Social Change + Future Flashcards
How Hip Hop expresses BLM
Washington, D.C., demonstrators danced to Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” near the White House, capturing the attention of President Trump.
= Incorporates samples from past black protest songs and quotes from civil rights activist Thomas “TNT” Todd.
New York utilized Ludacris’s “Move B—” to chant lyrics at police officers on the Manhattan Bridge.
N.W.A.’s “F— tha Police” and Ice T’s “Cop Killer” sparked backlash, but shed light on the discriminatory tactics witnessed in communities
Example of song that protests BLM - George Floyd
Lil Baby, “The Bigger Picture” (2020)
Two weeks after murder of G.F protestors took to the streets in Atlanta.
For example, the lyrics mention:
They killing us for no reason
Been going on for too long to get even
Throw us in cages like dogs and hyenas
Arab Spring Examples
Sami Matar’s “#Jan23”(2011) contains the lyrics:
“I haven’t any food, I haven’t any game!!”
Arabian Knightz, Egypt: “Rebel (feat. Lauryn Hill)”
Knightz trade a verse in Arabic for one in English, then allow their song to devolve into a sample of Lauryn Hill singing “I Find It Hard To Say (Rebel)” during her 2002 MTV Unplugged performance, in which the singer rasps “Rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel,” over and over again.
Negative impact of Hip Hop on wider society
Perpetuation of tropes and stereotypes
Unholy Trinity (Tricia Rose)
Questlove: “hip hop overshadows black culture”
Commodification of black culture
Materialism
- Stereotypical view of women as being a “hoe” and highlighting to audiences how women can only be famous by being a possession of men
- Melle Mel believes “ Hip Hop has lost its way from the original Hip Hop”
Limitations on black masculinity and femininity
- ‘A Bitch Iz a Bitch’ by N.W.A
Positive impact of Hip Hop on wider society
Social justice and commentary
- Queen Latifah, “UNITY” (1993) which rhetorically questions the perception of women as being depicted as “b**ches”
Amplifying marginalized voices - encourages self-expression
- “#Jan25 Egypt”
Black empowerment and representation
- Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” was played in Colorado during the BLM protests.
The ways in which Hip Hop has contributed to social change
Rise of female rappers including Dojo Cat, Yo Yo, Cardi B, Queen Latifah, Nicki Minaj
USED TO BE: Snoop Dog “Cause life ain’t nuttin but money and “f..k a b….”
Consumption
Current Trend
- Music Platform
- Paraphernalia
Rise of streaming services such as Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube as a medium for where hip hop is consumed
Currently, the target group of consumers is young white American boys
International consumption of hip hop, having large presence on other genres
Merchandise that is not explicitly music related such as food, clothing and tech industries
Focus on materialism, authenticity of hip hop lost.
Women underrepresented
Consumption
Future Trend
- Identity
- Material
- Women
- Negative
Greater influence on America’s white population leading to African American culture becoming more widespread + Opposite reactions to this where some people may promote a resurgence of “white identity” through racist ideology.
Consumers of Hip Hop will focus on materialism more than authenticity.
Rise of Female rappers: Yo Yo, Cardi B, Queen Latifah,
Current negatives: Tyler the Creator demeaning women, objectification of women by male rappers e.g ‘A Bitch Iz a Bitch’ by N.W.A, women being pitted against each other e.g Nicki Minjaj & Cardi B, rejection from record labels as men were more profitable
Control
Current Trend
- Censorship
- Producers
- Government
- Technology
Censorship implemented by governments over lyrics and ideologies expressed within hip hop music
e.g. Spain’s Pablo Hasél
Producers have more control and can manipulate the image of artists; inclusive of control of lyrics, content, clothing, portrayal
The control and manipulation to benefit Government schemes
e.g China, Turkmenistan and Russia
Technologies are enabling artists to make music anonymously and bypass censorship restrictions, thereby exchanging power from Governments to producers & consumers.
e.g Thai group Rap Against Dictatorship = Youtube
One-Four in Australia = Violence = Censor
Control
Current Trend
- Stakeholder
- Indepence
There is substantial unofficial censorship of hip-hop due to the media coverage of hip-hop, the representation of explicit imagery and values, and parents removing access to hip-hop.
eg family that censor hip hop and prohibit persons from accessing it eg kids bop, parents setting controls/restrictions on music to avoid swear words
Artists becoming more independent from record labels and thus having more control of their own music
Control
Future Trend
- Censor
- Independence
- Media
Govt likely to continue censoring who do not align with their values as they aim to maintain power whilst limiting challenges by artists such as Pablo Hasel.
While Hip Hop will still be used to benefit the Government, with the rising numbers in independent artists, Governments will not have as much control
With the millions of different social media, it is harder to fully censor allowing artists to continue to make music anonymously and bypass censorship.
Control
Future Trend
- Stakeholder
- Independence
- Police/Govt
Families is likely to continue as parents want their children to avoid the use of profanity and language that does not align with their own values as their children may be too young.
Likely to continue
eg through Lil Nas X, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj whose popularity and fame has gained enough traction and support to not rely on record labels, removing this control over them and allowing for change through greater freedom and choice over their own music.
Likely to continue through continued belief in older generations and those currently in power
e.g. politicians, lawmakers, police = One-Four w
- Yet, this control may slow down as the younger generation advocates for incremental change and ability of artists to receive opportunities to speak
Perceptions
Current Trend
- Sexuality
- Violence
- Message
- Raising voice
Highly sexual music videos and content especially for female artists and dancers
Hip hop as the embodiment of gang violence and drug use
Older hip hop creators rejecting hip hop, believing it has ‘lost its sound’, now being more about wealth and materialism
Perceptions that hip hop is a ‘protest’ genre, primarily used for bringing awareness to social movements
Hip hop representing the “voice” of oppressed groups against authority/ powerful institutions
Perceptions
Future Trend
- Sexualisation
- Gang violence and drug
- Voice of the oppressed
This will continue to be challenged due to society condemning the highly misogynist nature of hip hop.
- This is evident through emerging female artists who aim to challenge or reclaim their sexuality through hip hop.
This will predominantly remain the same due to its highly profitable and commercialised nature. Furthermore, this is the most dominant construct of hip hop within contemporary culture.
This trend is likely to continue in the future because of the growth in awareness of the depth of racism. Hip hop will remain as a powerful tool to help oppressed groups speak up about their experiences, as it has been evident this has been successful in history and the present.
Social Change
Current Trend
- Voice of the oppressed
- Gender equality
- Sexuality
Increase in highly politicised lyrics/prevalent social issues (climate change etc) (calling out of political leaders, Rap against dictatorship, Eminem VS Trump)
Female rappers such as Ciara’s ‘Like a Boy’ which rejected the stereotype view on the sexualisation of women.
Rising acceptance of LGBTQ+ persons through deeper exploration of queer topics and more queer representation within Hip Hop → Lil Nas X “MONTERO”
Social Change
Future
- Voice of the oppressed
- Gender equality
- LGBTQIA
As society evolves and those of African-American decent are less marginalised, the same values will be reflected in music
e.g. Hip Hop has always been used as a platform to speak out against racial discrimination regarding African American persons, this will be less so of a topic as it becomes less of an issue within society.
Likely to continue as more female rappers become more prominent but the message inside the lyrics may change as instead of rejecting it may focus on something else such as society’s view on men and how it compares to women’s view.
Likely to continue with even further increase, this may further normalise queer people within society and we may stray from the heteronormative mold
The impact and implications for the popular culture of: likely changes
Social Media
More rap artists using social media to release new music + greater ability to self-produce records
Artists on Instagram eg Afrika Bambaataa
Artists on TikTok eg Lil Nas X
Less reliance on record companies. More freedom of artistic expression as fewer constraints from institutions
The impact and implications for the popular culture of: likely changes
Activism
A growing divide between consumers of mainstream + underground hip hop
Lil Nas X sexuality equality
Bliss N Eso ‘The Sea is Rising’ = environment activism
A return to more socially driven lyrics generally for a ‘cause’ → return to the original roots of hip hop
The impact and implications for the popular culture of: likely changes
Length of music
Shorter videos and more music in albums to maximise profits and gain views
Less message and time in hip hop. Changes the way the music flows and the way artists are producing their music.
Eg Drake/Gucci Gang
Can get their message across easier and gain more views and money. Influences other artists to also do something similar.
The impact and implications for the popular culture of: probable continuities
Commercialisation
Product placement in lyrics and music videos and endorsement by successful rap artists
e.g. Travis Scott Burger
The growing wealth of hip hop artists and their influence on consumers, particularly teenagers
The impact and implications for the popular culture of: probable continuities
Use of misogynistic terms
The use of misogynistic themes
Women being degraded through demeaning language; stereotypes that objectify women are being reinforced
Drake’s music videos
Nicki Minaj/Cardi B’s own music videos
An increase in the use of sexist/racist language among young people reflecting its predominance in hip hop culture
The impact and implications for the popular culture of: probable continuities
Diversification of Hip Hop
The globalisation of the genre will also result in a more racially diverse range of artists.
e.g Lil Nas X/Beyonce/Nicki Minaj/Cardi B/Lizzo/China/Japan/Tanzania/France
More people entering the industry and creating music = Further popularity and support globally
Increase in diversity (more representation of women, LGBTQ+ peoples, non-African American decent etc) → Cardi B, Doja Cat etc and an increase in non-african american rappers (Bliss ‘n’ Eso, Iggy Azalea, Post Malone, Eminem, Baker Boy etc)
The impact and implications for the popular culture of: probable continuities
Technologies
YouTube and other forms of online viewing. Artists gauge whether a song will do well before
releasing it by the number of ‘hits’ or ‘likes’ it has.
Soundcloud
Spotify
Apple Music
Youtube
Artists can become popular without being signed by record companies through there smart use of
social media
Importance of popular culture to society in the near future.
Environment
Hip hop will be important globally, particularly in areas with a high density of youth population.
It’ll be important in America as the nation that birthed hip hop with most of the world’s most famous hip hop artists currently there.
Important in nations with repression/oppression etc. as a tool to draw attention to social/political and economic circumstances
Importance of popular culture to society in the near future.
Society
Organisations and groups may use hip hop for advertisements, such as Menu Log ads.
Organisations and groups can affiliate themselves with hip hop artists and songs to increase their prominence and resonate with the incoming youth population
It’ll be important for minority groups or those typically discriminated against because hip hop’s activist role can allow them to gain prominence and push for equality
Importance of popular culture to society in the near future.
Person
It will be important for the middle class through its accessibility
It is less important for the elderly but most prominent for youth and middle-aged adults who are increasingly utilising hip hop and using it as a means of activism
It may be rejected by religious groups, such as Lil Nas X using hip hop to criticise Christianity as a religion, therefore making people strongly affiliated with the religion less accepting of hip hop
It will be rejected by politicians who are criticised in hip hop
It can be of immense importance, such as seen with Obama, as a way to connect with populations at the macro level and gain political support to win elections through having the support of artists and producing their own music.
Importance of popular culture to society in the near future.
Globalisation
It will be crucial to challenging issues
Increased awareness for racial equality
Increased campaigning for environmental
sustainability and action against climate change
Equality for gender + sexualities
