Overcoming Hip Hop stereotypes

Provide at least one specific example of a hip-hop track that avoids the stereotypes we discussed in today's class.

My Mainstream Hip-Hop Rant

So when we were talking in class about the birth of the character "Jim Crow" and how it started out as a black effort to keep part of their culture while working around a law and became the most infamous example of whites manipulating black culture into sources of entertainment for the masses, and how that had become the source for many of the stereotypes that we talked abotu in class and i happened upon a final conclusion for my reasoning behind my extreme hatred for mainstream hip-hop. (wow... longest sentence ever...) So anyways. It seemed kind of reminisent. Particularly since we started out the semester listening to and reading the lyrics of a group like Public Enemy. It was plainly obvious what the hip-hop genre was intended to be. It was a call for action, a way of motivating black groups to be proud of their heritage and to fight against the racist insitutions in this country.... flash foward to 2006... where the mainstream, corporate powerhouse has taken hip hop "under its wing" and succeeded in making millions off of the albums sold... where not ONE SONG in the billboard top ten for the hip-hop genre has anything to with anything relatively intelligent or political or activist... where everyone seems to honestly believe that all hip hop music is somehow ingrained in the ideas of careless, pointless, loveless sex, rampant drug use, money, hypocrisy, and violence. Granted... their making a shit load of money.... and thats great... but honestly.... doesnt anyone have any effing values anymore? its a sign of the times when you go to a Soliloquists of Sound show (which remains the most amazing live hip hop show i've ever seen, with the close exception of sage francis when they opened for him a few years back) and they are laughing about how a record company approached them saying they could sound like Black Eyed Peas..... mainstream hip hop is a joke to most respectable hip hop artists. Its a joke and a disgrace. and it sucks that music can be used solely as a way to make money, solely as entertainment, solely as a method of slander for black culture, rather than an artform. and it makes me really mad.......... grr....


PS- SOLILLAQUISTS OF SOUND: http://myspace.com/solilla
pleease check them out they're amazing. they actually have a sense of community surrounding their music. there is meaning behind their music... and everyone could use a little bit of inspiration? maybe? eh?

Identifying Stereotypes

Using the historical stereotypes discussed in class (mammy, sambo, zip coon, uncle, pickaninny), identify modern examples in film, television, music videos, etc...

Post About the Non-Green Book (my post feels neglected so I'm changing the name)

First and foremost I would just like to thank Mary for having enough knowledge of my personality to realize that I would TOTALLY forget about this and do the blog for the reading I haven't done yet. Mary... love of my life... i heart you.

but anyways...

The idea of the crossroads is an integral part of the gospel music that was coming out of the the South as well as related genres. What is about the paradox of the crossroads that makes it such a pivotal centerpiece in the music? Even beyond that, what does its importance show about the position of blacks in twentieth century?

September 11th setlist

On this fifth anniversary of September 11th, what song and artist speaks most to you? Why?

Signposts of race and difference

Continuing our discussions of the past two classes, post any and all examples of racial-gender-ethnic-religious stereotypes and 'roles' you witness on TV, in the media, on campus, in student interactions, etc... Please feel free to post as many as you find and respond to your classmates' posts as well.

Weekend Discussions (9/1-9/4)

Using the news articles from class as well as your own general knowledge and impressions of our current culture, what do you think is our current state of racial 'awareness'? Which of the following do you agree with?

Our culture (media, television, pop music) tends to ignore aspects of race.

Our culture tends to avoid talking about race.

Our culture portrays and reinforces racial, gender, and sexual stereotypes.

Our culture addresses aspects of race and difference too much.

Please be open and honest. We are growing comfortable with each other as a class, so we are all respectful of each others opinions. Encourage as much dialogue as possible by addressing each others posts; feel free to disagree often if appropriate!