Over the past four decades, Hip Hop has played a big part in blending and blurring cultural lines all over the world. Hip Hop over time has grew to influence things such as fashion, music, movies, and has even had a role in electing, Americas first black president, President Barack Obama.
Born in the South Bronx, Hip Hop culture was created by minorities to express themselves through the elements graffiti art, breakdancing, mcing, and djing. Though started in a neighborhood where majority of the residents were either Black or Hispanic, once promoted to the masses, received attention from all races. Especially “Rap,” also known as mcing.
Hip Hop’s shapeless and eclectic sound, then went on to birth legendary rap acts/groups, such as Vanilla Ice, Eminem, MC Serch (From 3rd bass), and The Beastie Boys. Hip Hop back then had no politics or came with any major marketing plan, the sole rule was to ” Rock The Mic!” Now don’t get me wrong, white acts definitely were hassled and given a hard time by their Black/Hispanic counterparts, but when lyricist like Eminem came along, that soon changed. For awhile, that is.
Recently a new white rapper by the name of Macklemore has surfaced and has received very little support from the Hip Hop community. With chart topping singles like “Thrift Shop,” and “Same Love,” you would think he would have gained some acceptance by now? Sadly, that has not been the case.
He has even most recently been the receiver of a plethora awards which include four Grammys and a youtube award. He has won under categories holding titles like Best Rap Song, Best New Artist, and Best Rap Album at that. He even beat TDE artist Kendrick Lamar out for a Grammy.
His song “Same Love,” is one of his most controversial pieces of work. The song encourages gay pride and marriage while denounces the discrimination of the gay community in society and music.
Why the lack of support? Believe it or not, it seems his race has something to do with it.
In a interview with Dj Vlad Tv, Lord Jamar (member of the rap group Brand Nubian) referred to white artist when asked about Macklemore as “guests in the House of Hip Hop.” This one comment has one handily set Hip Hop back a complete decade. It is disgusting and disturbing to know that as a minority ourselves, we have adapted the ignorance of our oppressed history, as a race. For a statement like that to be made in 2014, it is truly disheartening to me as a Black individual, musician and Hip Hop supporter that this type of thinking still exist.
Black people as a race should know better then anyone how it feels to be a victim of discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes and most importantly to be ridiculed for the color of their skin.
Should Macklemore be blackballed because his lyrics don’t carry violence? Or maybe because he doesn’t rap about having extravagant things? Or should his accomplishments be tarnished by the fact his pigment isn’t dark? No.
Are his achievements not wins for the Hip Hop community?
Even B.E.T.’s 106 and Park has played his visuals but, also had him spit a freestyle on their “Backroom,” segment, to spite his semi low play rate on Power 105.1.
His music promotes change the same thing the Late great Tupac Shakur was trying to do before his death. He brings his own sound and stays true to who he is, to spite, what others may say. He speaks for those who can’t afford five hundred dollar sneakers but instead speaks on things like his former drug addiction and the frugal techniques he’s learned over the years being poor.
Was Hip Hop not created on the basis of being poor? Being original? Creative? Enlightening? Struggle?
In my opinion, Hip Hop is starting to create a double standard which rejects humble beginnings and encourages violence and negativity with only a few positive artist slipping through the cracks. Macklemore is a victim of a culture that is being flooded with more ignorance and simply dismissive of anything that does not fit that stigma. He is being denounced for the very things, that if he was black, would be praised for.
Is this the standard the Hip Hop community is setting for itself?
I do understand that white privilege is prominent in the awards and titles white rappers get awarded but does that mean we ban them from our ranks. Minorities no better then anyone the affect of prejudice and though it probably will never compare to the extremity of which they’ve been victims of we should remember as a people, to not take on the traits of our captors and of the people who have victimized us.
If so, that will not change that wrong is wrong and right is right. Don’t you agree? In the words of Martin Luther King :
“I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
May your mind stay timeless and shapeless.
