i love hip-hop. and here's why: i never heard anything that hit me on such a personal level than i did when i was first exposed to hip-hop. i related to it. i related to its political views, its feelings, its history, and its overall message to the world. and yeah, i know theres a lot of other things involved like beats, production, and etc. but i've always been a lyrical type of gal. and in hip hop, i always felt like it said what i wanted/needed to hear. and hell yes, i was willing to listen.
i stumbled upon this thread, posted by a person who apparently has something wrong with his capslock button but i think the point he brings up is something we all should think about:
WHAT THE F**K IS HIP-HOP?
« on: July 25, 2007, 12:34:50 pm »
THIS IS ALWAYS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION.... I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO LET IT GO AND LET IT GROW. I DONT LIKE EVERYTHING ON THE RADIO (WITH KUBE WE'RE LIMITED ANY WAY) BUT, TO SOME DIGREE IT HAS ITS WAY OF MAKING THE PEOPLE WHO LISTEN TO IT FEEL GOOD! FOR EXAMPLE, I "HATE" THE SONG "AY BAY BAY" BUT WITH OUT IT I WOULDN'T APPRECIATE THE SONGS THAT I DO LIKE. IF ALL WE HAD WAS GOOD AND NO BAD WE'D HAVE NO REASONING, MATTER OR OPINION AND WE'D TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED.... AND I CANT HELP THAT I MYSELF LIKE WHAT PEOPLE CALL "MAINSTREAM HIP-HOP" BETTER. I LISTEN TO EVERYTHING BUT EVEN THE BULLSH*T IS NECCESARY!!! AND WHERE ITS AT NOW, CONTENT WISE "IS NOT" FAR FROM WHERE WE STARTED... BOASTING AND TALKING ABOUT MATERIALISTIC THINGS, HAS BEEN AROUND FOREVER, IN THE EARLY STAGES HIP-HOP THRIVED ON BEING THE MOST FRESH AND FLY, IT SEEMS THAT SINCE MORE MONEY IS INVOLVED, ITS NOT TRUE HIP-HOP. WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OR PURITY OF WHAT HIP-HOP EVEN IS? CULTURE? ART? "JUST RAP MUSIC"? I ASK BECAUSE IF HIP-HOP IS A CULTURE WHICH MOST OF US WOULD AGREE THEN MOST OF THE ARTIST THESE DAYS ARE VERY MUCH SO HIP-HOP, WHY? BECAUSE THEY LIVE IT, DRESS IT, TALK IT, WALK IT WITH THE NEW TRENDS, STYLES, SLANG AND SO ON. BUT, IT SEEMS TO ME IF WE DONT LIKE THEIR MESSAGE OR CONTENT WE CONSIDER THEM NOT HIP-HOP!!! SO WHAT DOES THAT MAKE US, WHEN THEY WHO ARE NOT LIKE US, ARE MORE RELEVANT TO THE FOREFATHERS OF THIS CULTURE WE CALL HIP-HOP? SO WHAT THE F**K IS HIP-HOP?
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what i hate about hip hop is the big-headedness it brings. obviously there are the radio artists who are big-headed with their big cars, big booty hos, and dolla dolla bills. but i mean, even those who aren't into "mainstream" hip hop will always have something to preach about what "real hip hop" is. everyone always thinks their opinion of what hip hop is.. is a fact. but how can it be? how can we brag about knowing something that's so diverse and conditional? the people dancing in the clubs to the hip hop DJ are expressing their own form of "hip hop". the one walking the halls with their headphones on listening to Tribe Called Quest find peace in what their hip hop is. right?
i end this entry with this quote:
"Hip-hop is meant to be your own personal expression of how you see the world, and if you stay true to that, then your being true to hip-hop"
3 comments:
tru dat.
mainstream music, of all types not just hip-hop, does serve its purpose; however, trying to critique it is like trying to justify a big mac as food after eating filet mignon.
that being said, those that listen and enjoy mainstream music *know* it's only 'hot right now' aka disposable, but they seem to find pleasure in the fact that the trendy song they absolutely LOVE for only a short period of time will be replaced by something equally as enjoyable to their, at times, nonexistent taste within a month.
i really don't get the big-headedness though. i also don't get how kids get off on the 'i got what you don't got' type of attitude when music should be shared.
i think if more people listened to good *quality* music, that music will be better and thrive because of its listenership... especially hip-hop because weren't we all exposed or introduced to it at one point or another?
i know i was.
good post :)
that guy needs a spellchecker, a new keyboard and a dictionary though.
nice post. i think every scene is riddled with people who try to take what they have and make it their own, so much so that they don't want anyone else to have it. cars, clothes, and especially music.
you and zac are so made for each other.
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