This week is a freestyle blog. You can blog on whatever you like. Think about the global impact of a music genre that started in a low income community in the Bronx. Can you think of any other music genre has had as siginificant an impact on people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orination, class or disability? Love it, or hate it, Hip-hop has created social change for both the postive and the negative. As KRS-One says: Freedom is where the work is.." Think about it. Free speech- NHP
As discussed in lecture, global hip-hop is not a new idea. In fact, it can be argued that since its beginnings in the 1970s, hip-hop has always been growing globally. An interesting phenomenon with global hip-hop is the language barrier and therefore lack of collaboration from artists of different international cultures. Guru and MC Solaar’s collaboration, “Le bien et le mal” is one of the few well-known hip-hop collaborations between artists from different international backgrounds; Guru is from the United States and MC Solaar is a well-known, old school rapper from France. However, as discussed in previous lectures, we noted that even within hip-hop culture in the United States, it has its own language and jargon that makes it difficult for outsiders to understand the true meaning behind the message. Thus, an outsider from a foreign language listening in on a hip-hop artist is no different than someone of the same culture listening in and not understanding the jargon. This is where the subliminal message of hip-hop comes into play. “People can interpret the voice without understanding the lyrics” (lecture 11/30). The tone and inflection in an artists voice can portray more of the message than the lyrics themselves. It can imply anger, lover, sarcasm or any other form of emotion. Therefore, hip-hop music, no matter what language the rap is translated in, is an international language in and of itself.
ReplyDeleteI decided to expand our class discussion about Global Hip-Hop for this week’s blog. I have a concentration in International Business, so I naturally love hearing about other international cultures. It is always interesting to see where some of the biggest trends emerge from, and how these trends make their way around the world. Not only do these trends make it around the world, but they also evolve as it moves on to different areas around the world. For example, in class we watched hip-hop videos from Germany and France, and we saw various similarities to our hip-hop culture. Although we saw a lot of links to our own style and culture, we notice numerous distinctions between the different country’s hip-hop styles too. One of the things I found interesting with one of the videos was how there were a few words of English incorporated with it. This was interesting to me because I am bilingual, and sometimes when I speak with my family I mix both English and Vietnamese. It is similar to how people incorporate one’s own culture with other cultures.
ReplyDeleteNo other genre of music has come close to the accomplishments that hip-hop has. Hip-hop music can be heard globally, and the most interesting aspect of hip-hop to me is that hip-hop music from foreign artists can be heard throughout the United States, and hip-hop music from US artists can be heard throughout the world. Hip-hop music and culture has crossed all lines of race, ethnicity, gender, and class, and it has created a common language that any one can relate to and become a part of. Social change, both positive and negative, has been influenced by the hip-hop movement, and most recently, social change through the election of the first African American president has shown that hip-hop can influence millions of people from all backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop also started in a low-income community, but most other genres have started in middle to upper classes, making hip-hop even more accomplished in the global music scene. Technology that is available world-wide today has helped make hip-hop as influential and as wide-spread as it is, and today, the internet is almost accessible to everyone, regardless of race, income, or ethnic background. The polycultural aspect of global hip-hop is also important, because in all four elements, many cultures can be mixed and intertwined to create a work of art and influence people all over the world.
As the end of the semester approaches, I find it necessary to reflect on what I have experienced and learned in class so far. I have always enjoyed hip-hop music so I enrolled in THR 380 with great expectations. I urged many of my friends to enroll, but by the time they were allowed to enroll the class was already full. It was obvious that I was not the only student at KU who found the course intriguing. Before classes started, it was hard for me to understand how hip-hop could be approached as a scholarly field and not just from an appreciation perspective. As the semester progressed, I learned that there is more to hip-hop than danceable beats and main-stream rappers. As ashamed as I am to admit, I knew so little about hip-hop before THR 380 that I did not know the four elements of hip-hop. I did not even know that there were four elements. Of course, I knew what b-boying and graffiti were, but I was oblivious to the fact that they were part of the foundation of hip-hop. Also, by exploring new artists and artists from the beginnings of hip-hop, I have expanded by preference for various MCs. It is almost impossible to put into words how much I learned this semester about hip-hop culture. From fashion to art to politics, I feel like I am now aware of how hip-hop influences the lives of all Americans whether they want to admit it or not. As a psychology major, I feel like many of things we addressed in class this semester directly applied to my interests, including sexuality and gender. My final presentation will incorporate sexuality and gender and I hope I can incorporate my knowledge of psychology as well.
ReplyDeleteI think that global hip hop is very interesting! The idea that several countries have their own form of hip hop is so cool. What other music genre are present in other countries? Do we hear of French or African country music? No, but we do hear of their hip hop culture and sounds. Already there are over 6,000 hip hop groups in Dakar that singing about the troubles they are facing, just like the hip hop artists here in America. It is interesting that artists around the world have used hip hop as a means of expressing their feelings and past struggles. Another example is that in France, hip hop artists sing about the various cultural traditions due to its massive immigration population. Also, Latin America mixes their salsa styles with hip hop to make it more appealing to their audience.
ReplyDeleteHip Hop is popular among teens globally because the youth identify with the themes of urban poverty, the history of struggle, and quest for wealth and money. Hip hop music also speaks to the universal ideas, hopes and dreams. Another connection that the global hip hop youth makes with America is the idea that they can connect with the African Americans through class status. Hip hop youth, along with African Americans, use hip hop music as a way to fantasize and take them away from their lived lives.
Hip-hop has been one of the most influential music genres to emerge. It has had the ability to originate out of society and develop into a world-wide phenomenon. Hip-hop, as corny as this is, is music for the people, by the people. Many different ages, races, and genders have connected with Hip-hop on some level. Hip-hop music has transformed to speak to people of all backgrounds, no longer just the oppressed black community. Globally, this genre has appealed to many different people, and has allowed them to appreciate the music and the culture; and even place their own nationalities spin on it.
ReplyDeleteThe globalization of hip hop is an interesting concept. It is interesting how this genre of music has spread throughout the world and managed to remain stable in popular culture. Other cultures have understood it and adopted it as part of their own identities. It has also globalized instrumentally. The video shown in lecture was a great example of how not only has hip hop infiltrated cultures but it has also infiltrated instrumental cultures. The group Black Violin has been one of the most prevalent groups to emerge to bridge the gap between hip hop and classical. It is almost inevitable that hip hop will continue to grow and globalize as time goes by. One could also expect that it's patrons have grown from it and will continue to grow through it as well. The other videos that we saw in class are also interesting because we can clearly see how the style of hip hop is perceived around the world, and then replicated. One would be keen to find out if the perception of hip hop around the world has the same history throughout time or was it readily accepted? Were there any political struggles in introducing it to the various cultures that it became a part of or had it come past the polemic phase of being a taboo in each society? The international acceptance or rejection of hip hop music has a story, and it would be a great report to read.
ReplyDeleteWith the semester’s end close at hand I think it is important to take a retrospective look at a few things that this course has taught me about Hip-Hop as a genre of music, an art form and a way of life. Going into the course, I thought I already knew the vast majority of what was going to be covered in the class and I considered myself to be already well-versed in the Hip-Hop world. I already knew about the genesis of Hip-Hop in the late seventies, but didn’t know a thing about DJ Kool Herc, block parties in the Bronx and Queens, or the accidental nature of what we know as modern Hip-Hop. Most of my knowledge came from pop culture through MTV and media coverage of events, and sadly, the Chapelle’s Show. I thought I knew a great deal of ‘black’ culture through television and shared experience of my peers, but I didn’t realize to what degree my comparatively sheltered life and my personal ‘lens’ that I viewed my world through hindered me to seeing that Hip-Hop was about much more than cars, clothes, money and women. Through this course I learned that Hip-Hop is very much a product of struggle, bleak situations, and chance. The meteoric rise of Hip-Hop and the social change it produced in American society is like nothing else in U.S. culture, and yet it remains to be the most misunderstood and overlooked force of social change. It’s hard to think that an entity as ‘slept-on’ as Hip-Hop has spawned the evolution of modern pop music, radical politics, unconventional art, a myriad universe of slang and language and a previously unseen style of dance; all so great that it has changed the face of American popular culture forever.
ReplyDeleteThe hip-hop music genre grew globally by the spread of mix tapes and writing about the hip-hop music sensation (Hodges Persley Lecture). This spread of hip-hop lead to the thriving hip-hop scenes present in several countries such as Australia, France, Canada, the Netherlands, Israel, Greenland, and more (Hodges Persley Lecture). The global hip-hop scene is little known to the American hip-hop fans because there have been few global hip-hop collaborations. One of the few, yet widely celebrated, global hip-hop collaborations is “Le bien et le mal” (Hodges Persley Lecture). MC Solaar, well-known French rapper, and Guru, an American hip-hop star, are the hip-hop artists that make up this global hip-hop collaboration (Hodges Persley Lecture). While this is an example of how successful a global collaboration in hip-hop can be, there has been little to no effort to create another international collaboration since. The hip-hop scenes in some countries simply replicate American hip-hop, while others that differ in ideals conveyed about their society’s issues. While hip-hop ideals may differ slightly from country to country, the main issues of class, gender, oppression, struggle, and urban poverty are ever-present in the lyrics of hip-hop everywhere.
ReplyDeleteAlthough we are able to write freely, I still want to touch on the subject of global Hip-hop. To be honest, I never really thought about Hip-hop in a world-wide aspect. Maybe it’s closed -minded, maybe not, but when Hip-hop comes to mind I think solely of the United States and the different races and genders that are incorporated into it. However, as we learned in Hodges lecture, Hip-hop is most definitely a world-wide phenomenon ranging from European Hip-hop artists to Arabic artists. I think this gives Hip-hop such an appeal to it’s culture, as we see that it doesn’t have to be focused solely in one particular region. I feel as though some of this thought process has to deal with the stereotypes that we affiliate with Hip-hop. We don’t look beyond what is being reflected to us as the audiences, rather we take it for what it is as face value. As I now know, Hip-hop stands as a global phenomenon towards anybody who seeks out appreciation towards the music that is being given.
ReplyDeleteThe “Dreams of a Final Theory” reading was very interesting to me. It compared the start of Hip-Hop to the expansion of the universe and the Big Bang theory. The four fundamental forces; gravity, electromagnetism, the strong force, and the weak force are replaced by the four elements of Hip-hop; DJing, MCing, b-boying, and writing instead of turntabalism like we discuss in class (Allen 7). The Big Bang theory says that the four forces combined to form one force that will never reappear and the article discusses whether or not the four elements of Hip-hop did the same thing. A little before 1979 and the release of “Rapper’s Delight” is when Hip-hop’s Big Bang is said to have happened. Throughout the history of Hip-hop we have seen a merging of the four elements in to one artist.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the bigger picture and the globalization of hip hop is very interesting especially in the end of the semester because it is summering up the evolution of hip hop. I find it interesting how hip hop has spread throughout the world. Other cultures have taken hip hop and brought it into their culture. The video shown in lecture was a good demonstration of how hip hop has changed different ways of how instruments are played through out the world. When I was in Israel I went to a concert where Israeli rappers played and there were beats and rhymes and even though I didn’t know what they were saying you could tell it was hip hop. It is interesting to me that hip hop has a sound. However all genres of music have a sound but the sound of hip hop even when displayed in other cultures sounds very similar. I am just curious to know how hip hop got passed through out different countries and if there were struggles for hip hop artists just like there are struggles for American hip hop artist.
ReplyDeleteTo me, it is amazing how a genre of music, born from the impoverished in the Bronx, spread to a global phenomenon, influencing everything from fashion to politics. I do not believe that any other (lyrical) genre has been as influential or wide-spread as Hip-hop. I believe this because other genres, i.e. country, deal with more localized themes such as farming, “country living,” and the American dream. Although there are larger themes such as family and drinking, a majority of the themes are specific to America- and some even more specific to rural populations. However, Hip-hop’s themes of race relations, socioeconomic status, gender differences, and trying to find a cultural identity that is both true to race and nationality span the globe.
ReplyDeleteThe appeal of Hip-hop to non-American audiences probably varies widely. For some, it could be the expression of a marginalized peoples and their ability to market it as music or fashion. For others, it could simply be an outlet or a public forum to inform others of socioeconomic or national problems. However it is taken, Hip-hop’s influence is amazing because of its generalizability to people from all places.
Throughout my lifetime, I've listened to many music genres. However, hip-hop was the genre I enjoyed the most. When I enrolled in this class, I assumed that we were mainly going to be listening to and analyzing hip-hop music. However, I learned that hip-hop is more than just music. Rather it deals with many aspects of American culture--art, clothing, politics, sexuality, gender, etc. I never realized that there were four essential elements to hip-hop and how much each of those elements play a role in hip-hop. Learning about DJing prompted me to download some DJ software to create some mixes and basically have fun with the software. It also made me purchase the DJ Hero video game which includes a rather challenging turntable. My friends and I have also taken some of the instrumental versions of popular rap songs and made up our own lyrics to record with the song. Overall, I have enjoyed this class greatly this semester and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in hip-hop because it was a huge learning experience for me regarding the other aspects of hip-hop.
ReplyDeleteMy only really interaction with international Hip-hop came in the form the Somalia born artist K’NAAN. I was only able to stumble upon him because after buying a Mos Def cd on Amazon.com it was suggested that I also check out K’NAAN’s new album, as one of the songs on the album featured Mos Def. The KNAAN’s music has a great international appeal as he does collaborations with American artists such as Chali 2NA( of Jurassic 5), Jamaican born artists such as Chubb Rock and Damien Marley, and other diverse Americans such as Kirk Hammett (of the band Metallica), Jewish artist Adam Levine(of Maroon 5). His music thus represents the great diversity in international hip-hop, as audiences may vary so greatly between countries. I also think it is cool songs can feature rapping in multiple languages such as K’NAAN’s song ‘America’ containing lyrics “That shit was cool in English, but give me that Somali verse.”, and although I couldn’t understand what followed, it was cool to here it match the flow of the beat perfectly. Foreign artists produce quality hip-hop, but lack mainstream exposure? Is it the job of American record labels to bring foreign products to the states? Or is it on distributors such as Itunes and Amazon to push international artists on to the mainstream, similarly to what Mtv has done with artists such as Eminem, Kid Rock, and Asher Roth. I would argue is it on the American music community itself to embrace colorations with foreign artists in hopes of spreading both artists music internationally.
ReplyDeleteSince Hip Hop began in the Bronx in the 1970s, it has been a great influence to youth in America. The four elements have played upon one another to reach greater masses, and deepen the influence it has had. It’s no wonder that the influence has spread across waters and land to reach a global audience. Countries including France, Japan, Denmark and China as well as countries in African and South and Latin America have been reached by this hip hop epidemic. Mixed tapes and DJ culture have helped to make this possible; however it has occurred through other aesthetics such as art and theater as well. Each culture accepts hip hop and makes it it’s; own. As explained in lecture, blackness is achieved globally by reaching across racial, ethnic, cultural and gender class lines. Youth worldwide relate to blackness through themes of urban poverty, history of struggle and oppression, and quests for wealth and power. Hip hop has been a very powerful movement here in the states, but its impact has not been limited. Since its beginning, hip hop has flooded the street of America as well as streets worldwide.
ReplyDeleteOver this semester we have talked about many different aspects of hip-hop. Since this is a freestyle blog I though I would talk about how hip-hop influences my life. Once we talked about how hip-hop influenced our commercial world I started to notice more and more how much hip-hop has a role in everyday life. The new GAP commercials always catch my attention with hip-hop features such as breaking, spoken word, the music and other elements. Also I have noticed football and basketball games would not be the same without the hip-hop influenced pump up music at the beginning. This week we are discussing how hip-hop is featured worldwide. The only personal experience I have had with hip-hop outside of the United States was with “reggae-ton” in El Salvador. I have an aunt and uncle who live there and we stayed at a resort for a couple of nights. There was a small club that played this really up beat (same beats as rap or hip-hop music) with a Spanish rapper. I actually how some of the music still on my computer because I love the sound of it. The thing that makes it really unique is that fact it still has the Spanish drum in the background (like the ones you hear in Shakira songs and Sean Paul). Overall I think music is the number one way to bring people together. It almost seems like people gravitate towards people with the same music taste or it is easier to get the message across through music rather than preaching. Also music is a great teaching device. How else do we learn the ABC’s?
ReplyDeleteHip-Hop is not new to any of us. As explained in lecture on Monday, it is said that Hip-Hop made its debut in the early 1970’s originating in the Bronx of New York, and eventually circulated through all the major cities and became global in no time (Hodges Persley Lecture). Hip-hop then skyrocketed in popularity and gained media attention and started have a major affect on all different kinds of cultures. Since it gained media attention so quickly, new ideas came about and how to incorporate Hip-Hop into movies and was done between 1982-1985, which made it easier for it to become global. Films such as Wild Style, The Warriors, Style Wars, and Beat Street have all influenced different cultures and how we portray Hip-Hop today. These films influenced many youth and by 1985 youth all around the world began to identify themselves according to the message give by Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop received its global popularity because it appeals to all youth cultures across, gender, racial, and ethnic lines. The music gives people inspiration and motivation to achieve their ideas, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Hip-Hop has played a major role in all of our lives today and has influenced us all and the way we identify ourselves.
ReplyDeleteEver since I was old enough to really get into music, I found myself enjoying hip-hop more than any other genre of music. I'm still trying to figure out what I like most about hip-hop; whether it’s the aesthetic part, the MCing, or just the culture which surrounds the genre. There was something about this type of music that drew me in and captivated me, ever since I was a young adolescent. I've realized that the music doesn't just have to pertain to a certain group of people, and it's not just about the "blackness" of it all. Hip-hop, "appeals to youth culture across racial, ethnic gender and class lines" (Lecture 11/30/09). A friend of mine is a DJ for middle-schooled kids in Overland Park, KS. I went with her to help set up her sound system and speakers a couple weekends ago. I observed these young kids, from various races and ethnicities, dancing and expressing themselves to the music that was played by the DJ, which 85% of it was hip-hop music. I think that this is one of the greatest strengths of hip-hop; it grabs hold of the youth audience from the beginning. This then creates a bond between the genre of music and the audience; where adolescents are more likely to become followers of hip-hop throughout their life. Hip-hop’s diverse and global impacts are some of the main reasons why this genre of music has succeeded, time and time again, ever since the Hip-hop Era started in the 1970’s.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago I visited France and while in the airport waiting to board the plane, a friend and I stumbled into a music store looking to spend the rest of our euros. On the radio playing in the store was a French rap artist and I asked the store clerk who it was and she led me to an artist called Sniper. I decided to buy it because I liked what I heard in the store. As I listened to it on the plane, although I could rarely translate the French rap, I found it to be similar to rap songs I heard in America but with distinct differences that made them stand out as a French hip hop group. Looking back on all I have learned through this course, I find it amazing that hip hop, above all other genres of music, has had such a huge global impact. For this genre of music, which was bred in the struggles on American minority youths speaking out against injustices done upon them, to spread across the world like it did is astounding to me. Hip hop, in some shape or form has impacted everyone, whether those signs are evident or not to everyone.
ReplyDeleteAs finals week looms closer, it is amazing to look back at the information I've acquired about hip-hop over the course of the semester. I have always had some interest in hip-hop and listened to the music often, but I never had a full grasp of what that was all about. To have an opportunity to look at all the different things that go into hip-hop such as, breaking, dance, art and fashion, it was really an eye-opener, as I never quite how all of these things are incorporated in hip-hop until now. Hip-hop was thought of to be a "fad" in the early 80's, but hip-hop has shown it is here to stay, and it appears that hip-hop won't be going anywhere soon. Hip-hop has evolved so much since its inception in the 1970s, and it feels good to be a part of a hip-hop generation, and to be able to still see it grow and take different shapes and directions that we haven't been accustomed to. This class also gave me an opportunity to look and listen to artists that I otherwise probably would have gone without noticing, so I am grateful for that. Overall, the thing one main thing I think I will take away from this class is how great of influence hip-hop has on people, and the influence the people put into hip-hop. Hip-hop as a whole is so multicultural, and can incorporate so many different things from people with differing backgrounds and ideas, which has given hip-hop the staying power in the world's eye and how it plans to stay in world prevalence for a long time to come.
ReplyDeleteI cannot even begin to explain the profound strangeness of something familiar. It’s this past summer, and I’m outside of a small town in South Africa. I say ‘outside,’ but really I mean that I’m outside the affluent neighborhoods surrounding the university. They don’t call them townships anymore (apparently that’s not PC these days), but they still are. So I’m in the township, surrounded by corrugated tin shacks, donkeys, trash in the streets, basically all the stereotypical trappings of the third world. I’ve just exited the University van that we drove in on, and for a moment I’m buffeted by the wind so bad I can’t hear a thing. Then, pure as sonic water, I hear Rhianna’s voice float clearly over to me. Stunned, I turned around, trying to locate the source. It’s a boombox, mounted on the roof of somebody’s house. Crudely fastened, it is encouraging me through T.I.’s voice, thousands of miles from where he recorded it, to live my life.
ReplyDeleteThat is the power and resonance of hip-hop, and it shows the responsibility that the genre has to its audience. America’s ambassador to South Africa? Hip-hop.
Coming into this class I did not know much about hip-hop music, especially its impact on popular culture. As I reflect back on the semester, I have come to the realization that music is a very powerful art form. Hip-hop culture is expressed through various forms such as: music, movies, books, art, and fashion. It is a culture that not only exists in the United States but worldwide. Hip-hop has an uncanny ability to connect with people with various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, but is still able to maintain African customs and traditions to make sure that its history will never die. It is evident through this week’s YouTube videos that Hip-hop as an art form will never die because someone will always “remix” or put their own spin to the art form to ensure that is never dies.
ReplyDeleteMore than anything, hip-hop is an aesthetic. Its influence has become monumental enough to infiltrate formerly insular genres where no other form succeeded. In "Black Violin", for example, the warmth and grit of the African-American tradition meshes with thoroughly European classical instrumentation to create an unprecedented hybrid (Hodges-Persley lecture). Thus, hip-hop incorporates textures largely ignored by jazz and rendered sterile by contemporary art-songs. The very idea of a relentless beat is unmistakably hip-hop, even if it wasn't intended to sound that way in the first place; this also translates to vocal style. Even Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief", an ethereal album of avant-garde chord structures and delivery, explicitly references the hip-hop aesthetic in its closing track. To broaden the spectrum, one only has to look overseas to witness bizarre alloys between hip-hop and a wild assortment of indigenous music.
ReplyDeleteWhat I would like to see is a more thorough reappropriation of hip-hop itself above and beyond simply borrowing some of its ostentatious hallmarks. There is already introspective hip-hop: I would like to see introspective music that can distill hip-hop to a subtle flavor to be combined with others in a kind of musical alchemy. This holds for other artistic aspects of hip-hop as well; I am just writing about what I know best. We must realize that because the genre is aging, we can let it crystallize and become part of our history as something that in many ways is over with (despite new innovations) and that can be conceived of in its entirety. This is not to disparage the music in any way. The same has been done to the blues, jazz, and folk, among others: compressing the essence to its purest form, and then using that to build something larger.
When I came into this class I considered myself adequate when it comes to post 2000 hip-hop and a complete novice when it came to pre-2000 hip-hop. Turns out I was pretty close to being right. Some of the names that we talked about for the early parts of American Hip-hop were names that I had never even heard, let alone listened to. Now that the semester is coming to a close I feel that I have become very knowledgeable about Hip-hop, both past and present. From Afrika Bambaataa to Jay-Z, from Grandmaster Flash to Eminem, from Public Enemy to Three 6 Mafia, I feel that I can hold a conversation with even the biggest of fans and Hip-hop heads.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about hip-hop globally. I have heard a few international hip-hop songs, but never actually pondered on hip-hop’s inspiration to other communities internationally. We can see many similarities of the hip-hop culture in the United States to other countries hip-hop culture, but it is interesting to view other counties form of hip-hop expression (Hodges Presley lecture). It is incredible how hip-hop was used as a way to express oneself, originating out of the Bronx, has now become widespread in our World. After our topic about polyculturalism, it is easier to understand how different aspects of hip-hop can be used and inspired through several different cultures. Although hip-hop may be viewed with negative aspects, in KRS-ONE’s song “Classic,” he states “this is the different between an emcee and a rap, rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal, emcees spit rhymes to uplift their people” making a clear divide how hip-hop’s culture is a positive aspect, which has now become world-wide.
ReplyDeleteWith this opportunity to freestyle blog I'm going to write about a recent album I picked up. It is called Blackroc. This Album features many well known hip hop MCs such as Jim Jones, RZA,GZA, ODB, and Q-tip. The album is a project with a rock and blues duo from Ohio called the Black Keys. The duo and the MC's come together to collaborate on a project that is Rock, Blues, and hip hop all rolled into one. This has been such an Inspiring project and a great chance to see hip-hop evolving and reaching areas I never thought possible. They come together in suc an unlikely way and it is great to see hip hop "sample" and collaborate with such talented musicians. Like the definition polycultural hip hop is constantly changing and exploring new territory. It is fluid, never static.
ReplyDeleteFreestyle Blog
ReplyDeleteSince this is a freestyle blog I think I want to talk about what is going on right now in hip hop. Hip hop is always changing and always moving forward so I want to touch on what I’ve been reading and what I’ve been watching recently. Jay-z been dropping some knowledge on what he thinks needs to be done with hip hop with his album. Just watched a special concert on Fuse in which Jay-Z did a concert in Madison Square Garden. The performance was great and even had many of the new songs and a lot of the old ones also. I recently read that 50 Cent is taking shots at Jay-Z because he thinks he is not street anymore and now he’s nothing but a rich guy by calling him out in a song by saying “You used to be from Marcy N***a, now you pass the grey poupon N***a.” (50 cent ft. Beanie Siegal- “I go off”) This is interesting because 50 cent is an owner of a fruity water company and recently has been having his tattoos removed to look more acceptable for more movie parts. Who is really going more Hollywood or losing their street cred? The person just rapping or the person getting their tattoos removed. On another note, Eminem is off the drugs and Lil Wayne is still on them but both of them put out some great music this year. Lil Wayne put out a mix tape that is titled “No Ceilings” which is really good and Eminem put out an album that was amazing titled “Relapse.” I just read an article in Complex magazine in which they interviewed Eminem and he had a lot of interesting things to say. He talked about how his next album which will be titled “Relapse 2,” which will include so much more than many other albums. Eminem says he’s been recording some new things that should sound different because he’s putting a lot more time into his lyrics. He going for the song that you can play many times instead of the one liners or the one time jokes that he’s known for that you just want hear once. The article was pretty interesting. The other thing that I saw this year that just came out was a TV show on the channel Current. They have a new show called Embedded in which they follow a musician around for awhile. The show Embedded followed around Mos Def in Japan and showed what he does on the road. This was very interesting because I’ve never seen or even knew that people in Japan listened to Mos Def. Mos Def to me is very interesting and is different than the main stream rappers, I feel like the sound of his music and feel are different. There is song from his new album in which he talks about in the show that is title “Auditorium” that is very different and very good. He just explains as something that you won’t hear right now from anyone else. This is just some of my thoughts of what I’ve seen recently. I like all of these rap artists and enjoy their music; I hope all of them keep making music that keeps us moving.
I think the class had a very interesting insight on how hip hop in viewed in the United States as well as across the world. My favorite part of the class was discussing Hip Hop Politics, as well as theater and hip hop fashion. To see how influential hip hop has been politically amazes me because within the past year, the hip hop community voiced their opinion and tried to get everyone to participate in the elections. From mc’s lyrics, to fashion, to actually going on television to tell people to voice their opinions has inspired so many people. I love how hip hop theater has opened up the doors for everyone to express their creativity. It was a great experience to physically hear Amiri Baracka speak about life, politics, and struggles that black people have been going through. I would have never gotten into theater if it was not for the influences in the hip hop theater. Overall, I really enjoyed the class and deepening my insight on the hip hop era.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning people had doubts about hip hop and how long it would last. Most people were proved wrong. Hip hop has been around now for over 20 years and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Hip hop has reached and opened the minds of people all over the world. Through hip hop people have developed new slang, fashions, and stereotypes about the people involved. Hip hop’s appeal spans generations because of its universal ideas of achieving ones hope, dreams, and suffering oppression. Also people see these “under class” people achieve material wealth and it shows that they too can make things better for themselves. There is still a backlash against hip hop by people who, in my opinion, do not really understand hip hop entirely. They seem to only pick out the worst parts of the culture and magnify them until that is all that is being talked about, when the truth is those “bad” parts of hip hop do exists, but there are many other positive parts of hip hop. One being how it is a music that beings people together, if one looks hard enough one can find an artist that relates to their life. Hip hop is a way to let people who may not have had a constructive way of expressing them express themselves. Hip hop is uniting because once one finds someone else that is in the hip hop “world” they can relate to on another no matter where they two come from.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to see how much Hip-hop has impacted our lives without even knowing it. Whether we appreciate it or not, we must acknowledge the fact that it is all around us. Personally, I respect what the Hip-hop movement has produced as a whole by actively being the voice for the people who not so long a ago didn't have a say. Globally speaking, there is a connection made that extends beyond race or class levels in which people can understand. Even language barriers do not prevent Hip-hop from sending some type of message to people around the world.
ReplyDeleteIt’s kind of weird to think about and hear Hip Hop outside of the US. Before taking this class I probably would have never branched out to listen to any hip hop besides American hip hop. Region definitely has a large impact on how hip hop sounds and looks in different countries. It’s interesting to see how different countries interpret the hip hop aesthetic. Some of the videos we watched in class were even kind of cheesy looking. Like a bootleg version of American hip hop. I’m so very excited to study abroad in France next semester and I can’t wait to check out the Hip Hop scene while I’m there!
ReplyDeleteOn a sappy note, I can’t believe this course is already over. This semester has flown by and we are finally in the home stretch. When I enrolled in this course, my expectations of the class were foggy but I was excited to get started! I am amazed at how much new information was presented in this course. I like to listen to hip hop music but it’s intriguing to study how hip hop connects to so many social and political issues. It even connects to one of my French classes, surprisingly enough. I am very thankful and happy I took this course and all my friends are jealous that it won't be offered until Fall 2010. This is, hands down, my favorite course I’ve taken at KU. Not only for the topic, but for the way it was taught. Too many professors at KU think that loads of reading, tests, quizzes and dense notes are the way to teach a college course and they are sooo wrong. The course was taught in a way that the information provided stuck in my head. Anywho, thanks to Boone and Professor Hodges for making history at KU! I’m ecstatic to say that I was a part of it!
p.s. One of my favorite sections was graffiti! =)
Hip-Hop is Hip-Hop. There is no global definition because hip-hop in its self is global. It’s not just the music; it’s a way of life, a culture in itself. Hip-hop does have a look and a feel to it, but what that is exactly is hard to define. When we were told to dress “hip-hop” last Wednesday I looked around the class room and for the most part I saw what I see as hip-hop. There is not a universal look, in the era of RUN-DMC the hip-hop image was correlated to shell-toe Adidas, gold ropes, and track suits. Now it’s some of everything. There is the high class fashion that you see on artists like Kanye West and Jay-Z. Even Kanye West’s name is synonymous with fashion icons such as Louis Vuitton along with Young Jeezy. There is a rapper named “Gucci Mane”, still don’t understand that one. Then there are the artists who resemble the “country club” society donning typical golf attire of polo and plaid shirts with cardigans, argyle prints, and fedora (I think) hats daily including Young Dro, and Pharell. There’s the new age b-boy style represented by skinny and straight leg jeans, V-neck shirts, bandanas, and black rim glasses (although they aren’t prescription). There are many other styles as well including the Andre 3000, Sleepy Brown, Fonzworth Bentley style that can only be classified to me as extraordinary gentleman. All in all hip-hop has a distinct yet broad look that can only be defined as hip-hop.
ReplyDeleteTosin Morohunfola: I am intrigued by Hip-hop’s evolution, particularly in the musical aspects. Hip-hop has had many notorious and sordid love-affairs with other genres of music and each one has been more creative than the last. It started with a Turntable DJ, like DJ Herc or Run-DMC, but a DJ is not always a part of the hip-hop music equation anymore. Now we have groups like Youngblood Brass Band or Black Violin that can create their own brand of instrumentally originality. That type of innovation brings a whole new type of hip-hop sampling/remixing to the table; sampling instruments from other established music genres like classical and orchestral. Another band, The Very Best, has what people call a “distinctly African sound,” which I don’t disagree with. Just listen to the drums. But the band is composed of members from Malawi and France and Sweden and London and they all claim that their greatest influence is hip-hop. So what kind of music is this?
ReplyDeleteThis discussion of ever-evolving genres almost makes me question the whole concept and science of genre classifications. They help us classify something but in no way do they really define anything, not truly. Definitions and classifications, like Swing, Country, Rock & Roll, Black, White or even Man or Woman never truly capture who or what is being represented. Instead, classifications are just a tool, to help us put things in order; a class system to subjectively rank people and things for social comprehension.
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Many companies all over the world need your opinions on their products. They will send you a simple online survey forms, where you need to fill it out and they pay you money.
ReplyDeleteThe most remarkable thing about this paid survey program is that anyone can make money with it.
It doesn't require any special skills, training, education or previous business experience. You only need access to the Internet and basic typing skills.
It is the perfect home business for stay at home moms, students, home makers, retirees or anyone that is in need of some extra cash.
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After last post on marketing without search engines, I decided to follow up with a strategy you can use to get quality free traffic. One of the easiest ways to get visitors to your web site is to spend money. Nothing is more effortless then paying for traffic. But if you can’t afford it or don’t want to pay, there’s an equally simple but free way to get traffic: ad swaps.
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