Music: Hip-Hop Hooray?
Recently, Hip-Hop star Kanye West proclaimed that he is “the voice of this generation.” Word of this made my stomach sink, because I fear that he speaks the truth, and that he speaks almost indistinguishably from most voices that define hip-hop, which arguably is responsible for unmatched success in marketing social values and trends over the last 10-20 years.
I own all of Kanye West’s inventive and entertaining albums, and I commend him for his bravery in speaking out against both homophobia in rap music and the post-Katrina failure of George W. Bush. However, my love of hip-hop or esteem for Mr. West’s finer points doesn’t allow me to negate what is revealed after an uncomfortable review of his public history: the “voice of this generation” is an egomaniac who promotes profoundly poor character. Assuming that “the voice of this generation” functions as a mirror to the population he represents, then “this generation” seriously needs to check itself before it wrecks itself.
Kanye and his musical colleagues, such as Sean “Puff Daddy/P. Diddy/Just Diddy/ what the hell is my name” Combs (loved most of his recent “Press Play” album, btw) offer a vision of America that elevates the conspicuous consumption of the filthy rich to comedic levels of self-congratulatory excess. Historically, how conspicuous consumption works is that the very rich express “Glamour and Luxury” (West’s self-described representation) in outrageous and often in-your-face ways, for the purpose of establishing heirarchy and dominance over other, less important, less great individuals. The implication is that you should want to be them, but you can’t—and that makes you lame, so the best you can do is idolize them publicly and in the context of your own limited choices. Create your own vacuous and meaningless materialism-based social heirarchies, kids… Kanye style!
When I see interviews with men like West and Combs, I’m always struck by how they manage to loop every conversation thread back to their own purported greatness, as though taking samples from talented musicians, speeding them up/slowing them down, and then rhyming over them in often ignorant and barely literate verse qualifies them as visionary heroes. Move over MLK! Step aside Abraham Lincoln! 50 Cent has something to say that will define our generation, unless of course, he gets shot first.
As with most Divas, the “voices” ignore the ideas and opinions of others and rely only on their own universe of self-centered thoughts and feelings, and when they are asked incisive questions that require even the barest critical thinking, they appear confused and limited, and try to bluster their way through in order to maintain their illusion. I watched Bill Maher try to interview Combs last Monday night during the “Realtime with Bill Maher” television program, and it was excruciating to watch Combs swing wild and late at the softballs Maher threw to him. The most profound displays of this kind of stupidity are evident in one of hip-hop’s greatest, Robert (R.) Kelly. Mr. Kelly, the intellectual equivalent of a broken ceiling fan in a world of turbine windmills, performs feats of violent oppression against mental adequacy that grow in legend every time he opens his child molesting mouth. Unfortunately, no one seems to care that the “greatness” of voices like Kelly and such have the combined IQ of a research chimp. Unless of course, they piss on a naked 15 year old girl. However, apparently even that can be forgiven by this generation, given time.
In addition to egomania, materialism, and stupidity, coarse manners and uncivil behavior also define the “voices of our generation.” Some time ago Kanye West rushed the stage at an awards ceremony and threw an expletive-laden temper tantrum because he didn’t win “Video of the Year.” A majority of hip-hop artists do more than reflect the stories of street life and common struggle, crossing the line into glorification of violence and elevation of brutal tribalism. If you follow the news closely, you can usually find a story about some Hip-Hop star fighting, abusing a woman, saying something homophobic, or doing something boorish that reflects the disrespect that people of the “Fuck You/Look at Me/Bling Bling” generation have for themselves and others.
I’ve listened to much less Hip-Hop over the years, as I’ve had less inclination to search through the crap in order to find the good stuff, which seems increasingly rare. That said, I’m a sucker for a good jam, particularly when it resonates with the universal understanding of all people on the grind or inspires me to get wild on the dance floor. Even if many Hip-Hop artists are the voice of cultural suicide, some of them truly deserve to be heard. However, I’m hoping that “this generation” influenced by Hip-Hop is rear-ended by the next generation. One can only hope that this next generation, tired and beaten from the realities of a new financial world order; disconnected and angry from a coarse culture; and intolerant of the narcissistic, entitled, and unreflective fevered egos who flaunt material excess and bad behavior in the faces of the struggling masses; will lose its patience and shout them (and the obsequiously rich that they idolize) down from their elevated perch in the middle of our town square.
My hope is that the voices of Hip-Hop’s next generation recognize their genre’s lack of relevance, and find a way to elevate it—to say something more. I try to be an optimist, so who knows. Once upon a time I looked at artists such as Kanye West and Eminem and saw young men trying to express themselves through the rage of untenable situations, often to spectacular effect. I also saw men in the growth process of becoming aware, and doing so through the power of music. Once I felt optimism that these talented men were on the right track and I enjoyed following their progress, but along the way I lost that optimism. I’m hoping that one day, they inspire me to regain it.
Have suggestions for a hip-hop mixtape? In the comments section, leave examples of tracks you love. I may include your suggestion in this coming Friday’s “Intro to Hip-Hop” mixtape.
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listen to the coup.
Anonymous,
I saw the coup at the anti-war protest a few years back, but the most memorable performance I’ve seen of theirs was this summer in Norfolk. The frontman, half of him afro and the other half “Fuck You,” performed with Galactic in front of a crowd of drunk rednecks. I will never, ever forget that.
Hmm, how about “Keith ‘n Me” by Princess Superstar and Kool Keith?
Or for something a little older –
I Wish by Skee-Lo… or, It Was a Good Day by Ice Cube…
1 – The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy’s “The Language of Violence”
2 – Anything by The Mountain Brothers, especially “5 Elements” and “Paper Chase”
3 – Gym Class Heroes “Everday’s Forecast” and “Faces in the Hall”
Hip-hop is, in my opinion, at the same point rock and roll was in the mid-late seventies: big, bloated, over-produced, over-hyped, and full of self congratulatory shit. A hip-hop equivalent of punk rock really needs to arise, kick the shit out of everyone and put this crap to bed once and for all. Kayne isn’t the voice of his generation. He is a hip-hop Peter Frampton. I’m waiting for their John Lydon to appear and to create a ruckus. When he does, I’ll be all ears.
Queen of Comedy, Sommore, commented on this. And she has a GREAT point.
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“Then they try to blame everything on the rappers. They try to say, “well because of the rappers, that’s why they don’t respect us.”
“First of all, I support rap. I do. I support rap. Do you realize because of rap music we have more young black millionaires than ever before? Oh yeah.
“See, the beauty of rap is…you can’t fuckin’ live rap music. Rap music is a fantasy, it’s not a fuckin’ reality.
“You think about this. You work hard 40 hours a week. You try to pay your bills, save as much money as you can. Don’t you wanna hear about a muthafuka ballllllin’ out?
“I do. I wanna hear about how many bitches ya got, what kind of riims ya ridin’ on, how ya blingin’ out, pourin’ champaigne on bitches, cuz I cain’t and I ain’t doin’ that with my money.
“So I wanna hear about it. I do. But you can’t fuckin’ live rap music. I learned this shit when I listened to T.I.’s last CD. T.I. came in on that bitch, T.I. said, “I buy keys by the three’s. When I chirp, shawty chirp back. Louis knap-sack, where I’m holdin’ all the work at. Whatchyew know about dat? Whatchyew know about dat?”
“I’m sittin’ in this bitch, I’m like “awwww this shit cold blooded!” What I didn’t realize was that T.I. was talkin’ about cocaine. I’m in this bitch singin’ this shit to the top of my lungs, “I buy keys by the three’s, when I chirp…” I ain’t got a muthafuckin’ Tylenol on me.
“But I’m feelin’ this shit.”
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With basically any genre, the crap you hear on the radio is exactly that. People who sing (or rap) about meaningless topics, consumerism, etc. are the ones who get record deals. With every genre — as in hip-hop — you can find quality music below the radar and on a local level everywhere. The problem is that you cannot expect the mainstream music to be anything other than “egomania, materialism and stupidity.” Hip hop is just like every other genre in that respect.
Anyway, folks should just google homo hop or queer hip hop for alternatives. Check out Krudas (a queer feminist Afro-Cuban group): http://www.myspace.com/3krudas. And there’s always Immortal Technique, dead prez and even Talib Kweli and Mos Def. Check out Jean Grae at the Black Cat on Saturday. There are SOOO many amazing hip hop artists tackling real issues. In fact, so many people find their inspiration to become activists and thoughtful citizens in hip-hop.
Glad to hear you are a fan on The Coup!
I don’t like much hip-hop at all, but I swear by a few tracks, including Dead Prez’s “Be Healthy” and Meshell Ndegeocello’s “Hot Night.”
How can you not love the following triplet, from Be Healthy?
I’m from the old school
My house smells like soul food
curried falafel, barbecue tofu
i rarely listen to hip hop any more because my boyfriend doesn’t like it. i’m always trying to come up an intro to hip hop mixtape that could win him over.
then i think i should just play a lot of portishead, then paul’s boutique, then low end theory then the second and third outkast records before forcing 36 chambers on him.
i rarely listen to hip hop any more because my boyfriend doesn’t like it. i’m always trying to come up an intro to hip hop mixtape that could win him over.
then i think i should just play a lot of portishead, then paul’s boutique, then low end theory then the second and third outkast records before forcing 36 chambers on him.
let’s not forget the roots. they play with a live band and have been making serious, bling-free hip-hop since forever. they aren’t the hip-hop sex pistols that i agree is necessary but their new record “rising down” may be their best.
There's lots of good stuff out there.
Danger Mouse & Jemini – The Only One
J-Live – The Best Part
Latyrx – Lady Don't Tek No
Murs – L.A.
Dilated Peoples – Work the Angles
I could go on but I limited myself to five…
anyone who has to proclaim themselves as the voice of a generation clearly isn’t.
Steve said:
“He is a hip-hop Peter Frampton.”
HA! HAHAHAHA! What a devastating putdown. Love it.
Hip-Hop kinda bores me, or to be precise, Hip-hop lyrics do. The self-aggrandizing , the casual abuse of women, the ever present homobashing, the gangsta posturing. The music itself, however, the beats are awesome, the flow and the rhythm are just straight to the heart and the body and they get you moving. So now I listen to a lot of instrumental Hip-Hop.
thank you anonymous #1! those are some great artists to list.
and to ben: lover of hip hop, eh? and the only names you came up with that define the entire hip hop genre were kanye west, puff daddy, and 50 cent?
sounds like you don’t know much about hip hop.
“Conscious Hip-Hop” – which is what everyone seems to be longing for – is really coming alive these days. As well as more experimental forms of hip hop. The list below are artists I feel fit into these categories.
check out (in addition to those already mentioned):
jay z – Reasonable Doubt album
Blue Scholars
Common Market
Lupe Fiasco
Devin the Dude – to tha Xtreme album
Z-Ro
T.I.
UGK
Invincible (female rapper out of Detroit)
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