Politics and Hip-Hop - 802 Words

Music is an art form and source of power. Many forms of music reflect culture and society, as well as, containing political content and social message. Music as social change has been highlighted throughout the 20th century. In the 1960s the United States saw political and socially oriented folk music discussing the Vietnam War and other social issues. In Jamaica during the 1970s and 1980s reggae developed out of the Ghetto’s of Trench town and expressed the social unrest of the poor and the need to over-through the oppressors. The 1980’s brought the newest development in social and political music, the emergence of hip-hop and rap. This urban musical art form that was developed in New York City has now taken over the mainstream, but†¦show more content†¦Indeed, McDonalds, Coca Cola, Sprite, Nike, and other corporate giants have capitalized on this phenomenon. Although critics of rap music and the hip hop culture seemed to be fixated on the messages of sex, vio lence, and harsh language, this genre offers us a paradigm of what can be. The potential of this art form to mend ethnic relations is substantial. There are many political messages in every part of our live, but Hip-Hop has transcended ethnic boundaries. Because of its eclectic audience, it has the greatest opportunity to build ethnic bridges and mend ethnic relations. Hip hop has taken hold and permeated significant regions of the world. The clothing, music, mannerisms, and lexicon, are unmistakably the same in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Zurich, Milan, and Tokyo. Indeed, this culture has the potential to make it cool not to commit hate crimes, not to discriminate or be homophobic or misogynistic, and to have political influence in AmericanShow MoreRelatedEssay on Hip-hop, Reggae, and Politics5105 Words   |  21 PagesHip-hop, Reggae, and Politics Introduction Music is an art form and source of power. Many forms of music reflect culture and society, as well as, containing political content and social message. Music as social change has been highlighted throughout the 20th century. In the 1960s the United States saw political and socially oriented folk music discussing the Vietnam War and other social issues. In Jamaica during the 1970s and 1980s reggae developed out of the Ghetto’s of Trench town andRead MoreHip Hop Politics And Pace University1974 Words   |  8 PagesEric M. Goodman December 17th, 2014 POL-246: Hip Hop in Politics – Pace University Professor G. Martinez Hip Hop is often written not simply as music but rather as a political statement; a passing of advice from an experience man to novice children. The lyrics of rappers are written often for entertainment; but just as often they serve as guidance to their peoples’ youth. Over the years Hip Hops purpose, symbolism, and meaning have changed. The rap of this era possesses naà ¯ve optimism. The formerRead MoreThe Relationship Between Politics And Hip Hop Music Essay1570 Words   |  7 PagesRap and Rebellion: The Relationship Between Politics and Hip-Hop Music The rap subculture is widely agreed to have been established in the Bronx, New York during the 1970’s. At a time when block parties became popular, especially among African-American youths, hip-hop music was a means of expressing opinions and values and as a new source of communication. At these gatherings, DJs would play percussive breaks from popular songs, often on two turntables to enable them to extend these breaks. ThisRead MoreHip Hop Politics, Class Unity And The Internet1854 Words   |  8 Pages In this essay, the influence of hip-hop politics, class unity and the internet will be explored to discover how the consumer became an active producer of culture. In the early days of hip-hop, particularly from its mainstream origins in the 70’s (Dimitriadis 2009) up until the 90’s, the underground scene rarely floated into the mainstream. Despite a good portion of the underground consisting of consumers, to achieve mainstream success one would need the right connections and musical equipment. BeforeRead MoreBecoming Black : Rap And Hip Hop, Race, Gender, Identity, And Politics Of Esl Learning1632 Words   |  7 PagesPART ONE B While searching through the journal database, I came across an article entitled Becoming Black: Rap and Hip-Hop, Race, Gender, Identity, and the Politics of ESL Learning by Awad El Karim M. Ibrahim. The author addresses many dimensions relevant to my own inquiry, which lead to a series of questions asked about its methodology and problematizing ‘identity’ in the reading: â€Å"At the end of the 20th century, when identity formation is increasingly mediated by technological media, who learnsRead MoreRap And Hip Hop Music1301 Words   |  6 PagesRap and hip-hop music have evolved politically over the last decade; these genres have become major forces and influential political factors for North American youth and young adults. For example, Nas, a popular rap star of politically motivated songs sold 1 million copies of his first album Illmatic by Dec. 2001, and by 2004 Nas released his 7th platinum album Street Disciple. The album Street Disciple contained a powerful political song titled â€Å"American Way†. In addition, Lakeyta M Bonnet’s bookRead MoreRap And Hip Hop Music1177 Words   |  5 PagesRap and hip hop music has evolved politically over the last decade; these genres have become major forces and influential factors for North American youth and young adults. Nas, a popular rap star, sold 1 million copies of his first album Il lmatic by Dec. 2001, and by 2004 Nas released his 7th platinum album Street Disciple. The album street disciple contained a very political song titled American Way. The song showcases the negative outlook rap has against politics in its early stages as a genreRead MoreHip Hop Nationalism Essay examples944 Words   |  4 PagesPlace Hip hop is a form of art that has been popular for the past twenty years. Although people in recent years often mistake rap music as vulgar and ill-mannered, the hip hop community continues to provide a great way to channel emotion and soul into their music. In his article, â€Å"The State of Rap: Time and Place† Jeffrey Louis Decker illustrates the black nationalism within the hip hop community by exploring how Black Nationalism can be accounted for within the hip hop music. Before hip hop wasRead MoreAn Ideological Exploration Of Macklemore s Racial Redemption As A Musical Genre And Cultural Movement964 Words   |  4 PagesRedemption As a musical genre and cultural movement, Hip Hop and Rap have been both cultural phenomena and musical genres within the United States that have reached internationally and driven conversations on sociopolitical troubles such as war, violence, and racism. Hip Hop and rap which at times have been used interchangeably, have seen drastic changes in both their reception as musical genres and have garnered vast visibility within the United States. Hip Hop and Rap artists have been integral to drivingRead MoreWild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn Essays558 Words   |  3 PagesWild Style (1983) was a film that documented the real world of hip hop before most people even knew what hip hop was. This movie brings about the four crucial elements of hip hop - emceeing, graffiti, break-dancing, and deejaying. These features are the backdrop to the story of a graffiti artist named Raymond who lives in the South Bronx that goes by the name â€Å"Zoro†, who is played by well-known New York graffiti artist Lee Quinones. The movie goes through the tribulations of his life and relationship