Hip Hop has served as one of the most powerful mediums of
expression in music. It is a form of music, like no other, that has no
boundaries or limits to what or how an artist should say something. From the
use of vulgar language to controversial political issues, Hip Hop is one of the
main forums of just simply, telling it like it is.
To people who don’t know very much about Hip Hop, (like me,
to an extent) the idea of a song can be lost within a negative use of
vocabulary or a topic that they don’t see eye-to-eye with. It can be said that
the use of vulgar words can grab the listener’s attention and show the severity
of that the artist is trying to say. Just like Kevin Gazitua said on the last
blog post: It’s not only about what you say, but how you say it.
Some recent tracks just seem like most artists rap about
degrading women and drinking too much. Sure, I think Pop That is a catchy song, but I don’t think that the lifestyle
rapped about there is sending a message that could provoke a lot of positive change
in a negative world. So, I look to songs like Changes by 2pac and Fight the
Power by Public Enemy.
2pac raps about the need for change and that the way things
are can’t be tolerated anymore. He talks about issues domestic and foreign, making it obvious that
action also needs to be taken by those who have the authority to do so. But no matter who he directs it to, what he
says resonates with anyone and everyone that listens. Black or white, rich or
poor, the world is an imperfect place and 2pac, through his own style, found a
way to spread his message to all demographics in a way that could be
understood.
The title Fight the
Power couldn’t give a more clear indication as to what Public Enemy was
trying to say in this song. It tells the listener to get aware and be mindful
of the world and how it works. The song depicts Elvis as a racist, and promotes
the concept of black pride. The song shows that one needs to stand up against
the way things are and get real.
Throughout the years, Hip Hop started out as an underground
nightclub craze, and now resonates in the public eye. Hip Hop artists have
expressed themselves through their songs by rapping about their lifestyles, their
struggles, and their beliefs. Many artists wouldn’t have gained the credibility
and notoriety they have today if they didn’t rap about making changes and
telling the world how they felt. Yes, art in itself is a form of expression,
but Hip Hop is the form of explicit
expression. You don’t need to interpret a song like you do a painting or a
mural. A song is given to you in plain English, and you know just what the
artist is saying. It’ purpose is to give
a voice to those who don’t have the means of doing it themselves. Put simply,
the genre’s songs are here to tell it like it is…to tell a story.
I don't think that we live in a world where another Public Enemy or 2pac could exist right now. Sure there are a lot of things that aren't going so well, but the idea of a rap artist organizing anybody around an issue right now seems almost laughable when his/her peers are releasing "All Gold Everything"'s. A generation of based and trap rappers has taken away the credibility and seriousness out of hip hop for the moment as its become apparent that half of the people talking about being drug lords grew up in neighborhoods where they neither sold drugs nor gangbanged. Hip hop has become a caricature of itself; after years of gangster rap brewing in pop culture, hip hop is now at a point where every song on the radio mentions elements of party and drug dealing lifestyle such as bottles, strippers, blunts, selling coke, etc. Even Kendrick Lamar, who is the moment's "serious rapper", comes up short in his ability to rally folks around his issue of choice: gang violence. Don't be surprised if his next album hardly touches on that subject anymore and every song sounds like "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe"; but then again, his audience at this point is predominantly middle class America, so his label is probably pushing for that sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Connor, if an artist came out with something today that tried to spread a message and unite people for a cause everyone else would be like wtf are you doing. It really sucks that mainstream hip hop music has become so meaningless and is really only meant to jam to while drinking or driving (not at the same time!)
ReplyDeletealso, perry, not all hip hop songs are given to you in "plain english" haha sometimes I still can't tell what on earth they words are
I think that songs like "Pop That" with lyrics that many consider degrading is pretty silly because I don't take offense to those songs because I feel like in this situation the phrase "it takes one to know one" applies in the fact that you would only be offended if you feel the song talks about actions you feel self conscious about being a part of. However, I am aware that is not always the case and people do get offended for many other reasons. Although the rappers that take part in songs like "Pop That" only really care about selling records and would say whatever, if it got people to buy their song. On the other hand, with social conscious rappers like Immortal Technique I feel that they also tend to be explicit because they are more underground, so not much censoring, and obviously they are issues they care about so they are going to be more outspoken.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post, and think that people need to remember to not expect meaningful, socially conscious lyrics from every song on the radio. Even in the 90s hip-hop was still full of incredibly vulgar and somewhat degrading songs, for example listen to "Hit em up" by 2pac, it's one of my favorite songs ever, and is a total polar opposite of "Keep ya head up" or "Changes". You can't have too much of one thing, and I don't feel like everyone would listen to hip-hop as much if it was only preaching all the time. Plenty of artists nowadays have very meaningful songs, for example immortal technique is still around, Kendrick Lamar has some songs with good lyrical content and he's a rising star. You have to have a balance and not rule out the party/alcohol/sex/violence part of hip hop because it is important as well in its own way. But great blog, I totally agree with Perry on hip hop is telling it like it is, ain't no sugar coating.
ReplyDeleteYour recognition to 2Pac in this blog is important I think because it showcases how hip hop should be used even though it is not used this way most of the time. I think it is important to look at how hip hop can be used to send a direct explicit message to the people. Songs like "Pop That" to me are more for the club scene and the lyrics in the song don't send the same message as a 2Pac or Public Enemy song would because I think it's for a specific audience. Hip hop really is a form of music that is designed to be expressive. Good Job!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ranita. The way you used 2pac to demonstrate how hip hop should be used. So many people of the future generation listen to songs such as "Pop That." Although entertaining, what message is that song sending? If hip hop is a political movement, then more songs need to be written about the change we need in order to inspire. Sure, the audience is young, but it seems as though rap songs either have a very vulgar message (such as 'wake up drunk go to sleep fucked up" in the thrill by wiz), or a very powerful message. Targeting the right audience will never be a perfected process, but there needs to be a tasteful medium between entertaining and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, hip hop now of days is not used in useful way to get messages across. when rappers rap about drugs sex and money it only puts hiphop legacy down the drain. it can be very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post Perry, but im going to have to disagree with what you, Maggie, and Connor are saying. Yes hip hop has sorta gone into this phase where all they talk about is drug, sex, and money but i feel like it could still be used for good and to inspire people. Like maggie said, if someone came on the radio now and tried doing what 2pac and Public Enemy did, then yeah most of us would be like wtf? But i believe that social and political criticism could still be carried out through hip hop and rap, the only thing that has to change is how it is delivered. Instead of being directly upfront and vulgar about it,you have to change the way in which it is being heard. One example of someone doing this would be the artist Macklemore. Although some of his songs are fun and upbeat most of them have meaning behind them that homophobia and religion. The difference between him and 2pac/Public Enemy would be that he isn't loud and vulgar while he raps about this stuff but instead uses a more calm approach which in turn comes off as more accepting.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Perry that voicing your opinion through rap is crucial. It is a powerful tool, received by many impressionable fans. Ideally, you would like to spread a positive message with your lyrics. The lyrics should be meaningful. One of the most meaningful rappers in my opinion is Tupac Shakur. His influential song such as "changes" stresses the importance of betting yourself and society as a whole. It gives motive to the younger generation to strive to become the best possible individual. As far as the political aspect, Public Enemy expressed views of black nationalism through their radical lyrics. Their political stance was negatively received by the public, but continued to constantly deliver their drastic views of civil rights and equality.
ReplyDeleteGood post, well thought out! I believe that changes in hip hop or really any genre are brought about by changing to fit what the listeners want to hear. A multitude of artists release material all the time. If people like them, the get fame or some level of recognition, thereby influencing the up and coming artists who listen to them. Therefore, ultimately, the listeners decide what hip hop is, and what it will become by buying or not buying albums. Having said that, I don't think that hip hop could ever become truly clean or positive because that isn't what people want to hear. Hip hop's vulgarity is what makes it "cool"(for lack of a more descriptive word)to it's audience. The occasional inspirational song by Nas or 2pac works because it's unique and therefore intriguing. Unfortunately, if hip hop as a whole became clean, it would lose its true identity.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this Perry. You say you don't know much about hip hop and its culture (like myself) but this post was really great. You showed how these artists wanted to change things in society by putting it in their music which is a great way to reach the attention of an audience. I agree with Maggie and Connor that if an artist today did what these did then they probably wouldn't even sell. The artists today produce music that is more of trying to get people hyped up and party. However, artists like Lupe Fiasco I believe have the style of making music about society which makes me respect him a lot.
ReplyDeletei agree with your statement on how the world is an imperfect place, yet rap can relate to any people, whether they are an avid listener or not. Many of the rappers today talk about things that are relatable to anyone who has ever gone through a hard time before in their life, which would be just about any person in the world. Rap can relate to all because it allows us to explore our feelings on a main subject whether it is political, emotional, physical, etc. I think that as long as someone takes the time to listen to rap and the words they are saying they will realize that they are serving a message.
ReplyDeleteVery well said!! This is a good illustration of the stigma the genre of hiphop has earned for itself, and how some artists continue to defy it and preach about legitimate topics of concern. I for one have a hard time listening to music instructing women to "bend it over touch the floor" or that ask to see what one is "twerking with" yet I respect these artists for their candidness. The genre as a whole is one that goes against the mainstream and isn't afraid to breach any conventions of society.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Perry about how Hip Hop has changed into talking about sex, drugs, and money. I like your two examples of 2 pac and Public Enemy because those are two really good examples of Hip Hop being used as an expression. However, i also agree with Kevin and how he mentioned that 2pac's song "Hit em up" is also a degrading song. I just believe that in todays music there is more degrading songs than songs that have meaning. With that being said i think that there are a few artists today that still use Hip Hop to convey positive messages.
ReplyDeleteYour blog post made some really interesting points. I liked your comparisons between the two eras of music and the evolution. I would like to add that when rappers "tell it like it is" they don't always do it so directly. Rappers often use slang and metaphors when making their points instead of straight saying it. I think the round about way that some rappers talk about issues is one of the most creative parts about hip hop music. Telling it like it is is not always as effective as using slang and metaphors to make one's point.
ReplyDeletePerry, decent post! I can partially agree with your statement about how rap and hip-hop have progressively evolved to the sex, drugs, money culture but let's face it, it's always been like that but the means of delivery and over glorification are what have truly taken it to another extreme. And not to mention, this new sex, drugs, money culture has made it to the mainstream full blast. Like everyone else above me, I can relate to liking the influential and powerful music of 2Pac and even modern day artist, Lupe Fiasco. Public Enemy is a classic hip-hop example of speaking out against the corruption of the government and politics.
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ReplyDeleteI liked this post. I liked the fact that you chose to talk about Changes and Fight the Power because both songs have similar meanings and during the time that they were out the caught the Public's attention. Especially Fight The Power because it was the theme song of the movie 'Do The Right Thing', which focused on racism, and police brutality. What I don't think a lot of people realize though is that Yes, Hip-Hop has changed, and it is more mainstream, but there are still artists dedicated to the story telling & lyrical aspect of it. They just aren't mainstream. You actually have to do some research if you want to find these types of artists.
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