How Hip-Hop Can End Racism

Months ago, during an interview on Hot 97, Jay-Z claimed that hip-hop has done more for race relations that any social activist. He said it's hard for a White kid in middle America to believe the bigoted nonsense his parents teach him when he has a Busta Rhymes album in his cd player.

I dismissed Jay's claim because it seemed to me that hip-hop has mostly served to cement negative stereotypes about Blacks, not create more understanding amongst other races.

This weekend changed my mind a bit. I moved out of my Harlem apartment, and into a new place on 110th street, at the very edge of my neighborhood's border. My building seems to be made up of mostly White people, and my backyard is literally Central Park North (and I'm not being facetious - why would I?). The projects seem miles away, even though it's really only three blocks uptown.

I haven't met any people there who live hip-hop culture, like I do, and I've already had some Fresh Prince moments. For instance, after greeting one woman with a "What's good?", my Black friend had to translate that I was greeting her. Another guy complimented me on my "Roh-ca-Wear" shirt, until I explained that the label is (mis)pronounced as "Roc".

I realize now how "hip-hop" I am when compared to others who aren't living in this music culture. I have a bunch of White friends, but all of them can quote a Redman lyric with the best of them. So the the gap I'm feeling now isn't because of race, but music.

If you've read this site for a while, then you know how much I am against hip-hop being looked at or measured as the basis for any political coalition or even as a serious agent for social change. I think my moving experience has changed my mind about that...or maybe I'm just getting older.

Comments

[dj mirateck]

hmm so you're on 110th now. being that i'm still on 116th & lennox, i am officially more hood than you. just kidding.

are you seriously against hip-hop being a conduit for social change? i feel like writing a post on exactly the opposite...

[sean coon]

common experience makes us all more alike than different, you know? whether it's hip-hop, a tour in iraq, a pick-up game of ball, etc., race falls away in the moment when we're simply vibing as people. enough shared experiences can erode race as an overt divide as time passes.

that's why segregation was such a tough battle back in the day.

now economics... that's the really tough one to bridge.

[Hashim]

"are you seriously against hip-hop being a conduit for social change?"

I'm against hip-hop being MEASURED by how much positive social change it causes.

[Cifer]

Hip-hop’s always been a vehicle for change, be it social, political or racial. Ever since the first rhyme was dropped on to vinyl, John Q’s views on the world started to expand and it isn’t stopping. Back then Hip-hop was a novelty. Midway to today, it was a movement. Today, it’s a way of life. In the midst of it all, the Hip-hop beat buggy has seen people from all walks of life jump on for all kinds of reasons. Those not in the know, don’t care to know it and fall upon the stereotypes just so they can have a frame of reference and channel whatever emotion they’re feeling through it. Hip is double edged sword that has bridged gaps and has burned those same bridges to build new ones. In other words, Hip-hop = Life.

[critic]

as a harlem resident and someone who has met you in person i ask.... is the mispronunciation of a word and a misunderstanding of a greeting really the basis for your change of heart? how old were these people? how does them not recognizing your slang or brand names support what Jay Z said?

besides that part of harlem is all a facade with many of the white newcomers... there is a correctional facility (prison) smack dab in the middle of 110th overlooking central park. their dose of reality is but a few steps away.

[Hashim]

Critic-
I realize that if they were hip-hop "as I'm is" then we would would have an instant connection, regardless of race. Instead, there's a gap we have to jump.

I think that experience supports what Jay-Z said.

Also, the people I met don't need a dose of reality...they're not ignorant of the real world. They just don't know my world.

[critic]

It makes sense now.

[StopBranding]

I defintely won't be checking for the Bean anytime soon. I'm too busy cleaning my grill, dumbin' out with my thizz face on while coppin' stunna shades to care.

Back to the topic at hand...

"He said it's hard for a White kid in middle America to believe the bigoted nonsense his parents teach him when he has a Busta Rhymes album in his cd player."

True, but a little Busta Rhymes in rotation goes a long way in cloaking bigotry (majority and minority included). Subtle racism is far more effective than the good old cross burning.

[Model Minority]

"True, but a little Busta Rhymes in rotation goes a long way in cloaking bigotry (majority and minority included). Subtle racism is far more effective than the good old cross burning."

Thats the shit nigg@s need to be talking about.
1. It is pervasive.
2. Easy to dismiss.
3. So subtle that you can act like it is not there, but tht only adds more bacteria to the infection.

[Diamondz]

Liked this piece although I think hip hop should contribute to social change. It can only be a good thing.
check out my blog at:
www.spaces.msn.com/claudia3tupacsgirl/PersonalSpace
I'm about to start doing specific blogs on different issues. I'm a MASSIVE hip hop fan and I plan to do some writing on the 2pac legacy, and the positive messages of hip hop including the whole race issue. Y'all are free to read my stuff and comments are more than welcome.

[obifromsouthlondon]

over here in London we say "wha blow" for "whats good". you could add "brethren" for good measure ;) and adopt a poker face. now that needs translation lol!

got on the bus the other day and overheard two white kid about 10 - 12 droppin' some hardcore grime chat. yup it's cultural revolution. played out everyday on channel zero.

[Model Minority]

Oh and, Hip hop can't end something that IT DID NOT CREATE. Duh!.

[peace_rapper]

Hi there,

I think hip-hop is above our thoughts and it only has one religion ..religion of peace and change........words are powerful to me. For d change after all if we ever see in dis world gonna have from words...
civilizations.races.colour...after all can't be a solution 4 a change
d best form and tool i ever found was hip-hop to tell wat i felt and believe me people listen to ya cause they know u saying d right stuff...........

motivate then generate root d cause and lets not be part of d mad race...........

peace 2 all.........

frm
peace_rapper

[Brian]

I agree with Jay-Z. You cannot hate people when you love something they create. Many, many millions of people of all races, all over the world, are united in their love for hip-hop. That's a truly positive thing in my opinion.

[kid kranky]

im with jigga on this one too, i used to hate black people and be a total racist but then i got a puff daddy cd in 9th grade and it changed my life.

[peace_rapper]

hey!!!!!!
kid kranky...thatz good to hear your opinons chaged and ur thoughts have uprooted to a wise decesion...after all we can be black white brown yellow but we must never forget
earth is all we have to live on and for me
the biggest religion is humanity and biggest race is humanism..........so
chill out.............

peace_rapper

[Tim Blatchford]

Like the post.

I thought I should promote my own similar idea here as well... I'm thinking hip hop is a lot better for reforming the middle east than missiles, no?

http://zbz.ca/chappelledemocracy.htm

[Model Minority]

I agree with Jay-Z. You cannot hate people when you love something they create.
-----------------------
You prolly mean well, but that is truly one of the most naive things I have ever heard in my life fam.

Of course you can hate them. Why do you think Black people have been for the last 4 hundred years and will be for the next, at least through my lifetime, under- resourced, educated, housed.

We have BEEN the entertainment for hella long and will be until white people who care and the black middle class realizes that WE ARE ALL AFFECTED by men and women who are un/underemployed.

If Jay Z said that, he should know better.

[amok]

sounds good check this out http://feltbeats.com/forum/index.php

[Bobby Allen]

>

This is scary on so many levels that I don't even know where to begin.

[Worldwide Underground]

saying that Hip hop has smoothed over race relations smong the youth doesn't equal..everyone is socially adept and aware of the cultural specifics..what I belive Jay's tryna say is without the influence of BLack artists many white kids would resent and even hate the BLack race due to ignorance and lack of interaction..the music serves as the interaction...however, while they make think "black people are cool!" they believe so for the wrong reasons..the controversy and gimmicks make the artists and BLack culture appealing..a neighbor complimenting your shirt shows the appreciation of people and styles different from their own..i.e...smoothed over racial relations...not knowing specific slang terms doesn't make the world racist...reggaeton is popular but do you really know the meanings of the words in the songs..not just literally definitions but the slang usesage?..probably not..so does that mean you're racist or does that suddenl;y cover up the fact that reggaeton's crossover appeal has bridged a gap btwn spanish speaking americans and Hip Hop appreciators?..enough with the ILlogical fallacies and generalizations you're starting to sound like a Black Bill O'Rielly..o wait that's Bill Cosby

[Worldwide Underground]

"im with jigga on this one too, i used to hate black people and be a total racist but then i got a puff daddy cd in 9th grade and it changed my life."..-blinks- not exactly the best representation of BLack culture...wow point proven..controversy and gimmicks..makes millions and unites a nation..i mean just look at 9/11 and terrorism...we are all suspects -glares-

[queen esther]

"Months ago, during an interview on Hot 97, Jay-Z claimed that hip-hop has done more for race relations that any social activist. He said it's hard for a White kid in middle America to believe the bigoted nonsense his parents teach him when he has a Busta Rhymes album in his cd player."

what a blisteringly naive thing to say.

previous generations might say the same thing about the effect that rock n' roll had on them. or blues music. or jazz and its giants. someone else might say the same thing about having a black sports figure as a hero. negro, please. what jay-z is talking about ain't nothin' new. every white kid in middle america has ALWAYS had some black person that they love and admire beyond measure in their record collection/sony walkman/cd player. that "enlightened" kid has parents that were sneaking off to listen to little richard and their parents were tripping through harlem to hear duke ellington back in the day. on and on it goes -- as a right of passage, a cool thing to do, a way of seeming hip and separating yourself from your stuffy parents and whatever (black person) they admired and listened to. but that doesn't stop them from growing up and voting a certain way or from behaving a certain way for the sake of office politics or whatever. yeah, they live hip-hop -- until it's time to get a job, or a bank loan. until it's time to matriculate into society. here's the bigger picture: there are plenty of young republicans out there that love jay-z but they aren't even remotely interested in doing something to fundamentally change status quo BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IT'S NOT IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS. what difference does any of that "love and admiration" make if it doesn't translate into societal change in real life? and when that's the case, who cares if they can relate to your hip-hop life or not?