what music a group of people with different preferences would enjoy?
Imagine being handed the aux and tasked with deciding what music a group of people with different preferences would enjoy? Choosing what type of music to listen to can sometimes be challenging, a burden even. Music is an art that is dependent on one’s perception. Some people are drawn to beats, others to lyrics, but it is quite important to also listen to music that evokes emotion in you. Music has evolved over the years to encompass actual daily life and what is currently going on in many societies. Issues of race, class, gender, and even sexuality are highlighted daily in the music we listen to. While some songs are quite direct, others require profound interpretation. Without that, we may also fail to grasp what the musician was trying to tell through their lyrics.
In retrospect, I could have chosen a less controversial genre, but where is the fun in that. Hip-hop is one of the most revered types of music to date. I call it controversial because even till now, its origin is still not clear. In addition to its inconclusive roots, it has been drugged through the mud over the years. It is because of its association to increased violent tendencies amongst the youth. ‘Hip hop represents the struggle.’ ‘It represents the come up.’ ‘It represents inclusion.’ Depending on who you ask, the answer will be kind of redundant. The genre represents a kind of revolution. Many sources say that it originated in the Bronx, where the population was mostly African American in the ’70s (Helbig and Adriana 15). Its propulsion into the global entertainment scene was not without challenge. Of all the elements of music, beats are the most considered when Hip hop comes to mind. The artists focus on how sounds are synchronized and aligned with rhythmic speech. Rap music is used interchangeably with hip hop, but not all hip hop is rap in nature. Hip hop may also feature instrumentalism, which is why it is loosely associated with classical music. Rappers who have been in the scene long before what it now shares how difficult it was to produce even a mixtape.
Hip-hop back then was quite evocative. The lyrics sounded volatile, and the beats were even more explosive. The art grew from a racial standpoint. They spoke about police brutality, having a target on their backs because of the color of their skin and exclusion. It was a sort of let out of frustrations that they underwent in the early ’70s. The question of extremity versus how authentic this genre is has been raised over the years.
The issues raised here are of race and class. Hip hop has many pillars, but of importance to this paper is historical knowledge. The pillar is directly pegged to race and class, which are definers of identity. The two have been perpetuated in Rap music and can even be seen as its sole definition. In Colorado, school shootings took place while prominent fathers of hip-hop, such as Tupac, were murdered (Pough and Gwendolyn 10). It enforced the stereotype that Hip hop is a violence-based genre. Rappers and hip-hop artists alike take the music as a platform to address racial injustices. It is evident in a lot of such music the level of slur that is incorporated. When given a global stage, they act as mouthpieces for those without the platform. They are also aware that the consumption of their music is critical. Therefore, they reflect these issues in their lyrics and performances. From the beginning, it may appear as if hip hop only represents the African American race. Due to the confusion in its origin, some races have been almost wholly blotted out as part of hip- hop history. Among the theories of how it started, Latin Americans are also said to have made significant contributions to the genre.
It means that people associate this genre to African Americans only, which is not the case. Many of these songs’ lyrics give an insight into poverty and a sad state of things where people had no option but to accept injustices because of their economic standing or the lack thereof.
Contemporary hip-hop has seen to it that there is a lot of inclusivity. I can confidently say that it has come leap and bounds from where it used to be. It is almost impossible to avoid race altogether because it is a reality. Hip-hop artists have, however, found a happy medium where artists can now ‘speak their truth’ regardless of the color of their skin. Kanye West, a renowned hip hop artist, is seen to speak on slavery and injustice against black folk. Fat Joe, who is a well-known Latin hip hop artist, also represents his craft and race. He addresses how they are being given little room to express themselves. Today, there are a lot of white hip hop artists. These artists have diversified hip hop music, which has raised another conversation of whether or not it is cultural appropriation. Although times have changed dramatically and race need not be brought up as much, it still is. Many fans are responsible for this—appropriate authenticity of hip-hop music to a specific style of rap. Many white rappers have moved from focusing on the beat and have ventured into conscious hip hop. Conscious hip hop is more lyric-based than anything. Artists tell their versions of the truth, hoping to make a significant contribution to the world’s thinking. Macklemore, for instance, is one of the most listened to Caucasian artists whose lyrical prowess and conscious perpetuation is apparent. He pushes listeners to face realities such as brand based consumerism.
Sexuality and gender are two of the hottest topics in the music industry. They bring a lot of contention, mostly in the hip-hop world, and are mostly hooked to stereotypes. Concerning sexuality, hip-hop has a bad name, ‘homophobic,’ ‘sexist; these are some of the labels given it. Hip hop is predominantly masculine (Pough and Gwendolyn, 14). Men dominate the genre. That is the biggest attack on females and other non-male gendered hip hop, artists. Leading female hip-hop artists like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B have admitted to facing sexualization in the industry because of their gender. “I have been asked for sexual favors to get a gig,” Cardi admitted to the Cosmopolitan during an interview. Hip-hop has a lot of disaffiliation with women and non-male people alike. They are seen as unable to contend with the pressures of hip-hop music. These constructs are not only within the genre itself but in society at large. The prescribing of roles to a specific gender has made this become the norm, even in the music scene. These artists have, however, surpassed such limitations both in their lyrical abilities and performance style but with much struggle. Hip-hop music is not gendered, but the perception is.
Hip hop is homophobic (Boylorn and Robin 148). The statement held wait a few years back. It is because of the lyrics that artists incorporated that made people believe this. However, its listeners these days are more concerned with gender appearance than they are about sexual orientation. LGBTQIA rights have gained international mileage, and people are now more conscious of the need for inclusivity. Due to this fact, hip-hop’s previous propulsion of homophobic slur has reduced tremendously. It means that society at large influences a lot of what is acceptable in hip-hop music. Therefore, many hip-hop artists only use their sexuality as a tool to set themselves apart. Their rarity often propels them to greater heights musically speaking. For instance, Lil Nas X came out as homosexual after his hit track ‘old town road’. His following only doubled, and subsequent tracks got a lot more buzz. Women, on the other hand, are objectified in hip-hop lyrics (Helbig and Adriana 22) as well as music videos. The entire music industry has a common notion that ‘sex sells. They use women as tools to perpetrate sexual permissiveness hence their underrating. Despite this fact, many women and other non-male gendered people have gained a lot of popularity in the genre because of their undeniable talent. The situation is slowly improving but still has a long way to go.
It is only fair we discuss the progression of hip-hop as appertains to sexuality and gender. Artists have, in recent times, broken from the norms of hip-hop culture. They have set trends. They are unbothered by how hip-hop would perceive them. They are more conscious about using their art as a tool for mass change. While hip-hop is still a bit too male-dominated (Boylorn and Robin 150), some artists have taken it upon themselves to change the narrative. Drake, for instance, is one of the people who define hip-hop. He incorporates a certain level of sensitivity to his music, which is quite refreshing. It goes to show that male artists could access their feminine side and end the notion that being a woman makes one less of a superstar.
In conclusion, hip-hop provides a means by which issues affecting society can be discussed. It gives its artists and listeners a sense of identity. In this way, we get to understand the gravity of things. These issues range from political to social ones within society. The appeal of hip hop has surpassed cultural debates. People all over are fast appreciating the versatility of this genre and are now embracing the art of rap. Whether the artist is a Latin American, African American, or Caucasian, what ought to matter is the content of their music and what message it embodies. Hip-hop can be used to encompass all aspects of identity. As long as it is viewed from its pristine nature and not misconstrued to stand for what we want it to represent. Hip-hop, as a music genre, is growing and continues to make noteworthy waves in the music industry.
REFERENCES
Pough, Gwendolyn D. Check it while I wreck it: Black womanhood, hip-hop culture, and the public sphere. Northeastern University Press, 2015.
Helbig, Adriana N. Hip hop Ukraine: Music, race, and African migration. Indiana University Press, 2014.
Boylorn, Robin M. “From boys to men: Hip-hop, hood films, and the performance of contemporary Black masculinity.” Black Camera 8.2 (2017): 146-164.