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Hip-Hop Appreciation Week Essay #2: Political Power Came From the Barrel of a GunMay 15 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Yes, "resident backpacker" madtheory is actually showing gratitude to Gangsta rap and giving it props. Read on…
Nowadays it seems like every time I open my mouth I’m shouting down the gangsta and thug themes that have overrun commercial Hip-Hop music, but I can remember a time when this wasn’t always the case. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, the statement gangsta rap made to the American public was as significant as any made by any political figure at the time. Not too long ago, Gangsta and conscious rap really were not the two completely separate entities people think they were. Though gangsta rap was certainly crude, violent, and misogynistic, in it’s infancy it was a significant revolution in rap music. The gritty images painted by pioneers like Ice-T and N.W.A., provided an unflinching look at painful urban life for Black and Hispanic youth, while simultaneously raising a defiant fist in the face of the establishment that allowed these conditions to persist. The poignant images gangsta rappers crafted were rarely presented in such vivid hues in East Coast rap music. Unfortunately, one of the most common byproducts of challenging the establishment is censorship, and gangsta rap certainly got more than its fair share of that. From bans to public protests to arrests, rappers caught hell for their music from all angles, surprisingly even renewing zeal in elder African-American leaders such as the renowned Civil Rights veteran C. Dolores Tucker. The argument given by these established Black leaders was that their youth should find a more positive way to channel their frustrations and effect change, and they certainly had a valid point. However, ultimately, your voice has to be your voice, not the voice of your parents. For gangsta rappers, creating gritty and offensive music was the only method appropriate for describing a gritty and offensive existence. So gangsta rap fought back. Waging war against the “lyric vigilantes” in the studios and the courts, the rappers fought to allow their words to be heard seemingly in almost every venue they played in. Though there were no announcements or landmark court cases that signified that gangsta rap had won the struggle for its existence, the sheer fact that it even still exists today is a testament to the victory. Around this same time frame, the infamous quasi-pornographic rap group 2 Live Crew headed by Luther Campbell (AKA Luke Skyywalker) underwent a series of First Amendment battles as well. After a judge in Broward County, FL declared the 2 Live Crew’s 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be legally obscene (it was the first record in history to be deemed so; the 87 references to oral sex may have swayed the judge), the group quickly found themselves embroiled in censorship and freedom of speech battles with politicians, police, and the notorious Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). Luther Campbell’s ulterior motive in this entire process may have only been to bring first-class media attention and marketing to a third-class rap group, but the effects of his never-ending legal battles were long reaching. With the support of other big-name artists like Bruce Springsteen and Sinead O’Connor, Luther and the crew succeeded in protecting artists’ right to free speech and tying the hands of the PMRC whose original plans for censoring music were far, far more extreme than a few black and white stickers on album covers. These gangstas, pimps, playas, or whatever titles they’ve absorbed over the years, forced politicians and citizens to examine what the phrase ‘free speech’ really means. Any patriot can puff up his chest and proudly declare, “here in America we have freedom of speech,” but how true does that statement ring when artists were routinely arrested for song lyrics? Is it really just ‘freedom of speech, just watch what you say?’ The censorship and First Amendment battles of gangsta rap and sexually explicit groups like 2 Live Crew went a long way in protecting and expanding the scope of what artists in all genres could say in their music. Without these rappers “fighting the good fight” as it were, the music scene would sound very different than it does today. Would that be a good thing or a bad thing? Who knows? But at least you have the right to decide for yourself. So, big ups to the pioneers of gangsta rap; you’re all mainstream music’s b*tches now, but I’m grateful for the minor revolution you started back in the day. ----------------------------------- This Editorial is part of the Hip-Hop Appreciation Week Write-Off hosted by me. The purpose of HHAW is to help decriminalize Hip-Hop's current public image and to promote the true unity of the culture so that Hip-Hoppers may form a "common spirit" amongst each other. In keeping with the theme for Hip-Hop Appreciation Week, Gratitude, the writers are encouraged to give thanks to God, all people, places, things, and events, that have assisted their self improvement and sustained peace. For more thoughts and views on Hip-Hop, read the reviews and editorials from these other talented participants: LessThanNick1 Roheblius MagnumForce cletta1201 ekidd911 tigger500 DVON paulyoungotti gamblinfamily  |
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