The real rap on hip-hop
Ken Woods
Issue date: 9/9/09 Section: The Edge
It's sad to say as an avid listener of hip-hop that it is nothing more than a 21st century minstrel show. That's right, I said it.
Hip-hop has devolved from the days of talented MCs expressing the nuances of their culture through music, to now letting the music shape the black culture. It is no mistake that all of the "mainstream" content in rap songs involves shookin' and jivin' or fables of mythical gangsters who somehow made it out of the drug trade and live to tell about it on wax.
The only thing the rap "artists" of today are missing is blackface. I understand that people want to dance and have a good time while listening to music, but it becomes a problem when this begins to dominate the airwaves.
What happened to the days when rap was truly expressive of the culture? What happened to the social commentary of Public Enemy or Tupac Shakur? That relevant content has been replaced by the new dance craze. Everybody wants to have some sort of new jig for a whole generation of people to jive to.
Whether it's "Booty Dew," "Stanky Leg," "Crank That," "Ice Cream Paint Job" or any other brain-numbing song, these new hip-hop cats are creating an age of new minstrelsy. It amazes me to see all the new young tools of the music industry putting out the continuous flow of mindless music.
Some may argue that it is just music and has no effect on the listener. Those who say that are highly confused, much like some of these "artists."
Rappers have an unbelievable effect on the youth and black communities as a whole. Whether people want to admit it or not, they are slaves to the music. Rappers create fashion trends, instill values, shape minds and tell you what size rims to put on your car and the masses go out and do it. (Meanwhile they laugh at you because they know you really can't afford it.) So when there is no relevant content in the lyrics, it creates a culture of people that place value in irrelevant things.
Not only do the new rappers behave like coons of old, but they also glorify the street life that so many are trying to escape. Is it an accident that 90 percent of the lyrics in rap songs talk about how profitable selling crack cocaine can be? Or is it a greater design by the owners of the record companies to venerate these negative stereotypical images to the mass audience?
Hip-hop has devolved from the days of talented MCs expressing the nuances of their culture through music, to now letting the music shape the black culture. It is no mistake that all of the "mainstream" content in rap songs involves shookin' and jivin' or fables of mythical gangsters who somehow made it out of the drug trade and live to tell about it on wax.
The only thing the rap "artists" of today are missing is blackface. I understand that people want to dance and have a good time while listening to music, but it becomes a problem when this begins to dominate the airwaves.
What happened to the days when rap was truly expressive of the culture? What happened to the social commentary of Public Enemy or Tupac Shakur? That relevant content has been replaced by the new dance craze. Everybody wants to have some sort of new jig for a whole generation of people to jive to.
Whether it's "Booty Dew," "Stanky Leg," "Crank That," "Ice Cream Paint Job" or any other brain-numbing song, these new hip-hop cats are creating an age of new minstrelsy. It amazes me to see all the new young tools of the music industry putting out the continuous flow of mindless music.
Some may argue that it is just music and has no effect on the listener. Those who say that are highly confused, much like some of these "artists."
Rappers have an unbelievable effect on the youth and black communities as a whole. Whether people want to admit it or not, they are slaves to the music. Rappers create fashion trends, instill values, shape minds and tell you what size rims to put on your car and the masses go out and do it. (Meanwhile they laugh at you because they know you really can't afford it.) So when there is no relevant content in the lyrics, it creates a culture of people that place value in irrelevant things.
Not only do the new rappers behave like coons of old, but they also glorify the street life that so many are trying to escape. Is it an accident that 90 percent of the lyrics in rap songs talk about how profitable selling crack cocaine can be? Or is it a greater design by the owners of the record companies to venerate these negative stereotypical images to the mass audience?
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Prince Hall Mason
posted 9/09/09 @ 1:49 PM CST
This was a nice post Ken and everything you said You nailed it. I'm also a listener of hip hop but even as I'm closing out my 20's prepared to turn 30 in March, I can't even say I listen for the beats no more, the music seems to be getting corny too and if I hear one more auto-tune song rater it be wayne or pain I'm a flip!!!
But you know what it's like you said Our music has a proud heritage and it has launched the American culture into the popularity that it enjoys around the world, but what has our own music done for us. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 9/10/09 @ 9:39 AM CST
I read your article and agree with the things you said. Musically hip hop is being dumbed down by the radio stations. Most people don't realize the artists who birthed hip hop, which is why they can appreciate this garbage coming out now. (Continued…)
Todd Gwynn
posted 9/10/09 @ 1:21 PM CST
Thank you for existing, and for admiting what you have admited.
It used to be when an older brother said "let me rap at ya," he was going to lay some heavy shit on you, that had some importance. (Continued…)
fabian
posted 12/19/09 @ 1:59 PM CST
i need a hacked lockerz
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