L. Cool J. into box-office stars. Like rock and roll in the 1950s, hip-hop has become the great cultural bridge in these times" ("Hip Hop: The history," Independence, 2006.). However, in some of its manifestations, the original intent of hip-hop music to parody and critique mainstream culture has been corrupted by materialism. There is a distinct contrast with the original voices and visions of artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash and Kurtis Blow with Kei$ha. Bambaataa, a Black Spades gang member and DJ said he wanted "to combine his love of music" and "enhance community life (Watkins 22). But while all music that originated in the African-American community has 'crossed over' at some point, no crossover has been characterized by such materialism and dilution as hip-hop. Instead of a critique of materialism, the commercialized version of hip-hop often merely celebrates excess. Ignorant of the real circumstances behind the movement, artists like Kei$ha (what can only be called 'bad artists') coming from conventional backgrounds sing about aspiring to live the life of hard-drinking hipsters from the streets in their music. Once, hip-hop artists dreamed living the American Dream and leaving the ghetto: now, people who have the money and comforts these artists coveted desire to "brush their teeth with a bottle of Jack."
Instead of decrying the injustice perpetrated against black men, commercialized hip-hop today makes money and success look easy, as easy as slipping fake gold jewelry and singing songs about glamorized violence [Simile]. "The unprecedented influence by Black youth" to increase awareness about black anger have achieved through hip-hop is meaningless, if it is not used for advancing the movement's original values (Kitwana xxi). "The Afro-Americanization of white youth has been more a male than a female affair given the prominence of male athletes and the cultural weight of male pop artists. This process results in white youth -- male and female -- imitating and emulating black male styles of walking, talking, dressing, and gesticulating in relation to others" like Kei$ha (Kitwana 10).
Today,...
Saudi Arabia is known as the home to the hip hop group, Dark2Men, who competed in MTV Arabia's Hip Hop Na reality show. Break dancing has also become popular as a pastime in the region. Though the exact music distribution and sales numbers are difficult to establish, there is huge listenership especially in satellite TV and radio Gana 45() Hip hop culture in the U.S. Hip hop has been a part
(Hip-hop History) Graffiti is also known as writing, and is not dance. It originated as an underground urban art which was boldly being displayed in public places, generally on the sides of buildings or walls. This was an avenue for citizens to make political and social commentary, and even for gangs to mark their territory. Folks would mark their areas with "tags" like FRANK 207, TAKI 183 and several
Hip Hop Culture The History of Hip Hop Culture The roots of hip hop culture are in West African and African-American music (Armstrong, 1997; Hummell, 2002). The griots of West Africa are a group of traveling singers and poets, whose musical style is very similar to hip hop. The most important direct influence on the creation of hip hop music was the Jamaican style called dub, which arose in the 1960's. Dub
globalization effect or reason for the creation of Hip-Hop Culture in the Western province in Saudi (Jeddah)? Saudi Arabia is a country of variety and as of recently, hip-hop. The hip-hop culture of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's western province, is a culture that signifies not only a new trend of music and interests never seen before in the area, but also an embrace of modern symbols, meaning, and language that could
How Hip Hop Followed in the Footsteps of Malcolm X Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and the Origins of Hip Hop Abstract This paper examines the manner in which the hip hop grew out of the Civil Rights Movement and became a way for disenfranchised black youths, marginalized by society, to express their thoughts and feelings on a world that did want them to rise up. The history of hip hop and
M.I.A. on Letterman Singing "Paper Planes" The recorded live performance of "Paper Planes" by hip hop artist M.I.A. on David Letterman's Late Night in 2007 is the focus of this paper. M.I.A.'s performance is a solo act (with a single back-up singer) as well as a DJ (who is at the rear of stage and not in the spotlight). The venue is Letterman's show and M.I.A. performs before a live studio
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now