Will Obama Influence Positive Change in Hip Hop?
Talib Kweli thinks that Obama will influence hip hop to move away from the ridiculous lyrics. I hope he is right, but only because the eventual cultural change on the ground (the market) will demand it. Otherwise, as far as I’m concerned, it can die out…(story via Stereohyped)
What does Barack Obama’s presidency mean for pop culture? That depends on whom you ask. For our new “Celebrity In Chief” feature, I was assigned to find out if Obama’s election might have any sort of impact on hip-hop or other music. Rapper Talib Kweli was one the first people I reached out to for comment. He had a lot to say, but we only had room for a couple of his quotes in the story. Still, the transcript of our interview was too interesting to let it go to waste. Herewith, the best of the rest.
Moving forward, what do you anticipate will be the result of his impact?
I was talking to [producer/DJ] Hi-Tek about this yesterday and I agree with what he said. He was talking about how when black people get into an industry or a field that we’ve been left out of, we end up dominating and excelling because we’ve had to work so much harder to get to that position, whether it’s Serena Williams or Tiger Woods or whatever. And now Barack Obama has a chance to do that for politics. I think he’ll be able to bring something to presidential politics that we’ve never seen.Do you think Obama’s popularity in the hip-hop community will inspire certain rappers to change their tune?
When you see an artist who represents so much negative space in terms of what he’s talking about, like Young Jeezy, somebody who I really respect but let’s face it, he came into the [music] business talking about selling cocaine and advertising it. That was his s—. And for his platform to now be about Barack Obama speaks volumes. He’s still talking about his daddy was in jail and the scale — he’s making the references that he feels like he needs to make for the hood — but obviously Barack is his inspiration right now. On a different note, on my website, a kid wrote this long essay about now that we have a black president, what are rappers like myself and Mos Def gonna rap about being that black people have nothing to complain about no more.[...]
Do you think that Obama represents a different kind of model for young black men? If so, what impact will that have if some of the modeling moves away from rap stars and more towards Obama?
Yeah, at least for this moment, the narrative has changed from it’s either rap, the trap or basketball to it’s rap, the trap, basketball or you could be the president too. He’s inspired black men to send out mass emails to other black men, saying, “We gotta stop saying ‘n—-’ so much. We gotta take care of our families. We gotta raise our babies.“
I have seen a lot of the positive change myself. Let’s hope that it continues
Filed under: Politics, Practical Solutions, Race
Didn’t Nas say that hip hop is dead, over a year ago?
Alhamdulillah, Obama’s rise even before his victory was already influencing young black kids to excel in school. This change itself, may signal a shift in demand for negative rap in the years to come - although I’m cautiously optimistic about this.
Listen to the lyrics in Nas’s hit “If I ruled the world,” about black frustration. I think if someone asked Nas about Obama’s victory, he would not be so hopeful on a hip hop revival.
The interviewer should asked him if HE was gonna stop using the N word. I got mad respect for Kweli I seen him concert a few times but for somebody who’s supposed to be progressive I can’t figure out why he still uses the n word.
About Hip Hop being is dead that’s a joke!!! Hip Hop is alive and well but because many people mistake rap for Hip Hop culture that can’t see or feel it. Just because it’s someone’s rhyming to beat DOESN’T make it Hip Hop.
Hip Hop music may be dying in corporate owned major labels but Hip hop for past decade or so has returned to the underground. Like it was in the mid 80’s where you can only hear real Hip Hop from your friends or college radio.
Every major city has an Hip Hop scene and the battle DJ scene is coming back with the return of Christie Z Pabon (and Yes she is hijab wearing muslimah) returning and running the DMC DJ Championships.
Check out Tools of War & Muslims In Hip Hop,Christie & Fabel (RSC) groups and you’ll see how Hip hop is still thriving.
In my opinion Hip Hop has went underground like Punk did in mid 80’s and will return stronger like Punk did with Grunge and Alt in eary 90’s. Hip Hop NOT dead by any means.
http://www.myspace.com/toolsofwar
http://www.myspace.com/muslimsinhiphop
Real Hip Hop Is Here To Stay, The Commercialized Hip Hop Scene Is Dead. That’s Because The Whole Game Has Changed To Where You Have To Crank Out More Garbage If You Want To Sell Enough To Make A Decent Profit. Nas Dropped “Hip Hop Is Dead” To Wake People Up. Then He Dropped His Best Album To Date “Untitled”. Lupe Fiasco Dropped “Dumb It Down”. Ice Cube Dropped A Bunch Of Positive Tracks On His Last Album. Underground Heads Know About The Likes Of Like Brother Ali, Immortal Technique. Adisa Banjoko Of The Bay Area Started The Hip Hop Chess Federation In Conjunction With RZA To Teach The Youth To Think Strategically. The Only Reason Negative Rap Gets Play Is Because The Commercial Music Industry Tries To Appeal To The Lowest Common Denominator. Much Respect To The Leaders Of The New Underground That Are Tapping New Markets And Giving Commercialized Rap Fits.
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Hip hop has been dead for a long time. Although there are a few worth listening to lurking in corners…ppl are not feeling them though and that’s because a lot of those people are out of touch with reality. As for me, I’m not feeling the majority because it has nothing of substance.
….and Obama has changed a lot of black people’s minds. A lot of people are so proud and little kids who felt like they would never amount to much, feel like they can do anything..foreal this time.
I am seeing a lot of this too. Even with my own children who have vowed to double their efforts in school and in helping in the community at a young age
There were some CD’s put out during the campaign. I think mostly of the world beat variety, but it was an interesting concept. I’m pretty sure it’s never been done for a presidential candidate (in the US). I’m feeling too lazy to find the CDs and post them here, but you can google them!
And yes, I think it’s possible that there will be a rise in conscious hip-hop!
[...] a thoughtful, incisive writer, and the only possible blogger who could ask the question “Will Obama Influence Positive Change in Hip Hop?“ The narrative has changed from it’s either rap, the trap or basketball to it’s rap, the [...]
Musicalchef are you talking about DJ Ztrip’s “Obama Party For Change” mix? I know DJ Premier produced mix “Time For Change” and Russell simmons release an mixtape as well. I not sure I heard any world beat music release for either candidate but Hip Hop definitely.
The style of writing is quite familiar . Did you write guest posts for other bloggers?