Hip-Hop isn't just Black Culture created for Blacks only. Is it?

God-I_Am_Ether

I never understood why people say this. It's even been said to white posters here that they are posting on a hip-hop site that is for black people. We act like there was no other races involved with creating and spreading this "culture" we call hip-hop.

Where an Intresting article I read a while back:

I'm here today to challenge this myth. And that's precisely what it is: a false myth. Sure, most of the exposed rap artists and emcees out there are African-American, but what about the DJs? What about the graff writers out there? What about the b-boys and b-girls out there? What about all the people who respect the culture and follow it and love it? What about the people who contribute to Hip-Hop magazines and newsletters? What about all the people who read that damn shit? If one could count all those people, one could easily see that Hip-Hop isn't black culture. Rather, Hip-Hop is a part of black culture and Hop's universal, dammit! It's fuckin' universal because members of practically every society out there's rockin' to this shit!! I wouldn't be surprised if some X-Files case out in the cosmos is listening to some Invisible Skratch Piklz right now.
It didn't start out as black culture, either, because Hip-Hop has always been its own culture. Let me say that shit again, just in case you didn't catch that. Hip-Hop has always been its own culture. Not all of the fathers and godfathers of Hip-Hop were African-American. The original breakers were black and hispanic. The first graff writer, Taki, was Greek. Speaking of graff, Seen isn't black. I could go on and on, but it would be quite long and boring, so I'll just stop here with my point that Hip-Hop was composed of different races, different ethnic groups, different styles, and different cultures. Hip-Hop still is composed of all these things, as well as different age groups, different nationalities, and straight up different people.

http://www.daveyd.com/hiphopblackart.html

This is a myth that needs to die. Don't you think?

Law Trafalgar

Good thread.

manofmorehouse

LOL I always laugh when White people want to claim Hip Hop culture is "universal". White people get to pick and choose what parts of hip hop to represent. Black and Latino people are branded with all aspects of hip hop, negative or positive. The media claimed that Trayvon Martin was dressed in hiphop apparel. Automatically he's a threat to society. If a White person steps out with the same attire, they're "acting Black". You can enjoy hip hop, recite every song you to the top of your lungs, etc. Just don't claim a culture that is inherently Black as universal. Enjoy our culture for what it is and keep it pushing

Mr.LV

White people know how to rewrite history, Next they going to be saying the first open heart surgery was performed by a white dude from Cleveland.

People'sWar

Hip-hop's obsession in it's early stages with going "mainstream" meant that all races would eventually become a consumer. When people start spending their hard earn money into a company, they eventually want a say in the direction of said company. The first hip-hop record played on tv and radio was the last time it was "FUBU". Perfect example is "SuperstarCole's" siggy. That white girl is not twerkin to Hootie and the Blowfish.

The problem is "black", "hip-hop"culture is seen as faddish. Too many people use and embrace it in their youth then abandon it in adulthood. Mark Walhberg pimped hip-hop and is now an action movie star. Kid Rock? I have never seen someone with a bigger identity problem than him. Also Blacks in the early stages didn't capitalize on the money. All these "dance studios" should be black owned and operated.

Jamaica

Interesting opening post.

CeLLaR-DooR

Cultures are created...they're developed...some whites played a big part in its development...

manofmorehouse

@ People'sWar: But that's my point exactly. Hip hop culture is so much more than dope beats and catchphrases. The vast majority of white people have no connection to real hip hop. Let's call it like it is. If they did, the bubblegum hip hop artists that thrive today wouldn't be relevant. If hip hop is purchased largely by White cosumers, they do play a role in the direction of where it goes. Now look at the results! Would you consider the state of rap today to be going in the right direction? If you're a true hip hop/rap fan are you happy with the results of the "gentrification" of hip hop? The truth is, rap and hip hop have become so watered down because there is now a push, fueled by monetary gains, to be "universal. Becky can now bop her head to rap without considering the social injustices that rap once blew a whistle on

a.mann

CeLLaR-DooR wrote: »

Cultures are created...they're developed...some whites played a big part in its development...

and honestly more than a few white cats are doing a better job of holding down the essence of hip hop than some brothers that have the power to do so

KingJamal

WHITE PEOPLE=CULTURE VULTURES

manofmorehouse

^^^^ At least that's what history would suggest

a.mann

that's not a "suggest" bruh

People'sWar

manofmorehouse wrote: »

@ People'sWar: But that's my point exactly. Hip hop culture is so much more than dope beats and catchphrases. The vast majority of white people have no connection to real hip hop. Let's call it like it is. If they did, the bubblegum hip hop artists that thrive today wouldn't be relevant. If hip hop is purchased largely by White cosumers, they do play a role in the direction of where it goes. Now look at the results! Would you consider the state of rap today to be going in the right direction? If you're a true hip hop/rap fan are you happy with the results of the "gentrification" of hip hop? The truth is, rap and hip hop have become so watered down because there is now a push, fueled by monetary gains, to be "universal. Becky can now bop her head to rap without considering the social injustices that rap once blew a whistle on

For the vast majority of consumers hip hop culture is only dope beats and catchphrases. Where are the blood drives? The "Walkathons"? The 5k's? Hip-Hop pioneers didn't see the big picture. They confirm what so many people think of hip-hop culture and that it is a fad. Jay-Z, Russell, etc should have annual blood drives, annual HIV testing, register to votes, 5k's on that St. Jude tip to give back to the same communities they started out from. Every sista who ever should her butt in a video should be heading a dance studio of some sort. Hip-hop culture missed too many opportunities from the start.

As for white people? Like I said, the minute hip-hop left the streets and went on wax it was no longer FUBU, cue Beastie Boys(smh). Them fools were so hell bent on getting paid they missed the bigger picture and that's materialism leads to destruction. The dollars being made off hip-hop could have started a couple of nations. If you going to let them ruin your culture at least see something positive.

BlackGerald

hip hop was created by blacks and hispanics. but its not only for blacks. and op, don't you think all those b boys/writers respect its black origin?

kingblaze84

White people are always trying to take away Black culture from Black people. Hip-Hop IS Black culture, ya'll crackas need to get over it!!!!! Thanks for playing a part, but this is something that was started by Blacks. PERIOD. Proof??

Go to a White neighborhood and dress strictly hip-hop. The average white person will say, "oh this guy is dressing too Black. Call the cops on him".

kingblaze84

manofmorehouse wrote: »

@ People'sWar: But that's my point exactly. Hip hop culture is so much more than dope beats and catchphrases. The vast majority of white people have no connection to real hip hop. Let's call it like it is. If they did, the bubblegum hip hop artists that thrive today wouldn't be relevant. If hip hop is purchased largely by White cosumers, they do play a role in the direction of where it goes. Now look at the results! Would you consider the state of rap today to be going in the right direction? If you're a true hip hop/rap fan are you happy with the results of the "gentrification" of hip hop? The truth is, rap and hip hop have become so watered down because there is now a push, fueled by monetary gains, to be "universal. Becky can now bop her head to rap without considering the social injustices that rap once blew a whistle on

BANG

memphis10

In the beginning I don't think anybody knew that hip hop would be this big man. so it was created for black folk maybe not purposely, but a lot of suburb kids couldn't have known what this was back early 80's. but now hip hop so big and connects so many ppl and transcends a lot of race barriers. I met one of my realest niggas cuz he made beats and he a cool ass white dude. but just know we ain't fallin for the Elvis Presley shit wit rap doe.

Makaveli Joker

NWA, Public Enemy, Snoop Dogg, Dre, Nas, Wu Tang, etc have concerts full of white people. Shit is ridiculous

kzzl

Hip Hop may welcome a universal fan base, but black america is it's blood and bone. We've been doing this shit since the 40's. Show me a piece of non-black hip hop before Blowfly. Before Pig Meat Markham. SMH, I swear X was right about intergration in this country. Them europeans have always been prone to taking shit that don't belong to them.

Now who is it for blacks only? Well, a nigga in niggaville, USA barely surviving ain't thinking bout Timmy in white surburbia america when he raps about the struggle. We barely had the means to get heard outside of our town or state. We knew we weren't liked by others in this country. All we knew were other people that looked and lived as us. So when spitting about dope prices, throwaways, prison bids, pimps, The Man, slavery, oppression, police brutality, and crack pipes in the playround, I doubt we were trying to reach these people........


It just so happened that other people found entertainment in our shit. Some had something to bring to contribute, many desire to immulate it, and everybody wants to profit off it. Shit on that article.

God-I_Am_Ether

Why is it that when hip-hop turned Gangsta the mainstream money really started pouring in?

waterproof

I aint evening going to read that shit because it's laughable.

Look here hip-hop was coming from a long time it's a art and tool that was a gift that took all the elements of African Drums, African spoken word, Hebrew Slave Negro Spiritual, Gospel, Jazz, Blues, Soul, Funk, Rock n Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Reggae. Spoke in code and our lanaguage like our ancestors did on those plantation, took the ciphers from doo-woop groups in the late 50's on the corner, writing in heiroglyphic.

hip-hop is the last musical artform of the black culture and was for us to teach and speak to each other from our rhymes, slang and writing on the walls, b-boying took elements from african dance like our african brothers in brazil done with Capoeira.

People'sWar

kzzl wrote: »

Hip Hop may welcome a universal fan base, but black america is it's blood and bone. We've been doing this shit since the 40's. Show me a piece of non-black hip hop before Blowfly. Before Pig Meat Markham. SMH, I swear X was right about intergration in this country. Them europeans have always been prone to taking shit that don't belong to them.

Now who is it for blacks only? Well, a nigga in niggaville, USA barely surviving ain't thinking bout Timmy in white surburbia america when he raps about the struggle. We barely had the means to get heard outside of our town or state. We knew we weren't liked by others in this country. All we knew were other people that looked and lived as us. So when spitting about dope prices, throwaways, prison bids, pimps, The Man, slavery, oppression, police brutality, and crack pipes in the playround, I doubt we were trying to reach these people........


It just so happened that other people found entertainment in our shit. Some had something to bring to contribute, many desire to immulate it, and everybody wants to profit off it. Shit on that article.

But hip hop was trying to reach Timmy in white surburbia and they did. They also reached Gwyneth. Russell summed up Hip-hop origins pretty well when he said "Having any Hollywood starlet at your concert was unimaginable, and having her quote your lyrics as a badge of honor that she was hanging out with you, you never would have dreamed of that – until your poetry hit the market and changed the world."

Mr.Audigier216

Hip hop is for everyone....from the lil white boy in the trailor park bobbing his head to some old Dr. Dre...to the kids n India or Africa just now hearing Hard Knock Life....its not just limited to one culture

God-I_Am_Ether

So did we allow ourselves to be played and manipulated when it comes to Hip-Hop?

Law Trafalgar

Mr.Audigier216 wrote: »

Hip hop is for everyone....from the lil white boy in the trailor park bobbing his head to some old Dr. Dre...to the kids n India or Africa just now hearing Hard Knock Life....its not just limited to one culture

People'sWar

over_kill wrote: »

So did we allow ourselves to be played and manipulated when it comes to Hip-Hop?

Duh.