A Significant Role of Hip-Hop Culture - Term Paper Example

Popular Culture (Hip-Hop) Introduction In the United s and other parts of the world, hip hop seems to have entrenched popular culture in an unprecedented trend. This results from its appeal to many individuals across diverse populations, and despite originating from the black youth addressing their world views on the streets, it has become a global trend in addressing issues afflicting the society through music and graffiti. Today, majority of hip hop fans are nonblack; therefore, hip hop in the modern day is not only evident on the city streets across the world, but has also permeated the corporate boardrooms and world renowned firms like Nike and Coca Cola have benefited from hip hop culture. In addition, hip hop culture is considered to be important in cementing ethnic relations across the divide. On the same note, this music genre also provides an avenue to challenge the establishment or status quo in a number of ways and has played a role in unifying individuals and in particular, the youth across the divide (Gooden 70). This paper examines how hip hop culture emerged, its popularity and potential, mending the ethnic differences and other challenges that affect the society. The origin of hip hop culture Hip hop started in the 70s and was mainly common in places such as house and the alleys of New York streets. The particular region that hip hop began is known as South Bronx in New York City and the term rap is often used interchangeably with hip hop; however, hip hop also entails the practices by an entire subculture. The originator of the term hip hop is Keith Cowboy who is associated with Grandmaster Flash and also the Furious Five. However, this term was used when hip hop then was regarded as a disco rap. Cowboy invented the name while teasing a colleague who had been conscripted to the U.S. Army. The term hip hop seemed to copy the sound created when soldiers are matching (Gooden 71). Hip hop gained prominence during the 70s and at a period when block parties were popular across New York City. This was more so evident in the Bronx because of a large population of African American and Puerto Ricans. The block parties mainly enlisted the services of a DJ who entertained party goers with music such as funk or soul. As a result of a welcome, the DJs introduced percussion breaks for songs that were popular. To spice the songs, MCs began to explore with brief rhymes that denoted a sexual or scatological theme as a way of differentiating themselves and entertaining the revelers. Hip hop during this period, engaged mostly gang collaborations that included for example, Universal Zulu Nation. This music derived its influence from disco and a backlash of the same. Its formative days involved a division between hip hop enthusiasts and detractors. For instance, the emergence of go-go in Washington D.C. was a counter against disco and involved features of hip hop around early 80s (Shufelt 162). Later on, hip hop music transformed into a cultural movement that was geared towards changing generational thinking bent on politics or race to embracing art and language. Today, hip hop has an influence on almost everything that includes fashion, dancing and graffiti and is now a cultural movement on its own respect. While there are school of thought who view hip hop as consisting of mainly four elements in the form of graffiti, breakdancing and disco jockey, others are on the view that hip hop is broader in scope and extend to visual arts, physical movement, oral and written word and style (Shufelt 163). The language of hip hop Hip hop revolve around street language and this language mostly resonate with the youth, this language mostly emanates through rap music and a common feature across the divide is that hip hop artists and fans use the same slang evident among the African American artists. Traversing across the world, the slang is the similar regardless of different languages. For instance, it is common to find hip hoppers across the world using similar adjectives such “da bomb” which denotes something excellent. However, among the popular slang used by hip hoppers is “nigga” and does not denote the derogatory meaning of the word, but used as a word of endearment. For example, it is common to hear hip hoppers using the word to mean “a good friend”. This street language is almost synonymous to some sort of pidgin language and despite individuals belonging to different ethnic background, they are able to understand the hip hop slangs and this binds the hip hop culture linguistically. Today, one can travel in any part of the world and find the youth there embracing hip hop culture where English is not a first language, but can still speak fluently in street slang (Shufelt 164). How hip hop culture cut across ethnic boundaries A good example of how hip hop cut across ethnic boundaries can be found in the United States that is made up of different ethnic groups and diverse populations. In one example, the Asian community residing in Los Angeles can boast of artists in the rap scene and include for instance Asiatic Apostles. Most of the groups from these communities represent different styles related to hip hop culture. The message they pass across is diverse and range from such issues as social problems, combating hate crimes against the community and addressing relationship issues among different ethnic groups in the major cities in the United States. Further, among the artists from different ethnic background who have impacted on hip hop culture include Fat Joe who is a Latino, and most cases, their overall message is often similar. To this end, it is evident that hip hop transcends beyond creating music as a result of creating a culture that resonates with many people across the globe (Alridge 228). Hip hop as an empowerment tool Hip hop culture across the world is significant in terms of bringing youth belonging to different ethnic, religion, racial, political and social background together. In essence, hip hop culture is key in organizing the youth to subscribe to a common culture. Hip hop allows artists to empower themselves in terms of developing certain skills in an effort to advance this culture. This involves instilling discipline among themselves by learning various arts and how they can be produced and appeal to the majority. Hip hop also means learning to perform the art and developing different communication skills that allow artists to organize various events that appeal to enthusiasts. Through organizing events, hip hoppers can learning how to manage money, recording their performances and selling their CDs. Hip hop today has turned commercial and artist need to learn how to control its common culture and the revenues realised from their performances (Venable and McQuillar 24). Contribution of hip hop to the society Previously, hip hop was associated with gang violence, sex, drugs and other anti-social behavior thus; discerned by the mainstream society. This was mainly influenced by the need to rebel against the injustice committed on the minority groups by the establishment; however, it only brought negative publicity for the hip hop culture. Today, hip hop has transformed itself by rebranding itself as an avenue of advancing a Just Cause in the society (Alridge 232). Across the globe, there are many social problems that affect the youth and of which the status quo is reluctant to resolve by implementing policies that promote equity in the society. Contrary to the sixties where people took to the streets to prompt change, hip hop has provided artists and enthusiasts to use music and other art forms to prompt changes in the society. As such, hip hop continues to achieve success by permeating the mainstream society and is now accepted by all people from different backgrounds of life. The challenges that the youth face today include lack of proper shelter, education, employment, security and the widening gap between the rich and the poor. These challenges have turned the youth into illegal activities to survive in a harsh environment that do not consider their best interest at heart. A youth’s life is a vibrant period where they need to engage in various constructive activities to spend their time wisely. However, most government establishments are not doing enough to support the youth to develop a better future for themselves by accessing various opportunities the society can offer. The society today is divided in terms of social class and the gap continues to widen. This leaves the disadvantaged youth in the society to progress in terms of improving their living conditions and that of their families. The result in this sense is disillusionment and a negative attitude towards life. In turn, the only option left is embracing a destructive life that leads to crime, drug abuse and promiscuity that exposes the youth to HIV/AIDS (Robert 55). On the other hand, corruption is entrenched in most governments across the world and this does not help the youth who expect a better future. Most governments are also reluctant to implement important social policies that can improve the lives of the suffering youths. This further aggravates the social problems that exist in the society since most government establishments are only interested in advancing the interests of the elite in the society. In addition, the society is still divided in terms of race, religion and ethnic background and in such a situation; it is often the majority who gain by discriminating in terms of distribution of resources. In the political arena, politicians continue to use illegal means to remain in power despite being rejected by the electorate. These are among some of the challenges that people and communicate across the world continues to face without any reforms from the status quo that is adamant to remain in power by oppressing its own people. However, the positive transformation of hip hop culture seems to prompt change as a result of its huge popularity across the globe (Robert 58-60). Hip hop today cut across ethnic, political, religion and social divide by unifying people through music and other art form. The music genre and art that has been adopted by hip hoppers is not just music, but music with a message that clamor for changes in the society. Today, there is more discipline in the hip hop culture than was previously perceived. The mainstream society now listens to the message passed by hip hop artists and appreciates their art through graffiti that address the social problems affecting the society. All over the world today, hip hop is about is about speaking out and addressing issues that need to be solved to make the world a better place. The message disseminated through hip hop are varied and include, how the youth can empower themselves, avoiding illegal activities and combating HIV/AIDS that continues to record a higher prevalence rate among the youth. The hip hop message today not only resonates with the people, but also corporations who now incorporate hip hop culture in promoting their brands. For instance, the “open happiness initiative by Coca Cola has hip hop elements geared at reaching more people across the globe in terms of sharing a common culture. Hip hop is also used to promote advertisements meant to instigate change in the society. For example, hip hop artists are being used by various non-governmental organizations to prompt change among the youth. Such advertisement includes abstinence from unprotected sex, seen as a major contributor to HIV/AIDS and STIs (Robert 62-64). On another note, graffiti as a form of art used by hip hoppers has played a significant role in raising the injustices that exist in the society. Most of these graffiti are common in the slums and the projects and they are an avenue of prompting change and improving the lives of marginalized in the society. The school curriculum can also benefit from hip hop in a number of ways such as using hip hop in understanding a particular concept. Students sometimes face difficulty in memorizing certain concepts. However, organizing such concepts into rhymes allows students to complete essays or projects. Additional contribution of hip hop culture to the society is that it encourages different corporations to employ people from different backgrounds. As such, the minority groups with a pulse for hip hop culture have an opportunity to get employed. Today, organizations that appreciate the hip hop culture have benefited in terms of gaining competitive advantage (Pride 25). Conclusion The hip hop culture has played a significant role in the society by addressing the social problems affecting the society and unifying people from different backgrounds. In essence, it has created an avenue of improving the relations between the elite and disadvantaged in the society as a result of embracing a common culture. Today, a youth from an affluent background is able to understand the problems that a youth living in the projects face on a daily basis. This help to prompt change by those holding influence in the society thus; making the world a better place. Politics of the day have also change because of the hip hop message for liberalism. Further, hip hop today engages in a constructive rebellion on the streets of various cities across the world to raise pertinent issues in the society and to empower the common man as evident in Shakur’s music wondering if heaven has a ghetto. Works Cited Alridge, Derrick. From Civil Rights to Hip-Hop: Toward a nexus of ideas. Journal of American History 90.3 (2005): pp. 226-252. Print. Gooden, Susan. Hip Hop Culture. Booklist 103.6 (2006): pp. 70-71. Print. Pride, Felicia. School of Hip-Hop: Urban educators devise innovative hip-hop curricula to help elementary and secondary students succeed academically. Black Issues Book Review 9.3 (2007): pp. 24-25. Print. Robert, James. Hegemony, Hope, and the Harlem renaissance: Taking hip hop culture seriously. Convergence 38.2 (2005): pp. 55-64.Print. Shufelt, Craig. Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-Hop Culture. Library Journal 131.20 (2006):pp. 162-164.Print. Venable, Malcolm and McQuillar, Tayannah. Its Urban, Its Real, But Is This Literature? Controversy rages over a new genre whose sales are headed off the charts. Black Issues Book Review 6.5 (2004): pp. 24-25. Print. Read More