CNN explores hip hop and the impact of the negative images in videos and the lyrics. The record labels, music execs, and television stations thrive off of americas facination with urban culture. If these videos were so offensive, why does the FCC continue to air them? If these lyrics are so derogitory, why do the labels continue to put millions behind these artists? BECAUSE its a multi billion dollar industry! The powers that be dont care about if they are poisoning are youth as long as that register keeps ringing. I think the media needs to focus less on these artists who are merely rapping about their life experiences (negative and positive) and go after who is really putting this stuff on air....
Hip Hop is most definately art, some offensive, some not. But if you study art and music history some of the most impactful works were some of the most offensive and controversial works of their time. The messages and images in hip hop are no different that way you hear in pop, rock, or see on any given night on HBO, Cinemax or network TV for that matter!! They take the worst of hip hop, the most offensive of all the good and splash it all over TV as a way to influence our young blacks and send a message to them that this is the life they should lead. The media and netorks control what songs are popular...remember they didnt want Kanye to come out with 'Jesus Walks' -- they'd much rather have us talk about how low our chains hang! or some damn chicken noodle soup! Hip Hop artists make some GREAT music with messages to motivate and inspire BUT the ART doesnt get the airplay, they would rather have us DRINK POISON and **** ourselves.
I was interested in this report the moment I saw it advertised on CNN.It is upsetting that what began as a movement to educate and uplift has turned into what it is now - another way to capitalize on selling shock value. Unfortunately, this is the American way... look at our TV programming. The most superficial shows always seem to top the ratings.True hip hop is not about selling tired stereotypes and mediocre artistry. Unfortunately most of the world is so used to it they can't tell the difference.
I didn't see or hear about the hip hop thing, so I can only talk about me. I like some hip hop and some I don't like. But, what I really don't like is when people stereotype it simply because it falls under that genre.
It's ignorant to say that it's bad because it's hip hop. Its bad or good based on a lot of things, but don't say that the music my people are known for introducing is just BAD.
I love my church folks, but they are notorious for this one!
I gotta agree with joyce on this one. Some hip hop is great music, some not. But you're going to find that with any genre. Just like some of hip hop is ignorent, some of it can be really uplifting and intellectual. I feel that hip hop is an art form that requires an extremely high level of intelligence and creativity to execute, if done tastefully and correctly. I know I couldn't come up with enough words that rymed to fill 16 bars nonetheless an entire song. Not to mention the difficulties I'd have with cadance, enunciation, and the figurative language that goes into it. Of course most hip hop artist don't recongnize they're doing all this, but the creativity one must have to accomplish what they do on a daily is mind blowiong, so they get all the propz in the world from me.
I gotta agree with joyce on this one. Some hip hop is great music, some not. But you're going to find that with any genre. Just like some of hip hop is ignorent, some of it can be really uplifting and intellectual. I feel that hip hop is an art form that requires an extremely high level of intelligence and creativity to execute, if done tastefully and correctly. I know I couldn't come up with enough words that rymed to fill 16 bars nonetheless an entire song. Not to mention the difficulties I'd have with cadance, enunciation, and the figurative language that goes into it. Of course most hip hop artist don't recongnize they're doing all this, but the creativity one must have to accomplish what they do on a daily is mind blowiong, so they get all the propz in the world from me.
True that... comparing real hip hop with what you hear on the radio is like comparing McDonalds with your grandmother's home cooking, just because McD's is more popular and sells more.I have a lot of respect for the hip hop genre and its artists, but not for what is passed off as artistry by the commercial music industry.
^^^ Thats a very good comparison.
I got to see Big Daddy Kane live for the first time last night and I gotta admit I was schooled. BDK was doing stuff from 18-19 years ago that still were relevant and crowd movers today... when today we have people who can't make songs that'll last 4 months.
His swagger and everything about him was one that positive (but he didn't come off as a pushover either).
Being a musician and an artist myself I personally have to deal with the hurdles one has to get over when it comes to this new generation industry. The sad truth of the whole thing is for the most part you have whites/old jewish cats who pretty much run everything and all they see is green (please forgive me if that happens to offend anybody on this site cus i love all colors and creeds... but yeah).
Yeah there are black owned record labels... but at the same time people forget about the dude who signs the CEO of that label's check... who's sitting on their board and who's really calling the shots behind the scenes (although many of us who get in power do enough damage ourselves).
Although money has always been a major motivator of music in the past we forced these individuals to produce good musc because we wouldn't buy (couldn't afford) anything less then that. Nowadays, we've become complacent and labels realize they don't have to look that hard for actual talent... any cute chick with a subpar voice or dude with a gimmick can be marketed to make them money and we've settled. In fact many of prefer them over the people who really got skills.
Music has always been a voice for the people and an indicator of where they are and whats going on across the globe and time. At the end of the day we really can't be mad at the labels/"artist" for producing alot of the crap coming out but we have to change the things going on around so people are talking about different things. The labels are at fault for the perpetual flow of material coming out and stifling the attempts of people to make good music however... we are fault for allowing them to do so.
Can be art because sometimes it speaks the truth...keeps america aware and honest....look at what was going on before rap and rock in roll (both started by us) when america hid everything and pretended it was all honkey dorry with bobby and sarah jane...at the same time they were showing a clean, white, family on black and white TV sitting at the breakfast table drinking orange juice, there was a black man down the street getting his head caved in by a cop for wanting to protest what was going on to him in his america.
shoot if its being expressed in the music, then it's being talked about in the mainstream and not being ignored or hidden by the white majority...which they so LOVE to do...
yeah that's the beauty of rap music...you can't hide or ignore what's going on in the real world in a part of america you ain't seen, jack.
