The Hip Hop Culture By Andrew Marantz

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

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.

The origins of hip hop started in the late 70’s as a pastime that brought all the impoverished people of the projects together to have fun through. But decades later in the 90’s, people began to rap about many subjects ranging from the crack epidemic, hard life in the ghetto, or just having fun, but the underlying motive of rappers in this era was to reflect on their rough lifestyle through clever lyrics. The motive wasn’t for money, but recognition for their unique wordplay among the rap community. However, that all changed when record companies saw a financial opportunity in rappers, and rappers saw a financial opportunity through music. Due to the commercialization of hip hop, authenticity is rare to find in the mainstream

Many Americans today embrace the culture of hip-hop. Since hip-hop became mainstream its influence has surrounded most Americans. People engage in social issues from the hip-hop culture In his recent work, How Hip-Hop Holds Blacks Back, John H. McWhorter have offered harsh critiques of hip-hop for delaying and marring the success of black people. McWhorter asserts hip-hop music “celebrates a ghetto life of unending violence and criminality(10).” He believes hip-hop contributes to the stereotype nearly all Americans maintain in regard to black people. Reflecting on harsh song lyrics McWhorter attempts to strengthen his argument. McWhorter acknowledges not all hip-hop promotes violence in people. He concedes “not all hip-hop is belligerent

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.

The title of this piece informs the reader about what the content will hold and suggests that the author feels strongly about the injustice of black women in the hip-hop scene. Jennifer Mclune, the author, is an activist, librarian, and writer that resides in Washington, D.C. This particular piece appeared in Z Magazine Online, which is an independently founded magazine whose mission is to publish articles that go in depth when critiquing the social structures of society and pride themselves on being a predominant activist webpage. With these factors combined, it is clear that the author is qualified to have written such an essay. After reading the information presented about the

Being one of the more controversial lifestyles, the hip-hop culture has overcome many obstacles in the years to gain the respect it currently holds today. Indeed, there is still much controversy that lingers around the people within the movement, but “when untainted by outside influences and corporate vultures, hip-hop in its purest form is about empowerment, unity, culture, creativity, and hope” (Elkouby). The negative notions that regard the hip-hop culture can be attributed to corporate America and its failure to properly monitor radio play, its lack of trust within the record labels, and its greedy head honchos that build up artists only to see them fall in order to pocket the money for themselves.

Mass media, through its selective portrayal of hip-hop has played a crucial role in the way that it has been understood and interpreted over time. The media’s focus on negative aspects of the genre has led to the establishment of a two-class system. This brings forward the theories of Karl Marx in relation to the ‘two-class system’. The media also portrays the dominance of capitalism, and has a sensationalist view where the high powers have hyperbolized selective aspects of the hip-hop culture with the intention of increasing viewership and readership numbers. This sheds light on artists such as Biggie Smalls and his

Hip-hop is meant to express or pay tribute to the political inequality and oppression faced by African Americans (Rodriquez 650). However, many white hip-hop artists treat the culture as a stereotype by making hip-hop music that surrounds topics like sex, drugs, guns, violence, fame or money. For example, songs such as “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea include phrases like “somethin’ worth a half a ticket on my wrist (10),” with ‘ticket’ referring to one million dollars and “gold trigger on the gun (57).” She exemplifies a white rapper who is color-blind to the meaning behind hip-hop culture and depoliticizes the hip-hop genre by repeating meaningless lyrics about her money and fame. Her lyrics also prove to be problematic when it comes to the slang she

Using tone, DJ KRS communicates that hip-hop artists often create music just to make money, but those who write and stay true to their experiences and real lives will earn respect in their communities and in the music industry. In one section, he writes, “The way some rap is kind of wack/and it lacks creativity and intelligence/ but they don’t care cause the company is sellin’ it” (Parker). Here, DJ KRS takes on

In the 1990s, many women were garnering enough recognition to earn platinum music recording sales certification for their work. Artists like Salt-n-Pepa, Da Brat, Foxy Brown, Eve, Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott were leading in hip-hop charts during this decade (Neilson, 2014). It is important to see how women thrive and are treated in hip-hop by hip-hop publications, and a start would be to look at a publication like XXL Magazine as it plays an influential part in the genre.

Hip-hop’s claims to authenticity take a variety of forms in a multitude of contexts; therefore, it is virtually impossible to clearly define what

Australian female rapper, Iggy Azalea, is a popular hip hop artist for her song “Work” and he #1 billboard chart song “Fancy.” The issue with Azalea’s music is the lack of authenticity. She takes certain aspects of black culture and profits over these assets, when other female rappers of color are constantly berated for the same features. Black female artist receive criticism for deal with their body, sexuality, tone of voice, and beauty. For example, Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim were call out for their sexual album covers and performances. Although Iggy receives criticisms, it is not as harsh as her female counterparts.

The notion of the authenticity in hip-hop is that it has to do with being associated to “the street” or the urban ghetto. “The core of Hip Hop cultural activity”, a “site of originality, culture, perception, and cognizance” (Alim 2004a: 390– 91). Furthermore, The expression “keepin’ it real” is almost a repetition in Hip Hop insisting individuals to be true to their roots, and not to “front” or make-believe something they are not (Rickford and Rickford 2000: 23). Hip Hop is apparently a multiracial and multicultural movement, yet its roots and artistic strength and most of its well-known rap artists, come primarily from urban African American communities (Blake 1993). In 1999, it was dubbed “the most important musical genre in America” by the New York Times (Strauss 1999: 28), and has debatably been one of the foremost youth cultures in the United States since the early 1990s. Despite the multi-ethnic nature of the founding community of hip hop, young African American working-class, urban males emerged as the art’s central representatives. However, the centrality of African Americans in articulations of authentic, hip hop has roots that are more diasporic than popularity professed. Hip hop