Hip Hop and the African Society, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Music is such an enticing element of art. It defines the process by which humans are able to express themselves through rhythms and musical arrangements paired up with lyrics that specifically give a reflection on what they feel, what they think and what message they like to send out to their listeners.  The early 1990s has been a witness to the flourishing art of rap music. With the mixing of Latino and African American groups in Bronx, the birth of hip hop music came to life. Unlike other musical genres, hip hop music is more on words spoken out in a fast yet conversant manner making it a distinct arrangement apart from other musical genres.

Question is what really is hip hop music and how is it able to create a newly defined culture for those who support it? The distinct manner by which hip hop music is identified alongside the culture of the black Americans, Africans to be exact, creates an alarming question that often becomes the source of worry among sociologists as to how hip hop music affects the thinking and the behavior of the Africans who have specifically engaged in creating and promoting the hip hop culture. In this review, the utilization of several references to identify well with hip hop music and hip hop culture shall provide a distinct indication on what the hip hop phenomena is all about thus pointing out the social and psychological effect of such musical genre on the people who appreciate it.

What Hip Hop is About

According to Leadre Jackson’s (2013) study, the origin of hip hop music cannot be fully determined as the emergence of violent culture in music started to emerge even way back the 1970’s (83). Relatively, the concept of using themes of violence, vengeance and revolution has been used by musicians during the time to express how they feel about the social oppressions they were experiencing specifically under the hands of the elitists [mostly including the white race]. Putting their emotions into spoken rhythm, the people found a sense of escape, a practical manner by which they could possibly run away from the pain they were experiencing at the time (Steingo, 333). The development and evolution of such musical arrangement has brought about a sense of distinct manifestation on how music has created a bridge between then and now and how the black community intends to share their feelings. The youths, from particularly different races, began relating to the said music more during the 1990s. With much freedom on musical promotion and distribution all over the globe, even youngsters from far Asia were able to distinguish personal connection to hip hop music. The meanings of the words that are pronounced as the primary value of the hip hop music go down deep affecting the thoughts and the ideals of the listeners. According to Toop’s research (1991), hip hop, unlike other genres, is more than just music; it is an expression of the soul that relatively connects one culture to another (81).

Additionally, it has been mentioned in Turner’s (et al, 2013) research that hip hop modality comes directly from the deep cultures of the African descent. This research points out that the characterization of hip hop music particularly based upon toasting, linguistic arrangements, poems, rhymes and specifically memorized words that tell a concrete story about life, is a literary culture that Africans have embraced even before the birth of commercial music production (342). What establishes the overall structure of hip hop is how it is able to determine the distinctive value of living in pain and being able to express such emotion through music and lyrics. The specific beat that hip hop music follows makes every hip hop piece easier to distinguish. The poem, created into a rhythmic musical arrangement specifically insists on how this particular genre of musical arrangement is set apart from others (Steingo, 334).

Implications of the Hip Hop Genre

Implicative, this is how hip hop is described by several critics (Turner, et al, 347). The words that are used to define the emotional baggage that the musicians want to portray. Considerably, it could be understood that hip hop music has created a new way of opening a new portal for determining the manner by which musicians express themselves under a new pattern. The choice of words that are used in each hip hop piece is specifically determined to create a connection between the ones singing and the ones who are listening to each piece. Considering the situations of the people who create the music [particularly the writers], it is specifically understood that they are taking their words from experience.

The hip hop genre has made it easier for those who are oppressed to express themselves, to share their thoughts and actually give attention to how they are able to affect others accordingly. Knowing that they are able to affect others makes it easier for the hip hop musicians to express themselves fully. This particular concept of expression in hip hop music has made it one of the most expressive types of music that allows the use of words that are usually considered taboo especially when it comes to creating a distinct meaning for the public.

The creation of culture that supports the hip hop music is also the one that promotes the same culture that it is identified with. Sociologists specifically determined hip hop music as one that introduces a distinct concept of revolution among the generations who recognize the real worth of the said genre of music. A determined manner of influencing the mind of the people and giving them a chance to understand what the message of each musical piece is distinctly creates a valuable indication on how hip hop artists love to share their thoughts to the public.

According to Travis and Bowman’s (2011) study on Ethnic Identity that rap music determines, the idea of developing self-esteem is essential especially when it comes to determining the real value of this particular type of music. What makes it more inviting to the listeners is the manner by which it welcomes self expression and the freedom of speech that comes along with it. It could be realized that somehow, the distinguishing pattern of emotional value that hip hop music has specifically makes it easily relatable (456).

Understanding how humans respond to emotional value and the concept of freedom of expression, hip hop musicians are specifically able to take on the chance to get the attention of the listeners of the said genre of music. This is basically what makes hip hop music specifically exceptional and continuously interesting up to the current generations; the evolution of this specific music makes it easier for the new generation to understand the trend of this music accordingly. Through the years, it is expected that hip hop music will continue to thrive and likely, it is going to be accepted by the incoming generations as they themselves will make it easier for this particular music to evolve. With the inviting idea of expressing one’s self freely, hip hop is expected to be embraced fully by the incoming generation as something that would allow them to get out of their comfort zones and relatively express themselves fully through unlimited verbal choices.

How Hip Hop Defines African Ethnicity

As mentioned earlier, the history behind the development and evolution of hip hop music dates way back and somehow, such history points out to the concept of determining the source of the choice of words and the creative way of pronouncing them in rhythmic patterns could be relatively understood from the history of Africans and the way they present their feelings through words and music (Steingo, 357). From such concept of understanding music in a form of definite expression comes the limitless desire to define the way they feel (Toop, 345); something that appealed to the youth, individuals who usually have a hard time telling people about themselves, about what they actually feel and about what they want to happen especially in consideration with the relationships they share with their family, their friends and their romantic connections as well.

Conclusion 

What makes a particular musical arrangement specifically appealing is that of the fact that it is able to give attention to the most important issues that humans deal with at present. It could be realized that with the value that hip hop carries not only for its creators but also for its listeners and its audiences, it is expected to evolve in the next coming years. Creatively, the musicians who have specifically been involved  in developing hip hop music, have also been able to give a distinct character to this particular genre of music that makes it relatively appealing to people from all generations and even to generations that are still to come especially because of the way they respond to human emotions; matters that are not easy to express fully in spoken words.

Works Cited

Jackson, L. (2013), Discourse Methodology in Service of Narrative Strategy: Nommo Seeking in a Hip Hip Universe, James Spady’s Hip Hip Oeuvre. The Western Journal of Black Studies.

Steingo, Gavin (July 2005). “South African Music after Apartheid: Kwaito, the “Party Politic,” and the Appropriation of Gold as a Sign of Success“. Popular Music and Society 28 (3): 333–357.

Toop, David (1991). Rap Attack 2: African Rap to Global Hip Hop (2nd ed.). New York City, New York: Serpent’s Tail.

Travis, R and Bowman, S. (2011). Ethnic identity, self-esteem and variability in perceptions of rap music’s empowering and risky in?uences. Journal of Youth Studies.

Turner, KC (et al). (2013). Critical Multimodal Hip Hop Production: A Social Justice Approach to African American Language and Literacy Practices. Equity and Excellence in Education.