Hip Hop: Poison or Art?

[Little32]

Originally Posted by MzDoctaKay

If so, who would be responsible? The rapper? Or the industry machine?

I think that there is culpability on both sides. Of course, industry is primarily concerned with what will sell; it will appeal to the lowest common denominator. On the other hand, there have to be artists that embody or are willing to espouse ideas that are palatable to the LCD--and willing to be exploited--for this type of situation to persist. And as other have said, there is always going to be someone that will sacrifice their artistic integrity and vision for money. So industry and artists are responsible for the stagnation that we see in mainstream rap--I won't call it hip hop.

There are artists out there that continue to create real, thought-provoking music with lyrics and beats that will stand the test of time, as opposed to those songs that are here today, gone tomorrow (To that list, I would add someone like Del). But as with other genres of art, it is rare that those people are widely appreciated in their time.

I guess the other question is how is "art" being defined?

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by StarFish106

A: Yes. But if you asked me that in 1985, when we recorded Black Codes (From the Underground), I would have said yeah then, too. I can remember being on the bandstand with my brother [Branford] when I was 15 and he was 16, playing some song like "Shake Your Booty," or "Play That Funky Music." And I said to him, "This is the dumbest [stuff] ever. I don't think it can get any stupider than this!"
He looked at me, and deadpanned: "It can, and it will." He was like: "This [stuff] is nothing. You only think this is dumb. Just wait." I'll never forget how he told me that. Ha! If you asked anybody who was black in the 1970s that was listening to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, if there was going to be a type of music coming along that calls people n*****s - we would never have believed it. No way. After the Civil Rights movement? C'mon! So what he said was truly prophetic. We saw it happen.

This is the best quote I've seen in a long time. I think Marsalis is on-point here. And as I was reading, I thought about how dramatically different hip hop changed from the late 70s to the 80s; then the 80s to the 90s.....and during these first years of the New Millennium. I have every right to be offended - having participated as an "mcee" back in the day ..... when rhyming was "innocent" and the point was to get in a wise crack or a laugh at the expense of the one who dared to battle you. ... or to simply show of your quick-witted skills over a 'hard' beat...

Thanks for posting this interview...I'd like to see it in its entirety - would you please post the link to its source?

[StarFish106]

Originally Posted by MzDoctaKay

Thanks for posting this interview...I'd like to see it in its entirety - would you please post the link to its source?

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/e...t/16820808.htm

This will be there for a limited time (so the website says)

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by StarFish106

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/e...t/16820808.htm

This will be there for a limited time (so the website says)

Thank you so much for posting...I circulated the link to everyone I know!

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by acedawg00-02

Personally, I think that some forms of rap and hip-hop are a new poison that has entered our veins...and a good majority of us have yet to awaken...still unaware...perhaps unconcerned...

Ok....so you believe only SOME types of Hip Hop are poison....? Is it safe to say that most of it is art?

[litAKAtor]

I think at its inception and in its realest form is art . . . the ability to use words to explain, examine, express one's feelings about their environment over a beat is something that ONLY an artist could do. Hip Hop wasn't embraced by mainstream when it was preaching about teen pregancy, drug infestation, crime in our communities, unemployment, etc. But as soon as the music begins to demoralize and objectify women, it is embraced; as soon as the message is kill a n or N this or n that; as soon as the music lost its message that is when a PORTION of the art form turned into poison . . when we allowed mainstream America to pimp us for a few measly dollars that is when it became poisonous. . .do you think white america as a whole was listening to Tribe or Jungle Brothers or KRS-1 . . NO! But you can bet your butt they are thumping 50 cent, Cash Money, and any other artist that talks about killing, pimping, hoeing, stealing, and the list goes one. People like Naz and Common who speak truth and have not lost their souls to the might dollar are, in my opinion, true hip hop. The others are sell outs who are focused only on green and not concerned with the impact their words have on society and its views of our community. . . .

[dzdst796]

Originally Posted by litAKAtor

I think at its inception and in its realest form is art . . . the ability to use words to explain, examine, express one's feelings about their environment over a beat is something that ONLY an artist could do. Hip Hop wasn't embraced by mainstream when it was preaching about teen pregancy, drug infestation, crime in our communities, unemployment, etc. But as soon as the music begins to demoralize and objectify women, it is embraced; as soon as the message is kill a n or N this or n that; as soon as the music lost its message that is when a PORTION of the art form turned into poison . . when we allowed mainstream America to pimp us for a few measly dollars that is when it became poisonous. . .do you think white america as a whole was listening to Tribe or Jungle Brothers or KRS-1 . . NO! But you can bet your butt they are thumping 50 cent, Cash Money, and any other artist that talks about killing, pimping, hoeing, stealing, and the list goes one. People like Naz and Common who speak truth and have not lost their souls to the might dollar are, in my opinion, true hip hop. The others are sell outs who are focused only on green and not concerned with the impact their words have on society and its views of our community. . . .

I totally agree with you. It is so easy to create a song that demoralizes the black community, but what happened to being pro-black and uplifting our people. Or better yet just having a good time. Like with songs Peter Piper-Run DMC and Eric B for President.

[litAKAtor]

Originally Posted by dzdst796

I totally agree with you. It is so easy to create a song that demoralizes the black community, but what happened to being pro-black and uplifting our people. Or better yet just having a good time. Like with songs Peter Piper-Run DMC and Eric B for President.

Right - because it doesn't take any real thought to say [w]itch this and [w]itch that. Or N this or N that, etc. etc. etc. It takes some thought and some intelligence to talk about something of substance and something that affects our community.

I think someone may have mentioned this, but there was a documentary on a couple of weeks ago about hip hop (I think it was on PBS) - very good expose on how far the genre has dropped. . . there were guys outside a record studio that were spitting verses about something conscious and then said that the record execs don't want to hear that because it doesn't sell. What baffles me is why someone would think to themselves, I am going to sacrafice a part of me for the green to spout ignorance, instead of doing my own thing cutting some cd's and promoting myself . . .I know that is easier said than done- but why sell yourself and your integrity . . .

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by litAKAtor

I think at its inception and in its realest form is art . . . the ability to use words to explain, examine, express one's feelings about their environment over a beat is something that ONLY an artist could do. Hip Hop wasn't embraced by mainstream when it was preaching about teen pregancy, drug infestation, crime in our communities, unemployment, etc. But as soon as the music begins to demoralize and objectify women, it is embraced; as soon as the message is kill a n or N this or n that; as soon as the music lost its message that is when a PORTION of the art form turned into poison . . when we allowed mainstream America to pimp us for a few measly dollars that is when it became poisonous. . .do you think white america as a whole was listening to Tribe or Jungle Brothers or KRS-1 . . NO! But you can bet your butt they are thumping 50 cent, Cash Money, and any other artist that talks about killing, pimping, hoeing, stealing, and the list goes one. People like Naz and Common who speak truth and have not lost their souls to the might dollar are, in my opinion, true hip hop. The others are sell outs who are focused only on green and not concerned with the impact their words have on society and its views of our community. . . .

Wheeeeeeeeeew girl!

*Five Mics and a Thumbs Up For This One!!!*

[litAKAtor]

Originally Posted by MzDoctaKay

Wheeeeeeeeeew girl!

*Five Mics and a Thumbs Up For This One!!!*

LOL! Thanks MzDocta.