Arsenio Hall Show Analysis

Obasuyi, Alex. "Black Joy Matters: Chance The Rapper and the Importance of Utopia Rap." Blavity. 2 Nov. 2015. Web. 8 Nov. 2015. (-- removed HTML

Since its inception, hip-hop has depended heavily on the talent of black pioneers and white artist who respected the art form and the rules of engagement. Unlike G-Eazy and Mike Stud, Eminem was introduced into the hip-hop scene by one of hip-hop’s pioneers, Dr. Dre. Eminem and his team understood that it was necessary to have the approval, or the street credit to step into the rap game. Hence he was accepted into the hip-hop culture. We must understand that the hip hop culture does not exclude people based on ethnicity. This is because the main ideology of hip hop is one of solidarity and equality for all.

Within History, Rap has been considered the “CNN for black people”; what started as a way to express struggles in the ghettos of New York has transformed into one of the most popular genres of music in America. The popularity of rap has allowed many to have their voices heard, created new fashion trends, and even developed popular modern slang used by people throughout the world. The commercialization of rap has resulted in a significant following of the culture in America but also a large number of people who oppose the music. The culture of rap music has a substantial impact on popular culture in America, and by using an open mind and looking past the violence and language, people can better understand the meaning behind rap and the perception that follows it in America today.

Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem, is recognized for his work as a rap artist who is able to connect with his audience through humor and rhythmically dicey lyrics. Eminem’s “My Name Is” music video is able signify whiteness and rearticulate race with the use intertextual editing techniques that parody common representations of whiteness. Eminem is using his “My Name Is” video as an approach to solidify his style of rapping and thus create new political and cultural authenticities that entice questions of race representation in the 1990’s and beyond. (Kajikawa).

Hip-Hop Culture and race have had a complicated relationship in the past two decades. It has been commonly referred to as “black music” and a reflection of black culture. However, recent studies done by the Mediamark Research Inc. showed that 60% of rap music buyers are white. With the emergence of white, Latino, Asian, and other rappers with diverse backgrounds on the Hip Hop scene it is important recognize the changing color of the genre and the stereotype it holds as “black music”. Black culture has also been subject to appropriation because of the popularization of Hip-hop music. However, much of the discourse on the topic confuses cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, and states that hip-hop music is strictly for African Americans or that it doesn’t belong to anyone at all. Hip-Hop is a black art form that transcends cultural boundaries and can be appreciated through the lenses of different cultures as long as those who enjoy it acknowledge its roots. The genre’s growing number of non-black rappers is not due to the appropriation of the genre by other cultures but as an expansion of it due to it’s growing popularity across the world.

Berry says that there are good types of rap and bad types by showing that few rappers actually use sexually obscure lyrics and sexist towards women. Good rap would be considered songs by artist such as Queen Latifah, Salt N ' Pepa, Yo Yo, and MC Lyte are working to dismiss the men rapper 's images of women through their own performance style and lyrics. Violence is another factor because it is associated with black urban youths where rap music is always the common denominator for in the communities. Berry gives the idea that a major part of rap music is a reality in these neighborhoods by using NWA, a.k.a. Niggas with Attitude that consists of five rappers from L.A. who rap about gang banging, drive by shootings, and police confrontations. The lead singer of the group argued that their lyrics aim to show the "raw reality of life" instead of making it people’s reality. Williams argues that rap music does not represent the beliefs and ethics of black communities but only because people overlook the positive efforts made by rappers and focus on the negative aspects. Berry demonstrate how the supremacy of white and black power are prominent through focusing on how Parales beliefs that rap just shows the lack of education, and the frustration of the ghetto, and how hating rap can be linked to fearing young black men who are the stars of rap . Ice

White performers who immerse themselves in black hip-hop culture typically refrain from openly saying the N-Word altogether like their black heroes or colleagues, for fear that it might be perceived as a sign of disrespect rather than one of solidarity. In rapper Ice Cube’s opinion, “When we call each other ‘nigger’ it means no harm, but if a white person uses it, it’s something different, it’s a racist word.” Yet, many white youths feel intrigued to use the N-Word because of the profuse times it is used in music by popular artists and those who have mainstream audiences. After countless times of hearing the word in music that is highly publicized, some may feel that they are comfortable with the word and have the correct motive use it. However, black people are indeed offended by the use of the word when coming from the mouth of a white person or any other non-black because it is still considered a racial

According to Alexander (2012) todays like minstrel shows of the slavery and Jim Crow era, today’s displays of rap music and videos are generally for white audiences and is televised around the clock for a worldwide audience. Alexander explains that it is a for-profit display of the worst racial stereotypes and images associated with the era of mass incarceration, an era in which black people are criminalized and portrayed as out-of-control, shameless, violent, oversexed, and generally undeserving. The majority of consumers of gangsta rap are white suburban teenagers. The profits to be made from racial stigma are considerable, and the fact that blacks, as well as whites, treat racial oppression as a commodity for consumption is not surprising.

The multiple times the black community was socially mistreated, hip hop artists continued to voice their opinions. I believe hip hop is great to voice an opinion and promote self worth. Ordeals such as the Rodney King case sparked a huge outrage within the black community. Decker mentions in the article that during the Rodney King trial, the white officers from LAPD have been acquitted by an all-white jury charged for the brutality of Rodney King (Decker 2008, 55). Ice Cube was called in for an interview, yet he declined because of the ties he has made with the black community. Situations such as the Rodney King trail provided a

The genre of rap music has changed a lot throughout the years. With most things time can and will change something or someone. In the case of Rap music it has been flipped entirely upside down although it carries a few important aspects through the times. It is often theorized that rap music delivers messages that have a lot to do with black stereotypes. It is a form in which they can express their struggles and how they truly feel. Rap songs can deliver heavy thought provoking lyrics or just the opposite. It may contain many harmful and bad lyrics which are heavily related to black stereotypes. Mostly anybody can listen to this genre of music but what group of people is it actually intended for? Most modern Rap music is targeted towards white

Throughout his career rapper Kanye West, has been portrayed as many different things in the media based on his public appearance and the subject matter of his music. The message he relates in his music is ever changing and often showcases different ideals or stances on issues echoed among different parts of the African American community. Two such instances of this come from very different periods of Kanye’s career, and show two polar opposite opinions of how to deal with arguably the most important social issue in American history. This change in Kanye’s way of dealing with racism reflects two differing schools of thought in the African American community. Although early in Kanye’s career his music identified the racial inequality

As long as we’re examining race, how is the success of a white rapper such as

“…the appropriation of hip-hop cultural forms suggest not that whites want a black identity: rather, they want characteristics of blackness.” (Perry 2002, 109). This is quote by Pamela Perry, a sociologist as University of California Santa Cruz, from her book Shades of White:White Kids and Racial Identities in High School. Pamela Perry is a sociologist from University of California, Santa Cruz, throughout her book she touches on the idea of white children developing a sort of identity crisis depending on their environment. This quote helps put the appropriation of African American culture in its simplest terms. In most cases people associate Hip Hop culture with African Americans. With that being said, many artist of different genres who attempt to have a more hip hop vibe, fall subject to appropriating African American Culture. Various artist have been appropriating culture in several different ways whether it’s through dance, sound, or even image.

The lyrics that are in rap songs are not only listened to by African Americans but by many other cultures, cultures who know nothing about them. Different cultures listen to rap music to get to know a culture and all the violence and explicit lyrics within rap creates stereotypes. To other cultures they see African Americans as violent pimps, which is not the case at all. Not to mention African American women in rap videos, even the men in the same culture consider them to be b***** not sisters.

The black community is changing and the hip hop is changing as well. Many of the founders of this genre have found success and fame. They have become producers and have their own recording label. This is the case of Jay Z who is has a music service designed to put the power back into the hands of the artist. This is very encouraging because it will allow the artist to be true to his art and not hold back because he needs to follow what the big corporations feel is profitable. In the case of singer, actor and producer, Ice Cube, his attitude toward his art have changed. At the beginning, he was angry and wanted to express that frustration through his music and he wrote the song, “Fuck Tha Police”. Now, he understands that saying fuck