Racial Appropriation In Hip Hop

The rest of the chapter talks about the similarity of minstrel images in 1990s hip-hop, as evidenced by the defining characteristics of greed, violence, hyper sexuality and pathos in “gangsta rap” (a sub-genre of hip-hop further defined in chapter two). Ogbar balances this landscape with challenges to what he calls “neo-minstrelsy” from both inside and outside the hip-hop community, including discussions of the Spike Lee movie, Bamboozled, underground conscious hip-hop groups such as The Roots and Little Brother, and the activist “Stop Coonin’ Movement”, to name a few. Throughout the book, Ogbar explains how rappers strive for authenticity by “keepin’ it real”. And that is defined by how they rap, walk, talk, and make their

It is clear that the hip hop culture plays a huge role in the lives of many people. It has influenced the way people dress, the way they talk, and the way they act. Unfortunately, many big corporations have taken advantage of this and commercialized rap music in order to gain a profit (Blair, 497). Commercialization is a very complex topic; however, it is important to understand. This is because of the fact that when something becomes widely known, such a hip hop and rap have, it is vulnerable to change (Phillips, paragraph 9). An example of this is when author Nicole Phillips states, “Hip-hop became more about edge and less about the content of the message. It became about sales….” (Phillips, paragraph 9). Therefore, in order to prevent any further change, one needs to understand commercialization and how it works. This paper is going to explore the complexities and nuances of commercialization of the hip hop culture. In order to do this, this paper will consider what commercialization of hip hop culture entails. This paper will also discuss how Elizabeth Blair, author of “Commercialization of the Rap Music Subculture,” conceptualized commercialization, as well as how she discusses the situation in general. After discussing these topics, the paper will move on to discussing cultural appropriation. This discussion will include how authors describe cultural appropriation, and a debate regarding this topic.

In the essay, “Hip-Hop’s Betrayal Of Black Women”(221), by Jennifer McLune, she vents her feelings regarding hip-hop songs that are rhythmically diminishing the value of black women. She provides example on how the lyrics are being voiced and how hip-hop artists do not seem to care. Kevin Powell in “Notes of a Hip Hop Head” writes, “Indeed, like rock and roll, hip-hop sometimes makes you think we men don’t like women much at all, except to objectify them as trophy pieces or, as contemporary vernacular mandates, as baby mommas, chicken heads, or bitches” (221). There have been apologizes for what the rappers have said but nothing to resolve the dehumanization of black women. McLune informs the readers that hip-hop singers belittle black women and make them invisible. Jay-Z, a popular hip-hop artist is brought to center stage by McLune. The essay shows the example of a part of Jay-Z song that says, “I pimp hard on a trick, look Fuck if your leg broke bitch hop on your good foot” (222). This lyric is a perfect example of how hip-hop artist have no remorse in the words they sing. The hurt feelings and loss of self-esteem black women suffer, is of no concern to the rappers. McLune expresses that those who are underground hip-hop artist follow the footsteps on being sexist and using crude words in their lyrics just because they yearn and dream of being in the spotlight. Upcoming rappers want to be loved like Jay-Z and other famous notorious rappers.

This is a way for African Americans to use hip hop as a full-time job instead of as leisure for themselves. The benefits, according to Chung, is that now there is an “achievement of black national acceptance … to become professional, productive, labors” (Chung, 129). Given the platform, blacks want to reshape the urban poverty and improve economic situations through hip hop and widespread of black culture. Another reason for improving black’s conditions, not only comes from hip-hop, but also white behavior, meaning that blacks who grew up in rough times have been looked at in stereotypical views of pathological behaviors, and drug users. But ABDC allows these young men black men to given a new identity and inclusion through the use of hip-hop rather than the premature neoliberalism view of African Americans in which they are looked at as

You’re standing in a crowd amongst thousands of fans at an Eminem concert, people from all over, shoulder to shoulder in a massive stadium, singing along every word of their favorite song for hours. People from all over are connected to each other through the power of music. When it comes to music, the life experiences, inspiration, and current events play a tremendously significant role. Hip hop is a form of art which can be expressed through rap songs, break-dancing, and graffiti art. The culture has become so popular that it has entered today’s fashion and modern language. Hip hop music is an extremely large part of today’s generation and a global genre, which influences the generation all over the world.

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.

Hip Hop culture has come from a inner city expression of life to a multi-billion dollar business. At the beginning of the new millennium it was the top selling genre in the pop charts. It had influences not only on music, but on fashion, film, television, and print. In 2004 Hip Hop celebrated its 30th year anniversary. It wasn’t big for the fact that it was still kicking. It was big because the once Black/Brown inner city culture had grown into a multi-billion dollar global phenomenon (Reeves). Hip Hop culture has provided a platform for all walks of life to speak their mind. Over the past 36 years it has provided us with both entertainment and controversy alike and had a huge impact on our nation’s history. `

Codrington examines the cultural significance of hip-hop and how it affects race, class and globalization. Hip-hop is a popular culture globally; its importance relates to cultural and political ideologies. The social significance of hip-hop also impacts how dialogue for instance achieves a cultural sense of ownership in society. The examination of hip-hop in various geographical and political realities challenges hegemonic readings of hip-hop as primarily style and lifestyle (Codrington 2007).

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

This is to say, cultural appropriation is the stealing of “intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expression, or artifacts from someone else’s culture without permission. This can include unauthorized uses of another’s cultures dance, dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional medicine, and religious symbols” (“Cultural Appropriation”, par 5).

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 music became one of the primary constructive outlets for Black Americans to release their thoughts, pain, and anguish about the injustices and mistreatments of Black people. Even though most of the pioneers in Hip-Hop either were not born in America or are 2nd generation immigrants that proves that common oppression can lead to unity. The fact that that these individuals were impoverished and felt marginalized is what brought them together and lead to the culture today. Deep rooted racism in the United States kept the genre of music suppressed for a while before it was allowed to even be played on the airwaves. Now, in 2011, the main consumers of byproducts of hip hop are White Americans.

As far as class goes, small connections were made such as the nod to “The Breaks by Kurtis Blow” and bigger connections such as the responsibility of hip hop artist. The song included a sample by Geraldo Rivera in which he said hip hop was more damaging to African Americans than racism in recent years. This immediately remined me of the article presented in class where the author was destroying hip hop and its message. The message may be harsh and I do not agree with it, but the argument can be made as to the damage hip hop has done. Going back to Kendrick, he discusses himself as “Yashua’s new weapon” and presents religion which will be discussed later. He also talks about the good and evil inside of himself. I would relate this concept to hip hop itself. Hip hop encompasses royalty, power, poison, cocaine, war, and peace within its reach. Hip Hop can build as much as it can destroy and with this respect Rivera may have an

Cultural appropriation, often defined as an “adoption of elements of one culture by members of the dominant culture,” is a major issue of race inequality in the world, especially within the United States (Bollinger). Appropriation occurs when an individual from a dominant culture adapts elements and aspects of another culture into their own, in an often demeaning way; thus, forcefully putting that culture below them within society. This social concept is often hard for the average, unaware individual to identify because it frequently comes from a place of ignorance. Oftentimes, individuals believe that they are appreciating a culture by emulating it when their actions are, in fact, offensive to the people of that culture. This is why the social phenomenon continues to be perpetuated (____).

The true definition of cultural appropriation involves a person adopting elements of a culture outside of their own as a form of expression. However, the way some people embody other people’s culture becomes negative because they fail to acknowledge that a custom is in fact not their own. Then other members of society begin to credit that person with inventing something that belongs to another culture. There are others comfortable with adopting another culture’s elements who take this concept lightly and do not realize how beauty and racial superiority are used to justify this theft. They are lowering the self- esteem of the younger generations who are a part of these stolen cultures. Appropriation takes away the pride the original group that is associated with the culture have in individuality and makes them seem as if their culture is a part of the American lifestyle. The intention behind acknowledging appropriation and giving credit to the culture will hopefully encourage generations to open their minds and begin to understand another group’s identity before trying to imitate it.