Society’s meaning of Hip-Hop
“ I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one”. (Black Album 2003) What did he say? Is what might be your first reaction. But as you listen to “99 problems” raped by Jay Z you hear that he is not talking about a female or anything that has to do with females period.
For years society’s put a label on Hip-Hop as gangster or foul language music, that it’s had some kind of negative influence on the children of today or generation Y. Well today I’m going to take you inside the hip-hop influence from a generation y, female mind. I’m going to talk to you about the part that the media tends to over look… The generations that live Hip-Hop.
First of all to the folks that still think hip-hop is only music, understand it is a culture, an evolution something that we live breathe and wear. This is something that will never go away or fade and the faster you understand that , the quicker you can communicate a little better to the youth of today. Most of the youth of today are very created and talented , but are not being heard the way they need. Hip-Hop is that release where we can hear, listen, breathe, touch, and indulge our senses in a song. That’s just a song imagine the album and videos? Yes there is power in the words they say but there is also power in the Disney movies your kids watch. They make believe in Never land and show toys talking, how dangerous is that? At least hip-hop is truthful.
Threw the experiences the artist raps about and let you hear, not only do you become intrigued but its like a rush.
First you hear the beat which can come from the hottest producers at that time and to give you a sample of what artist spend for beats well Timbaland gets $500,000 a beat. Now when a producer sells his beats that’s up front cash because usually they get no royalties. Usually producers are doing more then one song on the album so on one artist producers get more then a million dollars. Now get the definition of bling bling and holla back. True hip-hop is a lot of slang words made into music, but when Jesus needed to speak to people who didn’t speak the same language he used tongues. Now are you starting to get a little curious?
No Nine to Five
Well let’s begin to talk about the blood, sweat, and tears that go into this culture. To be a part of those rarely publicized behind the scenes moments of the no sleep, hardworking, fast paced, money making, high spending, fun loving thrill seeking lifestyle that most popular rappers experience everyday has always been a subject of great interest to all hip hop fans of rap music. Most people fail to understand and appreciate the fact that in order to reach the top, most of our favorite hip hop rappers has had to struggle, take risks and make sacrifices in order to make their dreams of being in the hip hop / rap music industry a reality. (Roc Cayard, Certified DVD: Party, Sex, Drugs & Crime 2006). Even Tupac raps about how he never wanted the fame just the fortune, Ludacris also raps “Hip-Hop you really want to be a part of it?” (Release Therapy, 2006)
Very powerful question when you consider the sacrifice these artist give up to work a nine to five just like you. They may not sit behind a desk, or kick a football for a pro team but these artist in this culture paint a vocal picture and it’s about real things everyday life for a urban kid growing up these days. I guess when the media decides to turn its cameras on something that really matter you’d see all the money these artist poor back in the community’s.
For The Cause
LL Cool J an artist of Def Jam, which is a major record label has founded a summer camp for underprivileged kids. Each summer he sends a bunch of kids to Camp Cool J to have fun and experience what they normally can’t in everyday life. P Diddy a CEO of his own record label, reaches out to New York’s poor by feeding them for the holidays and of course it’s called Daddy’s House. Russell Simmons the god father of Hip Hop has a year long summit to educate the youth or anyone who goes, be prepared to get an earful and some insight about the industry. This summit is usually 3 days long and is ended by a concert with Def Jam artist. Shawn Carter aka “Jay Z” also gives back to kids perusing a degree in college. It’s called Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund and gives 20 students a chance to win a scholarship between $1,000-$10,000. Believe me when I say hip hop is a place that regular everyday people escape to each and every day. Hip hop is not just music, it’s not something you just decide to wear. Hip hop is a culture a way of living it’s something you’re a part of, the breath of air you take with out thought. So when you speak of hip hop, realize it’s a movement of young active souls, that have much to say about the world of today.
It’s not negative when you take a step back and understand that hip hop is not just music or lyrics from an artist. A painting from Michelangelo is priceless with no words, well hip hop is the void of that. It’s today’s technologies used to express what our generation is living threw in essence it’s like a walking time capsule.
We are leaving our mark in color, on CD’s and in the cars.
“ I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one”. (Black Album 2003) What did he say? Is what might be your first reaction. But as you listen to “99 problems” raped by Jay Z you hear that he is not talking about a female or anything that has to do with females period.
For years society’s put a label on Hip-Hop as gangster or foul language music, that it’s had some kind of negative influence on the children of today or generation Y. Well today I’m going to take you inside the hip-hop influence from a generation y, female mind. I’m going to talk to you about the part that the media tends to over look… The generations that live Hip-Hop.
First of all to the folks that still think hip-hop is only music, understand it is a culture, an evolution something that we live breathe and wear. This is something that will never go away or fade and the faster you understand that , the quicker you can communicate a little better to the youth of today. Most of the youth of today are very created and talented , but are not being heard the way they need. Hip-Hop is that release where we can hear, listen, breathe, touch, and indulge our senses in a song. That’s just a song imagine the album and videos? Yes there is power in the words they say but there is also power in the Disney movies your kids watch. They make believe in Never land and show toys talking, how dangerous is that? At least hip-hop is truthful.
Threw the experiences the artist raps about and let you hear, not only do you become intrigued but its like a rush.
First you hear the beat which can come from the hottest producers at that time and to give you a sample of what artist spend for beats well Timbaland gets $500,000 a beat. Now when a producer sells his beats that’s up front cash because usually they get no royalties. Usually producers are doing more then one song on the album so on one artist producers get more then a million dollars. Now get the definition of bling bling and holla back. True hip-hop is a lot of slang words made into music, but when Jesus needed to speak to people who didn’t speak the same language he used tongues. Now are you starting to get a little curious?
No Nine to Five
Well let’s begin to talk about the blood, sweat, and tears that go into this culture. To be a part of those rarely publicized behind the scenes moments of the no sleep, hardworking, fast paced, money making, high spending, fun loving thrill seeking lifestyle that most popular rappers experience everyday has always been a subject of great interest to all hip hop fans of rap music. Most people fail to understand and appreciate the fact that in order to reach the top, most of our favorite hip hop rappers has had to struggle, take risks and make sacrifices in order to make their dreams of being in the hip hop / rap music industry a reality. (Roc Cayard, Certified DVD: Party, Sex, Drugs & Crime 2006). Even Tupac raps about how he never wanted the fame just the fortune, Ludacris also raps “Hip-Hop you really want to be a part of it?” (Release Therapy, 2006)
Very powerful question when you consider the sacrifice these artist give up to work a nine to five just like you. They may not sit behind a desk, or kick a football for a pro team but these artist in this culture paint a vocal picture and it’s about real things everyday life for a urban kid growing up these days. I guess when the media decides to turn its cameras on something that really matter you’d see all the money these artist poor back in the community’s.
For The Cause
LL Cool J an artist of Def Jam, which is a major record label has founded a summer camp for underprivileged kids. Each summer he sends a bunch of kids to Camp Cool J to have fun and experience what they normally can’t in everyday life. P Diddy a CEO of his own record label, reaches out to New York’s poor by feeding them for the holidays and of course it’s called Daddy’s House. Russell Simmons the god father of Hip Hop has a year long summit to educate the youth or anyone who goes, be prepared to get an earful and some insight about the industry. This summit is usually 3 days long and is ended by a concert with Def Jam artist. Shawn Carter aka “Jay Z” also gives back to kids perusing a degree in college. It’s called Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund and gives 20 students a chance to win a scholarship between $1,000-$10,000. Believe me when I say hip hop is a place that regular everyday people escape to each and every day. Hip hop is not just music, it’s not something you just decide to wear. Hip hop is a culture a way of living it’s something you’re a part of, the breath of air you take with out thought. So when you speak of hip hop, realize it’s a movement of young active souls, that have much to say about the world of today.
It’s not negative when you take a step back and understand that hip hop is not just music or lyrics from an artist. A painting from Michelangelo is priceless with no words, well hip hop is the void of that. It’s today’s technologies used to express what our generation is living threw in essence it’s like a walking time capsule.
We are leaving our mark in color, on CD’s and in the cars.
Once A Fad, Is Now Culture
In conclusion the way people speak or think about Hip-Hop is not reality, It’s all stereotype of what they hear and see. If a person is not “in” usually they just wont get the meaning of Hip-Hop. You don’t understand how hard it is to break into the industry and maintain your sanity or better yet keep making hit after hit. The hard work that goes with making an album, the hours in the studio making the songs that get played, the tours you travel to perform on stage for a couple hours and then go on to the next city. The endless amount of time alone or without family, the countless meet and greets with complete strangers that are so called fans. All this to make the dreams of becoming somebody reality…
If you ask me it just shows me that Hip-Hop is one of the hardest working cultures in society. It shows you that with persistence, determination, and hard work you can be anything you want. Frankly what’s so negative about that?
In conclusion the way people speak or think about Hip-Hop is not reality, It’s all stereotype of what they hear and see. If a person is not “in” usually they just wont get the meaning of Hip-Hop. You don’t understand how hard it is to break into the industry and maintain your sanity or better yet keep making hit after hit. The hard work that goes with making an album, the hours in the studio making the songs that get played, the tours you travel to perform on stage for a couple hours and then go on to the next city. The endless amount of time alone or without family, the countless meet and greets with complete strangers that are so called fans. All this to make the dreams of becoming somebody reality…
If you ask me it just shows me that Hip-Hop is one of the hardest working cultures in society. It shows you that with persistence, determination, and hard work you can be anything you want. Frankly what’s so negative about that?