by Jasmine Bradburn
University of Memphis Student
This week’s lesson touched on instances where politics, gender, and media may have had an influence on hip-hop. Some of the discussion videos that were presented to the class this week had to do with some of the people in the hip-hop world and their personal views on how hip-hop was related to the three factors that I mentioned above. Many believe that hip-hop is just about sounds and music, but hip-hop has a bigger meaning. These discussions pointed to meanings that were unclear to me at first, but after listening to them I gained a better understanding of some things. I was interested in hearing what the professors and artists had to say about this topic.
The lecture about hip-hop politics showed me that even though some artist rap or sing about materialistic things, sex, and violence, doesn’t mean that they live the lives that they sing or rap about. I believe that most artists are only trying to fit in with the trends that are constantly changing in the world. These artists do not live exactly how they talk about most of the time. The lectures were great and I believe that the professors and artists did a wonderful job of explaining how they think hip-hop revolves around politics. In my opinion I think that hip-hop formed because of politics in a way because if you think about it, people started making songs about the depression and struggles of their neighborhood or city. It was the actions of citizens and even leaders who sparked problems that artists were singing and rapping about. Politics will always remain a huge part of hip-hop and the people in the lectures just made it clearer that politics will never go away when it comes to this topic. Social responsibility was also mentioned within the discussion and I believe that everyone should be accountable for what they do and say. Some people believe that just because one is wealthy they will not be held accountable for their words and actions, but that changed as hip-hop evolved.
Also, the article about black masculinity made me actually sit down and think about how the “black man” is always preconceived as a bad person in most cases. The significance of this article is the clarification that was made that the black man can have ideas and that race should not play a role in the act of hip-hop. A video was also analyzed from a professional point of view. Rapper 50 cent’s video, “Straight to the bank” was discussed and it showed the typical form of how black males are represented. There were lots of material things like flashy cars and expensive clothes and cigars in the video. The majority of rappers do have similar videos, but it does not mean that they all act this way in real life. The article made me further realize that people should not place the blame on any targeted race about how hip-hop has changed because rappers of all races have similar videos and songs. It really bothers me that people have so many negative things to say about hip-hop, but that is where learning the history comes about. People should understand that before the making of hip-hop the world had struggles and after the making of hip-hop the world still has some of those struggles and maybe more. I really enjoyed this week’s lesson and I encouraged some of my friends to listen and read some of the materials that went with the lesson so that they could learn a little something about hip-hop that they did not know. I was thinking about how I would like to meet some of the world-known artists, professors, or even authors that know about the original movement of hip-hop so that I can gain some knowledge from them. I think that would be a perfect opportunity to ask questions about the original movement.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Jay-Z 101: Defending The Georgetown Class
Last month, I journeyed to our nation’s capital to see with my own eyes a popular Georgetown University class. It wasn’t another grand strategy offering, nor did it explore the latest advances in quantum physics. But “Sociology of Hip-Hop — Urban Theodicy of Jay-Z” was impressive nonetheless.
The course’s instructor, Professor Michael Eric Dyson, had invited me to give a guest lecture (my book, Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner To Corner Office, is required reading). His 140 students sat and listened–and then grilled me on an array of topics from the legal ramifications of writing an unauthorized biography to the cultural significance of Jay-Z’s rise from one of Brooklyn’s most notorious housing projects.
Read more here
The course’s instructor, Professor Michael Eric Dyson, had invited me to give a guest lecture (my book, Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner To Corner Office, is required reading). His 140 students sat and listened–and then grilled me on an array of topics from the legal ramifications of writing an unauthorized biography to the cultural significance of Jay-Z’s rise from one of Brooklyn’s most notorious housing projects.
Read more here
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Hip Hop and Feminism
The birth of feminism as a result of the lack of voice black females felt in the Womanist movements and Black Power and Civil Rights movements made it hip hops soulmate. Hip hop is a youth culture that is a byproduct of the end of the Black Power and Civil Rights movements, and as it was predominately male needless to say it had little to do with the Womanist movement. Both movements were born of a need for a voice in a world in which their respective participants felt ignored and overwhelmed. It seems only fitting that some black feminist should also find a voice in the emerging culture of hip hop.
I find that the relationship that feminism has with hip hop is under attack as are many relations with hip hop. Hip hop as a culture and a music did not emerge as a demeaning force to women in any way more substantive than that of teenagers not thinking a girl was cool enough to tag. In fact the braggadocio that is a hallmark of hip hop is due in part to every teenagers desire to impress the ladies. I think that is fair to say that hip hop in it’s youth, while not overwhelmingly welcoming to females, was not demeaning or negative towards them either. Hip hop, however, no longer has the luxury of youthful ignorance, and as it takes on a more predominate role in the life of many has a responsibility to embrace the females that participate, as well as those that don’t. One problem is that there is no central force that produces a hip hop cultural identity or can speak for the culture as a whole, and that is the point. Hip hop is anti establishment, anti-useless committee forums that yield only more committee meetings and panels. Hip hop is the emergence of a voice from many because of the support of many. It embodies perhaps the most democratic of art forms. So, one would assume that hip hop as a culture, must not respect it’s women as evident by the numerous examples in popular rap music, but I think that the panel discussion had it right when they noted that what is popular on the airwaves and in records sales is more akin to pop than hip hop. That essentially means that what is being bought and sold as hip hop is truly only hip hopish. This is further evidenced by the frustration of many hip hop heads by how they see the art form they love represented in the media.
The hip hop I know loves it’s women, and speaks about the Gods and the Earths. Speaks of loving, protecting and raising daughters to be queens. It speaks to building families, neighborhoods, and communities. It speaks on helping lost loved ones, building ones self up, and in the midst of it all trying to make a lil paper as well.
Hip hop also is challenged with expressing sexuality and beauty in a way that is consumable. This lends is to distortion when attempting to market these concepts to the larger numbers of the dominant class. The dominant class has made it clear how it wants ethnic women portrayed. The cooking cleaning submissive spouse, the lustful and insatiable lovers, and the sex toy teens are a few images that come to mind, and these images weren’t born from hip hop. These images may be observed in media well before hip hop. As one of the panelist reminded us in the forum, Thomas Jefferson wrote on the subject portraying the African female as a lustful beast who had an undeniable, and insatiable sexual appetite; these comments were no doubt a cover, an excuse, or rationalization for his own indiscretions with his female slaves. The mammy images from popular films of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s also demonstrate the popular cultures acceptance of images formed in that mold. The Josephine Baker story enlightened many to the struggles of African American women to gain acceptance in American pop culture. Her experiences showed how even the most accepted faces were regarded only as they conformed to the preconceived images and roles. Mrs. Baker was lusted after by many in white society, but dare not swim in the same pool as them. These ideas pre-date hip hop, hip hop struggles with these ideas just as American society does.
I once thought that all was lost with hip hop, as I strayed back into rock, jazz, and blues only to find that hip hop was not dead. Perhaps, Lupe explained it best in his “State Run Radio” song when he speaks on the heavy rotation of negative images and stereotypes. Other races are not the only ones that believe stereotypical messages. Many in hip hop have been convinced of the negative fictions promoted by the greedy and ignorant. I know this is true because, I was once convinced. But we are not what they say, or even what some of us say we are. We are so much more!!!!!-Donal Davis
I find that the relationship that feminism has with hip hop is under attack as are many relations with hip hop. Hip hop as a culture and a music did not emerge as a demeaning force to women in any way more substantive than that of teenagers not thinking a girl was cool enough to tag. In fact the braggadocio that is a hallmark of hip hop is due in part to every teenagers desire to impress the ladies. I think that is fair to say that hip hop in it’s youth, while not overwhelmingly welcoming to females, was not demeaning or negative towards them either. Hip hop, however, no longer has the luxury of youthful ignorance, and as it takes on a more predominate role in the life of many has a responsibility to embrace the females that participate, as well as those that don’t. One problem is that there is no central force that produces a hip hop cultural identity or can speak for the culture as a whole, and that is the point. Hip hop is anti establishment, anti-useless committee forums that yield only more committee meetings and panels. Hip hop is the emergence of a voice from many because of the support of many. It embodies perhaps the most democratic of art forms. So, one would assume that hip hop as a culture, must not respect it’s women as evident by the numerous examples in popular rap music, but I think that the panel discussion had it right when they noted that what is popular on the airwaves and in records sales is more akin to pop than hip hop. That essentially means that what is being bought and sold as hip hop is truly only hip hopish. This is further evidenced by the frustration of many hip hop heads by how they see the art form they love represented in the media.
The hip hop I know loves it’s women, and speaks about the Gods and the Earths. Speaks of loving, protecting and raising daughters to be queens. It speaks to building families, neighborhoods, and communities. It speaks on helping lost loved ones, building ones self up, and in the midst of it all trying to make a lil paper as well.
Hip hop also is challenged with expressing sexuality and beauty in a way that is consumable. This lends is to distortion when attempting to market these concepts to the larger numbers of the dominant class. The dominant class has made it clear how it wants ethnic women portrayed. The cooking cleaning submissive spouse, the lustful and insatiable lovers, and the sex toy teens are a few images that come to mind, and these images weren’t born from hip hop. These images may be observed in media well before hip hop. As one of the panelist reminded us in the forum, Thomas Jefferson wrote on the subject portraying the African female as a lustful beast who had an undeniable, and insatiable sexual appetite; these comments were no doubt a cover, an excuse, or rationalization for his own indiscretions with his female slaves. The mammy images from popular films of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s also demonstrate the popular cultures acceptance of images formed in that mold. The Josephine Baker story enlightened many to the struggles of African American women to gain acceptance in American pop culture. Her experiences showed how even the most accepted faces were regarded only as they conformed to the preconceived images and roles. Mrs. Baker was lusted after by many in white society, but dare not swim in the same pool as them. These ideas pre-date hip hop, hip hop struggles with these ideas just as American society does.
I once thought that all was lost with hip hop, as I strayed back into rock, jazz, and blues only to find that hip hop was not dead. Perhaps, Lupe explained it best in his “State Run Radio” song when he speaks on the heavy rotation of negative images and stereotypes. Other races are not the only ones that believe stereotypical messages. Many in hip hop have been convinced of the negative fictions promoted by the greedy and ignorant. I know this is true because, I was once convinced. But we are not what they say, or even what some of us say we are. We are so much more!!!!!-Donal Davis
Feminism: Hip Hop and the Woman’s Role
For my book review, I read the book Pimps Up, Ho's Down by Tracy Denean Sharpley-Whiting. Prior to reading this novel, I found myself viewing women as nothing but victims of the hip hop culture. Yet, as I read through the pages of her book, my opinion of the relation of the two slightly changed, or in other words, evolved. Don't get me wrong, I still feel that in many ways women are victims in the hip hop culture. They are indeed taking advantage of in many ways and are portrayed more as items rather than human beings. However, I have come to terms with the realization that women do play a huge part and huge role in the way they are portrayed in the hip hop culture. I will admit that I find no positivity in the way women are presented in mainstream hip hop. Unless one wants to say that the fact that we are the master's of our own destiny as being positive. Yet, the fact that we keep making our destinies "jacked up" by making the wrong decisions outweighs that as being positive in a great manner.
Women play a huge role in the way they are presented in mainstream hip hop in several ways. Many women who have a complex relationship with hip hop try to justify degrading themselves as being a job or a means of making money. They have found what they see as an easy way to make means meet without looking at other options. This is in fact sad, but still reality. Some women see doing so as a means of getting ahead in life. They express that they are in control, because “pussy is power”, “pussy rules the world”, and so on. If it is only powerful enough to get you five minutes of fame, then I think someone needs to reevaluate its net worth. Yet, the lyrics provided by male hip hop artist do not add any good to the buildup of women. Unless one wants to claim that having a “fat ass” or “big tits” as being a compliment then there is a different story to be told. Most lyrics constantly exhibit women as tools and so forth. Women and hip hop just really don't mix well in most cases.
After reading Dr. Sharpley-Whiting’s book I found it even more compelling how women go beyond physically degrading themselves and step more into the world of self-inflicted verbal abuse. So many women hip hop artist go out their way to mimic male artist. That even includes the whole refusing to build up women that I discussed earlier. They are attempting to give the fans of the hip hop culture what they think the fans are used to and what they feel they want the most. So when it all boils down the question is do women even belong in the world of hip hop if all they got to give is a “bad body” or some “good head”?-Brittany Hill
Women play a huge role in the way they are presented in mainstream hip hop in several ways. Many women who have a complex relationship with hip hop try to justify degrading themselves as being a job or a means of making money. They have found what they see as an easy way to make means meet without looking at other options. This is in fact sad, but still reality. Some women see doing so as a means of getting ahead in life. They express that they are in control, because “pussy is power”, “pussy rules the world”, and so on. If it is only powerful enough to get you five minutes of fame, then I think someone needs to reevaluate its net worth. Yet, the lyrics provided by male hip hop artist do not add any good to the buildup of women. Unless one wants to claim that having a “fat ass” or “big tits” as being a compliment then there is a different story to be told. Most lyrics constantly exhibit women as tools and so forth. Women and hip hop just really don't mix well in most cases.
After reading Dr. Sharpley-Whiting’s book I found it even more compelling how women go beyond physically degrading themselves and step more into the world of self-inflicted verbal abuse. So many women hip hop artist go out their way to mimic male artist. That even includes the whole refusing to build up women that I discussed earlier. They are attempting to give the fans of the hip hop culture what they think the fans are used to and what they feel they want the most. So when it all boils down the question is do women even belong in the world of hip hop if all they got to give is a “bad body” or some “good head”?-Brittany Hill
Monday, November 7, 2011
More reflections
I don't feel that there is very much positive representation of woman in mainstream hip hop. I think that if there's going to be an end to hip hop's misogyny then there most definitely has to be put to death the term...Sex sells. I can rarely recall any of my favorite artists using anything less than bitch and hoe. Even the videos depicts women scantly clad in basically very tight clothes or barely any clothes at all. Thus the term video vixen was adopted not long ago. It is unfortunate that stars like Nicki Minaj, who I like, had to have surgical alterations done to their bodies to boost record sales. I would like to appreciate an artist lyrically rather than physically. Sometimes there are even instances where female hip hop artist make use of male models in the videos and then get just as naked as the models are. Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim, and Trina, just to name a few, may simply be at fault for some of the disregard that the women suffer because of their actions themselves as artists.-Arquita Hill
HipHop is and has seemingly always been a male dominated industry. Female emcees such as Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Roxanne Shantae demanded respect without wearing tight clothes or having to be overtly sexual. In today's hip-hop culture that is all we see from female artists. Artists such as Rasheeda, Lola Monroe and Nicki Minaj's whole images are based upon sex appeal. The majority of their rhymes are also about sexual topics. While I will agree that such artists like Nicki Minaj posess an insurmountable amount of creativity, they could stand to take a lesson from the females who set the precedent of what a female emcee is. I think female emcees have to work harder to get ahead but their rhymes and image could stand to have more depth and substance. It is fine to be sexy, that is apart of being a woman, but every rhyme does not have to be sexual. Where are today's conscious female rappers, well besides Lil' Mama (bless her heart, she tries).-Mari Edwards
HipHop is and has seemingly always been a male dominated industry. Female emcees such as Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Roxanne Shantae demanded respect without wearing tight clothes or having to be overtly sexual. In today's hip-hop culture that is all we see from female artists. Artists such as Rasheeda, Lola Monroe and Nicki Minaj's whole images are based upon sex appeal. The majority of their rhymes are also about sexual topics. While I will agree that such artists like Nicki Minaj posess an insurmountable amount of creativity, they could stand to take a lesson from the females who set the precedent of what a female emcee is. I think female emcees have to work harder to get ahead but their rhymes and image could stand to have more depth and substance. It is fine to be sexy, that is apart of being a woman, but every rhyme does not have to be sexual. Where are today's conscious female rappers, well besides Lil' Mama (bless her heart, she tries).-Mari Edwards
Reflections: Hip Hop and Feminism
Reflections in discussions from the Rhetoric of Hip Hop Class, Fall 2011
Being a Black woman who does listen to Hip Hop, I find myself in a catch 22 situation. On one hand I embrace Hip Hop but on the other hand some of the images that women portray in Hip Hop, I have to say I don't condone or support. I'm not saying that everything that has to do with women and Hip Hop is bad. We have to understand that Hip Hop has many different layers. There are some positive women in Hip Hop such as Queen Latifah and MC Lyte just to name a few. However the images of the Black woman in the music shaking her naked booty in the faces of several men as they throw money at her is the image that overpowers all the good that women try to accomplish in Hip Hop. There are some women in Hip Hop who try to send a positive message to all women of Hip Hop and let them know that we can be viewed in a more positive light.
With that being said, those women who participate in that type of behavior must take accountablilty for the roles they play in Hip Hop. And those women to feel that they are above the booty shaking and just points the finger at the women who do participate in it, need to take accountability for their role as well. It takes the efforts of all women involved in Hip Hop to make a change. People will only treat us the way we allow them to treat us.-Candyce Henderson
For my book review, I read the book Pimps Up , Ho's Down by Tracy Denean Sharpley-Whiting. Prior to reading this novel, I found myself viewing women as nothing but victims of the hip hop culture. Yet, as I read through the pages of her book, my opinion of the relation of the two slightly changed, or in other words, evolved. Don't get me wrong, I still feel that in many ways women are victims in the hip hop culture. They are indeed taking advantage of in many ways and are portrayed more as items rather than human beings. However, I have come to terms with the realization that women do play a huge part and huge role in the way they are portrayed in the hip hop culture. I will admit that I find no positive in the way women are presented in mainstream hip hop. Unless one wants to say that the fact that we are the master's of our own destiny as being positive. Yet, the fact that we keep making our destinies "jacked up" by making the wrong decisions outweighs that as being positive in a great manner. Women play a huge role in the way they are presented in mainstream hip hop in a several ways. Many women who have a complex relationship with hip hop try to justify degrading themselves as being a job or a means of making money. Some women see doing so as a means of getting ahead in life. Yet, the lyrics provided by man hip hop artist do not add any good to the build up of women. Most lyrics constantly exhibit women as tools and so forth. Women and hip hop just really don't mix well in most cases.-Brittany Hill
I think that the issues facing Hip Hop and the negativity facing women is a reflection of more than just Hip Hop. We now live in a country were as one of my classmates posted we have been "desensitized" to many things that in the past were considered taboo. I personally believe that is a reflection of single parent house holds were either the mother or father is absent, decrease in church attendance, a poor economy, and liberalism. (yes, I am a liberal at heart, but there is good and bad to everything). We (the nation) have stepped away from being guided by spirituality and become more focused on the "I" and "me". I say that meaning that anyone that thinks of others does not dis respect others by calling them names, or treating them as property, or less than themselves which is exactly what is being presented when the hip hop videos portray women as sexual objects which are called "bitches" and "hos". I am completely perplexed by the fact that there is a high number of African American women raising their children without the father being present, and I have never met an African American man that did not love and respect his mother. Yet, these same men when dealing with other women deny them the respect that they would extend to their mothers. Most African American women are seen and considered to be "strong black women" which is the same way I identify with most of them, focused, resourceful, and proud. This is evident in my work: I rarely see a African American women that has been beaten by her significant other, I see him after she has "whooped his ass." On the other hand I see subservient white, and Hispanic women who are victims of domestic violence and they seem to always return to the abuser. SO this is where I am baffled, why would women who are strong, self reliant, and proud willing to degrade themselves or allows others to degrade them all for the sake of music and entertainment. The conclusion that I have come up with to this point is that the current lack of morality has shaped and perpetuated the current hip hop environment. The things that are negative in hip hop in my opinion are happening in many neighborhoods that are subject to the same influence of single parents, with little income, no moral direction, and the attitude that if "that's what I want to do it's ok. It's really all about me." I have not read all the post yet, but I am quite sure someone else has already hit on the concept that people have to value and respect themselves before they can do the same for others. In my opinion it is really all about putting others feelings and interest before your own, and reflecting on how your actions and words effect more than yourself.-Patricia Fanon
Being a Black woman who does listen to Hip Hop, I find myself in a catch 22 situation. On one hand I embrace Hip Hop but on the other hand some of the images that women portray in Hip Hop, I have to say I don't condone or support. I'm not saying that everything that has to do with women and Hip Hop is bad. We have to understand that Hip Hop has many different layers. There are some positive women in Hip Hop such as Queen Latifah and MC Lyte just to name a few. However the images of the Black woman in the music shaking her naked booty in the faces of several men as they throw money at her is the image that overpowers all the good that women try to accomplish in Hip Hop. There are some women in Hip Hop who try to send a positive message to all women of Hip Hop and let them know that we can be viewed in a more positive light.
With that being said, those women who participate in that type of behavior must take accountablilty for the roles they play in Hip Hop. And those women to feel that they are above the booty shaking and just points the finger at the women who do participate in it, need to take accountability for their role as well. It takes the efforts of all women involved in Hip Hop to make a change. People will only treat us the way we allow them to treat us.-Candyce Henderson
For my book review, I read the book Pimps Up , Ho's Down by Tracy Denean Sharpley-Whiting. Prior to reading this novel, I found myself viewing women as nothing but victims of the hip hop culture. Yet, as I read through the pages of her book, my opinion of the relation of the two slightly changed, or in other words, evolved. Don't get me wrong, I still feel that in many ways women are victims in the hip hop culture. They are indeed taking advantage of in many ways and are portrayed more as items rather than human beings. However, I have come to terms with the realization that women do play a huge part and huge role in the way they are portrayed in the hip hop culture. I will admit that I find no positive in the way women are presented in mainstream hip hop. Unless one wants to say that the fact that we are the master's of our own destiny as being positive. Yet, the fact that we keep making our destinies "jacked up" by making the wrong decisions outweighs that as being positive in a great manner. Women play a huge role in the way they are presented in mainstream hip hop in a several ways. Many women who have a complex relationship with hip hop try to justify degrading themselves as being a job or a means of making money. Some women see doing so as a means of getting ahead in life. Yet, the lyrics provided by man hip hop artist do not add any good to the build up of women. Most lyrics constantly exhibit women as tools and so forth. Women and hip hop just really don't mix well in most cases.-Brittany Hill
I think that the issues facing Hip Hop and the negativity facing women is a reflection of more than just Hip Hop. We now live in a country were as one of my classmates posted we have been "desensitized" to many things that in the past were considered taboo. I personally believe that is a reflection of single parent house holds were either the mother or father is absent, decrease in church attendance, a poor economy, and liberalism. (yes, I am a liberal at heart, but there is good and bad to everything). We (the nation) have stepped away from being guided by spirituality and become more focused on the "I" and "me". I say that meaning that anyone that thinks of others does not dis respect others by calling them names, or treating them as property, or less than themselves which is exactly what is being presented when the hip hop videos portray women as sexual objects which are called "bitches" and "hos". I am completely perplexed by the fact that there is a high number of African American women raising their children without the father being present, and I have never met an African American man that did not love and respect his mother. Yet, these same men when dealing with other women deny them the respect that they would extend to their mothers. Most African American women are seen and considered to be "strong black women" which is the same way I identify with most of them, focused, resourceful, and proud. This is evident in my work: I rarely see a African American women that has been beaten by her significant other, I see him after she has "whooped his ass." On the other hand I see subservient white, and Hispanic women who are victims of domestic violence and they seem to always return to the abuser. SO this is where I am baffled, why would women who are strong, self reliant, and proud willing to degrade themselves or allows others to degrade them all for the sake of music and entertainment. The conclusion that I have come up with to this point is that the current lack of morality has shaped and perpetuated the current hip hop environment. The things that are negative in hip hop in my opinion are happening in many neighborhoods that are subject to the same influence of single parents, with little income, no moral direction, and the attitude that if "that's what I want to do it's ok. It's really all about me." I have not read all the post yet, but I am quite sure someone else has already hit on the concept that people have to value and respect themselves before they can do the same for others. In my opinion it is really all about putting others feelings and interest before your own, and reflecting on how your actions and words effect more than yourself.-Patricia Fanon
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