WAKE UP, HIP HOP IS NOT DEAD!
Written By: Andrew Pineda
Key to Recovery:
Realize that actions are relevant
Written By: Andrew Pineda
Key to Recovery:
Realize that actions are relevant
Two summers ago, I was visiting my brother at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Parents of the cadets gathered for the annual Parent’s Weekend, and naturally they would start to brag about their children. One parent had two sons: one in my brothers graduating class, and one in my own graduating class. After an introduction and decent conversation, it was revealed that the child my age, Mark, was a child prodigy at playing the piano. He demonstrated his nationally recognized skills and all were left in awe. No sooner was I questioned if I had any musical talents. Now I’m an MC too tired of explaining the value of hip-hop to the common man. To avoid a long, awkward, drawn out conversation and possibly argument, I made no effort to highlight my personal talents.
Since that night, I thought about the answer to the question: What instrument do you play? I am undoubtedly a musician, as I was taught that music is organized sound. I thought “What recognized instrument do I play!?” After a good amount of pondering, the answer came. I am the instrument. Not only vocally do I express myself, but actions truly define a person. Sure there is the old saying “actions speak louder than words,” but never has this been any more evident.
Now, I ask that you think about hip-hop in the public eye. You don’t have to look hard to see that mainstream rap is full of pimps, ho’s, violence, and money (in large amounts). It doesn’t matter! Get high or drunk – as long as you get crunk. It’s all about partying, making money, and fueling the ego. BUT WAIT: Isn’t this exactly what the music was like back in the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s!? Partying and being the best!? It was! So now the question is: How did it change from “Breaker’s Revenge” to “Crank Dat Soulja Boy?” The concepts did not change, the music did. And society as a whole is responsible.
Consider: alcohol consumption has always (at least in my mind) been a part of teen life. Even in 1995, 80.4% of overall students had at least one drink of alcohol during their lifetime1. If this fact has been consistent, why is old school rap significantly different than the rap heard today? Easy. After realizing the impact and significance hip-hop had on society, the main culprits of hip-hop’s degeneration rearrange priorities so that the dollar is more important than what he or she represents! Now, songs like “Tipsy” hit clubs and the teens who don’t know any better indulge in a pre-mature frat-life. Thus, sooner or later hip-hop is blamed for an incident that could have been completely prevented.
Thinking back to my previous statements about actions having more impact than words/songs, let’s take a look at… let’s say DMX. He’s made classic material, and has become a household name for any listener of rap. He has been convicted numerous times of a variety of offenses, notably drug possession, reckless driving, and illegal dog fighting/breeding2. He’s a cracked out predecessor of Michael Vick with credibility under his belt. Plus, he’s had PETA pissed off for a lot longer than Vick. It’s icons just like DMX misrepresenting hip-hop leading to negative stereotypes. A child feels more connection to a rapper like DMX than to a school nurse telling him or her not to do drugs. Staying within a comfort zone, by following something he or she can relate to, the child is more likely to follow a path of drug use similar to the idol. This is the problem currently present in the hip-hop community.
Next, I will bring murder convict Big Lurch into the spotlight. Remember him? He’s the rapper who murdered Tynisha Ysais and ate part of her lung while under the influence of PCP3. He did this all for a “gangsta” image. Think about it… a grown man, pushed to do such acts for an imaginary self-appointed status. If a grown man can be pushed THIS FAR chasing a false or corrupt image, how easy must it be for a CHILD or TEEN to be swayed by what they think is “hip” or “gangsta”!? ACTIONS ARE RELEVANT.
If the glorification of such lewd conduct continues, maybe hip-hop WILL die. To any artist seen in the public eye; to any celebrity, I say this: you have one life and your actions are either forgotten or echo into further generations. Hip-hop is bigger than the here-and-now! If hip-hop should survive, it will be done through the next generations to follow. The future of a culture that I love so much depends on what we do now. HIP-HOP IS NOT DEAD! I’m not asking for change – simply common cents.
Since that night, I thought about the answer to the question: What instrument do you play? I am undoubtedly a musician, as I was taught that music is organized sound. I thought “What recognized instrument do I play!?” After a good amount of pondering, the answer came. I am the instrument. Not only vocally do I express myself, but actions truly define a person. Sure there is the old saying “actions speak louder than words,” but never has this been any more evident.
Now, I ask that you think about hip-hop in the public eye. You don’t have to look hard to see that mainstream rap is full of pimps, ho’s, violence, and money (in large amounts). It doesn’t matter! Get high or drunk – as long as you get crunk. It’s all about partying, making money, and fueling the ego. BUT WAIT: Isn’t this exactly what the music was like back in the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s!? Partying and being the best!? It was! So now the question is: How did it change from “Breaker’s Revenge” to “Crank Dat Soulja Boy?” The concepts did not change, the music did. And society as a whole is responsible.
Consider: alcohol consumption has always (at least in my mind) been a part of teen life. Even in 1995, 80.4% of overall students had at least one drink of alcohol during their lifetime1. If this fact has been consistent, why is old school rap significantly different than the rap heard today? Easy. After realizing the impact and significance hip-hop had on society, the main culprits of hip-hop’s degeneration rearrange priorities so that the dollar is more important than what he or she represents! Now, songs like “Tipsy” hit clubs and the teens who don’t know any better indulge in a pre-mature frat-life. Thus, sooner or later hip-hop is blamed for an incident that could have been completely prevented.
Thinking back to my previous statements about actions having more impact than words/songs, let’s take a look at… let’s say DMX. He’s made classic material, and has become a household name for any listener of rap. He has been convicted numerous times of a variety of offenses, notably drug possession, reckless driving, and illegal dog fighting/breeding2. He’s a cracked out predecessor of Michael Vick with credibility under his belt. Plus, he’s had PETA pissed off for a lot longer than Vick. It’s icons just like DMX misrepresenting hip-hop leading to negative stereotypes. A child feels more connection to a rapper like DMX than to a school nurse telling him or her not to do drugs. Staying within a comfort zone, by following something he or she can relate to, the child is more likely to follow a path of drug use similar to the idol. This is the problem currently present in the hip-hop community.
Next, I will bring murder convict Big Lurch into the spotlight. Remember him? He’s the rapper who murdered Tynisha Ysais and ate part of her lung while under the influence of PCP3. He did this all for a “gangsta” image. Think about it… a grown man, pushed to do such acts for an imaginary self-appointed status. If a grown man can be pushed THIS FAR chasing a false or corrupt image, how easy must it be for a CHILD or TEEN to be swayed by what they think is “hip” or “gangsta”!? ACTIONS ARE RELEVANT.
If the glorification of such lewd conduct continues, maybe hip-hop WILL die. To any artist seen in the public eye; to any celebrity, I say this: you have one life and your actions are either forgotten or echo into further generations. Hip-hop is bigger than the here-and-now! If hip-hop should survive, it will be done through the next generations to follow. The future of a culture that I love so much depends on what we do now. HIP-HOP IS NOT DEAD! I’m not asking for change – simply common cents.
***
1 http://www.dianedew.com/drnkstat.htm
2http://www.hsus.org/acf/news/jay-z_dogfighting.html
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/d/dmx/index.html?match=all&adxnnl=1&query=DMX&adxnnlx=1190263452-6c0LD4pnLKYtLtCzNXiTQw
3http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/14/1050172509082.html
1 http://www.dianedew.com/drnkstat.htm
2http://www.hsus.org/acf/news/jay-z_dogfighting.html
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/d/dmx/index.html?match=all&adxnnl=1&query=DMX&adxnnlx=1190263452-6c0LD4pnLKYtLtCzNXiTQw
3http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/14/1050172509082.html
