Hip-hop - Essay Example

Hip-hop  Hip-hop is a form of culture, which has its own, language, style, dress and forms of expression. This culture originated in Bronx in the year 1970s. It was a complete new form of art which included a special genre of music, dance-battles known as b-boying, graffiti and a unique dressing style which influenced a lot of African-Americans and Latino Americans. (Minners). Hip-hop can also be called a liberation movement in the form of diverse culture, at the same time it was also a civil rights movement started by the marginalized and oppressed inner city youths. It can also be called “a means and method of expression thriving on social commentary, political critique, economic analysis, religious exegesis, and street awareness while combating long standing issues of cultural prejudice, cultural persecution and social, economic and political disparities”. (Price, 2006, p.1) It was believed that America was a land of fulfillment of aspirations but the real situation was not so. America could not accept all its immigrants equally. There was a lot of discrimination which the African-Americans, the Latinos and the Hispanics had to face in America. They had to lead a life of utter poverty and disillusionment. They could feel the cruelties of discrimination in every aspect of their lives. They were subject to objectified relations by the Whites of America. Thus the African- American children grew up in an atmosphere of utter discrimination and frustration. As a result they were disillusioned with the entire American culture. They felt that among the Whites they were gradually losing their entity and was getting overpowered by the predominant white culture. They expressed their frustrations against the Americans through fights and violent activities. And the result was that the African- Americans, the Hispanics and the Latino-Americans were branded as being more violent in nature and also more criminal in nature. The period between 1960s and the 1970s brought about a lot of change in the culture of USA. During this time many of the minority group protested against the discriminatory and racist practices which were very common in the US as they were extremely frustrated with the situation which did not give them the rights which an American citizen got. With regard to the hip-hop culture it can be said that it complemented the Black Power movement which had started in the US in an artistic and aesthetic way and the main emphasis of the hip-hop culture was essentially self determination, love for life and a desire to have fun in life. (Price, 2006) It should be noted here that the hip-hop culture was started by a young group who had experienced the harsh discrimination in the land of America. The most important component of the hip-hop culture was the hip-hop music which enabled the Black youths to bring out their frustrations wonderfully with the help of their music. Hip-hop was the new method to vent out the angst, deprivation, hatred which the Blacks had in their minds because in America their positions were not more than slaves and the new genre of music replaced the old methods of protest which involved violent fights by the Blacks to ensure their position. The aim of hip-hop was to reduce the gang violence in the inner city areas and the physical violence could easily be replaced with the dance and the art-works. It was said that the people used break dance instead of fighting against each other. Through hip-hop the youths of the African-American origin got an outlet to express their issues and they wanted to make the society realize that they were being wronged. Hip-hop is a form of music which blends music and life together. A revolutionary characteristic is fundamental to the hip-hop music. In a way it can be said that hip-hop music expresses the frustrations of all the Afro-American people who have been ill treated by the Whites. Through the new form of music the Black community tries to find a system which is without hierarchy and exploitation. Therefore it can be said that hip-hop is a form which not only expresses the angst and frustrations of the Afro-Americans, Hispanics and the Latinos but it is also a medium which dreams of a new society divorced from the elements of subjugation and domination. The hip-hop music challenges an existing system. (Beilby, 2001). The popularity of the hip-hop music was basically due to the popularity which the hip-hop culture had received in the US. This genre of music has generally given emphasis to hyper masculinity and that is the reason the lyrics of hip-hop songs are homophobic in nature. Hip-hop has closely penetrated to the dressing styles of the youth. It has incorporated the use of baggy jeans, gold chains and boots and the style has become widespread in the country. The late nineties have seen a change in the presentation of hip-hop songs. They have mainly focused on the “bling bling” life style which means that it focuses on the expensive and wealthy life style with the use of expensive jewellery. Apart from the social and cultural impact hip-hop has had a strong influence on many other genres of song like the heavy metal, salsa, jazz and many more. (Social impact, n.d.) Thus we can say that hip-hop was a form of cultural change that had come about in America among the Black communities during the 1970s and it held a lot of meaning in the social context as well as in the cultural context. In the social context it brought about a way through which the Afro-Americans could express their feelings of disillusionment and oppressions through their creative pursuits. Not only that the later day hip-hops disseminated the message of hope and betterment of their lives. This is because through their songs the deprived groups of the society wanted to taste the feelings of liberation and a dignified life. It cannot be denied that sometimes the hip-hop culture brought about a negative influence on the youths of the society. The youths while trying to emulate the hip-hop stars have neglected authority, education and have brought about harassment to friends and have also engaged in petty crimes. Whatever is the case it can be said that hip-hop culture was a revolution in the right direction which gave the Black community a lot of importance. Hence we can say that it was a way through which they tried to make their presence felt among the Whites and hence could prevent the belittling of them to some extent.     References 1. Beilby C, (2001), Popular culture: production and consumption, Wiley-Blackwell, New York 2. Minners J, “Cant Stop, Wont Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation”, St Martin’s Press, available at: http://www.g-pop.net/Generation.htm, (accessed on 03/07/2009). 3. Price E, (2006), Hip hop culture, Abc-Clio, UK. 4. “Social impact” (n.d.), Hip- hop music, available at: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/hip-hop-music/social-impact.html, (accessed on 03/07/2009). Read More