And both of them - both of those genres center on individuals who can use violence as a means of negotiating situations and negotiating life.Īnd so, hip-hop is part of that same tradition. When you look at two most predominant staples in American popular culture, you know, written largely they are the gangster movie and the Western. It's also the same reason that gangster movies have been so popular for so long. Mainly being, I agree with Michael's point here, the American fascination with violence. COBB: Well, there are number of things that continue to drive it. But, Jelani, what continues to drive gangster rap's popularity? But gangster rap is the one - is one of the oldest styles and it seems to generate the most controversy, not in any small way, Michael, because of what you just said. And if you think of hip-hop, let say as a wide-open umbrella, then underneath it you'll find all sorts of musical styles including gangster rap, dirty south, many more that have different names. Perhaps we should define terms here.ĬOX: Gangster rap and hip-hop are not one and the same. Let me bring Jelani into the conversation. Where actually - in our culture, pretty much every major cultural production that we have in America has a certain strain of violence.ĬOX: Yeah. But too often, I think, people are quick to label gangster rap as this - as the one meaning where violence is dominant. It popularizes kind of an urban or gangster rap style, which seemed to give the young black men, primarily, a chance to talk about what was happening in their neighborhoods. I mean one could examine any type of cultural production and look at the violence at any given subject matter.Ĭertainly, the West Coast had a different style of hip-hop. DATCHER: Well, I think, first of all you have to look at the fact that violence is quintessentially American even a cursory look at popular culture today and any type of manifestation whether be film - the current "Saw" series, for example. And that it was a direct response, by that I mean in competition with a very different style among East Coast rappers? Now, back to you Michael, is it too simplistic to say that the rise of violent lyrics in rap music began on the West Coast 20 years ago with groups like Compton's N.W.A. They should build me an office…ĬOX: So, Michael, is it, let me start with you, is it too simplistic to say that the rise of violent lyrics - oh by the way, again, that was popular West Coast rapper The Game, rapping "Scream On "Em" from last year's album "Doctor's Advocate." Last album on the wall I'm number one in the buildin. (Singing) Walking past officers I see my son in the building. No this ain't the first time I had my gun in the buildin. I'm runnin the building, don't make me run in the building. Oh-seven Bugatti with Jimmy Iovine's secretary. I black out like February, back I was necessary. Red rag hanging low in the back my jeans. THE GAME (Rapper): (Singing) Clean, mean, rapping machine. Though, with that said, let's hear the clip. A note to listeners, now, while we are going to keep this as clean as we possibly can, we may still hear a word or even an idea that you personally may, perhaps, find offensive. It's a clip from rapper The Game's single "Scream On 'Em". Professor WILLIAM JELANI COBB (History, Spelman College Author, "To the Break of Dawn"): Glad to be here.ĬOX: First, I'd like to play something for you. Professor MICHAEL DITCHER (English and Journalism, Loyola Marymount University Author, "Raising Fences"): It's a pleasure to be here. He teaches English and journalism at Loyola Marymount University here in California and is the author of The New York Times best seller "Raising Fences." William Jelani Cobb is an associate professor of history at Spelman College and the author of "To Break of Dawn" - "To the Break of Dawn." And also with us, is professor Michael Datcher. In a few minutes we'll be talking with rap icon Master P in studio here about his conversion from gangsta rapper to good guyīut, let's start with the look at the history and back-story of hip-hop. As part of our monthlong series on hip-hop, today, we look at the way hip-hop and violence are intertwined. Then late last week, a suspect in the murder was also found dead - his name, Charles White his vocation, aspiring rapper. Just two weeks ago, in fact, up-and-coming rapper Rayquon Elliot aka Stack Bundles was murdered outside his home in New York. Both men were consummate artists in the prime of their careers, but they also helped change the game, infusing it with a deadly mystique. have inspired a generation of young rappers for better and for worse. Hip-hop and violence have long walked hand-in-hand.
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