With all the news as of late about the validity of hip hop in college or university classrooms and indeed the all out assault on liberal studies, I thought I would share some semester ending reflections from my students in AAAS-4451, "The Rhetoric of Hip Hop" class offered through the African American Studies program at the University of Memphis
Enjoy
by Donal Davis
By my participation in this course, I have gained greater insight into how others perceive hip hop. I felt that I already had a well grounded understanding of the history of hip hop and hip hop as culture, and the materials in this course have supplemented that body of knowledge and increased the nuance of my understanding.
What I gained the most from were the group discussions and targeted reflections. The discussion added scope and perspective to the topics presented. The reflections forced a directed introspection of hip hop culture regarding the topic of the week and my own experiences.
I am also encouraged by the great deal of scholarly consideration of hip hop as culture. The amount of material available and the increasing body of academic study of hip hop culture and society was a welcome surprise. While I have read books by Dyson and others, the level of depth of many of the materials presented during this course were eye-opening regarding the range and depth of scholarship that is being accomplished as it relates to hip hop.
It is ironic that the course that many look at my schedule and think is a fill in, was indeed the most thought provoking and engaging. As a Bio major and Chem minor this course also served to allow me to see greater value in liberal arts studies as a whole.
Patricia Fannon
I was enlightened by the social injustices which took place and the fact that hip hop helped to give a voice to so many people that otherwise would not be heard. I think the knowledge of the material presented has allowed me to see some issues in a different "light". For example, I never understood why poor neighborhoods would burn their community down and participate in riots as seen in LA in the 1990's Compton area. But after this class my view is that I can understand the frustration that must have been felt when people lack any type of power to change or improve their conditions. I often times, when social issues are discussed at work, find myself explaining the views of those I perceive to lack power and control.
Prior to this class I really thought that racism was in the mind of people but was a rare. However, now I can see the subtle policies, and control others exert on those that have the fewest resources and the most need. If I continued to take AAAS I believe I would have to become an activist, because this class has changed the way I think, and react to others opinions concerning the distribution of power in American. I really enjoyed this class, and never dreamed that it would be so insight full.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Semester Ending Reflections-Part One
With all the news as of late about the validity of hip hop in college or university classrooms and indeed the all out assault on liberal studies, I thought I would share some semester ending reflections from my students in AAAS-4451, "The Rhetoric of Hip Hop" class offered through the African American Studies program at the University of Memphis
Enjoy
The Mis-education of Brittany NaShay Hill:
My Journey through the World of Hip Hop
by Brittany Hill
Noise. Meaningless. Absurd. Foolishness. If one asked me to define or describe hip hop about four months ago, then this may have been few of the many words they would have heard escape my lips. Yet, that was indeed almost four months ago…
When it came to hip hop, I would not say I was completely dumb on the whole subject. Yet, I was far from the hip hop mogul. I did dip and dab in the world of hip hop here and there. Mainly indulging in songs that played on the radio. Never did I use my own personal funds to contribute to hip hop sales. Never did I let my television rest on B.E.T. Never did I find myself lost in a piece of literature that revolved around the topic of hip hop. I just did not see how it could benefit me any nor how hip hop even related to my everyday living.
As I began reading the chapters in Jeff Chang’s Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, I found there to be much more meaning behind this genre of music that I pushed all the way to the left a long time ago. From pioneers to places to politics, my mind was exploring and learning about hip hop on a level I never sought possible. I was beginning to understand its importance, its relevance, and its overall message. I began to see why it should stay and why it should be supported.
As I viewed the videos, lectures, and articles provided to me by Dr. Andre Johnson, I found terms related to hip hop that would have never occurred to me to be related. I saw individuals who found a passion in what the media sees as a setback. I was astonished and shocked at how big hip hop really is and how much it is greatly underestimated. I can honestly say I have done a complete 360 and have found a new interest in life. A life that involves hip hop.
Ask me to define and describe hip hop and I will simply respond… Art!!
“Hip Hop Artists Influence Politics”
Chandra Wiseman
Hip-hop artist have made significant strides in society as we know it today. Several hop-hop artists used a by any means necessary to get the attention of the media. Why? Many put forth efforts to assist lower income families and to speak out against racial profiling. In the late eighties and early nineties many cities where having issues with police brutality, racial profiling, wrongful use of force and many other issues concerning cruel, racial and in-human issues used by law-enforcement. Local government agencies and politicians were ignoring the issues. Something needed to happen and soon.
NWA, KRS One, Eazy E, and Sista Souljah were among many to take on the government and local law enforcement agencies. Putting together catching tunes with strong, harsh and cold facts was phenomenal. Songs like “Fuck the Police and “Express Yourself” not caught the attention of society, but; it caught the attention of the nation capital and law enforcement local law enforcement agencies. What had been happening as well as being ignored by many was soon to become known and slow down and come close to a halt. I think much of the controversy was well worth it. Hip-hop, though not considered as music was making a difference.
There are still many in society would deny that hip-hop is a valuable style of music, however; I would beg to differ. Hip-hop is not first choice of music, but; it has earned the rights and privileges of any other forms of music. It has caught the attention of much of society and made significant differences in the history of music. I have enjoyed learning where hip-hop derived from and the meaning that what was behind it. I will take the knowledge that I have obtained and share it with others.
Hip Hop as Culture
Chelsey Lyles
The thing I love about this class is that it is not just about the music, it’s about the whole culture that surrounds rap music. Rap is the music and hip-hop is the culture. This particularly hit me when I the read the last couple of chapters of Chang’s Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop it was all about the culture like the literature (Vibe and The Source) and the coming public entities like clothing liens from Jay-Z and the Sean (Puff Daddy/P. Diddy) Combs. It was more about public perception of hip than hip-hop itself. The end of the book was somewhat open. For example, there was the book that ended with a prayer about the state of hip-hop and its future. There is some debate on whether it’ll survive as a musical medium. I think it’ll last forever for several reasons. For one thing, the culture of hip-hop has immersed itself so completely in American mainstream that it would be impossible to disentangle them. Another thing that would make it impossible for the hip-hop to go away is that it has been legitimized. Rappers receive the Grammys, they are accepted a legitimate businessman, and even have relationships with politicians (Common and Jay-Z with President Obama). Rappers are not just the rappers, they are real people with real stories, even if some people would rather not hear them. I would be the last person to claim that the current state of hip-hop isn’t murky but there is something to be said for the music that transcends music and bleeds its way into almost everything we do. I’ve always loved hip-hop and I doubt it’s going to change but this class has taught me to view it from eyes that know its past, complete with the all of it deformities and sometimes raunchiness. This class has given me the real hip-hop and only reinforced the love for a music that I grew up with and love.
Bringing It All Together
by Jerrica Rucker
Hip Hop is arguably one of the most amazing phenomena ever to grace American history. A professor recently said that the beauty of the role that art plays in the lives of humans in spite of cultural differences. Hip Hop is an art form that has illustrated what African Americans can achieve collectively. The predominantly black generated culture left a footprint in the social dynamics of the American culture and can be—in my opinion—compared to other African American movements such as the Black Arts Movement and the Harlem Renaissance. It documents a period of growth and strength amongst the young black community that let outsiders know that they, too, can accomplish greatness.
The most notable or memorable statement made about hip hop this semester was the lecture that stated:
Historical perspective in African American discourse is used as a way to motivate audiences to look to their own culture for inspiration, wisdom, and strength in order to survive and grow in a racist America. Throughout history in America music has always been one of the few ways African Americans have been able to express themselves freely. It has been used to articulate their deepest and most enduring feelings and certainties. Some scholars have stated that it is in the secular song where the record of African American people’s consciousness can be found. Hip Hop is an extension of this legacy.
This, to me, sums up the gravity of the impact Hip hop made in the African American communities. This allows me to put the hip hop culture into the category with the black literary writers that have captured important aspects of the African American communities in a way that gave the world a genuine view into their lives while creating a sense of unity amongst fellow African Americans. Hip hop is an art that brought blacks together to produce positivity and unity. I am infatuated with the boost Hip Hop gave the morale of blacks across the nation.
I am walking away from this class equipped with the knowledge needed to continue my personal studies of the culture. After taking this class, I feel that I can now make more informed judgment calls about the current hip hop industry which will help me in my endeavors to become a hip hop blogger or—if I’m lucky—a writer for a magazine such as XXL. I have a more thorough appreciation for hip hop and the things it has accomplished since its birth.
Rachel Wacker
This week’s discussion question really made me pause and reflect. So many times a student we are in such a rush to complete all required assignments at the end of a semester that they never give much thought to what they have learned. I believe this to be one of the most influential classes in my time here at the University of Memphis because it has opened my eyes to a perspective that I have been lacking in my study of African Americans. To really understand a cultural trait, you must begin at the roots, and that is what this class has enabled me, the student, to be able to do. The gradual progression through the history of hip hop has led us to today.
The beginnings of hip hop are quite the antithesis of what the average person would believe it to be. What we know today as hip hop is a far cry from passionate representation of the struggles that were endured in war torn and politically corrupt countries. The evolvement of the genre has signified the changes in society and the altering of priorities for many. It is not until one takes the time to study the beginnings that one can truly appreciate the intent. This is by far the case of hip hop. I would not necessarily be drawn to the genre today, but have throughout the semester grown to admire and appreciate the historical factors pertaining to the early work of hip hop.
My personal favorite reading of the semester was the article “Sacred Cows Make great Hamburgers: the Rhetoric of Graffiti” by Frank J. D’Angelo. I actually printed this article and placed it in my files marked “teaching tools” to hopefully one day integrate into my English classroom. So many times students find the basic literary terminology boring and lacking relevance. This gives a new perspective on what some would call “archaic English.” There is no better way to teach than to use applicable and relevant knowledge as a format for learning.
I walk away from this class, and soon the University of Memphis with a greater appreciation of differences in others and a deeper respect for perspectives that vary from my own. Where some do not believe that a study of hip hop could advance my educational experience, I am evidence that they are wrong. I just read an article this week on about a university that is going to offer a class “Sociology of Hip Hop: Jay Z” and the professor that will be teaching the class explained it so well, “his class confronts topic present in any sociology course: racial and gender identity, sexuality, capitalism and economic inequality.” This class has also offered a great deal of knowledge in these areas that are applicable to everyone’s daily life. This has been a class that has dealt me a great dose of reality and I can’t say enough thanks.
Enjoy
The Mis-education of Brittany NaShay Hill:
My Journey through the World of Hip Hop
by Brittany Hill
Noise. Meaningless. Absurd. Foolishness. If one asked me to define or describe hip hop about four months ago, then this may have been few of the many words they would have heard escape my lips. Yet, that was indeed almost four months ago…
When it came to hip hop, I would not say I was completely dumb on the whole subject. Yet, I was far from the hip hop mogul. I did dip and dab in the world of hip hop here and there. Mainly indulging in songs that played on the radio. Never did I use my own personal funds to contribute to hip hop sales. Never did I let my television rest on B.E.T. Never did I find myself lost in a piece of literature that revolved around the topic of hip hop. I just did not see how it could benefit me any nor how hip hop even related to my everyday living.
As I began reading the chapters in Jeff Chang’s Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, I found there to be much more meaning behind this genre of music that I pushed all the way to the left a long time ago. From pioneers to places to politics, my mind was exploring and learning about hip hop on a level I never sought possible. I was beginning to understand its importance, its relevance, and its overall message. I began to see why it should stay and why it should be supported.
As I viewed the videos, lectures, and articles provided to me by Dr. Andre Johnson, I found terms related to hip hop that would have never occurred to me to be related. I saw individuals who found a passion in what the media sees as a setback. I was astonished and shocked at how big hip hop really is and how much it is greatly underestimated. I can honestly say I have done a complete 360 and have found a new interest in life. A life that involves hip hop.
Ask me to define and describe hip hop and I will simply respond… Art!!
“Hip Hop Artists Influence Politics”
Chandra Wiseman
Hip-hop artist have made significant strides in society as we know it today. Several hop-hop artists used a by any means necessary to get the attention of the media. Why? Many put forth efforts to assist lower income families and to speak out against racial profiling. In the late eighties and early nineties many cities where having issues with police brutality, racial profiling, wrongful use of force and many other issues concerning cruel, racial and in-human issues used by law-enforcement. Local government agencies and politicians were ignoring the issues. Something needed to happen and soon.
NWA, KRS One, Eazy E, and Sista Souljah were among many to take on the government and local law enforcement agencies. Putting together catching tunes with strong, harsh and cold facts was phenomenal. Songs like “Fuck the Police and “Express Yourself” not caught the attention of society, but; it caught the attention of the nation capital and law enforcement local law enforcement agencies. What had been happening as well as being ignored by many was soon to become known and slow down and come close to a halt. I think much of the controversy was well worth it. Hip-hop, though not considered as music was making a difference.
There are still many in society would deny that hip-hop is a valuable style of music, however; I would beg to differ. Hip-hop is not first choice of music, but; it has earned the rights and privileges of any other forms of music. It has caught the attention of much of society and made significant differences in the history of music. I have enjoyed learning where hip-hop derived from and the meaning that what was behind it. I will take the knowledge that I have obtained and share it with others.
Hip Hop as Culture
Chelsey Lyles
The thing I love about this class is that it is not just about the music, it’s about the whole culture that surrounds rap music. Rap is the music and hip-hop is the culture. This particularly hit me when I the read the last couple of chapters of Chang’s Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop it was all about the culture like the literature (Vibe and The Source) and the coming public entities like clothing liens from Jay-Z and the Sean (Puff Daddy/P. Diddy) Combs. It was more about public perception of hip than hip-hop itself. The end of the book was somewhat open. For example, there was the book that ended with a prayer about the state of hip-hop and its future. There is some debate on whether it’ll survive as a musical medium. I think it’ll last forever for several reasons. For one thing, the culture of hip-hop has immersed itself so completely in American mainstream that it would be impossible to disentangle them. Another thing that would make it impossible for the hip-hop to go away is that it has been legitimized. Rappers receive the Grammys, they are accepted a legitimate businessman, and even have relationships with politicians (Common and Jay-Z with President Obama). Rappers are not just the rappers, they are real people with real stories, even if some people would rather not hear them. I would be the last person to claim that the current state of hip-hop isn’t murky but there is something to be said for the music that transcends music and bleeds its way into almost everything we do. I’ve always loved hip-hop and I doubt it’s going to change but this class has taught me to view it from eyes that know its past, complete with the all of it deformities and sometimes raunchiness. This class has given me the real hip-hop and only reinforced the love for a music that I grew up with and love.
Bringing It All Together
by Jerrica Rucker
Hip Hop is arguably one of the most amazing phenomena ever to grace American history. A professor recently said that the beauty of the role that art plays in the lives of humans in spite of cultural differences. Hip Hop is an art form that has illustrated what African Americans can achieve collectively. The predominantly black generated culture left a footprint in the social dynamics of the American culture and can be—in my opinion—compared to other African American movements such as the Black Arts Movement and the Harlem Renaissance. It documents a period of growth and strength amongst the young black community that let outsiders know that they, too, can accomplish greatness.
The most notable or memorable statement made about hip hop this semester was the lecture that stated:
Historical perspective in African American discourse is used as a way to motivate audiences to look to their own culture for inspiration, wisdom, and strength in order to survive and grow in a racist America. Throughout history in America music has always been one of the few ways African Americans have been able to express themselves freely. It has been used to articulate their deepest and most enduring feelings and certainties. Some scholars have stated that it is in the secular song where the record of African American people’s consciousness can be found. Hip Hop is an extension of this legacy.
This, to me, sums up the gravity of the impact Hip hop made in the African American communities. This allows me to put the hip hop culture into the category with the black literary writers that have captured important aspects of the African American communities in a way that gave the world a genuine view into their lives while creating a sense of unity amongst fellow African Americans. Hip hop is an art that brought blacks together to produce positivity and unity. I am infatuated with the boost Hip Hop gave the morale of blacks across the nation.
I am walking away from this class equipped with the knowledge needed to continue my personal studies of the culture. After taking this class, I feel that I can now make more informed judgment calls about the current hip hop industry which will help me in my endeavors to become a hip hop blogger or—if I’m lucky—a writer for a magazine such as XXL. I have a more thorough appreciation for hip hop and the things it has accomplished since its birth.
Rachel Wacker
This week’s discussion question really made me pause and reflect. So many times a student we are in such a rush to complete all required assignments at the end of a semester that they never give much thought to what they have learned. I believe this to be one of the most influential classes in my time here at the University of Memphis because it has opened my eyes to a perspective that I have been lacking in my study of African Americans. To really understand a cultural trait, you must begin at the roots, and that is what this class has enabled me, the student, to be able to do. The gradual progression through the history of hip hop has led us to today.
The beginnings of hip hop are quite the antithesis of what the average person would believe it to be. What we know today as hip hop is a far cry from passionate representation of the struggles that were endured in war torn and politically corrupt countries. The evolvement of the genre has signified the changes in society and the altering of priorities for many. It is not until one takes the time to study the beginnings that one can truly appreciate the intent. This is by far the case of hip hop. I would not necessarily be drawn to the genre today, but have throughout the semester grown to admire and appreciate the historical factors pertaining to the early work of hip hop.
My personal favorite reading of the semester was the article “Sacred Cows Make great Hamburgers: the Rhetoric of Graffiti” by Frank J. D’Angelo. I actually printed this article and placed it in my files marked “teaching tools” to hopefully one day integrate into my English classroom. So many times students find the basic literary terminology boring and lacking relevance. This gives a new perspective on what some would call “archaic English.” There is no better way to teach than to use applicable and relevant knowledge as a format for learning.
I walk away from this class, and soon the University of Memphis with a greater appreciation of differences in others and a deeper respect for perspectives that vary from my own. Where some do not believe that a study of hip hop could advance my educational experience, I am evidence that they are wrong. I just read an article this week on about a university that is going to offer a class “Sociology of Hip Hop: Jay Z” and the professor that will be teaching the class explained it so well, “his class confronts topic present in any sociology course: racial and gender identity, sexuality, capitalism and economic inequality.” This class has also offered a great deal of knowledge in these areas that are applicable to everyone’s daily life. This has been a class that has dealt me a great dose of reality and I can’t say enough thanks.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Holy Hip Hop: a new expression
By Melody Andrews
for the Daily Helmsman
On a cool night in early November, around 200 students entered Second Presbyterian Church to fellowship with other Christian students from the University of Memphis. But this Bible study hosted by Campus Outreach was unique to some of the ministry's attendees. Right in the midst of their service, integrated with "amens" and murmured praise, was hip-hop music.
From its infancy in the 1970s, riddled with braggadocio-filled raps, community-center disc jockeys and nimble break dancers from the Bronx, hip-hop culture is often recognized for its content's immorality. What many see as hip-hop's inherent, sinful nature even led to rap music being blamed for the gradual collapse of American morality.
The grungy and gritty environment that gave birth to the genre may make hip-hop and religion an unlikely pair. Yet while it lacks an immaculate conception, hip-hop contains religion in a larger capacity than its gold-encrusted Jesus pieces and infamous Illuminati rumors.
Read more here
for the Daily Helmsman
On a cool night in early November, around 200 students entered Second Presbyterian Church to fellowship with other Christian students from the University of Memphis. But this Bible study hosted by Campus Outreach was unique to some of the ministry's attendees. Right in the midst of their service, integrated with "amens" and murmured praise, was hip-hop music.
From its infancy in the 1970s, riddled with braggadocio-filled raps, community-center disc jockeys and nimble break dancers from the Bronx, hip-hop culture is often recognized for its content's immorality. What many see as hip-hop's inherent, sinful nature even led to rap music being blamed for the gradual collapse of American morality.
The grungy and gritty environment that gave birth to the genre may make hip-hop and religion an unlikely pair. Yet while it lacks an immaculate conception, hip-hop contains religion in a larger capacity than its gold-encrusted Jesus pieces and infamous Illuminati rumors.
Read more here
Monday, November 28, 2011
Hip Hop and Masculinity
by Kimbriuna Dyer
University of Memphis Student
For many years, I viewed masculinity in Hip Hop as being defined as tough, hardcore, from the streets which is similar to the views of many others when you ask for the masculine description in relation to Hip Hop but now it seems that image has shifted and changed in a more positive way. You no longer really have the hard-core rapper but a more subtle and subdued. It seems that more current rappers of today are actually well-educated and come from stable backgrounds and home lives and even rappers who initially started out as the hardcore, from the streets type of rapper are starting to adopt these more current views of masculinity. I can initially recall seeing this type of shift in masculinity with Outkast’s Andre 3000. Andre 3000 has always shown an eccentric style when compared to his Outkast counterpart, Big Boi but it was not until the release of Speakerboxx/The Love Below that made me realize that Andre was a different type of rapper. His music showed a different type of masculine approach compared to what was already out there in regards to Hip Hop. This is the first time I noticed that shift in the image of masculinity. Then you have Kanye West, who has been extremely successful in his career and comes from a good home life. He has never tried to adopt that hard edge because he knew that wasn’t who he was so he came out as the person he was. He enjoyed wearing clothes that fit him, he would wear a backpack if he wanted, and he would articulate his words because that is the type of person he has always been and he wasn’t going to fake who he was for success. I feel that now in Hip Hop that this movement is becoming more prevalent when you have rappers such as Wale and J Cole garnering so much attention and success and they are both college educated so I feel that this shift in masculinity can only gain more speed at this point. I remember a time when rap wasn’t considered “real” if it wasn’t from the streets but it seems as time has gone on fans of Hip Hop views have changed.
No longer are we concerned by how tough your life was and how many times you were in and out of jail but we are concerned that what you are rapping about in your music is your truth and what you tell about your life is the truth. If you’re honest about what you represent then the Hip Hop fans will be receptive but if you’re not honest then the fans will walk away similar to what happened to Plies. He debuted in the Hip Hop world as a tough, hardcore rapper who had a hefty criminal background which people accepted and were willing to buy his music because they believed that this image of him having a hard life growing up was his real life but later it was discovered that he may not have been as honest about things in his life such as his criminal record and the fact that he had also been accepted and attended two different colleges on scholarships for football and had also been crowned homecoming king in high school. Now I was never a huge Plies fan because before any real truth about his life was revealed, I had a feeling that he wasn’t completely authentic so when all the information about his real life was revealed it didn’t surprise me. In my opinion, it seems fans don’t want to be told lies or what you think they want to hear but they want to be able to feel that as a fan that they are able to know a rapper somewhat and not just rappers any type of celebrity. So, it doesn’t seem like the fans care where you came from, if you were of the honor roll or always suspended as long as you’re upfront and honest. In closing, however I do feel that this new type of view on masculinity is a positive and should definitely be pushed and embraced by the Hip Hop big wigs. As long as there are acts like J Cole, Drake, Wale, & B.O.B and they are able to sustain their success, then I feel this will eventually bring a shift in the views on Hip Hop and maybe bring about more positive changes.
University of Memphis Student
For many years, I viewed masculinity in Hip Hop as being defined as tough, hardcore, from the streets which is similar to the views of many others when you ask for the masculine description in relation to Hip Hop but now it seems that image has shifted and changed in a more positive way. You no longer really have the hard-core rapper but a more subtle and subdued. It seems that more current rappers of today are actually well-educated and come from stable backgrounds and home lives and even rappers who initially started out as the hardcore, from the streets type of rapper are starting to adopt these more current views of masculinity. I can initially recall seeing this type of shift in masculinity with Outkast’s Andre 3000. Andre 3000 has always shown an eccentric style when compared to his Outkast counterpart, Big Boi but it was not until the release of Speakerboxx/The Love Below that made me realize that Andre was a different type of rapper. His music showed a different type of masculine approach compared to what was already out there in regards to Hip Hop. This is the first time I noticed that shift in the image of masculinity. Then you have Kanye West, who has been extremely successful in his career and comes from a good home life. He has never tried to adopt that hard edge because he knew that wasn’t who he was so he came out as the person he was. He enjoyed wearing clothes that fit him, he would wear a backpack if he wanted, and he would articulate his words because that is the type of person he has always been and he wasn’t going to fake who he was for success. I feel that now in Hip Hop that this movement is becoming more prevalent when you have rappers such as Wale and J Cole garnering so much attention and success and they are both college educated so I feel that this shift in masculinity can only gain more speed at this point. I remember a time when rap wasn’t considered “real” if it wasn’t from the streets but it seems as time has gone on fans of Hip Hop views have changed.
No longer are we concerned by how tough your life was and how many times you were in and out of jail but we are concerned that what you are rapping about in your music is your truth and what you tell about your life is the truth. If you’re honest about what you represent then the Hip Hop fans will be receptive but if you’re not honest then the fans will walk away similar to what happened to Plies. He debuted in the Hip Hop world as a tough, hardcore rapper who had a hefty criminal background which people accepted and were willing to buy his music because they believed that this image of him having a hard life growing up was his real life but later it was discovered that he may not have been as honest about things in his life such as his criminal record and the fact that he had also been accepted and attended two different colleges on scholarships for football and had also been crowned homecoming king in high school. Now I was never a huge Plies fan because before any real truth about his life was revealed, I had a feeling that he wasn’t completely authentic so when all the information about his real life was revealed it didn’t surprise me. In my opinion, it seems fans don’t want to be told lies or what you think they want to hear but they want to be able to feel that as a fan that they are able to know a rapper somewhat and not just rappers any type of celebrity. So, it doesn’t seem like the fans care where you came from, if you were of the honor roll or always suspended as long as you’re upfront and honest. In closing, however I do feel that this new type of view on masculinity is a positive and should definitely be pushed and embraced by the Hip Hop big wigs. As long as there are acts like J Cole, Drake, Wale, & B.O.B and they are able to sustain their success, then I feel this will eventually bring a shift in the views on Hip Hop and maybe bring about more positive changes.
Hip Hop and Culture
by Jerrica Rucker
University of Memphis Student
As I’ve stated before, Hip Hop is one of the most criticized cultures in America. The images of hip hop portrayed in the media have a large part to do with that. I question whether or not extensive studies have been done to expose why hip hop is viewed in such a negative light. Is there an underlying cause deeper than the degrading images of women or the foul language that stirs this discomfort or distaste for the culture? Is the disdain for hip hop directly correlated to the attitudes towards African Americans in America?
The portrayal of hip hop in the media fuels the battle between the culture and society. Through the media, hip hop is accused of being the bad influence on young children today. The albums and music videos—which are publicly rated according to age appropriation—are heavily scrutinized by concerned parents and have often fallen victim to petitions and demands for censorship laws. No one considers how the birth of hip hop changed the black community for the better and gave young blacks a voice. Although newer hip hop music is said to be trash compared to older music, hip hop still serves as an outlet for young people. It is something that takes them away from the realness of life for just a few minutes. It is not a coincidence that a large percentage of the news stories or blog articles feature hip hop artists who have been recently arrested or killed. The charity events, donations, and other humanitarian acts these artists commit goes unnoticed. Why is hip hop America’s favorite “bad guy”?
This type of publicity lays the foundation for the many stereotypes concerning hip hop. Even worse, these stereotypes have been directly associated with the black race as a whole. Whenever the word rapper is mentioned people automatically think “baggy clothes, flashy jewelry, lack of intellect, foul mouth, etc.” in spite of the fact that current artists such as J. Cole and Lupe Fiasco excelled in school. In fact, J. Cole’s GPA was higher than a 4.0. African Americans living in struggling neighborhoods are almost expected to be on some type of drug. Black women are expected to become single mothers and black men are expected to be incarcerated. These stereotypes can lead—and have led—to inclinations to discriminatory actions towards blacks in general. People see the negativity of hip hop on television and hear about it on the radio and take it to be the image of the typical black neighborhoods in America.
Is hip hop attacked because it is the only way to criticize blacks without being called a racist? If hip hop was a predominantly white culture would America have the same problem with it that it has now? Why is it that the increase of the selling and use of drugs in black communities got more publicity than the white neighborhoods that have had the same problems for a longer period of time? The answers to these questions may never be known but they do make me think. The media may have played a larger part in the “death” of hip hop than the artists has. The constant bashing of the culture and the negative attitudes it has influenced has not helped the strides made towards making hip hop meaningful again.
University of Memphis Student
As I’ve stated before, Hip Hop is one of the most criticized cultures in America. The images of hip hop portrayed in the media have a large part to do with that. I question whether or not extensive studies have been done to expose why hip hop is viewed in such a negative light. Is there an underlying cause deeper than the degrading images of women or the foul language that stirs this discomfort or distaste for the culture? Is the disdain for hip hop directly correlated to the attitudes towards African Americans in America?
The portrayal of hip hop in the media fuels the battle between the culture and society. Through the media, hip hop is accused of being the bad influence on young children today. The albums and music videos—which are publicly rated according to age appropriation—are heavily scrutinized by concerned parents and have often fallen victim to petitions and demands for censorship laws. No one considers how the birth of hip hop changed the black community for the better and gave young blacks a voice. Although newer hip hop music is said to be trash compared to older music, hip hop still serves as an outlet for young people. It is something that takes them away from the realness of life for just a few minutes. It is not a coincidence that a large percentage of the news stories or blog articles feature hip hop artists who have been recently arrested or killed. The charity events, donations, and other humanitarian acts these artists commit goes unnoticed. Why is hip hop America’s favorite “bad guy”?
This type of publicity lays the foundation for the many stereotypes concerning hip hop. Even worse, these stereotypes have been directly associated with the black race as a whole. Whenever the word rapper is mentioned people automatically think “baggy clothes, flashy jewelry, lack of intellect, foul mouth, etc.” in spite of the fact that current artists such as J. Cole and Lupe Fiasco excelled in school. In fact, J. Cole’s GPA was higher than a 4.0. African Americans living in struggling neighborhoods are almost expected to be on some type of drug. Black women are expected to become single mothers and black men are expected to be incarcerated. These stereotypes can lead—and have led—to inclinations to discriminatory actions towards blacks in general. People see the negativity of hip hop on television and hear about it on the radio and take it to be the image of the typical black neighborhoods in America.
Is hip hop attacked because it is the only way to criticize blacks without being called a racist? If hip hop was a predominantly white culture would America have the same problem with it that it has now? Why is it that the increase of the selling and use of drugs in black communities got more publicity than the white neighborhoods that have had the same problems for a longer period of time? The answers to these questions may never be known but they do make me think. The media may have played a larger part in the “death” of hip hop than the artists has. The constant bashing of the culture and the negative attitudes it has influenced has not helped the strides made towards making hip hop meaningful again.
Politics, Gender, and Media in hip-hop
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.
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.
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
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