Please read this article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/13/AR2006101301426.html
Then, think of a really good question that could be raised about any of the issues from this article (not just "What is the main point?" BORING!). Be deep.
Put the question in your post and offer your original answer. Then, read others' posts and respond to them.
Your post and at least one response is due by Monday class time.
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What caused the shift from hip hop being a voice of a people in song to the gangsta style we predominately see today?
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I don't listen to hip hop or rap until long after a song isn't popular. I think that there are a few things to keep in mind regarding the shift. The first of which is that this is a younger generation that has access to more ways of promoting themselves through the internet. More thought gets out there. Before you weren't heard until you made it big. Second people can relate to drugs and violence, especially those from inner cities where it was a way of life. Consequently sex and violence sells. Third, people, regardless of race, want to show off what they have. When rappers are seen with their enterages, getting out of limo's and sipping Cristal, people want to mimic what they see. The lifestyle becomes glorious. Lastly, from my point of view, which is from the outside looking in admitedly, people write about what they know.
As adults should we dictate the type of music that our children listen to?
ReplyDeleteWe should not dictate the type of music that our children listen to, simply because if we do that we're not giving them a chance to express themselves, and when this happens they grow up being very rebellious toward you(the parents). Something as simple as not letting your kids listen to the music that they want to listen to causes them to go against your wishes out of spite.
Its a phase that all children go through, they choose the music they want to hear because of the friends that they hang around. As far as music goes, you should try to run your kids life in that department. After all its only music, it doesn't mold children into the type of people they will become in society.
Why is rap music often seen as socially corrosive?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel that rap has been singled out because it is known to many as the music of blacks, other urban cultures, and the younger generation. Rap is a form of entertainment. Criminality is also highly depicted in movies, literature, comics and cartoons, and even other genres of music. Just as lyrics in rap songs can influence the minds of others, so can these other forms…
Perhaps we should include a “Do Not Try This At Home” warning along with the “Explicit Language” label.(j/k)
Although I do realize that some rap does glorify violence, drugs, sex, and the demoralization of women; it is also a voice of self expression. The message may be a way of life that is hard to accept, but exists nonetheless. Poverty, drug abuse, violence are real; and I feel many rappers use their voice to speak to us about their "world", a place people turn to crime in order to feed their families, join gangs to feel protected...a place that when you finally make it, you "ball 'til you fall", buying senseless material things because no one ever told you about investments.
But rap can also be inspirational. There are many success stories about people turning their lives around that give hope to those who may be struggling. There are messages of hope, love, optimism, conciousness.
Why is thre genre of music known as hip hop shaping our youth of today to something it was never intended to do?
ReplyDeleteThis music has been with our people from our parents to us. if you take a tape from the 70's hip-hop to the 2000 millinea ther are many differences. One is the names we call our beautiful black african queens. they were once known as cutie, shortie, or beautiful. But kmnow they are known as bitches, ho's, jump'offs etc. once upon a time we respected our woman and treated them like gold. Now they are nearly only important as the ground we walked on, becuase someone wanted to take chance at something stupid as this and put it in their lyrics. Now since woman themseleves refer to each-other as bitches because most of them dont even have enough respect to correct their friends when they call them these slandorous names. And yes hip-hop is a music in which we can express ourselves, but people intensions are only focused on wether i can make more money and sell more albums than to teach people. Why not go to the extra mile and try to sell albums and at the same time teach people thge true message in thgese songs. Lets change this music back to what it once was while we still can, becuse if we dont then this music is going to be the consequences of alot of good people.
Has hip-hop changed our thought process?
ReplyDeleteLiving in Detroit, where hip-hop is praised, I have seen the good and the bad of hip-hop. Growing up I has caught up in the rapture of the lyrics of Jay-Z, Tupac, Eminem, Biggie, and many others my dad started me out with. As I made hip-hop an important aspect in my life i noticed that my thought process about life had been changing from that degree that would last me a life time to that government paper that would last me a short time. Now as I look at today's generation I believe the same thing is happening but at a much faster rate.
To answer Dwayne's question I believe that as a parent you shouldn't dictate what music your child listens to. As a parent its your job as your listening to the music have a casual conversation about the music and make sure the child understands what the artist is talking about is either right or wrong.
ReplyDeleteDoes Hip Hop today have a stronger effect on youth today then it did in the 80's and 90's?
ReplyDeleteI feel that the music has some similar ways of touching the youth today but the difference is that our youth today have a whole new mental build up. Times have changed the way that the Hip Hopsters from the 70's and 80's were brought up is slightly different then what most youth grow up like today. Parents are different from then and the struggle has somewhat changed. Most of the youth are unappreciative and dont realize that the music they praise has a strong effect on society.
If we converted all the Hip Hop songs that are played today into what was played then, what would be today's Hip Hop audience's outlook or response.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the most money makers are whats socially constructed to be "cool". But there are yet some great unfortunately underdog rappers that don't degrade music as alot of the more famous do. However I am pretty much in agreeance with the previous generation that rap hasn't really changed for the best. A rapper usually uses their surroundings and their life as fuel to the rap fire. Things have obviously changed over time so it would seem pretty out of place for a rapper to chant "Fight the Power". So after all can we blame the rappers for staying along the guidelines of what provides them a way to make a living? As most of us know, Hip Hop is apart of the industry and the industry after all has become a wealthy business. Quiet as kept alot of the entertainers today have degrees and are very intelligent. It is very hard to balance staying true to yourself and entertaining the world. Even the fact that most have higher education is hardly mentioned. Such an unfortunate mishap, with the knowing of how drastically the youth is impacted by music you would think they'd broadcast degrees all the time. Not alot of people want to hear about how all of your kids are by the same person and you all share the same household. Majority of today's society believes that having a different partner every night and being a "thug" is an intriguing way to live. Its unfortunate for the percentage of imitators that feel they need to live their life this way to become a rapper who later are swallowed up by the industry for their lack of knowledge about such a business.
Usually what is said to be a good rapper now a days is what we have always called a lyricist. This may also be referred to now a days as a "spitter". Someone who can use their words creatively to discuss their topic. So maybe because we are not in the same times as we were when there was "good" hip hop is simply because life has shaped a different route. I never thought about that til now.
In the article it implies that white people at the time didnt too much care about urban rap. However now a days there are a plethora of different cultures that listen or support today's Hip Hop. Nevertheless, comments on other web articles portray that the older adults feel that old school rap will always be better than today's. With all the socially created preferences of rap and not able to have the ability to arrange old school rap to be today's rap I actually have no way of determining rather Hip Hop would have equal or less the audience.
Is there good or bad music? or is it just words and we take it in a bad way?
ReplyDeleteI think that music can be bad if its a little kid listening to it. They are open minded and they really don't know what good or not. we just got to watch what we sing and play around them. At least into they grow up and can tell wahats right from wrong... But then again it can be something they can learn from. Some Hip-Hop songs have a life story and it can help others keep that from happening to them. so it all up to the age and what it its they are listening to... :( or :)
Do Hip-hop effect the younger age kids growing????
ReplyDeleteYes hip-hop effects the younger age kids thats growing up. The music that the rappers give out the things they say they accomplish while doing it makes the younger influence into doing it. Money is and big part in this world we live in. Rappers give off the sign that its easy to get money,telling you the ways thats against the law to get it, which puts most of our teens in jail for drugs, killing, stealing, and trying to be on top.
What Happend to Hip Hop?
ReplyDeleteThe reason Hip Hop is in ICU is because back then rappers came from the same place but a different mind frame. In the early 80's some rappers we're the ones who had dropped out of college or who had dropped their uniform and picked up a mic. Now rappers are the ones who came from hard places but use their background in their own music. You had to have sold drugs, shot guns, went to jail and had joined or are in a gang in order to be respected in the "game" now. Hip-Hop is now corrupted. In most times it is not Hip Hop, it is Rap. Hip Hop was a genre that had made Albums which contained a maximum of 10 curse words, Rap has a minimum of 10 curse words. Hip Hop spoke on the problems and exposed what was not being heard, but Rap is like the dirt that is clogging ears where nothing and no one is hearing the lies. No one is hearing lies because everyone thinks it is the truth. Farewell Hip-Hop.
Should parents only be afraid to allow their children to listen to Hip-Hop or should other forms of music be a concern as well?
ReplyDeleteWhen walking/driving down the street, I notice how much hip hop seems to affect society. I see young men, and not just black males, with gold and silver teeth, clothes that are 3 to 4 sizes to big, (if the clothing is not big, then really tight), and recently, young males have been walking around with small, empty backpacks imitating new artist Soulja Boy.
Although hip hop does contain vulgor language and topics discussed can cause parents to worry about their children, there is pop rock music that may have negative affects on younger generations as well. Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor by Eels, Everything Ends by Slipknot, I Won't see You Tonight by Avenged Sevenfold, Why by Rascal Flatts, and You Found Me by The Fray, are all songs about suicide. Young people are more likely to give up on the smallest things and kill themselves, than to kill someone else.
Previous statistics from the Washington Post show that there has been a tremendous drop in crime rates over preveious years; but, according to latimes.com and parentdish.com, suicide rates have continued to climb since 1999.
This shows that parents should not be only concerned about the Hip Hop that their children listen to but also about the other forms of music around them.
Why is it that the older generation sees a problem in what is stated in rap music today but the music that they listen to is not all that clean either? Such as Mary Jane by Rick James which speak about weed or Turn off the light by Teddy Pendergrass which talks about sex
ReplyDeleteI do realize that todays music is more graphic and uses more vulger words and profane language but at the same time but the meaning behind it still stands the same. As i said in class i think it is the fear that our parents have for us failing in the world or maybe they knew what effects these songs had on them and they do not want us to experince these things. But then that raises another question... is it really the music that our parents dislike or our actions after hearing the music???
Kashia
ReplyDeleteI find it funny that you pose this question because just 2 hours ago my mother and step father were sitting in the kitchen listening to Let's Get It On. They get up and start dancing and they look at me and then tell me that I don't know good music. They tell me that the music that we listen to today has no meaning and music back then had meaning. I looked at them in confusion because it was my mother who yelled at my sister because she was blasting Birthday Sex in her room, but now she was up "grinding" on my step father to Let's Get It On...? And then that is when we got into the whole argument about sex. Sex back then was honest and making love meant exactly what its states. To answer your question I think that some parents just don't like the music because as my parents stated "it has no meaning" and other parents just worry about the influence that the music may have on their child.
(Jocelyn)....Does hip hpo today really influence the young generation to do bad or focus on the saying..M.O.B.?
ReplyDeleteI believe hip hop has changed completely. I spoke to my mother and father about this issue, and i also listened to hip hop music back in the day and compared it to what we listen to now. Hip-Hop music back in the day, had meaning to it, and most rappers stated and issue within the world. Nowadays, hip-hop is about money, cars , clothes, and M.O.B. (money over bitches). Women are looked at as bitches, sluts etc..and its getting to the point that some women don't even care and they just deal with it. I don't think that music influnences young people to do bad things, i believe they choose to, because of the lyrics. rap music has changed and i just can't wait until it goes back to the way it use to be, when it made sense.
Actually, I do believe in M.O.B. (Money Over Broads) Since the begining woman have messed this world up, starting with Eve eating the apple.So yes it is always Money Over Broads, and I say broads because B******* is a harsh word
ReplyDeleteMY question would have to be:
ReplyDeleteWhy not give the youth a chance to experience the positive as well as negative in Hip-Hop?
It's becoming so clear that we "protect" our children from So much, but in the end, I believe we're harming them in the process because we're not giving them the chance to live! What do you mean by that? I mean giving them a chance to have their own likes and dislikes..telling your child that a specific type of music is not right for them isn't going to have them stop listen, it's going to make them explore. I'd rather my child listen to what they wish instead of going behind my back..restrictions will be set..but there will be some liberty!
And to answer Stookes;
Sorry to interject, but "Money over Broads?"...I would advise that you really look deep into the situation, look at how Eve took over Adams mind, even though he was a man. Even though he was a man..his mind wasn't strongwilled..but now a days, we have strong-willed negros who do things I couldn't imagine to females..and just using the term, "Money over Broads"..doesn't give you alot..you can spend money..but it doesn't warm you at night..it doesn't give you counsel or comfort....Even with my aforementioned statement about letting children be freewilled..I still will always believe that Hip Hop does things to women...I'm talking belittle, mistreat..and call out their name!! It's ridiculous....and then the statement you made, was supposed to make it better..are you that "Strongwilled Negro?" I mentioned before?
Why has the love of hip hop changed for the adults just because the meaning changed?
ReplyDeleteWe all know that over time hip hop has changed or "died" in which some rappers say however only the words have changed not the meaning. Admiting that younger generations aren't as polite with their words as they were back in the years but our feelings as youth are still the same. We deal with the same issues and fight the same fight. Such as school and parents and finances and the relationships with our family and friends and significant others. Rappers today just twist the beat and change the words just so the younger group can relate to it more. It's just like what teachers have to do today. They must change the way they teach from how the did years ago in order to catch our minds and instill the education. Adults don't seem to get that we are still learning from hip hop as well we are their fans they learn for us. So we must love hip hop for it is not very much different as it once was.
negative (Jocelyn)
I must say that even though hip hop nowadays does speak about "bitches, hoes, money, and cars" you have to weigh out all of the positive music that hip hop has brought out. Some have uplifted women and simply expressed how the feel about what success has brought them. It is only the world that has given them the lyrics about how they feel. Its just like us writing poetry just said out loud with a beat. And I must argue that hip hop will never go back to the way it used to be. In the past twenty years it has created what it is now so in another five years it will be so mind blowing on how it has changed.
Has today's hip-hop lyrics really changed soceity or is it really the same and people just look at it different?
ReplyDeleteWe the people in society sometimes in our mind want things to change but in reality it's all the same. Ex.The clothes that are worn today are some of the same that were worned in the 60's and 70's. History just repeats itself including music. I don't agree with the name calling in the music cause if the artist think about it they are disrespecting all women including their mother,sibling etc. What we have to do is reconstruct soceity to make it better.I feel that hip hop also expresses how someone is feeling and if it has to be negaitve all the time it's something the artist has either dealt with in life and hasn't found any other way to communiate their feelings.
If we look at music as a whole and not just single out a genre going back as far as just the sixties, music was a way to speak out against institutions. Creedance Clearwater Revival sang a song about the National Guard Shooting Students at Kent University in the Sixties. Woodstock was about peace and love. Every generation needs to express themselves amd music is a universal language. People can relate among cultural divides. Think about all of the packed concert halls that American musicians played to behind the Iron Curtain during the cold war.
ReplyDeleteStookes: Eve may have ate the fruit of the tree, but aren't we all fruit of the womb?
why do people make rap music somethin its not?
ReplyDeletewat i mean is why do we make rap music to be so bad and its not its just the way u take it because if u sit down nd play a rap song its like a story and most of the time they talk about what they have been throught and what they are goin throught so its not all bad some or them have went to college some of them have worked all there life untill they got that big brake but to me i dont listen to it like that but wat i do listen to does not make me who i am today becaus i did not let cars or money take over my mind so thats wat i think
I know that there are a few ways to look at hip hop and the direction that it's going. The way I choose to view it is as a form of art.
ReplyDeleteYes, rappers do belittle women and thats sad to see. However the women that they refer to as such "bitches and hos" are the women that refer to themselve as that. Too often a hear a random woman uttering the popular phrase "I'm the baddest bitch" or calling themselves the "queen bitch". If we should criticize anybody, we should criticize those who makes it acceptable for their group to be degraded, and not so much the people who take advantage of the oppurtunity to make money.
With that being said, hip hop is a business just like porn, fast food or any other controversal industry. Is it truly an artist fault that he blatently puts down a group to sell records? It is proven time and time again that the most positive and conscience music is not as successful as derogatory counterpart. For example, rappers such as Common, Lupe Fiasco, or Talib Kweli will not sell nearly as much as Lil' Wayne, Jim Jones, 50 cent etc. So having a non lucrative style with deter rappers from producing "positive" music. This is how they feed their families and they must do what sells. It's no different than Mcdonalds making high calorie and unhealthy food as oppose to healthy sandwiches, because thats what sells and Subway is not even close as successful as Mcdonald's who boast the top recognized symbol worldwide.
Third and finally is that hip hop is an art and we must not forget that. In fact, one of the most influential arts on the planet. Hip hop is no different from other artistic entertainment such as movies or literature, yet is undoubtably the most controversal. I hear no criticism from any of the Jason movies. I see no national backlash against the Saw series, which mightI add contains some of the most grusome images imaginable. These movies project images for children and people to see, yet hip hop merely reflect the lives that many have lived and witness daily and is critcized heavily. I say if anybody wants to criticize the route that hip hop has taken, look at the communities 1st and try to improve them. In doing so you will improve the outlook that people have of their communities and themselves, then and only then can hip hop become less negative. But it will always be controversal because people find controversy in things that has success.
By the way, Dr. Greenfield I look foward to your comment on my post.
I agree with Mr. Balwin, and I stated in my posting, hip hop is a form of entertainment. As mentioned, there is quite a bit of offensive and objective material shown in movies, yet it is not seen as controversial as rap music. Just beacause you choose to listen to music with questionable subject matter does not mean you endorse the behavior depicted and I'm sure the artist don't either. We watch gruesome movies about sadist murders,rape, torture, drug use, etc all in the name of entertainment. Rappers are doing the same thing the movie industry is doing...making money.
ReplyDeleteWhat is really the big difference from Hip Hop Then & Hip Hop now?
ReplyDeleteAnd there isn't a diff. come on now back in the 80's early 90's they had the fight the power stage and of course music is going to generate from that. Todays age its about money, cars, clothes & hoes so your goin to rap about that. you have to rap about whats going on currently yes there are many things going on in todays age but its all about making a quick buck what's going to last on the charts make them money. I'm pretty sure A song about aids will not be a 'club banger' then you want to think about people are more free about sexuality songs are going to freaky ... back then that wasn't supposed to be brought into the light but best believe it was done in the dark so i basically think its hippicritical ..Either way you don't like it or not they still gone be making money & that's just how I feel . It's every man for himelf if he wanna call females bitches ' It's what you respong to ' who actually listens to lyrics anymore ? its all about the beat .. I think people just reading to much into it.. Like there is Lupe Fiasco, Kid Cudi, & still even common they have positive lyrics if you listen but they not ' club bangers ' so you won't know unless you do your research.
Mr. Baldwin --
ReplyDeleteSince you asked me for a respose to your post, I will be happy to oblige. In general, you have written a very thoughtful and intelligent set of ideas, and I would agree with many of your claims. However, I will offer a few critiques; feel free to respond if you wish. First, I find it problematic to argue that the women being called b's and h's are only the ones using that language to describe themselves. Remember, when kids listening to the songs hear these words, they are often generalizing to women overall. Thus, even women who have no interest in hip-hop may be perceived negatively and called out of their name, because the songs speak about women. When I visit other countries, folks in these places really believe that all Black women act and dress in the ways that they see in the videos.
Next, I believe that the industry and hip-hop consumers do have a responsibility to consider and promote alternate forms. Yes, if we want and demand better music, they will produce it. But... just as Subway and even Mickey D's have pushed better eating, so can the labels. Nope, I don't blame the artist completely, yet he/she can be a part of the solution, too.
I completely concur with your claim that better social conditions will lead to more positive music -- and the fight ideally starts there. But, I don't let hip-hop off the hook in the meantime. More educational stuff can also lead to social change and the desire to fight for macro solutions. I find the argument that hip-hop is no different than Jason movies to be weak. Kids do not want to be Jason, and they know that it's fake; hip-hop youth want to be Jay-Z, and they believe that these artists "keep it real."
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ReplyDeleteDenney
ReplyDeleteWhy does rappers in the music industry exploit women as well as torment them?
The reason for men in the music industry degrading women is because that's what they think would make them most popular and have a bangin album. Many people say sex is what sales but to me I think it's just how men define women. It seems to me that women are categorized and looked at as a piece of meat when it comes to the worl of hip-hop. I see us as strong individuals trying to avoid the struggle but men portray us to be otherwise. But on the other hand some rappers has truthful lyrics of how women give up their bodies for what they want or maybe even fun. I also think that some artist try to get back at females if things don't go their way. As for the name calling I think it's just a sign of ignorance, maybe grew up in a household of disrespect, or they may even disrespect their own mothers. It has been a total transformation in hip-hop of today rather than back then, it was all about family, fun, and friends but now it's now about living the lifestyle of a gangsta.
will hip-hop ever be better than what it is now?
ReplyDeleteI see a little bit of positive change in hip-hop as we know it today. even tho we still have rap artist's that still degrade women and promote alot of negativity to our community, there are a handful of artist's out there that do know the true meaning and the real values of love and life. you look at artist's like jadakiss and Gucci Mane and all you see is artist's that talk about narcotics and bitches..(as they refer to women)but then you turn to artist's like Common or Lupe Fiasco who talk about making it somewhere in life and finding true love. So I do believe that hip-hop will get better. it may take alot of time but it will get there one day.