Help a College Student with His Hip-Hop Related Term Paper!

[AmerikazMost]

First let me get this out of the way. No, I don't want you to proof read my paper, and no, I don't want you to go do my research for me (though if you know of anything that you could cite, it may be helpful).

This is more to bounce ideas off my fellow peers and to get your input. I want to make sure I consider as many perspectives and events as I can while developing my idea. Who better to ask than other hip-hop fans?

The class is called "Symbols & Consciousness," which are also basically the only parameters for my paper. First, I want to examine the origins of hip-hop as a symbolic cultural movement. That's the easy part. The part I'd like some feedback from are the changes surrounding the culture.

My basic is argument is that as rap exploded, hip-hop was marginalized. The question I want some help answering is, "Why?" What happened to isolate this aspect of hip-hop culture and set it on its own path of materialism and capitalism?

So far I've been considering two key events. One, the restrictions placed on sampling, requiring all samples to be cleared, effectively diminishing the role of the DJ relative to the MC. Second, the death of Tupac. Tupac transcended both the cultural and materialistic realms of rap in very distinct ways, and when he died at that critical moment in the coast wars when his popularity was at its highest, his legacy became misinterpreted in the mainstream. His fame was viewed as a product of his media and his fast-lane image, and other rappers such as DMX and 50 Cent followed suit, marketing their persona instead of their music. Without Tupac to say otherwise--as he would have been the rapper in the best position to do so given his popularity--rap began to change from a profitable form of expression to a profitable business.

Although it may sound that way, Tupac won't be the focus of my paper, just a part of it. Therefore, any thoughts on my view of Tupac's death on rap's direction? Any other ideas on what led to rap's change of purpose?






Also, before anyone rips into me about how hip-hop wasn't about uplifting people and started as dance music, I know. But even that is cultural expression. My argument is that rap used to be inseparable from hip-hop, and rappers made money off of their expression. Now rap is not only driven by profit, it's about profit. The question is, "Why?"

 

[S O F I]

Well, you'd certainly have to address the simple counter argument which is rap = hip hop no matter what. You'd have to start your paper off with clear definitions of what rap and hip hop are and many would say there are no distinctions.

Also, arguing how rap music is just materialistic and capitalistic now is sooo cliche. Like, everything is marketed now and everything is done for profit!!!!

That's like arguing Hollywood movies are usually made for profit. WELL NO FUCKING SHIT!


Tell me more about what your class is...well..about.

 

[AmerikazMost]

Well, you'd certainly have to address the simple counter argument which is rap = hip hop no matter what. You'd have to start your paper off with clear definitions of what rap and hip hop are and many would say there are no distinctions.

Also, arguing how rap music is just materialistic and capitalistic now is sooo cliche. Like, everything is marketed now and everything is done for profit!!!!

That's like arguing Hollywood movies are usually made for profit. WELL NO FUCKING SHIT!

Well, I'm really just making it about the evolution of rap, with rap being the music, hip-hop being a culture, and rap being an aspect and major expression of that culture.

The idea is not to write a ten-page rant about contemporary rap's faults. I'm trying to analyze the progression and changes in the popular music, not wallow in sorrow about what has become of the music.

 

[S O F I]

I'm trying to analyze the progression and changes in the popular music, not wallow in sorrow about what has become of the music.

You'd be treading a very thin line, my friend. Good luck, though. I'm sure roaches would have a lot to say to help you, if he was here. He usually searches for his name in threads when he visits us so the name-drop I just did will help.

 

[AmerikazMost]

Yeah, I'm hoping guys like roaches, linx, and 7 Syns add a little something to the conversation.

Enough name dropping?

 

[Chronic]

1) The music industry saw profit in rap
2) The music became about profit

Also, a materialistic society and possibly an inferiority complex among black people, leading to showing one's worth through possessions.

No need to thank me for this incredibly helpful information

 

[S O F I]

LOL at inferiority complex among black people.


I wonder if white people are aware of the ego-surge and sense of power that Black rappers get when they make millions off of white people and then see white people sing along to "superman that hoe" and "skeet skeet".

If I was a black rapper, I'd make the feeling explicit just to "put salt in the wounds".

 

[AmerikazMost]

1) The music industry saw profit in rap
2) The music became about profit

Also, a materialistic society and possibly an inferiority complex among black people, leading to showing one's worth through possessions.

No need to thank me for this incredibly helpful information

But music, movie, and other industries have been making profits off art forms for decades without such a fast digression from cultural and individual expression. Profit was being made before change in content, so there had to be something(s) that sparked the new conceptions in the music.

I'll thank you anyway.

 

[Chronic]

LOL at inferiority complex among black people.

You wouldn't understand whitey.



Heard of that doll experiment? It was re-done around 2 years ago. Black kids preferred the white doll because it was pretty. Why? Because it was white. They thought the black doll was ugly. Why? Because it was black.

It happens to a lot of non-white people in white countries. I've read about it and seen news reports. They did a story on it here some time back. A lot of "immigrants" suffer from an inferiority complex or other psychological problems due to living in a white society.
I've had to deal with it myself as well. I may be half-white but I don't look white and that's all that mattered. I never had an inferiority complex myself but living here did affect me.

Also it's usually subconscious and people don't tend to notice they're overcompensating.

 

[S O F I]

^Yeah, it's easy to see why that would be so. However, I'd argue that it's more due to seeing yourself as a "havenot", that rappers choose to show themselves through possession. But, that could be under "inferiority complex".

But, my LOL was because If I said the same thing, I'd be considered racist and your blackness allows you to say it.

 

[Chronic]

^^
Oh yeah living conditions definitely plays a big part, not just racism. A lot of these rappers come from poor backgrounds and I guess it's easy for someone to feel worthless because they're poor (like you say "havenots") in a society like this and later on overcompensate or get lost in the magic of having possessions!

You can't be racist, your neighbor's cousin's sister's father's mikman is friends with a black man!

 

[AmerikazMost]

Upped

 

[Synful*Luv]

1) The music industry saw profit in rap
2) The music became about profit

Also, a materialistic society and possibly an inferiority complex among black people, leading to showing one's worth through possessions.

No need to thank me for this incredibly helpful information

I think that's a really good point Chronic. It's seen in many non-White third world countries any many first world impoverished non-White neighborhoods. To shorten it, i'll give a specific example.

In the DR, you have cultures based on family. Everything is about family, you work for your family, provide for your family, cook for your family, etc. You are poor. You don't know you're poor, why? Everyone around you is the same way, but you know what you are? You're happy. Well, here comes these people with all these "cool" things that you've never seen before. Cell phones, technologies, tv, etc and it's like "Sweet! How can I get this" How? money. You need money and as much of it as possible. So, now you have to work a job or two and your work is your main focus. No time for family, friends and home cooked meals. It's about stuff now. As long as all these American/European come to your country with these cool things they have, you want it also. You feel inferior to them because you do not have what he has. Now, when you DO get some money, you waste if frivolously on the most unnecessary stuff. 70K cars and such, just to try and prove to yourself that you're just as good. But at this point, you don't even realize it anymore. It's all subconscious now. You feel the urge to spend and spend and everytime something new comes out you have to be the first with it, etc. Until now it's all about money. Same thing that happened to hip hip/rap. A culture was ruined.

 

[Sirrush]

Why is it driven by profit? Because when Tupac was killed all the to be rappers figured it was just a little too real, they wanted to enjoy their lives not live what they portray.

 

[Euphanasia]

I think that's a really good point Chronic. It's seen in many non-White third world countries any many first world impoverished non-White neighborhoods. To shorten it, i'll give a specific example.

In the DR, you have cultures based on family. Everything is about family, you work for your family, provide for your family, cook for your family, etc. You are poor. You don't know you're poor, why? Everyone around you is the same way, but you know what you are? You're happy. Well, here comes these people with all these "cool" things that you've never seen before. Cell phones, technologies, tv, etc and it's like "Sweet! How can I get this" How? money. You need money and as much of it as possible. So, now you have to work a job or two and your work is your main focus. No time for family, friends and home cooked meals. It's about stuff now. As long as all these American/European come to your country with these cool things they have, you want it also. You feel inferior to them because you do not have what he has. Now, when you DO get some money, you waste if frivolously on the most unnecessary stuff. 70K cars and such, just to try and prove to yourself that you're just as good. But at this point, you don't even realize it anymore. It's all subconscious now. You feel the urge to spend and spend and everytime something new comes out you have to be the first with it, etc. Until now it's all about money. Same thing that happened to hip hip/rap. A culture was ruined.

Nice post. You bring up some really good points. I'll rep you as soon as it will allow me.

 

[roaches]

i disagree with your ideas because of these reasons:

mixtapes
the-breaks.com
dr dre / nwa
too short
scarface

A culture was ruined.

what the fuck is this empty soda bottle caused the breakdown of the african bush village shit?