Just wrote this about why I love Hip-Hop for English class, thoughts?
Question by Here is where I’m at: Just wrote this about why I love Hip-Hop for English class, thoughts?
Tell me what you think about it (I know its long, try to read the whole thing):
Hip Hop, and more specifically rap, is probably one of the most misunderstood genres of music that exist (I won’t say THE most misunderstood, because my teenage brain is too ignorant to know if that’s true of not) Let me just start out by saying, no. No, I don’t consider women sexual objects, no, I don’t carry a gun around everywhere I go, no, I don’t sell drugs. Yes, I am a suburban white kid from a rich town who likes rap music (go figure). Now we’ve that we’ve got all the stereotypes out of the way, let me clarify something. Unlike all the other suburban white kids who like rap, I don’t just listen to B.I.G, Tupac, Eazy-E and various modern mainstream artists. I don’t listen to rap because I think that’s its “cool” to listen to rap, and I listen “real” hip-hop. Now, when I say real, I’m aware that it sounds elitist, but then again is there really anything wrong with that? I also know that real is a subjective term, so let me explain to you what I mean by that.
Real hip-hop is the music that had its golden age in the early 90’s, the music that is essentially poetry set to a beat, the music that could be considered a completely different genre than the “Hip-Hop” that you would here on a typical radio station. Real Hip-hop, full of wordplay that makes you laugh out loud, introspective metaphors and clever lyrics. It’s using the mind as a musical instrument, to tell stories and convey messages, all while sounding great at the same time. Words are the sharpest form of art, and when combined with music create something truly spectacular. Artists like Talib Kweli, Rakim, Slick Rick, Black Thought, Nas, Mos Def, KRS-One, Big L and yes I’ll admit it, Biggie and Tupac (The reason I’m not that big a fan of them would be because most people I know who listen to rap, are only aware of him because of the fact that he was killed, after listening to him, as he comes from the aforementioned golden era of hip-hop, they understand that he is so much better than what they usually listen to, and therefore immediately jump to the conclusion that he is the best rapper who ever lived, when in fact this is far from the truth. In other words, I don’t like ignorance.) Around 2003, this type of music started to disappear, as record companies became more and more involved in raps production. Since then, we’ve been hit with an epidemic of terrible hip-hip, which is either unintelligible garbage set to a catchy beat and comes with a dance (i.e. soulja boy) or radio hip-hop (hip-pop, as I like to call it) which is essentially dance music with an urban vibe. So, do yourself a favor and listen (if you haven’t discovered it yet) to some real hip-hop, some Gang Starr (Moment of Truth, Mass Appeal) or Blackstar. (Respiration, Definition) Some tribe called quest, or whatever else you manage to stumble upon, you’ll be happy you did.
Ill leave you with a lyric from one of my favorite songs, called “Thieves in the Night”, which was inspired by Toni Morrisons novel The Bluest Eye
Not strong, only aggressive, cause the power ain’t directed
That’s why, we are subjected to the will of the oppressive
Not free, we only licensed
Not live, we just excitin
Cause the captors.. own the masters.. to what we writin
Not compassionate, only polite, we well trained
Our sincerity’s rehearsed in stage, it’s just a game
Not good, but well behaved cause the ca-me-ra survey
most of the things that we think, do, or say
We chasin after death just to call ourselves brave
But everyday, next man meet with the grave
Best answer:
Answer by Preemo
dude, i pray your fellow students take that writing to heart and heed your words. i would like to add you on myspace. you know what “real” hip hop is. i’d love to exchange artists with you and expand our knowledge of the genre.
add me here
http://www.myspace.com/blahzayywins
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