Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Hip Hop Debate
For a long time I used to avoid listening to hip-hop music because I was on the side of the debate that it was overly violent and sexist, and I didn't agree with it. But recently my younger brother gave me some music by Lupe Fiasco to listen to, saying he thought I might like it because it wasn't as misogynist as some hip hop. I listened to it, and googles the lyrics to a particular song:
"Baba Says Cool for Thought"
They thought it was cool to burn crosses in your front lawn as they hung you from trees in your backyard
They thought it was cool to leave you thirsty and stranded in Katrina
He thought it was cool to carry a gun in his classroom and open fire, Virginia Tech, Columbine, Stop the violence
They thought it was cool to tear down the projects and put up million dollar condos, gentrification
They think its cool to stand on the block hiding products in their socks making quick dime bag dollars
They think its cool to ride you down in blue and white unmarked cars, bustin you upside yo head
Freeze...cause the problem is we think its cool too.
Check your ingredients before you overdose on the cool
I think this opened my eyes a little to not be so quick to judge all hip-hop. Many people mentioned Kanye West for similar reasons. I'm not familiar with much hip-hop, so I'm not sure about the rest of the lyrics of these artists. But it seems that several artists are trying to take hip-hop in a new direction, away from some of the stereotypes of it.
# posted by ljones @ 7:04 PM 
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If you're discovering a new love for hip-hop you should check out Jurassic 5 and Tribe Called Quest. Both groups have fantastic music that break away from "mainstream" hip-hop.
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