Hip hop can be used for a good cause. Since hip hop is aimed at people rich and poor alike, it allows for a diverse spread of information. It can provide insight to the rich and well off how hard the poor have it. On the other hand it can also demonstrate that although the poor may have the same life, it isn;t to be glorified, and that leaving, is probably the best move one can make. Take the rapper Game's The Kill for example. The rapper is infamous for raps of hood figures and violence, and yet, todays, he raps of leaving the hood, using your mind, forget smoking, strive. In fact, he goes on to say that if you dislike him for saying that, then so be it, but it's the truth. It's almost a double a double edged sword, aimed at the listeners and the executives of the industry alike. Forget the hype, strive to do good for yourself and others. that's cool.
Social justice is the main goal of hip hop. In the beginning, it showed deep insight into the hood, allowing many to open their eyes or relate. Sure it's had it's ups and downs since, but now, it's beginning to migrate to something just as true once more. Real raps are on the rise, of feelings, fears, goals, being real.
Hip hop has the ability to capture the voice of a generation. Take the rise of violence in hip hop for example, it was synonymous with the terrorist attacks and the conflicts in the middle east. Now, with the recession, music is beginning to take a more meaningful, introspective turn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnKdnDS9KtM
The song is called Radio-Inactive by a rapper named Blue Print.
He talks about how rappers are all the same nowadays, and they're leading a generation astray. In reality, it's not about the money, girls, or the other hype. It's about the hard work, the struggle, the drive. It's through those challenges that we really come to recognize and respect hard work. Not selling out or falling in line with other's wants, but to do you. Personally, this is one of my favorite pick me up songs. It's easy to fall in line, assume the role, please others. It's hard to lead, take the path less traveled, do you, stay strong. In the end though, it's the latter life choice that makes life worth living.
Executives can effectively block artist from finding an audience or even creating them, they just want to please existing once. With the rise of the internet however, many rappers are finding ways around this blockade by offering free tracks online. Personally, I couldn't be happier with this direction hip hop is taking.
word count 454
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Pre-Reading Questions Week Eleven
Hip hop is perfect as it is able to really capture and project the lifestyles and dreams of the underclass ghettos of America. It is also able to vividly describe what how, what, and why these singers project themselves as they do.
Although initially it was primarily done to capture a lifestyle in a digestible medium for the masses, it evolved into a business. Once executive realized how profitable gangster rap could be, they tok advantage of the system, and began pumping out the same music.
The majority of rappers are black. They are sought after as they promote the message they are conveying. The message being a struggle to survive and thrive in a society not really meant for them. The consumer base however is predominately white. Again, white people are almost preferred as the customer base. The black rappers provide the whites with and insight. The more gruesome the rapper, the deeper the insight.
Rap during the first decade of the century was predominately of violence and disrespect toward others. The songs were mostly stories of tough upbringing, money, drugs, and murder. It was just that however, a story, a simple escape for many white suburban kids to go to. It was no different than a television show to let you mind wander to, to briefly walk a block in the shoes of these entertainers.
There are many rappers who are mainstream that do not embody the stereotypical gangster rapper. Mostly because rappers who are tough and unfeeling are beginning to taper off, their act is stale and trite. Like a fad, it has come and gone. Now rappers rap of vulnerabilities and hopes, dreams, failures insecurities even. It's all about what is popular, and thus the industry will provide. Things are dragging out unusually long now because of the internet. Free music and easy publishing and access to a fan base has allowed a much more free and directionless movement in which the industry can move.
Because rap at that point had evolved into something that was more about a superficial approach. It was the music of clubs, rather than something you listened to by yourself in a room. As he states, if it has a good beat, they'll dance.
Hip hop allows many people to see a life they are usually shielded from. It can actually bring people out of ignorance Too much of it however can be damaging.
Women do have a bit of an objectified role, but there are woman rappers on the rise.
There are two sides of rapping, the presenters and the receivers. The presenter can be behind his side and safely defend, but not until he steps into the listeners shoes could he see our side of it all. It's all relative.
word count 461
Although initially it was primarily done to capture a lifestyle in a digestible medium for the masses, it evolved into a business. Once executive realized how profitable gangster rap could be, they tok advantage of the system, and began pumping out the same music.
The majority of rappers are black. They are sought after as they promote the message they are conveying. The message being a struggle to survive and thrive in a society not really meant for them. The consumer base however is predominately white. Again, white people are almost preferred as the customer base. The black rappers provide the whites with and insight. The more gruesome the rapper, the deeper the insight.
Rap during the first decade of the century was predominately of violence and disrespect toward others. The songs were mostly stories of tough upbringing, money, drugs, and murder. It was just that however, a story, a simple escape for many white suburban kids to go to. It was no different than a television show to let you mind wander to, to briefly walk a block in the shoes of these entertainers.
There are many rappers who are mainstream that do not embody the stereotypical gangster rapper. Mostly because rappers who are tough and unfeeling are beginning to taper off, their act is stale and trite. Like a fad, it has come and gone. Now rappers rap of vulnerabilities and hopes, dreams, failures insecurities even. It's all about what is popular, and thus the industry will provide. Things are dragging out unusually long now because of the internet. Free music and easy publishing and access to a fan base has allowed a much more free and directionless movement in which the industry can move.
Because rap at that point had evolved into something that was more about a superficial approach. It was the music of clubs, rather than something you listened to by yourself in a room. As he states, if it has a good beat, they'll dance.
Hip hop allows many people to see a life they are usually shielded from. It can actually bring people out of ignorance Too much of it however can be damaging.
Women do have a bit of an objectified role, but there are woman rappers on the rise.
There are two sides of rapping, the presenters and the receivers. The presenter can be behind his side and safely defend, but not until he steps into the listeners shoes could he see our side of it all. It's all relative.
word count 461
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)