(De) Romanticizing Hip Hop

B

boombapdame

Member
Am I the only one who feels that Hip Hop needs to de romanticize itself with the help of its practitioners in all forms? What I mean is, when people discuss Rap/Hip Hop words such as "Golden Era" are used often with the person or people describing it through nostalgic rose colored lenses, forgetting that there was a time when middle and upper class Blacks (and equally conservative Whites) hated Hip Hop similarly to how many Blacks hated Jazz, Blues, and R&B (when it was a sin to sing it if artists were from, in and of the Church). Hip Hop's hyper obsession with romanticization of the culture is just as detrimental as misogyny/sexism/classism/homophobia/racism/consumerism/antintellectualism. This is not about co-signing coonism, Samboism and buffoonery in the name of getting money, this is about understanding the reality that Hip Hop, like all other forms of Black music, never had an age of innocence if you understand that commercialism is always present. I hate all of what masquerades as Rap/Hip Hop in the current era, not solely because from an age perspective I personally can't and don't relate, but also because of the acceptance of soulless pseudo self-expression and acceptance of stereotypes disguised as entertainment.
 
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Well put, but how is a cultural hatred of hiphop relevance to its strongest period of artistic growth? Yeah, yeah, I remember C. Delores Tucker and all them goofy, shadetree pulpit pimps bringing the ruckus, but in hindsight, their distaste for hiphop was just a drop in the ocean, so to speak. I agree that the over-romanticization (sp?) of the early-to-mid '90's is ridiculous, especially coming from those who never lived it (Pro-Era, the whole Beast Coast movement, etc.) as well from those in my age group who protest that wackness was rare "back in the day". I also agree that commercialism was always apart of so many of those early musical movements like jazz, blues, and such. If there was a way to make a dollar off someone rapping, someone always there to do it.
 
Know what I'm getting sick off? People over-analyzing things about what make this type of rap good, and that type of rap wack.

Im a fan of the 2000's rap, but I understand why most would think the 80's and 90's where the golden era. First of all, let us begin with the fact that rap was new to the mainstream, and therefore rap came out an grew diverse, as all sorts of new rapping styles, techniques, themse, topics and flows where new to the people. Must've been like a movement to see a culture where the voice of black people could reach the masses.

Second, hip hop was a competitive genre, meaning that whenever a new rapper came out, he had to prove himself better than those already there, and that is why rappers put more effort and energy into their craft.

What do the new rappers have now that could possible beat the olden "innovative" age? They all copy eachother, not only in the music, but also the clothes, the cars, their swag.

To think that some label-heads would even sign these ninja's is beyond my comprehension.
 
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Just Clauz said:
Know what I'm getting sick off? People over-analyzing things about what make this type of rap good, and that type of rap wack.
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But then you go on to completely contradict yourself.....

Just Clauz said:
Im a fan of the 2000's rap, but I understand why most would think the 80's and 90's where the golden era. First of all, let us begin with the fact that rap was new to the mainstream, and therefore rap came out an grew diverse, as all sorts of new rapping styles, techniques, themse, topics and flows where new to the people. Must've been like a movement to see a culture where the voice of black people could reach the masses.

Second, hip hop was a competitive genre, meaning that whenever a new rapper came out, he had to prove himself better than those already there, and that is why rappers put more effort and energy into their craft.

What do the new rappers have now that could possible beat the olden "innovative" age? They all copy eachother, not only in the music, but also the clothes, the cars, their swag.

To think that some label-heads would even sign these ninja's is beyond my comprehension.
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You're confused.
 
boombapdame said:
Am I the only one who feels that Hip Hop needs to de romanticize itself with the help of its practitioners in all forms? What I mean is, when people discuss Rap/Hip Hop words such as "Golden Era" are used often with the person or people describing it through nostalgic rose colored lenses, forgetting that there was a time when middle and upper class Blacks (and equally conservative Whites) hated Hip Hop similarly to how many Blacks hated Jazz, Blues, and R&B (when it was a sin to sing it if artists were from, in and of the Church). Hip Hop's hyper obsession with romanticization of the culture is just as detrimental as misogyny/sexism/classism/homophobia/racism/consumerism/antintellectualism. This is not about co-signing coonism, Samboism and buffoonery in the name of getting money, this is about understanding the reality that Hip Hop, like all other forms of Black music, never had an age of innocence if you understand that commercialism is always present. I hate all of what masquerades as Rap/Hip Hop in the current era, not solely because from an age perspective I personally can't and don't relate, but also because of the acceptance of soulless pseudo self-expression and acceptance of stereotypes disguised as entertainment.
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The innocence of the golden era lies in the fact that it still was grass roots, independent and wasn't controlled entirely yet by Corporations. It was another demonstration of how creative oppressed Blacks can be and provide yet another musical genre for the world to embrace(Ragtime, Jazz, Blues, Rock) It was sexist but it was way more inclusive of females back then. There were female artists who didn't have to sell sex;Bahamadia, Monie Love, Heather B etc...
 
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I feel this wholeheartedly. Sometimes I like to think about how as a culture we went backwards from 1995.
~ Latchkeyz
 
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