Growth In Hip-Hop

The instant response to this question is often that the commercialization of hip is a negative phenomenon. Many hip hop fans seem to hold this opinion because they believe that the quality of music from today’s rappers has drastically decreased. However, the difficulty arises in determining whether the ‘commercialization’ of hip hop should be considered a positive or negative phenomenon. There are strong advocates for both of these judgements with convincing points to support their beliefs.

Smitherman views hip hop as a means to express pain and the violence the artists have dealt with. He notes that this ‘thug life’ is the key to being authentic, “giving them legitimate, productive careers” (Smitherman.1997; 21). He cites that Hip hop examines the struggles in a black community that America has abandoned, and demonstrates the evolution of the black culture. In doing so hip hop has allowed both insiders and outsiders to understand and associate with this struggle. (Smitherman.1997; 22). Smitherman quotes Chuck D of

Hip- hop is an art form that came out of a troubled time in American history especially in the Bronx. The building of hip hop culture in the Bronx caused media culture, cultural diversity, changing economy and citizens rights and responsibilities to arise through the actions of hip hop culture. In the beginning, hip hop culture started and spread because of the changing economy and hard times for all, soon graffiti and hip hop culture became a statement throughout the world and was a media that spread throughout the world. Hip- hop emerged partially because of the diversity of the people living in the Bronx at the time. However hip- hop and graffiti was suppressed because many people, such as officials, believed the they owned the

In seventh grade, I stumbled my way upon the Detroit based rapper Eminem. I was at 150 listens on his track The Real Slim Shady before I knew it. I then found my way into Kanye West, which exploded my interest into the genre. I have listened to all of the considered essential hip hop “classic” and modern day albums. I noticed in these “classic” albums very distinct change in subject matter and style that each of the different areas of rappers on where they originate from. Some people believe that the hip-hop culture is at a decline with the lose of this uniqueness and individuality shown in each of these areas. I too even thought that the hip-hop culture was at a decline until I was researching my topic, but instead this individuality and uniqueness in the rapper’s different stories that they tell in their raps. The genre has expanded throughout the world and continued to evolve while sticking to these roots of individuality and uniqueness.

Molefi Asante is the author of It’s Bigger than Hip-Hop: The Rise of the Post Hip-Hop Generation. In this article, Asante predicts that the post-hip-hop generation will embrace social justice issues including women’s rights, gay’s rights, and the anti-war movement. To challenge these stereotypes, Asante speaks to the personification of the African-American ghetto and the need to stop glorifying black suffering. For Asante, the post-hip-hop generation no longer expects hip-hop to mobilize disenfranchised youth. Asante states, “The post-hip-hop generation shouldn’t wait for mainstream musicians to say what needs to be said…No movement is about beats and rhythms…. it must be bigger than hip-hop.” Because hip-hop is controlled by corporations, Asante says hip-hop will never be the focus of political change. Asante argues that “old white men” have dictated hip-hop, and by extension the actions of black youth, since 1991. “Allowing white executives, not from the hip-hop culture, to control and dictate the culture is tragic because the music, and ultimately the culture, as we can see today, has not only lost its edge, but its sense of rebellion and black movement- the very principles upon which it was founded.” Asante calls for the rise of “artivism,” a new social movement that uses art to improve community police relations, failing schools and the criminal justice system. Asante encourages the post-hip-hop generation to unite with Latino/Immigration Rights and Black Civil Rights

Hip hop, the creation of electronic sound and enticing language is a style born from the African American and Hispanic cultures. It formed in New York City from block parties and the participation of the youth culture. This style of music began as a minimal change in rhythm to a globally popular culture consisting of graffiti art, dancing, and music. Hip hop was not only a type of tasteful music, but it also became a benchmark in history. When this style of music was created, it served as an outlet for those who did not have a voice, particularly the minority groups. These groups were given rights that they deserved just like everyone else. In the 1970’s is when hip hop began to spread, creating not just

“I want kids of this generation to see that everything is cool, that there 's some kind of unity in hip-hop. We all found something that 's really important to us, and music is all we 've really got” – Missy Elliot. Hip-Hop is a cultural movement and popular genre of music that emerged during the early 1970 's by working class Black youths in New York City. The cultural movement has rapidly expanded across different countries and ethnicities over the years, becoming one of the few markers that define a generation. Hip-Hop can be seen as “the fundamental matrix of self-expression for this whole generation” (Katz & Smith, 1993). Through music, itself, artists can express their feelings towards different events or social changes that they’ve see or have experienced in their lives. According to Frith (1986), this perspective towards writing music is similar to Mooney’s argument that popular song lyrics is a reflection of what’s missing or needed at their time, giving us a trace of America’s ‘mood’ throughout history. In return, music artists captivate the minds of people among various backgrounds who use these relatable music lyrics as a source of empowerment or as an expression of their own thoughts. While some music artists create music to uplift their audience by giving them a sense of freedom, other artists create music that separates their audience by dehumanizing one group and giving power to the other.

debated throughout society, but the genre’s complexity makes it difficult. For decades, the hip hop culture has grown into one that is heavily dominated by black people. With its flood into mainstream music, other races have taken the genre and have used it for their own purposes and pleasure. This has ultimately caused a shift in the way people of color and Caucasians interact with one another in this country, especially since privileged youth and seniors get to learn about minority hardships and struggles along with a catchy beat. Although this proves to be beneficial for American society, it has also caused

In this article Robert Tinajero analyzes rap/hip-hop through its Christian religious ethos and the deception of how the media attempts to use rap/hip-hop for the reason why religion ethos in lyrics can change the views of young urban adults to be non-affiliated with a religion (Tinajero, 2013). Rappers use a form of religion in lyrics that have characteristics of the common suffering of Jesus and the mistrust of society with the goods and evils in urban communities.

In your responce to Hip hop, you wrote the letter called " Hip Hop Nation". You stated that hiphop sounds like a broken record, but the problem is that your daughter is getting married to a Hip Hop Rapper. Since you heard hip hop, and the one song talked and influenced violence, he is worried for his daughter and doesn’t like her spouse. To continue, you also said that hip hop is taking over and only children can hear it. My saying this, you added that children are going to pick up these

In today’s society music plays a very large role in influencing the young generation. The most popular music that is praised by young African Americans is Hip-Hop. The African American youth are being influenced with a “gangster” lifestyle. A major topic in hip-hop music today is the sale of drugs as a primary source of income as well as drug usage as a social activity. There are other issues African American’s struggle within the community such as poverty, broken homes, drug usage, depression, and gang violence. Because of these social problems, the youth are subjected to high levels of peer pressure. The young males in particular flock towards “gangs” and “cliques” within the community for solace and a sense of home. These gangs and cliques

Hip hop has gone a far way since the 1980s. in the year 2016, hip hop is considered popular and many people, no matter the color of your skin or where you come from are seen listening to Hip Hop. I personally believe that hip hop has become more acceptable in our society. Often time in these songs they discuss about politics, love, issues, many problems that people can relate to and have a connection with someone. However, there are those artists that are seen in the category similar to “Gangsta Rap” and those are still present in 2016. Therefore, our perception of hip hop has changed since the 1970s/80s.

Hip Hop in the most popular genre of music between all African American communities, not just in America, but worldwide. Hip Hop has expanded itself into music, fashion, advertisement, movies, and it’s given many rappers, and those associated with the genre, the chance to influence their communities, societies and their culture in general, but commercial Hip Hop in the U.S. has branded Hip Hop in a negative way. (The Young and The Hip-Hop, Hip Hop Culture Center in Harlem, 2012, Web, Oct. 27, 2014) This is all due to the negative imagery and negative lyrics like the term nigga, negative implications of Hip Hop include exploiting black adolescent girls, promoting unhealthy lifestyles, and implying that the open use of the word nigga is not harmful. Hip Hop has become a global phenomenon where it has evolved from a genre of music to a lifestyle for the African American community.

Hip- hop has become a phenomenon throughout youth culture. Many believed hip-hop was only a phase of music like disco, but as the genre continued to expand and evolve, it became clear that hip-hop was here to stay. (History of hip- hop: past, present, future) Hip- hop is made up of 2 main elements, DJing and rapping. DJ is short for disc jockey, which is a person who usually uses turntables to make music, and rapping is talking and chanting in an easy and familiar manner. (Hip-Hop: A Short History) In writing this research paper, I will explain the most impactful years of hip-hop, and the events surrounding them, starting from 1979, when Sugarhill Gang released “Rappers Delight”.