Hip-Hop You The Love of My Life

With the hip-hop and rap movement starting with it's base in African American traditions and political theory pertaining to civil rights, I think it is important to realize why this kind of music, even if it is portrayed dominantly by African Americans, is useful for all of us. I'm not the only person to think this way. As you can see by the timeline, and you must remember that this is only within my playlist, but an Asian American takes a step up into the mainstream using lyrical talent to display the social injustices that take place here in America. Then as we look down the timeline, we see Arab Americans taking a stand within the hip-hop scene. As you can tell hip-hop and rap is for everyone. Among women, Queen Latifah definitely makes a prominent stance and displays her talent. I would consider herself a pioneer of women in music industry. As we can see this genre of music is heavily populated with males and it has taken a lot of year to gather the amount of female vocalist present.

It is a creative, special, and unique blend of words and rhythms that makes the audience feel the music and what it has to say. What makes the entire hip-hop/rap movement flourish is beautifully said by Jeff Chang from Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation. He says, "...the hip-hop generation bring together time and race, place and polyculturalism, hot beats and hybridity (pg. 2)." Among all these words I think the best to describe the success and amplitude of rap and hip-hop music is hybridity. It's the meaning of the word that creates a huge outlett because it encompasses culture, ideas, religion, taste, talent, and respect.


Sources:
Chang, Jeff. Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation. St. Martin's Press, NY, NY. 2005.