CinisterCee said:

That's what I was trying say, you souned more coherent though (I really need to check my post before posting)

also, Why is it that when people are critical of rap video's they call in the race card when there is plenty of white, yellow, green people makiing a damn fool of themselves on tv. you dont see people saying 'white people are screwed' when Britney showed the whole world what she had for breakfast a few days ago.

Also I dont like how people are judging the 'whole' state of hip hop based on it's commercial artists/releases, there are is also plenty of crap pop, rock ect (too many acts to list)...
But there is also alot of great hip hop been released like Kayne, Lupe Fiasco! Common ( go listen to "BE" or "ELECTRIC CIRCUS" albums by Common and then will talk about how crap hip hop is)

Shapeshifter said:

That shit blew my mind. So sad, but so true. This guy have stuff in the record store..?

im writing an essay on this subject for one of my courses. im not quite done with it and i dont have my citations and shit formatted yet but you can get the idea...feedback welcome lol

Hip-Hop Culture, Disgraced by the Masses

I met a critic, I made her shit her draws
She said she thought Hip-Hop was only guns and alcohol
I said ‘Oh hell naw!’, but yet its that too
You cant discriminate cause you done read a book or two
-Andre Benjamin, 2000

"I am societies child, this is how they made me, and now I’m sayin what's
on my mind and they don’t want that. This is what you made me America."
-Tupac Shakur, 1994


Popular music has always been an image of the times. Dating back to its origins, music has been one of the most creative and expressive forms of protest and speaking about the way things are. As examples of its influence, slaves sang ‘We Shall Overcome’ to band together against their enslavement as Neil Young wrote about the fear and frustration that American youth was plagued by in 1970’s ‘Ohio’ as well as Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie attempted to unite the world to fight the war against poverty and AIDS in Africa with their 1984 classic ‘We Are the World’. Just as songs, artists and genres as such have highlighted social issues and problems, Hip-Hop music has emerged today as the voice of the African-American community. The actions of its artists are imitated by those influenced by the culture, and exploited by the media. Just as any other form of expression backed by a minority, the media has taken advantage of Hip-Hop, being sure to take every opportunity to bring it down and create its own image of the culture. The negative image of Hip-Hop as carried by many throughout not only the US, but the World is a creation of the media through its meticulous crafting of the image of the medium to the masses.

Hip-Hop music began in the 1970’s when DJ’s began to spin music that focused on the percussion and beats of the music. Soon after, reggae music was mixed with the art form, and underground American artists began to work on a new craft called rapping. This new style caught on not only with people that wanted to emulate it, but it became a hit with the masses. The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” was not only one of the first released Hip-Hop recording, but it was the very first Hip-Hop song to hit Billboard’s Top 40 Pop Singles Chart. Hip-Hop gained strength in the 1980’s behind acts such as LL Cool J, Public Enemy and Grandmaster Flash who made songs for people to dance to often highlighting popular themes and issues. Although Hip-Hop originally started as a outlet for African Americans, it was now beginning to branch out.

The mid 1980’s brought about the expansion of Hip-Hop to wider audiences. Acts such as the Beastie Boys, a rap group comprised of three Caucasian males, and Run DMC, who produced Hip-Hop’s first Top 10 Pop Single with their rap-rock collaboration with popular rock legends Aerosmith, were now relating the art form to people outside of the African American culture. As Hip-Hop grew into the 1990’s, so did its audience and acts began to take advantage of that. Artists such as Tupac Shakur, Public Enemy and NWA made songs highlight social issues such as police brutality, drug use and teen pregnancy. Many unaware or unaffected by such issued viewed the music as inappropriate, while those who made the music viewed it as the only way for them to expose what was really going in their lives in hopes to help their peoples.
"My raps are a decision, rabble rousing, spiritual, like gospel music. I don't want to dance. We have so many things to deal with, we need to talk straight up and down." (Tupac Shakur)

Many caught offense with the artists of the times, and took a stand against Hip-Hop. Censorship ensued. With help from Tipper Gore and the Parents Resources Music Center, artists were boycotted, CD’s destroyed and the media broadcasted to the masses that Hip-Hop music was ‘bad for people’(interview). This just made artist even more frustrated and upset, reiterating their feelings of apathy within White America. Still, labeling such music as condemned just made it more desirable, and the popularity of Hip-Hop hit a new high.

Record companies began to create their own form of Hip-Hop, straying from its origins. This new tune sought to cash in on Hip-Hop’s popularity through any means necessary. One hit wonder Hip-Hop artists such as Vanilla Ice, Sir Mix-A-Lot and Too Live Crew became the new icons of Hip-Hop, promoting images of misogyny, expensive cars and violence. Acts who were once at the forefront preaching to “Fight the Power” such as Public Enemy were now at the bottom of the Hip-Hop charts behind a catchy club classic objectifying women, “Baby Got Back”. Chuck D of Public Enemy realized early on what was happening with this new form of Hip-Hop,
“The rap that we're exposed to is maybe 15% of what's out there. What the major companies have done in the last few years is find out that they couldn't find any more Whitesnakes. They took a look at their marketing budget and put it behind hip-hop and figured out how to make it pop.” (Chuck D)

This trend of moving Hip-Hop away from its origins, at least in the eyes of the public has only become more evident since the 1990s. The late 1990’s brought about the ‘Bling Bling’ era with rappers sporting expensive jewelry and cars in every possible public outlet while recording hits inspired by their record companies to sell records. Songs of the era such as Juvenile’s “Back That Ass Up” sporting the lyrics “Girl, you looks good, won't you back that ass up/You'se a fine motherfucker, won't you back that ass” have become hit singles, while doing little to prove that Hip-Hop is more that glorifying women, violence and expensive items.

Hip-Hop promoting such ignorant themes has become popular with the masses, however it does not represent all that Hip-Hop is. The industry that Hip-Hop has become has changed. What started as an outlet for artists to expose the wrongs observed by those in the community has now become the outlet for record companies to exploit black culture in means of making money. According to Billboard sales charts, Hip-Hop has become the biggest selling genre of the time, shelving any ideas that Hip-Hop today is what it started as(Billboard).

Still, many have been trying since Hip-Hop’s golden age to preserve what Hip-Hop truly is. Artists such as Tupac Shakur, Nas and Ludacris have all released songs that not only warn against buying into this newfound ‘pop’ manufactured Hip-Hop, but continuing to preach about social and political issues. Shakur posthumously released “Changes” in 1998 describing the current state he witnessed within his African American community
I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself
is life worth living should I blast myself?
I'm tired of bein' poor & even worse I'm black
my stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch
Cops give a damn about a negro
pull the trigger kill a nigga he's a hero
Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares
one less hungry mouth on the welfare
First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers
give 'em guns step back watch 'em kill each other
It's time to fight back that's what Huey said
2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead
I got love for my brother but we can never go nowhere
unless we share with each other
We gotta start makin' changes
learn to see me as a brother instead of 2 distant strangers
and that's how it's supposed to be
How can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me?
I'd love to go back to when we played as kids
but things changed, and that's the way it is

Nas followed with a tune titled “I Can” in 2003 preaching to Hip-Hop youth that they can escape treacherous paths
Be, be, 'fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
There was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot up they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
Then learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you're a king
Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying "She's my queen"

And just recently, rapper Ludacris relased “Runaway Love” detailing the story of runaway children, a story very common in urban areas.
Now little Lisa is only 9 years old
She's trying to figure out why the world is so cold
Why she's all all alone and they never met her family
Mama's always gone and she never met her daddy
Part of her is missing and nobody will listening
Mama is on drugs getting high up in the kitchen
Bringing home men at different hours of the night
Starting with some laughs -- usually ending in a fight
Sneak into her room while her mama's knocked out
Trying to have his way and little Lisa says 'ouch'
She tries to resist but then all he does is beat her
Tries to tell her mom but her mama don't believe her
Lisa is stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothing else to do but get some clothes and pack
She says she's 'bout to run away and never come back.

However you may not be as familiar with these songs as much as you may be familiar with the news developments each has been involved in.

Most identify Tupac Shakur with his unsolved murder in 1996, following a string of consipicuous events. Many say that Tupac’s “Thug Life” mentality that kept him in touch with the streets he grew up on led to his death, although no suspect has ever truly been identified. Other blame the murder on a rap feud between Tupac’s west coast and the emerging east coast which produced such sensations as Puff Daddy, 50 Cent and most notably Christopher Wallace, the Notorious B.I.G. Many say that the so called “beef” between the two, and specifically between Wallace and Shakur indicates that each may have played a role in the others death, Wallace’s murder occurring a year later. However, both admitted before that the rivalry was no more than media hype
We are in the midst of a very dangerous, non-productive, self-destructive civil war. And it's not just rap shit. It's ideals. And this rap shit is just bringin' it to a head. The East Coast believe one thing, and the West Coast believer one thing. The East Coast got one way of life, the West Coast got another way of life, it always co-existed. We're coming to the turn of the century where we gotta mash together. But we can only do it one way, one style. And that's what we're trying to figure out now, and I think the world is watching that. (Shakur)
As well Shakur admitted soon before his death that the rivalry between the two was truly no rivalry at all, but rather an opportunity that exposed itself to sell more records(Shakur).

Nas is most remembered for his similar fued with rapper Shawn Carter, also known as Jay-Z. Media outlets blew the rivalry out of proportion, comparing it to the feud between Shakur and Wallace. However, the feud looks to be non-existent in reality as each realeased their diss-records at the same time as the released brand new albums. Since then, both rappers have reached a truce, recording and performing together, becoming leaders in the revival of classic Hip-Hop.

Rapper Ludacris, who’s real name is Christopher Bridges, has most possibly the most compelling background of media influence. Although he has released such influential songs as mentioned earlier, he has been publicy ostracized in a number of cases. Talk show host Bill O’Reilly, famous in the Hip-Hop world for originally blaming Hip-Hop for ruining urban youth and not allowing rapper Cam’Ron and record executive Damon Dash to explain their side of the issue, is blamed by many incuding Bridges for costing him his endorsement deal with Pepsi-Cola after O’Reilly made on air remarks criticizing Pepsi for hiring a ‘foul mouthed’ Hip-Hop artist to endorse their product. O’Reilly called for a nationwide boycott of Pepsi, who in turn fired Ludacris, and hired The Osborne family to replace him. Outraged, popular Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons took a stand for Bridges, demanding that Pepsi apologize to Bridges for dropping Bridges for a just as controversial Osborne family, and donate the extent of Bridges contract to Simmon’s Hip-Hop Summit Action Network – a group dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of Hip-Hop music to serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the empowerment of youth.
I
n addition to being a multi-platinum rap artist, Bridges has also established himself as an actor, starring in major roles in the Oscar winning films Hustle and Flow and Crash. When asked to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show after the release of Crash, Bridges did not expected to be berated by Winfrey’s attacks on his music’s lyrical content, only to have his own remarks edited out of the show. Following this, other rappers including entrepreneur Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and award winning actor and originator of Hip-Hop O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson also criticized Winfrey for having an anti Hip-Hop bias(wiki). Bridges, who later said the media took some of his context out of proportion went on to say that he regarded Winfrey as “a great individual”, but noted that Winfrey may not have her eyes open to all that Hip-Hop brings to the table(wiki).

If nothing else, these cases document that not only White media, but Black media in the US as well is at times ignorant to the positive aspects of Hip-Hop, being sure highlight its negatives more than its positives. Although only a handful of cases are highlighted here, there have numerous instances where such bias has been evident not only to Hip-Hop artists, but fans such as myself. Possibly the most telling truth in this saga is shown by Hip-Hop’s effect throughout the World.

Since its beginnings in New York in the late 1970’s, Hip-Hop was not only making its way to the ears of American listeners, but to those outside of the US. Hip-Hop has become a staple of modern music in many areas, most notably New Zealand, Australia and Asia. Rap styles differ vastly from American style in these regions, where the main draw of rap is still utilizing crafty lyrics, catchy beats and exposing political and social issues. At a recent international Hip-Hop festival, Nigerian rapper MC Oke blamed US rap on perpetuating the idea that Hip-Hop is “a criminal art form, as being the home of the uneducated and non-thinking people”(BBC). Elsewhere Oke argues, “people are embracing hip-hop as the force to change and transform the world”(BBC).

Other rappers at the conference blamed the American music industry for Hip-Hop’s content in the US. Artists at the April 2006 conference collectively believe record labels and radio conglomerates are actively promoting negative stereotypes to bury rap with a positive or political message. In an area that is all about sales, selling Hip-Hop music in the US has become all about being sensational about violence, drugs and women. Tanzanian rapper MC Dola comments that records like those popular in the US don’t even get played in Tanzania.
“You don't get airplay if you talk about these things in your music. Over 99% of the rap in Tanzania is in Swahili - and it actually has a political message to it.” (Dola)
Still, BBC urban radio programmer Jacqueline Springer argued that artists in the US do have such a voice, but such songs are not as accepted because American listeners do not want their Hip-Hop filled with political or social issues.

And Springer is right in this sentiment, current rappers are trying to force a new voice, stressing the importance of political and social awareness to listeners. Artists such as Kanye West, who is one of the leaders of the new hip-hop era are already working towards righting the wrongs Hip-Hop has encountered. West has made millions in his young career by making songs highlighting such issues as the diamond crisis in Sierra Leone, the War in Iraq, and crack use in urban neighborhoods just to name a few, while still making catchy, non-oppressive tunes that amount to #1 hits.

However, those in the media have already made a scapegoat out of West, saying he takes too much liberty with the words he says. Many criticized West for the comments he made during a Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser, stating “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people”(West, 2005). Although his comment infuriated many, it is a fact that many African Americans and Americans in general share this sentiment.

West, and many of his cohorts leading the way for Hip-Hop share in West’s feelings of resentment toward the media. His most telling statement came recently to Rolling Stone magazine “If I was more complacent and I let things slide, my life would be easier, but you all wouldn't be as entertained. My misery is your pleasure” when referencing the media’s tolerance of his music. West, along with the likes of rappers such as Common, Lupe Fiasco, Nas, the Black Eyed Peas are all leading us away from the negative sterotypes the media has created for Hip-Hop, but until the media embraces its positive influences, Hip-Hop will always face the same issues.


Rap has a bad reputation in white circles, where many people believe it consists of obscene and violent anti-white and anti-female guttural. Some of it does. Most does not. Most white listeners don't care; they hear black voices in a litany of discontent, and tune out. Yet rap plays the same role today as Bob Dylan did in 1960, giving voice to the hopes and angers of a generation, and a lot of rap is powerful writing." Roger Ebert
[Edited 11/29/06 20:48pm]

KingKrazy said:

Prince wasn't the only person that Tipper Gore & the congress' wives has beef with. Case in point:

Twisted Sister


Motley Crue


W.A.S.P.


Ozzy


There were the faces that were making some white people look bad (according to conservstive america at the time).

dancerella said:

HEY JAY Z CALL HIMSELF JIGGA

twink69 said:

Flava Flav has become the poster child for the modern day minstrel.

Most rap videos are just an embarrassment. The creativity as left the building and now its just mockery, bafoonary, and ignorance.

and yes I do see ppl judging white ppl/rock music, as you put it, because of Britney, Paris and the rest...it sucks ass as well.

Rhondab said:

POOK NOT UNDERSTAND

WHY FLAVOR FLAV HAVE TO BE CRAZY BLACK DUDE

AND NOT JUST CRAZY DUDE?

jaimestarr79 said:

Agreed Man. These fools are worse then Amos'N Andy and Step'N Fetchit ever were. Why anyone would want to emulate Lil John or the Yin Yang Twins is beyond me.

Shapeshifter said:

I'm starting to wonder if they know how to make a video without all those half naked girls in it. & I'm tired of Pharrell constantly putting those Brazilian girls in his video making the same videos over and over again. Do something else.
[Edited 11/30/06 2:53am]

StillDirrty said:

Agreed.Is there anything more boring than a hip-hop video these days? These guys put absolutely no creativity into their videos,or in how they are presented.

POOK said:

he's both.....

ThePunisher said:

What I find interesting is that Step N Fetchit almost had 2 do what they did 2 sustain a career. These silly ass rappers are doing it by CHOICE, which really does make it worse. After all of the gains in personal freedom that were fought 4, this is what it has come 2. This is a SAD state of affairs.

If your not familar with a Mintrel Show, You should watch the movie Bamboozled to get a rough idea. Excellent Movie. It almost brings tears to your eyes. But after watching Bamboozled, you can see why I compared Rap Video to Minstrel shows. Remember I'm not referring rappers like Common and Mos Def. I'm referring to Lil' Jon and those damn Ying Yang Twins. The Ying Yang Twins make Flavor Flav sound like a Yale English Professor.

jaimestarr79 said:

Bamboozled sums it up nicely. One of Spike's BEST flicks in my opinion.

vainandy said:

yup i heard at one time 88% of all rap was bought by white people..i dont know how accurate that is tho

Mazerati said:

No. It's close to 70%

Sly said:

Powerful stuff, isn't it? And very very true. I don't think NYOil has anything out in the shops yet.

jaimestarr79 said:

Ugh, that reminds me. That Wait Whisper Song by the Ying Yang Twins was absolutely disgusting.

StillDirrty said:

And crap too.

if youre gonna talk about the state of hip-hop could you please not generalize all southern rap artists as ignorant/non-speaking etc...I am from the south and its a bad stereotype all together, i know indie southern rappers who arent like the ones im GUESSING youre talking about like Ying yang twins etc, who actually are not how you say they are...heck some southern artists are actually better enlightened than most other regional hip hop stars like Outkast and Scarface, and some have wayyy better rhyming skills like ludacris and lil wayne even though they do talk about h**s and cars occassionally...if youre gonna talk about hip hop music videos why not mention the stupidity of some of these northern/west coast rappers???...50 cent ring a bell??... because Im sick of people generalizing my region's hip hop like we are just so country and ignorant.....

but I guess on another note...im not mad at most of the artists you refer to...why?? because IF youre in the club getting your hip hop groove on, do you really want to listen to the roots...de la soul????...i mean the only purpose these artists have is to have fun and to make people party and people take them too seriously....it's not like they are going "oh we are conscious and represent ALL facets of hip hop"....I only blame certain media outlets for not giving the general public enough of a variety of hip hop artists and MAKING people take these artists so seriously like they are the ultimate voice of hip-hop in the first place...I never knock a rapper's hustle...it's all art to me, I only knock the people behind the scenes which other people should be ranting and raving about who actually put the stuff on air 24/7


also if youre raving about this, do what I do...listen to more Indie/underground hip-hop...all the music in the world is there for your taking!!! so basically youre complaining about radio/tv mainstream programming which is why ive stopped watching BET/MTV AND stopped listening to the radio in the first place....when in fact all the artists you say you miss, there are hundreds of new artists out there making strides who are just as awesome!
[Edited 12/2/06 16:54pm]

twink69 said:

-----
"Why is it that when people are critical of rap video's they call in the race card when there is plenty of white, yellow, green people makiing a damn fool of themselves on tv. you dont see people saying 'white people are screwed' when Britney showed the whole world what she had for breakfast a few days ago. "


Because they are white and they don't have the history that black people have in the U.S.

Once upon a time black people tried to put their best foot forward to get away from sterotypes that white people saddle us with. Now we don't give a crap how we act and look at what is going on in our communities.

Mazerati said:

I thought it went down the hill with 2 Live Crew? Remember the "Pop That Coochie" Video?

Graycap23 said:

Exactly!

Hey I think we should come up with a list of rappers who DO make creative and interesting music videos, I'll start.


1. The Roots
2. OutKast
3. Common
4. Ludacris [he's made both creative AND buffoonery videos]

Can anyone add some more?
[Edited 12/2/06 17:10pm]

WomanScorned said:

lupe fiasco
jean grae
raekwon
missy elliot(southern rapper/producer)
busta rhymes
The Game
Eminem
Scarface(southern)
Cee-lo(southern )
Goodie Mob(southern rappers)
Nas
The Clipse
Lauryn Hill
Pharrell(southern rapper/producer)
Wu-Tang Clan
Bone Thugs and Harmony

vainandy said:

Thank you Vainandy! I really enjoy reading your posts! If anyone who think that hip-hop is all about sampling doesn't know the history itself. I have a collection of hip hop songs from 1978 to 1986 and almost 85% of the songs are original and innovative but at the same time they most weren't never mainstream hits.

mehogeni said:

Are you sure about PHarrell and the GAme? I think they've made some hoochie mama videos

ladygirl99 said:

again i have to laugh at vainandy because she keeps naming electro songs and artists and saying it is Hip Hop, when CinisterCee says hip hop he mean rocking over breaks, that is hip hop, Vainandy needs to stop naming electro artist like Egyption Lover he might have had some rapping but he wasn't really hip hop. and you say 1978 - 1986 most hip hop was 85 original is a lie, and thats one of the main reason i love laughing at your so called musical snobs on this board.

THANK you! And I always have to go to the fact that sampling directly from records became more affordable by the mid 80s, which was to mimic the sound of rocking over breaks. And even Sugarhill Records catalog, although played by Brass Wood & Steel in-house band... they were always trying to emulate the kinds of records rappers used in live shows. Even electro, which was b-boy music, like "Planet Rock" was on some Kraftwerk shit.

StillDirrty said:

The Ying Yang Twins need their @$$es Kicked for that song. It makes me wonder if record exec's listen to the music of their artists before they let them put it out there. That song is STUUUUUPID!! Since then we've had our ears polluted with the likes of DL4(Shake Dat Laffy Taffy) and Jibbs (Chain Hang Low) Where does it end?