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back to the essence · by Rafi Kam
Rafi: off-topic but mikal was just telling me he does work with this organization … looks interesting
Rafi: http://www.urbanartbeat.org/pages/HOMEPage.html
R.H.S.: It does look interesting
Rafi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsz-uGTIjrc
R.H.S.: The hip hop rubric isn’t one I wanna pursue exclusively though
R.H.S.: When it comes to outreach
R.H.S.: It’s mostly romantic
Rafi: agreed… i question its effectiveness
Rafi: but
R.H.S.: But today’s youth are post-hiphop
Rafi: but something is better than nothing
R.H.S.: They are super-eclectic
R.H.S.: Hiphop no longer signifies pastiche to most
R.H.S.: It’s as much a generic constraint as any other
Rafi: it’s nostalgia for the people talking to the youth…
Rafi: like ranking albums :-)
R.H.S.: But today’s kids are about pastiche and mash-up
Rafi: yeah.. thats a great point
R.H.S.: Surely they like rapping and beats
R.H.S.: But they have little reason to pledge allegiance to a unified hiphop culture
Rafi: even if one existed instead of claiming to
R.H.S.: Right
R.H.S.: They define themselves more through merging than through opposition
R.H.S.: Instead of “it ain’t rock and roll cuz the rap is in control”
R.H.S.: They “party like a rock star”
Rafi: more aligned with what we’re moving to
R.H.S.: Well yes and no
Rafi: they’re not creators yet
Rafi: most of them
R.H.S.: They are mostly averse and/or indifferent to participatory citizenship beyond that which is connected to consumerism
R.H.S.: Exactly
R.H.S.: They expect culture to be created and delivered to them
R.H.S.: They do create culture sometimes though
R.H.S.: Some things spark that impulse, some don’t
R.H.S.: One thing’s for certain
R.H.S.: The over-formalized concept of hiphop does not
Rafi: right
Rafi: i love the idea on bubble generation and elsewhere that initiatives can be reduced to dna to determine their merit
R.H.S.: Huh
Rafi: i dunno if you’ve been following that site.. the guy talks about the dna of a company… i think i’ve seen doc searls and others do the same… it basically comes down to does this thing create value or does it create the illusion of value
R.H.S.: Right
Rafi: an overly formal defintion of hip-hop has no value
Rafi: thats why it takes effort to push
Rafi: and is enforced by exclusion
Rafi: while things that have value in their dna spread naturally and dont need to be marketed
R.H.S.: True
R.H.S.: Like dancing
R.H.S.: And rapping
R.H.S.: Rap is something you do; hip hop is something you conjecture
Comments for "back to the essence"
total instant gratification with delectable nibbles of apathy dinnermints
— sankofa Jan 16, 08:03 PM
“today’s youth are post hip hop.”
That’s comedy. Which “youth” were hip hop before, and what did it mean to be “hip hop?”
— mmays Jan 17, 02:11 AM
Hip-Hop is as Hip-Hop does, and vice versa. Calling something or someone post-Hip-Hop makes it Hip-Hop just by using Hip-Hop to describe it.
— DJ Flash Jan 17, 02:22 AM
There was something I read about the lifespan of hip hop music. On a basic level, the prediction was it is to implode somewhere in the 2020s as a result of oversaturation and a need to expel less carbon.
— Jay B Jan 17, 02:56 AM
Blanket statements are totally post hip hop.
— Abe Beame Jan 17, 03:03 AM
All them big thoughts ain’t hip hop! Fuck is you talkin’ bout.
— DocZeus Jan 17, 11:24 AM
This is a very thought provoking post.
To me (at 28 years old) hip-hop has always been about a movement or a culture, and rap music was something else. And of the millions of people who listen to “rap”, I’ve found it’s a pretty small percentage that really understand hip-hop, and the culture and values that are supposed to go with it.
We were close in the mid-to-late nineties to an overwhelming understanding, but the crunk and bling eras squashed all that real quick.
— the SHWAMY Jan 17, 05:02 PM
is it a crime to appreciate hip hop as music and music alone? it’s unfortunate to me that some think so
it would certainly be better than nothing to connect with youth in a way that has potential for further educating, but i also question its channel.
sort of like a biased medium clamoring to make freer, more open minds – can that even happen?
— drew Jan 17, 09:21 PM
Hey,
Thanks for putting me up on that organization.
I’m an aspiring Hip Hop artist and I’m studying to be an elementary school teacher so this would be a really cool volunteer opportunity for me.
I’ll see how it goes…
Peace
— Colin C. Jan 18, 12:28 AM
I really identify with what you guys are saying…
I’ve gone from identifying myself solely as an MC, to recently wanting to branch out into Rock and Roll and mix some Hip Hop into it…
I feel like Hip Hop is so formulaic, it leaves little room for creativity (at least modern-day Hip Hop I guess?).
I mean, don’t pin me down as that being my one opinion on rap, but sometimes I think rap talks too much and says too little.
Its funny, Oh Word was the last place I would expect to hear this argument, I thought you guys were straight Hip Hop period.
I’m interested in seeing what direction you move in…
Anyway, I’m working on a love song right now where I’m singing about stars (corny enough?). I’m going to incorporate a Hip Hop verse too, I think.
Maybe this will qualify as space rap?
At the very least you can make fun of it!
Peace again
— Colin C. Jan 18, 03:56 AM
I can’t believe you guys talk like that on IM, what the fuck is pastiche? Can you conjecture me on it?! Thanks!
— Lady Chavez and Fluffgirl Jan 18, 02:41 PM
Hip-Hop died in 1979. Go get a late pass. Art is dead also.
Only commerce exists in place of art. Shop or die bitches.
— Billy Sunday Jan 21, 02:39 AM
conjecture? LOL....like how i feel about the economic stim plan….All of this is just a short term fix. And truth be told, it has been happening over past 3 decades. Reagan and Clinton have just as much blame as the current administration. This is an interesting perspective on this(the midas touch)
— rawdawgbufalo Jan 25, 09:44 PM
yo, hip-hop is what it is, we have certain “sub-groups” these days, like indie, rap, hip-hop, etc. if it sounds good it just does im not going to knock someones craft cuz they’re not saying what i think they should. like, those who know the culture shouldnt isolate themselves from “hip-pop” just cuz its on mtv…nas is on there, kanye common all sorts of emcees could be considered pop, its those who reject the culture and market off the “idea” instead of respecting it, thats what makes me mad. anyways, just be open to all the fresh music and steer clear of those who wont respect the music the choose to make.
— Damian Jan 30, 04:24 PM
What flash said!
“Calling something or someone post-Hip-Hop makes it Hip-Hop just by using Hip-Hop to describe it.”
— b-illa Feb 11, 01:23 PM