AFS 2010 Blog #4

Saundra Wells

AFS 2010

Blog #4

HIP HOP vs. AMERICA

 

After reading and listening to the various rap artist on the talk panel with scholars and media personnel. It is evident that the rap industry plays a large part in America’s youth lives.

In the “Hip Hop” world of music the idea of imaginations running wild is a definite awareness for the impressionable youth since the beginning. The Rap industry has held a mystique within their own since rap became as big as rhythm and blues, even as large as jazz among blacks in society today. Hip Hop started out as what seemed to be a retaliation against the rules of society or life, because of the willingness of the Hip Hop artists to go against the “norm” to express themselves through their music. The idea that classic music from artists in the past was used as background harmony for today’s hip hop artist to verbalize their distinctive opinion of today’s world seems a little strange.

The movies Boyz in the Hood and Jungle Fever, both movies produced by a black man to show one regular day in the lives of blacks. Boyz in the Hood provided a vivid portrayal of the gang life Los Angeles whereas a black family headed by a mother no father in the home was raising her two sons and one was an athlete that showed promised of being able to go to college and escape the street life. The other son was a product of the majority of his neighborhood, he was a gang member that was familiar with guns and violence and accepted it as a norm. The idea that a different life could exist outside of the neighborhood in which they were being raised in was not on the fore front of their thoughts each day they woke up. The movie Boyz in the Hood followed this typical east LA family through their normal day and the day contained the shooting of the promising athlete, and the retaliation of more shooting by his gang banger brother. The idea of revenge for the shooting of his brother was one that just seemed normal especially for the atmosphere they lived in. This is the format or explanation that several Hip Hop stars spoke of on the panel in the videos that I had the opportunity to see. Hip Hop vs criminology is what the rap stars were focusing on the idea that what they rap about in their songs is an everyday happening for some. The music behind the story is what makes it entertaining for some and others are shocked by the expression of violence and sexual innuendo’s made by the videos.

 Everyone in this life experiences many different lives, no two are alike. I mean if you look at Jungle fever and see that a “professional” black man who has a beautiful wife and child at home still made the decision to have an affair with a “white” woman. That affair was the start of many unpleasant situations that affects their loved ones as well as highlights the prejudice between whites and blacks. The movie really shows the typical cheating man with another woman who does not think of how his actions will affect his devoted wife or how it will affect his entire family. Again just as the rap artists expressed on the talk panel, rap is real life.

 The Black community accepted rap as a way of expressing the idea of real experiences in life. The way that the expression is portrayed may not be as favorable as some would have it to be, but it is what it is true experiences. The interpretation of each rap video or song is left up to be determined by those that choose to listen to the hip hop music. The rap videos appears to exploit the sexuality of black women, this is done with conflict because the lyrics although are degrading to some others find them a representation of real life. Because black women have experienced the harsh side of violence since slavery days. The chapter two words Black Community speaks of the spread of rap contributed to the promiscuous of sex and the chapter suggests that the spread of Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases came about because of the popularity of rap. I do not see it as such, promiscuity has been around a long time.

The idea of power is displayed in many rap songs, power demonstrated by the actors in the videos showing guns and money along with pretty women dressed in sexy outfits. The videos had and has a big influence on the thought process of young children, especially those who live in areas whereas they are exposed to violence on a daily basis, from street fights to drive by’s. Although children who live in the “suburban” areas and may be the product of a two parent family, are still influenced by the rap industry. Back in the day rock n roll too had underlying sexual tones. The “twist” caused dancers to gyrate their bodies and this was taken as sexual. Who would have thought that this would go any further.

 All of the negativeness that America experiences did not start with the evolution of rap it was always here and just viewed differently. In slavery days the rape of a black female was acceptable because this is what the entity that ruled (white males) had no problem with it. It was wrong but acceptable, now rap who does the same sexual suggestions but with music for entertaining is blasted and put down.  The effect of the portrayal on these few minute rap videos just displays the episodes that has happened to many in this world whether or not we want to admit it. In today’s society children are still influenced by trends, if it looks interesting then they will try it even if the parents do not approve. I am speaking of children of all colors. The rap music is a lot bigger now than the United States it is all over the world and children from all walks of life are trying to be like that star of the rap videos, because it looks interesting.

The Rap music some like and some do not is here to stay whether we want it to or not. The rap videos with all of the glitz and sexual content along with the profanity some have in it will only get worse depending on what sells.