Identify and Organize an Opinion
Hip Hop provides entertainment for millions of people throughout the world, but there is divided opinion about the benefit or detriment of the music on America. The controversial lyrics often discuss poverty, racism and sexuality; they are often seen as derogatory and exclusionary by many. This paper will argue that Hip Hop is of benefit to America because its controversial content provides African American and minority youth with a space. A community of like minded people can safely discuss social and political issues that affect them in this space. Like Blues, Jazz and Folk Rock before it, it is a modern form of protest music that can be instrumental in organising large groups of people that are concerned with the world they live in.
Hip Hop began as music for a marginalised sub culture among African American and Latino youth in the 1970’s in the South Bronx. It moved from house parties to outdoor venues where it became a way of expression for teenagers to avoid trouble on the streets in Harlem. Hip Hop became commercially successful in the 1990’s shifting the focus away from the empowerment of youth to controversial matter that appealed to masculinity, violence, sex and subject matter that appealed to white middle class youth.
The music was seen by many in government and by some in the middle class as being threatening and derogatory. Artists like NWA used profanity and words like ‘nigger’ and hard edged rock guitar songs like “Fuck tha Police” which was criticised by the FBI and the government. The FBI sent letters to the artist expressing resentment of the song and President George Bush senior and Bill Clinton criticized the genre.
The hard edged lyrics and profanity were expressing discontent of African American issues like the ‘war on drugs’ and police brutality that appealed to mainstream white male audiences and to African American men. In contrast women felt that the subject matter promoted theft, sexism and violence because the artists were seen as role models that many men wanted to live up to. Video clips often showed scantily clad women, theft and celebrities with large sums of cash or jewellery.
Despite the criticism of Hip Hop, there have been positives to come from its controversial subject matter. Artists like Tupac used Hip Hop as a means of empowering African Americans with personal and political lyrics that talk about social changes while they are happening; it appealed to the emotions of the listener unlike some ‘gangsta rap’. The song ‘Changes’ attempts to make listeners ‘fight back’ against poverty, suicide, crime, police and drugs. Tupac sings;
Come on come onI 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 and 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 and let 'em deal to brothers.Give 'em guns, step back, and watch 'em kill each other."It's time to fight back", that's what Huey said
Such music can act as a valuable space for youth to talk about issues that affect them and the power relationship that their role models have with the government, police and the public. For example youth orientated events with ‘poetry slams’ give activists a chance to talk about the controversial subject matter of the music; it allows activists to ask what individuals think they can do about the subject matter of the songs. This results in a wider awareness of political and social issues affecting minority communities because everybody is listening to the music and opinions.
Hip Hop may contain different subsets of its musical style and the lyrics may differ from the benign to outright aggression however the controversial nature of the music has been consistent. The style has been criticized by the dominate culture and by individuals that blame its content for wider societal ills in African American communities. The reality is that the commercial styles such as ‘gangsta rap’ have also shaped public debate about racism in America.
‘Gangsta Rap’ has given artists like Tupac a way to change Hip Hop from a musical style that is overtly commercial, materialist and derogatory to one that empowers youth. Lyrics by artists such as Tupac, opens up a talking point for youth and community activists. It assists them with spreading awareness of social and political issues that affect African Americans to mainstream America.
