“Hip hop has done more than any leader, politician or anyone to improve race relations.”
-Jay-z to Best Life Magazine (Full article here )
Those up on your Hova news have seen this quote before. I happened to come across it in an issue of Essence magazine from the summer but flipped passed it, shrugging. But the other day I remembered these words and had to do some digging. It may appear that race relations have improved as a result of an art form because you can talk hip-hop with cats from all over the globe, but I am confident that this does not mean they are down for the cause. Cause? Yea remember? Hip hop formed as a result of a need to express oneself and rebel against the social injustices of the world- that’s elementary dear Watson. In fact hip hop can not even be considered black music anymore. I feel as though short of a few entrepreneurial minds, hip hop has become governed by the rainbow and blacks are mere puppets. We don’t own or have we trademarked the word hip hop, we don’t manufacture the production equipment, we are intimidated by the mere mention of a positive statement in a song, the execs wont allow it. I mean it’s a work in progress; it’s absolutely cool to integrate and work with everyone regardless of color or creed but remember the message behind the music – powerful and should not be forgotten.
From a fan base point of view, hip hop has extended to the masses. Middleaged fortune 500 executives are gyrating to the shit at company parties and I’m sure in the privacy of their own homes too. Its global, hip hop, but we all know that half of the hip hop fans today are not schooled in the Leaders of the New School, let alone understand or want to,the inner workings of souljah boy. A snare drum has the capability to hypnotize me into a drunken dance trance so imagine its effect on the young mind.
To me improvement of race relations is a never ending battle. I myself struggle within to detach from negative thoughts that others may have of me, especially others who look like me. I think people like to hope that one day a messiah-like force will come in and rid the world of its ignorance. I don’t know if this is possible through lyrics and a beat alone. Hip hop has a lot of homework to do.
When I read Jay’s quote I instantly thought of the Dave Chappelle skit (I forever reference Chappelle- forever) when he played the black white supremacist, Clayton Bigsby. Bigsby’s truck pulled up beside a car with a group of white teen males bumping rap. Clayton Bigsby tells them to turn the music down then ends off with “ooogie boogie niggers”. The teens start grinning and looking amongst themselves. one of the teens asks, “Did he just call us niggers?” Another one responds with, “cool!” they then give each other five.
By making a statement that suggests that the art form of hip hop is responsible for improving race relations, one can only assume that the hip hop community is somewhat of a role model or authority figure. Often many artists try to play down the title of role model, or wish not to be associated with such a title, but then Jay comes along and places hip hop up at the top with leaders and politicians. I suppose Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X have absolutely nothing to do with race relations, and how about our-President’s Barack Obama? I strongly feel that just because a young play- doh mind (regardless of color) cops an album doesn’t necessarily mean he/she knows what time it is? He/she is seduced by an image and that unfortunately has taken centre stage in most of the popular music today and has for, for as long as I could remember. Imagine if Gucci Mane could use his booming voice and sick production to institute change or if Lil Wayne could actually comprehend the significance behind the dreadlocks he wears. Not to say that these men don’t have it in them, but race relations? Improve? Nah, that’s a little too far fetched to me. We certainly come together to raise the roof but what are we unifying on?
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