitalize upon that fact, once it has been discovered.
If "good" music was not available to buy people will make their own to suit their tastes. |
Troy
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 10:49 am: |
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"Between Black television shows and white-owned and controlled urban formatted radio that have little regard for Black cultural dignity and ethnic sensitivity, Blacks are projected to the whole world as gangstas, hoochies, fools and buffoons. The entertainment culture is only interested in making money, no matter what price Black dignity has to pay. This return to Amos n' Andy type mimickery has Blacks looking 'real crazy'... and there is no shortage of black faces willing to play the fool for, what they call, entertainment's sake.
The manifestation of 'commoditized filth' as scholar Maulana Karenga calls it, what the indusry calls music, everybody else calls madness. A filth glorified for the riches it brings our youth, while making them social outcasts. The renewed hostility towards Blacks, framing of Black youth as maniacal and dangerously hostile, can be attributed to this genre' of rap music."
¯excerpt from Souls for Sale (http://books.aalbc.com/nonficti.htm)
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