The Miseducation of Hip-Hop

By Kate Mueller on June 9, 2014

A look at Rap and its message

Hip-hop is older than me, yet I know what it should sound like and how it should make you feel.  I can’t even listen to the radio anymore; rappers constantly talking about the piles of money, countless women and designer brands. Society always seems to point their fingers at hip-hop and rap for society’s problem, are they right? I’m starting to question whether Nas was on the right track,” is real hip-hop dead?”

via Flickr

Rapper’s delight

After watching “The Message,” a hip-hop documentary on BET, and taking Sociology of Hip-hop (yes, that’s a class at FSU) it got me thinking that maybe Hip-Hop has lost sight of its roots. To me, hip-hop should bring people together, raise awareness and tell a story. People look at hip-hop and think violence, drugs and delinquency. In reality, hip-hop was birthed out of peace.  In 1971, two rival gangs in the Bronx signed a peace treaty where they blasted music from their speakers and breakdanced under the streetlights instead of fighting. As for its start in Harlem, people just wanted to party.

Hip-hop began as a way to unite the inner city kids, but rap took a turn toward a more realistic look at the hood.  Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 introduced what we now call ‘conscious’ or political rap. “The Message” was the first rap record that really looked at the harsh realities of the hood, and people connected with it.

“You’ll grow in the ghetto livin’ second-rate

And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate.”

via Flickr

“Its provocative, it gets the people going!”

A louder and more abrasive sound would come from Run DMC that inspired a new genre of rap.  Soon, Public Enemy, NWA, 2 Live Crew and other rappers were gaining a lot of attention from the media, parents and even the government. Rap was labeled as everything – except art.

From topics like race inequality to police brutality, the media was quick to label them as ‘gangsta’ rap, the enemy of the white middle class.  I like to agree with Chuck D, “Rap is the CNN of the ghetto.”  They were classified as enemies for their explicit lyrics and supposed threats to society, yet they just rhymed about what they would see on a daily basis that CNN wasn’t covering.

Another way to look at rappers is to think of them like actors. They become the character sometimes to get the point across. We can watch countless Denzel movies and still see him as Denzel Washington, not Detective Alonzo Harris from Training Day. NWA’s controversial “F*** the Police” criticized LA’s police, yet NWA gets deemed as ‘dangerous.’ Why don’t rappers get the same credit?  After all, both played roles to show the realities of the hood and corrupt police.

via Flickr

The Message

Yes, there are problems within the hip-hop community – misogyny, homophobia, violence and drugs. But is that any different from American society? Hip-hop may not always help, but it didn’t start these issues.  These problems are deeply rooted in our society as a whole. It’s not fair to generalize hip-hop, just as it’s not fair to generalize any other culture. There’s always going to be negativity, but many hip-hop artists stand up to these issues. Here are a few examples:

We think about the problems within hip-hop, yet don’t think of all the issues they’ve helped people to think about. To me, the real artists of hip-hop have something to say, and get people talking, even if it’s controversial. They thrive on freedom of speech. Here are some of my favorite songs that address issues some people are too scared to talk about:

Rappers may rap about the wealth they’ve accumulated, but that doesn’t mean they don’t share it as well. Many rappers have founded their own charities and worked toward solving problems in their communities.  Over this past Labor Day weekend, Chance the Rapper helped to inspire a violence-free weekend in Chicago, where the Windy City went 42 hours without a shooting or killing.

The evolution of hip hop

One quote that really stuck with me from “The Message” is something Jermaine Dupri said, “Hip-hop is supposed to keep changing.”  Maybe that’s what its doing, constantly evolving.  Jay-Z is no longer rapping about the streets, but about becoming a billionaire and being a father and husband.  He’s become a role model, despite his past.  He’s admitted he’s said some things that were wrong; he’s grown from his mistakes.

Look at the Billboard Hot 100 Rap songs, for example.  Sure half of the songs are about drugs, women and money.  But look at what’s on top of the list – a white, Australian woman, Iggy Azalea.  Hip-hop started in New York and made its way to the West Coast and eventually all over the world. Its draw is undeniable.

If you’re not a fan of hip-hop, just read the lyrics.  Ignore the profanity and strong use of language.  Imagine yourself in their position.  If you’re a hip-hop fan, I challenge you to listen to the lyrics, really listen.  Are you supporting an artist that is trying to make a difference? S ure, we all have our guilty pleasures, but maybe we need to start listening to the right artists to revive hip-hop from its slump.

I’ll take you back to 2003 with a song that, to me, encompasses what hip-hop should sound like and how it should make you feel – empowered. Listen here.

Be sure to check out the second part of “The Message” on BET on Wednesday at 10 p.m.

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