MARIAH HANNA WILLIE HAMMONDS  

IT’S A RAP!    

MMARIAH HANNA WILLIE HAMMONDS

RELATIONSHIP WITH HIP-HOP

COMMERCE INS HIP-HOP DID THEY SELL OUT?

KENDRICK LAMAR DRAKE

CHANCE THE RAPPER AYUN BASSA

TIRON & AYOMARI FAMEOU$

SCHEME ENT.

R&Bully HOMOPHOBIA & MISOGYNY  

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[Table  of  Contents ]

These are only a few words that I think describe hip-hop. Busta Rhymes once said “hip-hop reflects the truth, and the problem is that hip-hop exposes a lot of the negative truth society tries to conceal. It’s a platform where we could offer information, but it’s also an escape.” Music has always been a part of my life, but hip hop didn’t become a factor until I was in Elementary school. My family always listened to soft rock or country but once I got around other students and was able to experience things more for myself, not what was on the radio as I went to school in the morning, I was able to get a taste of the hip hop world. As a child, hip hop allowed me to be a little different from my family; in a way, it was my way of being a rebel. My philosophy back then was “My dad hates it, so it must be cool.” but as I sit and really try to write about my

relationship with hip hop, I realize so many other things attracted me to the hip hop culture. It was always more than me rebelling.

My first experiences that I can remember about

hip hop were my hip hop dance classes. I viewed

the music as tough, cool, and fun. At my first hip

hop dance recital, we danced to “Take Me there”

by Mya featuring Blackstreet, better known as the theme song to Rugrats the Movie. I

remember we wore baggy red overalls and red bandanas on our heads. I’ve also taken tap and ballet classes but this was the first class I can recall that had expression, emotion, and substance. The outfits made a statement as well as the moves. My hip hop class was the beginning to my relationship with hip hop. Another stepping-stone in my relationship with hip hop was “Yeah” by Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris. I can perfectly

remember the first time it caught my attention. I was standing at the park right next to my school with my best friends, they were always so good at remembering lyrics to every song, and they kept singing Ludacris’ verse. My friends knew his verse better than they knew their last names, the energy and enjoyment they had while rapping these words, being white girls and all, was exciting. It made me want to learn the words and share a part of their enjoyment, this was when I really began to enjoy other music than just the music I grew up listening to. It was a real turning point for me.

Expression. Story Telling. An Escape. A Culture. Unique. A Testimony. Inspirational.

 MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIP-HOP

I would have to classify myself in my early years as a band-wagoner. I liked hip hop but I did not explore it. By exploring hip hop, I mean prior to this I listened to nothing but mainstream, whatever was the hottest song on the radio was most likely my favorite. I did not look to see who had the most recent mixtape or wh  ich rapper was going to be on top next. I was a band-wagoner I liked what the mainstream media taught me to like.

Although that’s who I was, I am proud to say that is not who I am now. As I’ve gotten older I’ve been able to find hip hop that relates more to me and my own opinions, I rarely even listen to the radio anymore. Of course when I’m getting hyped for a party or about to hit the club, Tyga, Too Short, or some 2 Chains may be heard from my speakers. But usually I have something with more substance blasting through my speakers. I am interested in the newest artist. I do look forward to seeing when my favorite artist is dropping a new mixtape.

My favorite artist at the moment is Kendrick Lamar. I was a Kendrick Lamar fan when he was still K – dot. I strongly think that if people who are very closed minded toward hip hop would listen to his music, and I mean really listen to what he has to say, they would realize that not every rapper is into the gold chains, “the big booty bitches”, and slapping “hoes”. Some rappers really utilize their talent for good reasons. They have something to say that needs to be heard. Kendrick Lamar is not innocent of

never falling into the stereotype of what rappers are portrayed as, but the morals that he stands for and the foundation behind his words do have a strong and deep message. There are still rappers who talk about pertinent things, and real issues. You can hear the passion in their voices. On “Look out for Detox” or “The Heart pt.2” by Kendrick Lamar you can hear t  he emotion behind his words, and you begin to see that he is dedicated to his craft as well as his message. I am still a very versatile listener; the only thing I will not listen to is hard metal rock. So I hear a wide range of songs from all different genres of music. Hip hop and rappers have taught me the

most about people, cultures, and actual issues going on in the world today. Jay – Z raps about how being a young black man caused him to go through the struggles of racial profiling. He taught me that cops need a warrant to legally search

my car, or anything else for that matter. Asher Roth sings about the election of 2008, and how change was needed. The lyrics in the song “Change Gonna Come” were some of the most intellectual lyrics I’ve heard in any song, not just any rap song. That song alone made me think about issues that America was facing during the time in an in – depth way that only rap songs get my mind flowing. Yes, during the 2008 presidential election everyone was making songs about it, but rappers go about it in a different way. Country singers usually sing about being proud to be an American while not acknowledging issues that Americans face. Rappers don’t hide from the issues they have

with society. They rap about them and face them, when there’s an issue you can bet there is a rap song about it. In other genres of music, it is more common to hear simple lyrics that tell stories, some true and some fictional. Rappers paint an image that rivals reality with nothing more than their words and a beat. The majority of them, or the good ones at least, use intellectual metaphors that are astonishing at times. Hearing the metaphors draw the image in my mind is actually one of my favorite things about hip hop. Most people like to say that people connect with music that they can relate to. I find that false. There are plenty of rap songs that discuss the struggles of gang banging or life on the streets. I still enjoy this music although I have never lived in the ghettos the rappers speak of and I am not a minority so I do not face the same problems as the rappers. Although I have not experienced the things mentioned in some of the lyrics, hip hop is still my favorite genre of music. Happy, sad, mad, or bored, I still will choose a hip hop song to listen to. Hip hop plays a different role in my life too, it is not just music to me. The attire. Although I do have a wide range of different styles I like to choose out of my closet, my favorites have to be what classifies as street wear. So I’m talking about my beanies, my camouflage cargos, and my Jordans. I just began being more comfortable with wearing these clothes because I decided not to care what people say. The majority of the time I get the comment from school peers or co-workers, “Mariah you not black!” But now I’ve come to the conclusion it’s my way of expressing myself, which is that what hip hop is all about anyway. People like to generalize hip-hop to only

African Americans. I enjoy proving people wrong, hip hop is for everyone. Hip hop is a culture. Hip hop is a form of expression. I found my way to express myself through the music in my speakers or through the clothes I wear. Many artists found their voice through hip hop. Hip hop became a world and a community that people were able to associate with and express themselves. In my life hip hop has played its role of letting me see something different than what I was always familiar with. It shows the struggles, issues, and truth of what happens in urban communities. To me it shows real people, not just these made up artist that the media creates. Hip hop is an art, a culture, a voice, a beat, and a sound. It should be heard and respected by everyone.