The Hip-Hop Defense

Everyone has an pollen about the Influence of help–hop music on our nations youth. Many people, such as politicians and the ultra conservative, feel the influence is destructive and incites violent behavior. Some people, for instance the media, believe hip- hop glossaries inappropriate behaviors and actions while promoting the demutualization of women in general, but more specifically black women.Few people are willing to speak out and defend hip-hop music as communicative form of art.

In the article “In Defense of HIP Hop” Kathleen Renter argues people, young and old like, are hasty to blame hip-hop In Justification of their atrocious tirades, actions, and behaviors without fully understanding what hip-hop is, and what it represents. The “B word”, “HCI’, and “trick” are Just a few of the demoralizing and degrading slang words spoken in relation to women in some hip-hop music.Renter uses national radio personality Don Mime’s April 4, 2007 racially insensitive verbal degradation against a female basketball team as an example of how hip-hop Is a “scapegoat” to justify Inappropriate and offensive comments and actions.

Renter sakes note of the fact that Emus has a documented history of making insensitive and sometimes racial comments. If the history of Don Mime’s comments reflect a pattern of disrespect, degradation, and insensitivity how can hip-hop now be blamed for his April 2007 tirade.In the immediate aftermath of the Emus Incident long-standing opponents of hip- hop music resurfaced to once again place blame on the music and the culture instead of on the individuals. Although some critics and activists were courageous enough to lay blame solely on Don Emus, others such as AH Sheraton, came out in offense of Emus stating although Emus ‘s behavior and comments were wrong, he shouldn’t be held accountable when entertainers of the hip-hop industry are not.

As far back as 1970 “the devil made me do it! An expression popularized by a fictional character of comedian Flip Wilson, has been the prevailing comic excuse for misdeeds. Renter entertains the Idea of hip-hop as the equivalent of the devil In that expression, she further Implies the music Is representative of hip-hop rust surroundings and environment. Anger at a lack of understanding the music before indenting it is Reentries reaction to the prejudice against hip-hop music, something everyone has done at one time or another.World famous hip-hop artist Outpace Shaker was instrumental, even after death, In Reentries decision to re evaluate her thoughts and stance on hip-hop. Tuba’s posthumous documentary was a vital factor In her decision to re evaluate the music and the culture. The influence of that documentary so profoundly affected Renter she devoted a section of her teaching curriculum to the study of hip-hop. Outpace Shakers’ documentary altered Renter’s entire perception of hip-hop as a music and a culture.

Her eyes were opened to the meaning of the lyrics as expressions of the lives of the artists.She further states the artistic side of the music Is representative of various aspects of society, politics and spiritually as well as bridging a gap to the deferent Nell-known female hip-hop artist, and actor Bruce Willis funded a project titled “The Hip-Hop Project” detailing a young mans’ plea to the youth of his community to share their life stories and experiences through the art of hip-hop. The focus of the project encourages the group to produce a realistic and vivid image of their everyday life in the form of words and music.With the support of Bruce Willis and other well-known figures in the hip-hop industry the album was completed to the satisfaction of all parties involved. Reentries accolades to the success of the CD, indicates her complete change of mind of the subject of hip-hop. Overall, the article “In Defense of Hip-Hop” shows the authors willingness to open her mind to learning things she doesn’t understand. Her allusions to hip-hop as a form of social commentaries to ridge the differences of society, reflects the knowledge she ascertained on her Orkney of self-discovery.