We finalized this unit by critically interrogating the current state of Hip-Hop. Our authors all seemed to agree that Hip-Hop isn't dead, but needs redirection. Many argue that while independent Hip-Hop exists, it isn't accessible to the masses. So, let's finish this unit by reflecting on this, and sharing what resonated the most from all of the units.
Due: Fri., 6/23/17 by 11:59pm EST.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2016/9/17/12945148/hip-hop-politics-kendrick-lamar
ReplyDeleteWhat resonated with me the most was the power of the corporation. This resonated with me the most because when I was growing up I always believed that the artist had complete control over their music. That they decided the way they wanted the album to go and the only thing that they went to label for was deadlines. But that truly was the case. The record labels had complete control. They decided how the artist looked, sounded like, and the messages they decided to portray. And from the labels having complete control the artist suffered in the creativity realm, which began the stage of everyone sounding the same.
While you had the growth of these mainstream rappers you also began to see the rebirth of the underground rappers. The underground rappers we're signed to major label and that allowed them creative freedom. They were rapping about political corruption, crime and social consciousness. And that came as a breath of fresh air.
What resonates with me the most is our current state in hip-hop. Many feel as though huge corporations and record labels have taken a lot away from our music. While I agree music has changed I feel as though it will continue to do so over the decades. It also depends on how you look at change, are you open to viewing someone else's perspective on what hip-hop is and can be? The definition can be different for different people. I also feel like this generation is judged a lot. While we understand that music in the past has come from resistance and pain and we will NEVER forget, we also will never truly have a understanding of what our ancestors went through. Overall I think our current state in hip-hop is about having fun and living the lifestyle you want to live unapologetic. Rae Sremmurd and French Montana have a song out right now called "Unforgettable" and the lyrics state "A fucking good time never hurt nobody" and honestly I think coming from the places these young men have come from and seen the things they have seen it is okay to just want to live your life.
ReplyDeleteMany people feel like Hip Hop is dead because it has changed over time . I feel everybody fails to realize that different generations are going to bring different music to the table. Society was so use to break dancing , beat boxing , and turn tables that when the new generation brought skills on a lap top , some felt that was the easy way out or they weren't as talented . Yes , the new era has party music but so did back in the day where everybody use to just dance. I do think today's era gets criticized more because they use a lot of profanity and always have a girl shaking their butt in a music video.I often feel that this generation is misunderstood because some people were raised you get it how you live. If they have to produce music that their producers tell them to , than they will to make sure they families are fed and to make it. I feel when society supports artist that don't do what everybody else does and put more money and time in underground artist than Hip Hop will smooth itself out.
ReplyDeleteWhat resonated with me the most is how major record labels try to control and limit an artist creativity. I believe with that happening it hurts HH because it limits the conscious rap being produced.I really like the whole independent movement in the new generation of HH artist, not allowing major record labels to control what type of music they put out. I believe some artist should use their freedom of creativity to put out more conscious rap.
ReplyDeleteThe misogynistic and homoerotic behaviors found in hip hop resonates with me the most. We studied lyrics from a plethora of artist as well as their behaviors and almost every single artist talked down on women and even though this has always been apparent to me it became more obvious after taking this course. Women are not represented in a positive light in hip hop and as an example I'd like to list a few songs that completely trash women,
ReplyDeleteRick Ross- UOENO
Gucci Mane- Ima Dogg
Ying Yang Twinz- Whisper Song
Plies- Becky
Nelly- Tip Drill
All of these songs listed are some of the most disrespectful songs in hip hop to date (towards women). In UOENO Rick Ross explains that he will "put molly in her champagne" while she did not know and went on to say "I took her home and I enjoyed that and SHE DID NOT EVEN KNOW IT"!!! Rap lyrics like these scream disrespect and are all throughout hip hop.
In class I learned that hip hoppers have had a hard time showing respect to women and now I cannot listen to it without thinking about it.
What resonated with me the most is all of the different authors and experts we have read something about and their prospectives on Hip-Hop being different but still coming to the same conclusion that Hip-Hop is not dead. Many people believe that Hip-Hop is dead because of the mainstream music heard on the radio every day. It was very interesting to me that everyone we read from said it is not the same but there is still room for Hip-Hop and improvement.
ReplyDeleteBeing in this generation with a new sound in Hip-Hop is fascinating to me how one sound can blow up and many others can take from it and instantly become mainstream.
On the last day of class the conversation was very interesting to me and also resonated with me. When someone mentioned they do not see J. Cole as a conscious rapper and believed he sounds the same as everyone on the radio. This was very interesting to me and I thought it was intriguing how we all can listen to the same artists but get totally different perspectives of their music. I have always thought J. Cole had a very unique sound, even in his mainstream music.
The conscious rapper is not too common now as we have discussed when it comes to mainstream artists today. We constantly name the same people like Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, and J. Cole. The comparison of music from the 90s to now can be compared too. There were secular artists like Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, and Uncle Luke but there was a balance with other artists like Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, and Tupac. I do not believe people are as critical of the music then because there was a healthy balance but now when your conscious artists are mainly underground it creates space for us all to be extreme critics of music today. I have thought about a lot after taking this course, it has made me look at everything in a totally different prospective.
At first I thought hip hop was dead but once I heard different opinions and reasoning behind it, I have had a change of mind. Not a complete change, because I do think hip hop is on the verge of dying, however I feel that our artist today have the ability to make hip hop great again therefore like the authors started, it just needs to be revived. As far as our independent artist, I believe consumers(society) have to start doing our own homework and research in order to fully understand some of our artists today. Many of today's artist have great music but a lot of us are only "woke" to things that are showed in the media and mainstream hip hop. Therefore, a lot of good music that artist create goes unnoticed and they are underestimated and don't get the credit they deserve. This has resonated with me specifically because I have always been a mainstream girl for the most part. There has only been a select few artists whose music I listen to that isn't mainstream.
ReplyDeleteWhat resonated in time the most was just how deep the study of HipHop is. Primarily, I wanted to take this class thinking I knew it and that we would be doing simple things like breaking down lyrics and talking about artist. Instead I was awakened by history, life lessons, and knowledge. My love for HipHop grew more and more in this class. As we coasted from the 70's to present HipHop I learned to appreciate more than just the artist and person in front of the camera. Instead I now can appreciate people like Uncle Luke and Kool Herc people you hear about ,but you never learn much about. This was by far the best class I ever have taken. Outside of here I have ordered uncle lukes book and I have watched Michael Eric Dyson to learn more about the thing I claim to love so much, which I now know I didn't know much about: HipHop.
ReplyDeleteAttached is one of my favorite people speaking on HipHop.
Farrakhan on Black Culture/Music appreciation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbHBPyDr5_w
Its a wrap! Throughout this semester the units that were reviewed allowed me to become more aware of how hip hop today, has become a more cooperatized and commercialized industry. Hip hop today is no longer used as a political tool and tactic ;to help uplift the black community. Because of the readings and discussions that i experienced in this class. I definitely agree that hh needs redirection. HH artist today selfishly uplifts themselves and no longer tried to uplift the community.Yes, we have our independent artists that stray away from the pack and try to get as much of their audience " woke " as possible. We have other artists that advocate for their community but not as often as necessary. For example you have future "squares out your circle"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlntHkKbICU and then you'll hear "Mask off"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvZqHgFz51I which are too completely different messages.I appreciate all of the insight i gained in this class and the new outlook on hh today.
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