Your prof. is right. It's huge. As you may or may not know Hip Hop is really big in this neck of the woods. Cash Money Records is based here and Master P is from here and is based out of Baton Rouge now. (all kinds of Rap stuff but also some artists in the Hip Hop vein) I find that it crosses over racial lines with the greatest of ease. I worked a hip hop show here in Hammond, La. And the artist were from the Cash Money label (many of the people I have worked with before) and the audience were predominantly white (with tons of Latinos and Hispanic people as well). Probably 70-30 white to black in the audience and all black artists. These kids walked the walk and talked the talk as well as knew this music inside out and were as loud as the PA system singing along. What is a mind blower for me is how the suburban kids like mine that go to private school get into the whole culture as deep as they do. They like all kinds of music including Joni Mitchell and Beatles, but there drug of choice right now is rap and hip hop and r and b. Mikey even asked if he could buy some jewelry like the Cash Money boys. Julian knows the lyrics to so much of the stuff on the radio and both he and Mikey listen to so many of these artists. We were at a bike shop picking out a new ride for Mikey and a rap record came on the radio inside the shop. Julian pointed out to the salesman that the song was by Juve (short for Juvenile). The salesman was very impressed and wanted to know how old Julian was (4). It's encouraging to me that the kids seem to be color blind regarding the music. I guess that's the way it was for me at first cause I don't remember being into the lyrics so much as just the sound a nd feel of it. Growing up in Motown and being surrounded by the sweet soul music of the day was a blessing for me. It's all good with me but I have to admit that I find rap and hip hop music tedious and boring (kinda like disco is for me). I have had some amazing folks on the TV show (like the Ghetto Twinz, Mystical, Fiend, Juvenile, Mia X, and many others) who's lyrics I find really provocative and compelling, but I get bored with the beats. Mikey says that's what he likes the best. All of a sudden I feel like my father (only maybe NOT as bad). Mikey and Julian even dig the old disco stuff mostly because there mom loves that era and they all start dancing around are transformed into little Gloria Gaynors, Bee Gees, and KC's. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Give me a stiff martini with some Joni back. Just some of my opinions and observations.
Peace Michael P.S. I meant to comment some more on the culture and was gonna tell you of all the hip hop arts, crafts, etc. that are being produced locally and they have there own section at Jazz Fest and are being displayed in places like House of Blues etc. > This is interesting because I am in a hip hop class this semester. I thought > it would be interesting to study as part of pop culture. So I have some > questions just for my own curiosity that deal with issues we are grappling > with in discussion...I kind of already have opinions but want to see what > anyone has to say... > > Is there really a hip hop culture? > If so is it really so diverse? If not what culture is the basis for hip hop? > > Like my professor says.... "It's bigger than hip hop!" :-) > > Take care > Nikki > > np: Erika Badu ~ Bag Lady > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of >> Brenda > >> I agree, it is crap. >> What makes that comment so bizarre to me is that hip hop culture >> is so ethnically >> diverse. If you go to a club or a party with serious hip hop >> heads, you'll find all sorts of >> people - asian, latino, black, white, etc. >> >> IMHO, the whole thing is so often misrepresented and misunderstood. >> >> Brenda >> >> n.p.: Heart - "Dog & Butterly" Live
