"I HATE HIP HOP" - DECONSTRUCTED

Denmark Vesey ...

Chicken or the egg?

Rapper or the Audience?

Fundamental to the anti-Hip Hop argument: 1) Rap appeals to kids. 2) Kids emulate what they hear. 3) Therefore Rappers must be held responsible for what they say. Rap indulges in the use of terms like “Bitch” and “Ho” and “Nigga”, while celebrating guns and violence which triggers a tsunami of negative behavior throughout the culture.

Have I left anything critical out of the argument?

Good.

I argue that that is arrogantly ignorant analysis. To reduce all that Hip Hop to a gross categorical over simplification is the height of intellectual laziness.

To boycott Hip Hop while eagerly consuming mainstream bad language, sex guns and violence is the ultimate in discrimination and self-hatred.

These “kids” who are the subject of our discussion are not completely ignorant mindless sheep. Actually they are the products of a variety of complex unique historical, ecological and socio-political factors. In a world of ideas and messages competing for their attention, Rap is one of many contenders.

They RESPOND to RAP because RAP is relevant to them. They find it empowering.

Why do kids not respond to the messages from the bourgeoisie black consumer class? Why is Lloyd Banks more recognized than any member of the Congressional Black Caucus? Why is every black leader with the exception of Minister Farrakhan ignored by young blacks?

Because THEIR MESSAGE IS NOT RELEVANT. It fails to empower it's audience. The message is incoherent, vague and one-way. It lacks moral authority. It is void of courage. It is hallow old and not well thought out. It is contemptuous liberal feel good mentoring instead of mutually beneficial partnership.

Instead of criticizing rap, the energy should be spent developing and delivering an alternative message, equally relevant and intrinsically real that inspires, compels and empowers young blacks.

The Post Civil Rights Negro has failed to excite the imaginations of young black Americans. They appear refugees from a bygone era still struggling with racism and glass ceilings. Passed up by Mexicans and Asians. Last year’s players.



The Corporate Negro appears a disenchanted, compromised occupant of a glorified plantation. Often laid-off employee with a degree and student loans toiling away at jobs he hates while scheming an escape. Compromised emasculated conformist. A snobby sucka.

In a society increasingly dangerous for young black men, rap has served as a collective alter ego, a confidence sandwich to millions of young men starved for self-esteem. In the marketplace of masculinity black men are moguls. Aint no glass ceilings.

Yeah. Rappers talk about guns and violence. Therefor we have a more violent society. Bullshit.

Does James Bond make white people kill each other? Does Hannibal Lecter make white people eat each other? Does 24 make white people torture Arabs? The governor of California has killed far more people on the screen than has 50 Cent.

Should the only people allowed to use a gun on TV be white men?

Say what you want about Rap. But any brotha who can “take a phrase that’s rarely heard, flip it, and make it a daily word” and get paid millions and buy ball teams and when on the mic, make every woman in the club throw her panties on the stage – aint all that dumb.

While the corporate world appears to punish black men for being black men – the rap marketplace pays them for it. Women scream their names and try to touch them, not clutch their purses.

The iconography of Hip Hop has currency. Rich. Masculine. Media savvy. Powerful. Self-Defining. Accessible. Capitalist. Winner. EVERYTHING AMERICA WORSHIPS. – Jay-Z

The iconography of the Post Civil Rights Negro is the flickering black and white video of the emasculated loser, a victim ultimately dependent on the largesse of white folks – Harold Ford, JR.

The Corporate Negro seems a struggling hustler with a degree, a bitter bench riding player hater who would switch places in a heartbeat.

The fact is America worships Hip Hop. Every Sunday millions of consumers plop their fat asses in front of TV’s and consume a Hip Hop product slickly packaged as football.

Hate Hip Hop? That’s like hating money.

Hip Hop has international market and political potential yet to be tapped. For black people to divest themselves of Hip Hop would be like Jews divesting their interests in the film business.