to be honest ya'll (and again i think the greater testament is to how a listener is raised) i've learned more truth from rap lyrics (both ignorant and conscious) than i ever have from the schools i've attended. AND (i'm convinced)..at a quicker rate



i was just in the studio talking to a fellow rapper about this...even tho rap has been the mainstreams baby long enough for it to become synonymous with brandnames...i'm convinced 70% of the listening public still does not understand what exactly is taking place..

Vendetta1 said:

dammit stymie ... i know your older than me (and i only point that out, cuz of the generational [and sub-generational] gap that is growing in our community) but i really hate to hear that people see things in that light..


you're right...we wont agree, but i will share with you what i believe to be true none the less...


HIP HOP (strictly speaking as, a genre of practiced music) is no more different today than JAZZ is today- from when King Oliver picked up a trumpet...


POPULAR CULTURE, however, is...

as time increases...pop culture is reborn with every wave of teenagers AND..

when you were a teen/young adult (i'll guess late 80's early 90's) the media and its role in music was DRASTICALLY different.. (as was the media's role in the 60's and 70's when compared to the 80's/90's...which is why in those decades artists like Hendrix or Zappa were front page news, and aretha has to fight for a deal today)...

i've talked with several peers "in my older brothers age bracket" and i AGREE..back then PUBLIC ENEMY was the new artist on TV...

but TODAY....TV only represents a FRACTION of any musical movement, and that is ESPECIALLY true in the case of hip hop...

with the boom of worldwide communication and access via internet- true hip hop (like any other true manifestation of any artform) retreated to where the underground exists...today being the internet

Erykah said it herself in "The Healer": "we aint dead/the children dont believe it/we just made ourselves invisible"


of course...the TV and radio will still blast its voice as load as it can, because the TV and RADIO have ruled media for a long time, so they arent going out that easy...

but like violator hinted at...it BARELY represents the sentiments of hip hop at all...and if you listen to the newest wave of artists (who "coincidentally" has all become recognizable and found backing in the mainstream media, by way of THEIR OWN internet campaigns)...you'll hear sentiments that reflect a rebellion of these "homophobic/sexist ideals" as much as they reflect the minds of children who has been raised amongst them


our men find women challenging, and tough to figure out (a fact to which most women will agree)

and homophobia in the black community- still reflects the misunderstood tribal hatred that many people take as law from the bible


but i'd argue that original missippi blues was just as homophobic and sexist...

if we could jump in a time machine at visit a juke joint i'd put money on it
[Edited 3/4/09 17:11pm]
[Edited 3/4/09 17:13pm]

while listening keep in mind that lupe's career as a mainstream artist is only 2 years old...he IS todays hip hop

Lupe said:

SirPsycho said:

like a lot of things, I think hip hop is often preaching to the choir. Those who get it really get it, and those who don't get it never seem to actually be able to listen closely enough to get it. I do get it, but also from the perspective of being something of an outsider, I do sometimes question whether the message helps or hurts (similarly I asked that question about the Pride Parade but that's another story).

Your bits of trivia are actually pretty interesting. I don't really think of Pac & Snoop as being "edited for content" except on the radio

by the way...thanks for hearing me out stymie...i love how whenever i take part of these threads and provide provocative argument...all of a sudden 90% of the previous posters are bored with it

That may very well be true about jazz but hey, we ain't talking jazz.

I think music across the board can be misogynist. But, we women put ourselves out there for men to draw such conclusions. Growing up bisexual, trust me I know all about how homophobic the black community is.

Now, while I am aware of such popular artists today like Lil' Wayne, I don't look to television or radio to give me my hip hop fix. Most of the music I listen to is by word of mouth. I would have never heard of the wonder that is Jean Grae listening to the radio.

I kinda see your point. While I see why people say what they say in hip hop of today, it don't make it right. My oldest son is 21 and even with this being his generation, he reaches back to something a little more real. In our opinions anyway.

I just thought about what you said and what I wrote and I think we are actually meeting in the middle. I feel like a light just went off in my head.

NDRU said:

i hear you...honestly i dont think ANY music hurts anyone...i think hateful people find hate where they look for it...peaceful people find peace (cuz they seek it)...judgmental people or finger pointers find stuff to point fingers at...etc etc...

i mean you cant tell me there are no strong and proud gay dancehall fans

music can influence and play a big role in someones life, yes....but no bigger than how that person was raised...



and i found the snoop and pac stuff in interviews, i cant recall exactly which ones tho

Vendetta1 said:

i wouldn't be a rapping preacher's son if i didnt learn everything is about context.

and ima go head and bite..


what you mean we aint talkin jazz? i wouldnt expect such a statement from a self-proclaimed tribe called quest fan

SirPsycho said:

Touche'.

Vendetta1 said:

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

"I don't need a chemical blow to get a hoe. All I need is chemical paint to paint 'em up!"

meow85 said:

When's the next backstreet concert?

...what happened to all the opinions guys?

i mean...THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO ASK AN ACTUAL RAPPER

SirPsycho said:

Oh, I thought you were one of those soft hippie types, Plug Four.

Fauxie said:

you're alright with me fuzzy frolicking kitten man



























































no homo

Mysterioso said:

you know half the people here think these are your thoughts dont you...

Quotables, son! Quotables!

purplesweat said:

Whenever they get their shit together for the next tour.

You didn't answer my inquiry. Sorry if it's too personal, but I am genuinely curious if your confrontational dipshittery is just 'cause you like to take the piss, or whether you've got some kind of chemical disturbance.

SirPsycho said:

My opinon stands, hip hop can be and often is mysoginistic and homophobic. That said, other genres often are too.

meow85 said:

Oh for pete's sake, I was simply correcting someone who wanted to see the picture of 50 holding it as proof that he's a closeted gay.

THAT'S ALL. MOVE ON PLEASE.

meow85 said:

Oh my god. I can't believe you just said this.

i kw this is only gonna motivate ore ignorance in the thread but i cant resist..

hokie said:

Believe it. This poster has on several occasions been unnecessarily hostile and confrontational. I just want to know what we're dealing with.

purplesweat said:

If you care to go back and read that original post you're referencing, you'll see it was just a joke -no one was trying to prove anything.

Read before you type.

hokie said:

I almost yelled that exact sentence at my computer when I read that post.

meow85 said:

Oh my GAWD! You're SO wrong for this! Both of you are two beautiful young ladies, but Meow.....you are nubile as from this point-forward because of that post. DAMN! You sexy motherfucker, you.....OOH!

Vendetta1 said:

Crazy lady, livin' in a bag
Eatin' outta garbage pails, used to be a fag hag


Got sent up for a eight-year bid
Now your manhood is took and you're a Maytag
Spend the next two years as a undercover fag