My apologies for the late post. As you blog on key words POLITICS AND IDENTITY in relationship to Hip-hop music and culture this week, think about the intersections, overlap, contradictions that occur when presenting one's political views. Some prompts to consider are as follows: In what ways are identities inherently political? Is it possible to separate politics from personal identity? How do institutions and individuals present political perspectives? What types of direct actions do individuals and collectives take to assert political ideas? Think broadly about Hip-hop's impact on the construction and performance of identity in our everyday interactions. How do Graffiti, Mcing, Breaking, DJing shape/reflect expressions of identity?.
As we discussed in lecture, politics, identity, and hip hop have recently become connected. For example, with Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign he marketed himself directly to members of the hip hop generation. Obama knew that having an ‘in’ with the hip hop generation would help him win the election. Hip hop stars like Will I.AM. created videos showing their support for Obama and his campaign. He used this tactic to connect to citizens of younger generation. Obama’s identity became associated with the hip hop community and the hip hop generation. Other examples of the mixing of hip hop and politics is the rap sung by the Young Cons. Two Dartmouth students rap about what they like and dislike about politics. Some of their lyrics are: My conservative view is drill baby drill/ You can say you hate me but/ I'm praying for you still/ My dislike for thee most def is not hyperbole/ Taxes are the subject and I will spit them verbally. These Young Cons rap to send messages to both their peers and to politicians. Gwendolyn D. Pough says that in the past, rap was used to spread revolutionary messages (286). Obama and the Young Cons did this exactly. They used rap and other elements of hip hop to spread their revolutionary message.
ReplyDeleteMuch of what Hip-hop culture originated for was in response to politics. Hip-hop formed as a movement from the “streets” to present reactions to the, then, current climate. Today, Hip-hop as we know it has been used still as a medium to represent politics. Whether it’s campaign season or not, Hip-hop plays an important role in the view of politics. Many performers have included lyrics that reference a political struggle or movement. Graffiti has also been an important factor in political representation in Hip-hop. Graffiti works have been placed in public spaces that are influential for politics (eg. federal buildings) which makes a statement in itself about the attitudes toward the stance being made. Even fine artwork has been created as a way of making a statement on politics. From reflecting on past political movements to instigating what may still be to come, art serves as a medium that is highly respected when examining the issue of political identity.
ReplyDeleteIn “Organizing the Hip-Hop Generation,” Angela Ards explains that “hip-hop was created in the mid-seventies as black social movement quieted down, replaced by electoral politics” (Forman and Neal 312). Ards also explains that rapping about revolution raised consciousness (Forman and Neal 313). Rapping about any social issues, including revolution, helped the hip-hop generation organize into the African American and Hip-Hop based political movements we have today. As discussed in class, the Barack Obama campaign incorporated elements of hip-hop to gain voters’ attention, including Chris Fairley’s graffiti image of Obama.
ReplyDeleteCultural identity is also important to discuss, and while the hip-hop generation has organized themselves into becoming involved in politics, the identity of hip-hop at times contradicts what political involvement is trying to accomplish. Ards says that it can be hard fitting culture into politics and quotes Adrienne Shropshire: “Oftentimes the music reinforces the very things we are struggling against. How do we work around issues of economic justice if the music is about ‘getting mine’?” (Forman and Neal 315). The identity of the hip-hop generation makes it hard for politics to matter, and Shropshire claims that “they would attend the Friday night poetry reading but pass on the Saturday morning rally. The attitude was ‘If I’m rapping about social justice, isn’t that enough?’” (Forman and Neal 315). The cultural identity of hip-hop and hurt the organization of hip-hop into politics, but the identity is also changing, as seen in the success of hip-hop elements in the Obama campaign.
Most, if not all political views are based on our feelings and attitudes. Our feelings and attitudes are based off what we interpret and what we know about the outside world. Thus, our roles and identities play a major priority in a political standpoint. Several performers use explicit lyrics that entail some sort of political movement, or political view- point to express their own identity. As we watched in class the YouTube video of the young children singing the “Whatever you Like” song by T.I, they incorporated Hip-hop identity with the political campaign that was currently going on. I personally believe graffiti forms itself as one of the most influential forms of expression. All over the world, graffiti is expressed in public spaces that reflect political views, whether that be negative or positive. As forms of graffiti are expressions of art, fine art has become a definite means of impact on self -expression. For example, the blue, red and yellow Obama campaign sports an illustration to us with powerful colors grasping our attention. As obvious, Hip-hop displays a prominent role in relation to a political standpoint.
ReplyDeleteThe question that intrigued me the most was, “ Is it possible to separate politics from personal identity?”
ReplyDeleteBefore the presidential elections I would have said yes because politicians just put up a show to me, to get support and voters, but after the Obama/ McCain elections my views have changed. Both candidates gave people their personal side as well as political, to get everyday people to relate to them and not make them feel like their vote did not matter. Now Obama is a perfect example of how the Hip-Hop community contributed to political awareness. Top influences in Hip-Hop created songs, advertisements, and really reached out to a different demographic in the United States that helped him win the elections. To see how positive Hip Hop contributed to the younger urban demographic remixing TI’s “Whatever you like”. to talk about both aspects of the presidential election, shows how much hip hop impacts not only culturally but politically. By influencing our youth now to participate in politics and activism gives them the correct tools for the future to make a difference.
Political themes within hip-hop are common and one could even argue that hip-hop began as a way for urban youth to express their frustration with the government. In the earlier days of hip-hop, artists like Grandmaster Flash, A Tribe Called Quest and Public Enemy immediately found hip-hip music a way to express their opinions about the current sociopolitical state of the country. Today, this practice continues in the music of Common, Nas and Talib Kweli. Political consciousness has also progressed to graffiti and hip-hop fine art. Grafitti artists like Banksy are world-famous for their politically charged artwork. Hip-hop was a vital part to the Obama campaign in 2008. Hip-hop artists came together to support him, creating music and voting campaigns geared towards young voters. Many artists were invited to perform at the Democratic National Convention. Graffiti artist Shepard Fairey created the now famous wheatpaste portrait of Obama. Hip-hop’s influence on politics only seems to be growing. With the political messages in hip-hop music and art, people especially youth, are taking action and making a difference.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop has been political in nature since its inception. Hip-hop was created as a means of influencing social change and organizing disadvantaged youth to fight for social change. In the early years of hip-hop, the elements were used to comment on social inequalities that people living in low-to-moderate environments were experiencing. For example, MCs constructed lyrics that expressed subpar living conditions, as well as racial discrimination and unequal opportunities (Lecture 11/16/2009). According to Angela Ards, disadvantaged youth in inner city communities used hip-hop to produce a voice that was otherwise unheard. “To…get up on a turntable, a microphone, a wall, out on a dance floor, to proclaim your self-worth when the world says you are nobody, that’s a huge courageous, powerful, exhilarating step”. The youth living in inner cities used hip-hop as a source of identity when all other forms of identity were stripped away or denied due to poverty, inequality, and discrimination. Today, many prominent hip-hop figures use their fame to organize youth to work towards a positive cause. “Vote or Die” was a political effort lead by Sean P.Diddy Combs. He relied on his celebrity influence to relate with young people who would otherwise be unlikely to be involved in politics. Gwendolyn Pough comments on youth being influenced by rap music and rap artists, “Imagine if that same consuming audience became immersed in not just rap music but also a hip-hop movement change?” She believes that many MCs write about social change, but do not act on their words. If the hip-hop generation worked together to produce social change and equality, progress would be made (Forman and Neal).
ReplyDeleteThe article “Organizing the Hip-Hop Generation” by Angela Ards states that “given hip-hop’s social origins and infectious appeal, there’s long been a hope that it could help effect social change” (Forman and Neal 313). In lecture, social changed was defined as a significant alteration of social structure and cultural patterns through time. People can witness these changes that occur. Especially when it comes to change and evolution of the youth within our society. The youth of our society are can be affected by hip-hop’s impact on politics without being immediately aware of it. It could be because they follow what is considered “popular” in society. The article goes on to say how “the point of music was always to move the crowd” (Forman and Neal 313). This statement was interesting because music in general is powerful and has the ability to effect change through the messages expressed in with each song. Any individual can use music, particularly hip-hop music, to affect a political perspective. For example, the Young Cons would be considered typical young white males to the average onlooker, but in reality they are two hip-hip rappers who rap about their conservative views. Even non-typical popular views are expressed through hip-hip too.
ReplyDeleteHip-Hop’s relationship with politics and social identity has stemmed from the early 1970’s when Hip-Hop culture first exploded onto the scene. According to Angela Ards article, “Organizing the Hip-Hop Generation,” “without hip-hop, I don’t see how we can connect with today’s youth” (312). As mentioned in lecture, whether intentional or not, all hip-hop artists are injecting political messages into their works. As a result, the hip-hop generation, the majority of which is made of up young black adults, is becoming more involved in the political issues of today. From that, they are learning personal identity in deciding where they stand on different issues facing today’s society. A good example of this is the CNN Kids “Rap the Vote,” where kids put on a performance to TI’s “You can have whatever you like.” The kids change the words and replaced them with a general description of both McCain and Obama’s political platforms for the 2008 presidential election. “Chuck D of Public Enemy declared rap ‘the black CNN’ and argued that the visceral, sonic force that got people grooving on the dance floor could, along with rap’s social commentary, get them storming the streets” (Forman and Neal 313). The political message of social change and youth action that is being portrayed in all aspects of hip-hop culture is doing just that, getting them storming the streets.
ReplyDeleteOften times rappers are pressured to contradict themselves when they are producing their records. With this in mind they are still able to make very political points and represent issues that are important in their home communities. One issue, as said in the article by Gwendolyn D. Pough, is that some of our favorite rappers like Biggie and Tupac have very important messages but they are not "constant and steadfast," therefore, the effects are diluted. The other article about organizing the Hip-Hop Generation, talked about how hip hop was basically born due to politics. Identities are inherently political in hip hop such that if someone identifies with hip hop they are identifying with a generally low income socioeconomic populous. Hip hop was, at its origin, formed by people under low socioeconomic circumstances. Identity in and of itself is also highly political because the polity is based on a group of people with similar interests who socially contract to help one another achieve a goal in mind. It is common for people who have the same interests to identify with one another. It is virtually impossible to separate politics from political identity. In hip hop, there are several representations of hip hop from different perspective who present politics using their medium of choice drawing from one of the four elements. The artist who mastered the Obama campaign portrait above, presented his support for the president which is obviously a political move because he lending his talent to building the constituency of his choice. Inevitably Fairy's fans will see this and it will at the very least have an affect on their voting participation and/or voter choice. In lecture today we were introduced to several different political organizations that advocate an interest of the aggregate hip hop community. Organizations that concern themselves with youth issues, black overpopulation in prisons, and other topics like discrimination were among many that were mentioned in lecture. I myself never realized how big of a factor hip hop was in politics until reading the articles and attending lecture by Nicole Hodges Persley.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop and politics, not two things that the average Joe would think go together, but in fact, they do. During President Obama’s campaign Hip-hop was a major factor, whether it was rappers like Young Jeezy making songs like “My President” or people such as Sheperd Fairly who used graffiti to show their support during the campaign. The first political message that can be found in a major rap song was in “The Message” by Grand Master Flash, and he was talking about the political consciousness of communities. In more recent times Ice Cube and Public Enemy “developed a politically conscious rap perspective that transcended “party rap” of the 1980’s and early 1990’s”.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop even has a national convention which has been said to give a community a voice when for most of their lives they have had none. There are also individuals that help Hip-hop stars deal with the government, such as Wendy Day, who is a white female who gives legal advice and helps artist from being ripped off.
Republicans, Democrats, and even socialist are represented in Hip-hop. Tupac, Diddy, Russell Simmons, and Will I Am are just some of the people that are openly liberal. The socialist ideas are represented by people like: Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique. Then there are the Young Cons, these are a couple of White Christians that talk about nothing except being conservatives and politics.
Stemming from the Bronx during the post-Civil Rights Era, the Hip-hop generation immediately took an active role in promoting a political awareness for youth in an effort for more social change (Hodges Lecture). Issues such as death penalty, police brutality, and nationalism gave rappers like Public Enemy a platform to express the wrongful acts that occur in society (Forman and Neal 313). According to Angela Ards’ article “Organizing the Hip-hop Generation,” “old school Hip-hop headz began using Hip-hop to awaken a younger generation in the way it began to politicize them” (Forman and Neal 313). Such political messages can be relayed through the different elements of Hip-hop whether it’s on a turntable, on a wall, or even a dance floor. These self –expressions which carry political themes may or may not give rise to movements or organizations. However, these messages help build upon in a constructive manner for youth of the Hip-hop generation to decipher in hope for a positive social change (Forman and Neal 288).
ReplyDeleteHip-hop and politics have been intertwined even before the Obama/"Vote or Die" campaign. The birth of hip-hop was political due to the demographic shift of populations. Those neglected minorities felt the need to express themselves nonviolently about police brutality, the lack of social mobility, and the overt racism that they were facing (Nicole Hodges Persley). You could even say that hip-hop began as a social movement. Gwendolyn Pough wrote that Hip-hop served as a way to provide motivation for youth to take action. In the lecture we learned that there is a type of politica influence present in all four elements of hip-hop. Four example, graffiti is a social statment on who owns public space and who has the means of production, and rapping/emceeing serves as a mouth piece for social change and action.
ReplyDeleteThis week in class we discussed about the politics in Hip-hop most recently dealing with the Presidential election of Barack Obama. Another thing we discussed about the influence in the election was the “HOPE” wheat-paste painting of Barack Obama and the lack of discussion about how it started as street-art or graffiti. “You Can Vote However You Like” was a popular re-make of T.I.’s “You Can Have Whatever You Like” performed by a middle school. This song greatly helped influence in younger voting because the youth started to believe that it was relevant to them, the fact that it was a popular rap song also helped the youth understand what each candidate was about so they could make a more informed decision. Hip-hop struggles with its identity as generally receives more criticism than other genres of music. One identity struggle that I see is between Hip-hop art and High art. Many Hip-hop artists who are featured in museums won’t allow their work to be used in things like music videos creating this division between the two. Another struggle is the frequent themes of violence, sexism, misogyny, and instances with drugs of rap music and what using Hip-hop as an important role of a presidential election. Gwendolyn D. Pough makes an argument in Seeds and Legacies that “Hip-Hop is not rap, while rap is definitely a part of Hip-Hop. They probably do not know that rap is the music and Hip-Hop is the culture.”
ReplyDeletePersonal politics are the result of environment. They will be affected by a person's wealth, education, regional identity, and cultural identity. Hip-hop is inherently political because it is direct commentary on the social issues that create the forum upon which politics are based. Hip-hop is a way for a younger, urban-based demographic to engage the nation on larger issues. Hip-hop artists have always used their talents to spread the scope of their work.
ReplyDeleteIdentity is inevitably perceived as being tied to political views. The opinions an individual has on issues can create a composite of how that individual views himself and how he wants his world to be. Hip-hop, like all art forms, is a way to display a different identity to a different audience. The success of the hip-hop culture has been its ability to be relevant. Its relevance is due to the truth that it has uncovered about modern America and its cultural issues. These issues have been a substantive part of the modern political debate and have effected campaigns and elections in an irreversible manner.
Politics and hip hop have been connected from the start, with songs like “The Message” by Mele Mel and Afrika Bambaataa organizing youth in to breaking crews to help stop violence. Hip hop stems from blues, jazz, and soul, which were all political musical genres, so there was no way that hip hop could not have any kind of political message in its lyrics. An example of this is in the song “hip hop” by Dead Prez , they say “who shot Biggie Smalls, If we don't get them, They gonna get us all, I'm down for runnin' up on them, Crackers in they city hall”. It has been speculated that Biggie’s death was a set up, Dead Prez is suggesting that “we”, the hip hop community, demand answers before “they”, the government, remove everyone in hip hop. In recent history hip hop has been seen in political campaigns such as the Obama presidential campaign. Artists such as Jay-Z, The Game, Young Jeezy, and Nas etc showed support for Obama throughout his campaign. Artist Shepard Fairey created the now famous Obama “Hope” poster, which was originally wheat pasted, to show his support for Obama. That poster basically became the symbol of the Obama campaign.
ReplyDeleteHip Hop has been intertwined with politics since its inception. A Jeff Chang clearly illustrates this initial clashing of politics and Hip-Hops roots in Can’t Stop, Won’ Stop. The first section, subtitled “The Bronx and the Politics of Abandonment”, outlines the creation of the poverty stricken conditions that gave birth to the music itself. The Bronx itself crumbling to almost a wasteland was written off as an irreconcilable situation, the only solution, to knock it down. In its place rose cheap, public housing, whose only effect was furthering issues such as crime, drug abuse, and poverty. As a means of speaking out against such indeed political oppression, it makes sense that Hip-hop would be a highly political music, on many different levels. Although it may not be boldly evident, rapping on issues such as drug abuse and poverty make some sort of political statement, as these topics are highly political issues. These statements may then come to represent one aspect of the Hip-hop community’s political views. I find it interesting that we see such an increase in hip-hop inspired themes in politics with a black president. Does this limit the music, now more than ever, as a solely black music, clearly demonstrated by its undeniable presence only made known with a black president? I find it interesting that such a ‘polycultural’ music seems so proud only to support its countries political system, only if those in power are the same ‘color’. Do all black people support the same political causes; moreover, all black people enjoy hip-hop music? And white politicians stand is stark contrast. I find it interesting that artists become political perhaps after the change.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop music has always been largely tied to politics and has been used to express the black urban youth’s frustration with the government. Hip-hop artists most famously involved with spreading political awareness throughout the hip-hop community include artists such as Afrika Bambaataa, Mele Mel, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, P. Diddy, Spike Lee, Jay-Z, Nas, and more (Hodges Persley Lecture). These artists believe that they can use their celebrity status to promote change within the black urban youth that has been notoriously uninvolved in political elections. Many of these artists have included lyrics or even whole songs on their albums that reflect their political ideals, especially in the recent election with Barack Obama (Hodges Persley Lecture). Angela Ards in her article “Organizing the Hip-Hop Generation,” states that “the point of music was always to move a crowd” and what better way to move a crowd than into the direction of political consciousness and awareness of the social injustice that they may be facing (Forman and Neal). Hip-hop has the ability to motivate the black urban youth to vote for change, so that they someday they can see change within their neighborhoods and a betterment of their social status.
ReplyDeleteHip hop has been political since its birth in the 1970s. Each of the four elements have connections to politics. Artists, whether it be in performance, graffiti, or sampling comment on socio-economic statuses that are related to the hip hop community and their desires for change. These social inequalities created certain identities, whether or not they are meant to be political (lecture). The changes that the identities desire can be created though direct political organizations, but also through music, art, dance, fine art, and other forms of expression (lecture). Angela Ards’ article Organizing the Hip-Hop Generation explains how given hip hops social origins, it is inevitable that it could help social change (Forman and Neal 313). She also explains how these “old school hip-hop headz” are activists, artists, and educators that hope to awaken a younger generation in the hip-hop community (Forman and Neal 313). In lecture we learned that some of these hip hop leaders were Russell Simmons, Rhodessa Jones, Ras Baraacka, and President Barack Obama. They all helped organize youth politically (lecture). Because hip hop has always been political it is important to understand why. Leaders have helped organize youth to recognize their desire for social change, and to achieve just that.
ReplyDeleteIn class on Monday we talked about the relationship between hip-hop and politics. I believe they are directly connected to each other, shown in the you tube video we watched that was similar to T.I.’s, “Whatever you like.” This video was a great video to portray how much politics has been affected by hip-hop during the Barack Obama Campaign.. However, there are many other ways that connects hip-hop and politics together. “Old school” and current artists have commented in their songs on their socio-economic status, about their desire for change and social inequalities(Hodges Persley Lecture). Politics was born in low-to-moderate communities which is exactly why artists like Africa Bambaataa and Mele Mel’s “The Message” try to speak to the political consciousness of their community and used hip-hop to express this need for social change. Other hip-hop acts that fought for this social change are acts such as Public Enemy, Poor Righteous Teachers, and Ice Cube that took place in the 1980’s. Social change has been created through all of these and also the four elements of hip hop, and such expressions like art, dance, and fine art.
ReplyDeletePolitical undertones have been present in hip hop songs since the birth of the music genre. In Ards' article "Organizing in the Hip-hop Generation," she writes that hip hop "was created in the mid-seventies as black social movements quieted down, replaced by electoral politics" (312 Forman and Neal). As the social movements of the 60's died down, hip hop artists picked up the ball and started a new movement with not only their songs, but as their identity as a whole. Characteristics that made up hip-hop artists identity--graffiti, DJing, breaking--had political opinions laced into them. Graffiti, especially, was a medium greatly used to express one's opinions as work of political leaders, either embracing or disgracing them, could be found on the streets. Modern day hip hop artists still to this day incorporate social rights and injustices into their lyrics in hopes of invoking passion and fueling the change they desire to see in the world. Ards mentions Tricia Rose, author and professor of Africana studies and history at NYU, in her article and Rose writes that "hip-hop culture could be used to create a conversation about social justice among young people" (314 Forman and Neal). An example of this is Will.I.Am's "Yes We Can" video created to promote the Obama Presidential campaign. Will.I.Am's video, besides the obvious promotion of Obama, was aimed to get the nation to vote, which has been a serious problem especially among young people of the nation. When young people have a different medium of which they can relate to, telling them to vote, it becomes easier to invoke passion among them and actually get them to vote.
ReplyDeleteThe politics of Hip-hop had humble beginnings, starting in low-to-moderate income communities in the Bronx and expanding to a world-wide phenomenon (lecture, 11/16). From the start, every element of Hip-hop has been immersed in political activism of some sort, from expressions of socio-economic status by MCs to tagging public space to express the lack of space and directly questioning who owns the means of production (lecture, 11/16).
ReplyDeleteHip-hop artists use politics as a way to give life to their work; they use politics to express injustices and create a sense of identity, although not necessarily black identity. Artists create this common identity by telling politically-charged stories of famous trials or other past or present injustices. For example, after Hurricane Katrina Kanye West famously stated that “President Bush doesn’t care about black people.” Some, on the other hand, feel that as artists, they are “…not necessarily interested in being politicians” (Ards, p. 317).
I feel that a majority of the youth depend heavily on Hip-hop to get their political views. Whether or not the artists choose to recognize it, they do need to realize that their words and actions have political implications for their consumers. As artists, it is also their responsibility to be politically conscious, recognizing their art is used to justify political beliefs.
Hip-hop has preached about hip-hop since it was first incepted, in low-to-moderate income communities in the Bronx in the 1970's (Lecture 11/16). The article "Organizing in the Hip-hop Generation" by Angelea Ards states "that given hip-hop's social origins and infectious appeal, there's long been a hope that it could affect social change" (Forman and Neal 313). Now with the recent election with President Obama, politics seems to be at the forefront of many involved in hip-hop. Artists such as Nas, the Game, Young Jeezy and many others have all had songs dedicated to the election of Obama. There's also been other people involved in politics who have incorporated in hip-hop, such as Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit, and Corey Booker, the mayor of Newark (Lecture 11/16). There has also been artists who are associated with particular parties such as Tupac, Will I.AM with the Democrats, Talib Kweli, as a socialist, and The Young Cons with the Republican party. Hip-hop is especially tied to politics, because of the way it can speak of social change, and how it has always encouraged it. Such as Ice Cube and Public Enemy who have always voiced their need for social change. In the article "Seed and Legacies..." by Gwendolyn. Pough it says however, these messages help build upon in a constructive manner for the youth of the hip-hop generation to decipher in a hope for a positive social change (Forman and Neal 288). So Pough is basically stating that even if the youth listen to hip-hop artists with a political view, they still have the power to choose what's best for themselves, which is why politics in hip-hop is so important.
ReplyDeleteThe Angela Ards article in Foreman and Neal says that at the 21st Century Youth Camp, the students are attending a "Hip Hop 2 Educate" workshop where major themes of hip hop songs both positive and negative are disected and discussed and we discover why hip hop/rap artists perform the songs that they do. Other forms of politics in the hip hop community are Kanye West speaking out against Bush's lack of compassion for Hurricane Katrina victims in his statement that President Bush didn't care about black people. The proof that this is not all hogwash is in Bush's moms response to the situation in New Orleans by stating that most of the people probably loved living in the Superdome because they finally had a roof over their head and 3 square meals. Hip Hop has been referenced in various Obama speeches. The Young Cons do songs in the hip hop style to promote the conservative agenda. In class we saw that Ron Clark's class did a version of "Whatever You Like" for the election
ReplyDeleteThis week in class we discussed the effect of politics on Hip-hop and vice-versa. Last semester I actually had to do a presentation over Will. I. Am. and presented the songs “Yes We Can” and “It’s a New Day” to the class. I never realized how much music can affect campaigns and voters. Knowing myself I have never listened to the hidden message in lyrics till this class. These songs are just a few that have the theme of politics throughout their songs. Another artist I always think of when politics are brought into the conversation is Eminem. His songs have hints and phrases discussing his political views. Some examples are, “Without Me”, “We as Americans”, “Mosh”, and many others. It is an important topic expressed through hip-hop due to racism and sexism. Hip-hop’s increase in popularity helps identify with younger age groups, and people that have the same interest in hip-hop. Barack’s Obama use of hip-hop was a smart tactic in getting younger people involved in the election.
ReplyDeleteIdentities are inherently political when it comes to beliefs and the way people act. I believe individuals present political perspectives through how they act day to day, how they treat other people. Also we have seen how political perspectives have been expressed through music, graffiti, and other mediums. I believe graffiti and music (DJing, MCing) are most effective due to the fact people can relate in a more laid back manor instead of strikes or preaching. I think “preaching” (more the ideas and perspectives) through songs will create more listens because it is not hard on the ears.
Identity ties into politics as well though. The identity I am referring to is the relationship with the artist who is expressing their views. For example, I like Eminem’s music therefore I start to pick up more on his political views, agreeing there is too many dirty cops, or freedom is not freedom at all just because I like his music so I want to “indentify with him”.
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ReplyDeleteHip-hop has been political since it it was established. Every element of hip-hop, emceeing, breaking, graffiti, and turntabalism, has some connection to politics whether or not artists make conscious or unconscious statements (Lecture 11/16). Some hip-hop artists may use their work as to express their political views. For example, Shepard Fairley used his artwork to portray Barack Obama with wheat-pasting. Another example would be the CNN Kids video on Youtube where the students expressed both sides of the presidential candidates while making a parody of TI's "Whatever You Like" song. On the other hand, hip-hop artists can cause controversy in regards to politics. Kanye West's tirade stating that President Bush didn't care about black people during Hurricane Katrina created an uproar in the media. Hip-hop artists can also use hip-hop to create political campaigns. Sean "Diddy" Combs used hip-hop to team up with other hip-hop artists such as 50 Cent and Trick Daddy to create a "Vote or Die" campaign during the Kerry-Bush Elections. His campaign encouraged more younger people, primarily African Americans to vote during the elections. More recently, Barack Obama's campaign used hip-hop inspired language, art, and music to reach a multi-racial and ethnic hip-hop audience (Lecture 11/16). During Obama's presidential run, Will I.AM created a "Yes We Can" song and music video to support Obama, and Diddy was very outspoken for his support for Obama on his MTV Show "Making the Band" and every time he made an MTV appearance. These instances made a great impact on last year's elections because it encouraged more people to vote because the hip-hop artists that influenced it may have been admired by the voter and the voter was able to identify themselves with that artist.
ReplyDeleteI think directly incorporating politics into music is a great idea. Some people may see a problem with this because people in the public eye are often held to a high standard and are expected to be “politically correct”. Art is an expression. It’s often an expression of the artist’s life and a part of who they are and a part of their identity. Therefore, artists may express their identity through their art but at the same time express political ideas. In many cases, hip hop is a response to politics. Hip Hop artists like Afrika Bambaata and Public Enemy have been linked to politics from jump. (Lecture) Artists often create work based on their surroundings and what is happening in their lives at that time. I think that it would be very tough to create music without any political influence because a lot of political issues are also social and moral issues. If artists were to take out the political, social, and moral topics in their work, their work wouldn’t have much meaning. For instance, in my opinion, a song like “Walk it Out” has very little political meaning. It’s a fun song to dance to but it doesn’t really encourage you to think about the way you live your life. This is what all songs would sound like if they didn’t have any political, social, or moral, meaning.
ReplyDeleteBLOG- POLITICS AND HIP-HOP
ReplyDeleteAlthough from first glance it doesn't seem that politics and hip hop have much of anything in common the opposite is actually true. This relationship can be seen the most clearly in the recent election of President Barak Obama. From the beginning of his campaign Obama made a connection with the hip-hop culture. This connection is what many believe is the reason he was elected. Politics have a lot to do with a persons identity. Even if that person has no interest in politics, it is impossible to think they have no opinion on certain things. In the article "Organizing the Hip-hop Generation" in the Forman and Neal book the author makes the point that the culture of hip-hop has everything to do with the social changes in society since the early 1970's (when hip-hop first was created). Early forms of hip-hop and today's culture was and is about a certain empowerment for the African American community. At a time just after the Civil Rights when tensions were high hip-hop was created to express and communicate the hardships and difficulties the people of this culture were facing. It would be hard to say that politics and hip-hop are distance and unconnected when you can see that from the beginnings politics has played such a huge role in hip-hop. Today, we are able to see how hip-hop plays the role in politics.
Hip hop is always about being loud and proud and representing where you’re from. I think hip hop falls right in place with politics. I think they work together well because hip hop reaches a lot of people and it can give you the messages of a political party. The message might not be the best but it reaches people and makes them think about the situation. Hip hop has always been about giving the real deal right in your face so a song can give you perspective of a political party. “In tradition of defiance, of creating “somethin’ otta nothing,” they developed artistic expressions that came to be known as hip hop.” (Ards p. 312 Forman and Neal) This is quote sums up what hip hop and how it came from nothing to something. The hip hop artist can take a song and make it positive for a political party, he can make nothing in to something. This shows you that hip hop has changed so many people lives, so using hip hop is a smart idea because it touches a lot of people. Music in general is perfect way to get people involved. In class we discussed the campaign of Obama and how hip hop played a huge impact. Using mainstream music can help in many ways but it can also hurt you many ways also. Some people might not like a certain type of music or the way it sounds but it still gets people to open up and listen to your message. Hip hop gives you the message and gives you an identity to identify with; I think this is how hip hop belongs in politics. Hip hop is a voice for so many people and people need to be heard.
ReplyDeleteSocial change can be created through direct political organization, but it can also be created through music, art, dance, and other forms of expression. Hip-Hop is able to relate its elements and displays connections to politics whether it is conscious or unconscious statements (Hodges Presley Lecture). The Zulu Nation exemplifies the article “Seeds and Legacies: Tapping the Potential in Hip-Hop” by Afrika Bambaataa’s efforts to organize youth and affect social change. Bambaataa organized the Zulu Nation in efforts to stop violence within urban communities. The article focuses on “Hip-Hop [being] a state of mind, a way of life that is tied to a youth movement of change” (Chang 284) and we are able to correlate hip-hops roots to its political identity. “As black poets of the sixties used their anger to scream out against the injustice of the status quo, rappers used artistic expression to cope with their urban frustrations and conditions” (Chang 284). The correlation of hip-hop culture/rap music being a form of its contemporary Black culture from its sixties roots to “artistic expression [used] to cope with urban frustrations and conditions” (Chang 285) helps us understand its relationship to politics and identity.
ReplyDeleteWe discussed in lecture Monday how politics and hip hop are related. Professor Hodges-Persley said that every one of the four elements of hip hop is related to politics. Using MCing as an example, we see how rappers mention their socioeconomic situations, desires for change, and social inequalities very often in their music (Hodges-Persley lecture). As we learned earlier in the course, hip hop was created in Bronx in low to moderate income communities, and it was used as a way for these people to express themselves since they didn’t have other means of self expression available. When relating politics to identity, an excerpt from Todd Boyd’s article stands out. It mentions how Vanilla Ice identifies with blackness because he grew up in the middle of African American poverty. Even though he is white, this class status made him identify with blackness (Forman & Neal, pg 326). This claim made by Vanilla Ice that he is “black” means that blackness is not about skin color, but rather about your class status, which is very political. This is an example of how politics are related to hip hop even when not explicitly stated in lyrics, like the example before.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop, from the get go has always had a political aspect to it. Being an art from the street it has been used to voice the opinions and issues of an under represented disenfranchised class. It has been used as a political medium to influence social change. The Obama/ McCain election is a huge example of how hip-hop has been used politically and many hip-hop artists stood behind Obama and supported his campaign. In the "Yes We Can" video one sees many Hip-hop acts such as Will I. am, Common, John Legend, Nick Cannon reciting parts of an Obama speech. Another example of hip-hop's political identity and its influence on politics how Shepard Fairly, a graffiti artist, designed one of the most recognizable campaign posters of the Obama election. Hip-hops political identity can also be seen in The CNN video we watched in class. Those kids used hip-hop to present a balanced view of the election to TI's "whatever you like"
ReplyDeleteTosin Morohunfola: Identity must first be deconstructed to more than group identity. People are both a product of their environment and the things that they choose to embody and identify with. It just so happens that Hip-hop’s origins bred a sort of cultural and societal group mentality. “Hip-hop was created in the mid-seventies as black social movements quieted down, replaced by electoral politics. It has deep sixties cultural and political roots.” (Forman & Neal, 312) And as Nelson George notes, black Americans have not had ample opportunity to forge a national identity or “experience nostalgia.” (Forman & Neal, 312) So, for some, this Hip-hop craze was a good and active alternative to the reigning social institution, the black church. “when the influence of the black church has diminished, […] in some sense minority youth have to start from scratch [trying to develop] alternative institutions, and alternative politics.” (Forman & Neal 314.)
ReplyDeleteInnately attached to one’s identity is their politics. This is not to be confused with being a politician, politics merely mean being “interested in political statements on issues that we care about.” (Forman & Neal, 317) Everyone is opinionated and it is your experiences, your knowledge and inevitably your identity that determines your political opinions. Not only did Hip-hop form its own identity, it also initiated social change by spreading the awareness of political consciousness. In its own uniquely contradictory way, Hip-hop people promote both “drugs, alcohol, gangbanging, murder, misogyny” and “proclaiming your self-worth, being an individual and music as an alternative to violence.” (Forman & Neal, 314) And many organizations like CHHANGE, AGENDA and REACH campaign for the attention of the community in promoting their ideals.
Hip-hop has always been a cultural movement that advocates social reform, from its very roots on through some groups today. The commercialization of contemporary hip-hop has somewhat lessened the expression of social discontent, but some groups such as Dead Prez and Talib Kweli still hearken back to the origins of hip-hop. In recent years, hip-hop has been used a motivating and organization force behind political campaigns and other methods of social expression. In her article “Organizing in the Hip-hop Generation,” Angelea Ards states that, despite the apparent incongruity in the title, the hip-hop generation is still very much a force for positive change. She delineates between ‘rap’ as the (although I would argue that it is only one) music and hip-hop as the greater cultural aesthetic. Using hip-hop as a vehicle for change, she contends, circumvents the appalling presence in rap of materialism, misogyny, and all the other critiques bent toward hip-hop from “white liberals.” In “Seeds and Legacies: Tapping the Potential in Hip-Hop,” Gwendolyn Pough makes a similar argument, but one that is more historically based that that offered by Ards. Both authors take pains to paint hip-hop as a larger movement that is able to be put towards positive change, and since any societal change is necessary political, the link between hip-hop and politics is enumerated in both articles.
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