Rap and the Hip-Hop Nation

As a society we are living in the age of Hip-Hop and Rap.  These two styles of music are constantly surrounding us.  What began in the Bronx at an after school party is now a worldwide phenomenon.  When one hears hip-hop or rap images come to mind of celebrities like Jay-Z, Puff Daddy, and 50 cent along with a vast number of other African American Artists.  While it is true that there are some white rappers like Eminem and the Beastie Boys, rap and hip-hop is predominately African American. Hip-hop has given a sense of identity by exploring the black underclass.  In a TIME 1999 article 15-year-old Sean Fleming says “I can relate more and get a better understanding of what urban blacks have to go through.”  In the movie Freedom Writers a students says to Miss G “I don’t see anyone who looks like me with pockets full unless they’re rapping lyrics or dribbling a ball.”  Although this student was from inner city Los Angels I think that this either represents what a majority of African Americans believe or white people believe.   

Puff Daddy 

I think that we need to be careful when dealing with rap and hip-hop.  The danger lies in the belief that all African Americans have lives like these, as well as a tendency to believe that they are dangerous and only have sex.  Although music is a form of art and expression I think that the intense content of many rap and hip-hop songs give a lot of people an incorrect image of the life of an African American.  As a teacher I know how important it is to separate my students from the labels that society puts on them.  I think that making jokes or assuming that every African American student relates to the message in a rap song is just an example of passive and individual racism.  The power in being a teacher lies in seeing our students for who they truly are not how society wants us to see each other.     

Jay-Z

Information about Hip-Hop obtained from TIME Magazine article "Hip-Hop Nation", Feb. 08, 1999

Image of Jay-Z obtained from shoptradition.com

Image of Puff Daddy received from papermag.com