Our Youth

Hip-hop music has been an integral part of the American culture since the 1970s. Hip-hop music, which encompasses rapping (emceeing), disc jockeying (deejaying), break dancing, and graffiti writing, has become so popular that American culture has adopted the music in mainstream fashion and modern language.   The conflict on whether hip-hop music is art or poison has been continuous.   Some Americans support hip-hop as an essential art form, while others dispute that hip-hop has harmful effects on the American culture. The culture associated with the music has drastically changed. The marketing executives frequently seek out the hip-hop artists for promotional purposes because of their widespread audience. In today’s culture, hip-hop music affects the youth population above all. Hip-hop music has negatively affected the American culture, primarily the youth, by promoting illegal activities, violent behavior, and sexual promiscuity. When asked how the present Hip-Hop music differs from the past, DJ B-Hop stated, “Today’s Hip-Hop is, for the most part, outrageous with all of the profanity and violence. I listen to people like Notorious BIG, Run DMC, Doug-E Fresh, Slick Rick, and all of the other old greats. I am not saying what rappers are doing these days are wrong because they are giving the people what they want and they are making album sales, I am just saying they could have went about it different way.”  I agree with DJ B-Hop one hundred percent, I couldn’t have said it any better myself. I also have developed a passion for old school rappers, such as those stated by B-Hop. I would like if present rappers could use more of their style of rapping. Life is not all about money, drugs and, “hoes”.

Statistically, most young people purchase the music, and adopt the lifestyle portrayed in the lyrics. Through television, music videos, and other visual media forms, hip-hop artists are portraying negative stereotypes and acting in a manner that promotes corruption. These negative messages condone the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Hip-hop artists such as Lil Wayne and most recently Future promotes usage and the sale of illegal substances. Subsequently, the American youth imitates these artists because the wealth, status, and lifestyle lure them in like a hypnotism spell. Acquiring the flashy lifestyle sometimes pays a price not only to the individuals seeking it, but the American society as well.

The adaptation of Hip Hop internationally is not really different in each country. Although there problems may be different, they have the common denominator of being powered by the youth. Each Culture's youth has grabbed hold of the Western Hip Hop ideals to create their own individuality in their own country. Also, Hip Hop seems to flourish is poor societies. These artists have more heart felt words to speak and genuine creativity because when you are brought up in such poor societal conditions that is sometimes all you have to hold on to.

Hip Hop is proven to be the voice of the people that may not be able to speak for themselves in conventional ways. Globalization has allowed many people who would not have the means to speak up and express themselves, to be able to take center stage. Many believe that globalization will be the end of individuality and creativity. This has been a theory that seems to fail when put up against Hip Hop globalization. Hip Hop globalization has proven to hybridize communities and music that in the end forms something that has never been seen before. Globalization may prove that instead of making the world “flat”, it will create new mountains and craters of creativity that were never imagined.

Today's Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop has been around for more than 30 years. Many stereotypes have been put on it such as; drug stereotypes, money stereotypes, and violence stereotypes. Misogyny also plays a huge part in Hip-Hop.

Many hip hop artists reference violence in their songs, which leads to violence being a stereotype commonly associated with this genre of music. Over time, hip hop artists have come under fire from community groups and government agencies for the use of violence lyrics in their music.

Hip hop artists are not the only artist that uses drugs, but drugs are likely mentioned more in hip hop music. Many lyrics in this style of music refer to selling drugs as a way to make a living and using drugs such as marijuana. Dr. Dre's notable hip hop album "The Chronic" referenced marijuana in its title, and 50 Cent's semi-autobiographical movie "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" talked about his rise from a drug dealer to a rapper.

Women's groups have often criticized hip hop music for the use of misogynistic lyrics and images. Women are commonly referred to in derogatory terms in some rap music, while scantily clad women are also common fixtures in hip hop videos.

While musicians in virtually every genre can achieve enormous commercial success and enjoy the wealth that comes with it, hip hop performers are known for vigorously celebrating their money and even exaggerating how much they have. Rap videos frequently show rappers holding stacks of money, wearing expensive jewelry and driving fancy cars. Additionally, many hip hop lyrics reference being rich and spending large quantities of money.

In contemplating this phenomenon and making an effort to understand not only its foundation but the premise that comprises the root of Hip-Hop ideology, it is important to remember that this emerging culture has similarities to other cultures that have emerged throughout history. Hip-Hop was initially born of the ability of those early practitioners of rap music, DJ wizardry and street-corner fashion creation to overcome their inability to gain acceptance and recognition by the established music, fashion and entertainment industries.

            Further galvanizing the fledgling culture was the lack of acceptance by adult culture, who refused to recognize these newly emerging forms of expression as legitimate. This was particularly true where many parents were concerned. Needless to say, if parents and other authority figures didn't understand Hip-Hop, didn't like it and, in many instances, admonished young people for embracing it, young people were even more compelled to further immerse themselves in this newly developing culture.

 As I stated in my previous blog Hip-Hop, like Rock 'n' Roll before it, is not only a genre of music, but also a complex system of ideas, values and concepts that reflect newly emerging and ever-changing creative correlative expressive mechanisms including but not limited to song, poetry, film and fashion. In the early days, Hip-Hop was primarily related to the rhyming, rhythmic spoken word art-form known as rapping. Rapping is, in fact, not a new method of creative expression. The ease with which young people can participate in this form of creativity seems to have helped the phenomenal growth of this genre of music and expression.

            I interviewed a local veteran DJ, DJ B-Hop, when asked what his take on today’s Hip-Hop was. He replied, “Today’s Hip-Hop is nothing like the Hip-Hop he grew up loving. The Hip-Hop he loved was all about everyday life and the problems that the average African America family was dealing with.   Today’s Hip-Hop focuses more on how much money they have. How many women they have and how big their house and cars are no real love for the roots and foundation of Hip-Hop.”

I myself don’t agree with all of the lyrics in today’s hip-hop. I feel like artist can express themselves without all of the negativity. Like it or not the future of America is watching and listening. Children as young as two years old look up to Hip Hop artist.

           

Work Cited

McCoy, William. What Stereotypes Are Associated With Hip Hop? | eHow.com. 22 March 2013.
Hopper, Barry. Personal Interview. 22 March 2013

The Origin

When you hear the term "Hip-Hop", what do you think of? I think of poetry, creativity, fun, dancing, colors, and style. I think of happiness, strength, knowledge, understanding, and belief. Hip-Hop is more than a genre, Hip-Hop is a way of life. 

Hip- Hop contains four elements, emceeing, deejaying, graffiti, and break dancing. It's believed that Hip-Hop originated in the early 70's in the Bronx, NY by DJ Kool Herc. 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx is where Kool Herc started breaking and scratching records and began to rap at his sister's back to school party in 1973. His unique sound started a world wide dynasty.

Hip-Hop wasn't just about music, Hip-Hop was being expressed by clothing also. In the early 1980's, rappers such as; Big Daddy Kane, Kurtis Blow, and group Run DMC, flaunted sportswear, big gold jewelry, kangol hats, Keds, and Adidas. In about a decade, as new talent was discovered, new trends were also introduced with bright colors, neon baseball caps, puffy pants (MC Hammer pants), and polka dots, having fresh shoes were always apart of the dynasty. Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klien all became notable brands of Hip-Hop.

Stay in-tune to my blogs about Hip-Hop as  I elaborate on it's history and talk about what it has become and what stereotypes have been put on it.

Feel free to ask questions and leave comments telling me your thoughts.