Discussion Forum (5)

‘HIP HOP DON’T STOP’

Over the last 5 or so years I have seen Hip Hop become commonly accepted as ‘the’ global sub culture for young people. It has achieved mainstream musical, and to a far lesser degree cultural, acceptance arguably because it has delivered huge economic gains to (often corporate) business.

Hip Hop Culture and its elements are systematically used as a tool of engagement, expression and education for our young people worldwide. Having said this, I still believe true Hip Hop remains vastly under utilised, and its potential far from realized. The ‘slick and slack’ versions that fill up Music Television’s specialist channels do not give a true reflection of all that is Hip Hop. Moreover they portray rap music, and by and large ‘what sells’, with little thought given to a balanced representation.

Consequently there is a common (mis)understanding of what Hip Hop is, what it promotes and of what it can achieve. The mainstream media’s lust affair with Hip Hop creates limited understanding of this multi-artform cultural movement; its history, its principles, its teachings and its vast potential in terms of education, community development, citizenship and many other key learning areas.

As educators we must seek out, reinforce and unleash the positives of Hip Hop Culture. Back in the early 70s, Afrika Bambaataa was one of the most feared gang leaders in New York City. Hip Hop enabled him and his notorious ‘Black Spades’ gang to elevate themselves off the streets and into community events and wider social empowerment approaches, strategies and activities. They used the elements and energy of Hip Hop to raise aspirations and fundamentally transform lives. If Hip Hop was documented and critiqued in more of the ‘right’ ways, Bambaataa’s model could, and would, be likened to that of Paulo Freire’s in Brasil. They were, after all, both concerned with lifting the heads of the poor, oppressed and dis-educated, and empowering them to make positive change amongst themselves and the communities around them.

‘Power to the People’ indeed.

CHUCK D SPEAKS ON MEDIA, POLITICS AND EDUCATION

When Chuck D, a founding member of acclaimed hip-hop group Public Enemy, stepped onto the stage at Dillard Auditorium at Winston-Salem State University’s Anderson Center last night, he was met with a standing ovation.

He returned the applause to the more than 60 people gathered to hear from one of hip-hop’s icons. “We’re living in a country that’s not giving a lot of props to intelligence,” he said. “People are clapping their hands to drugs and celebrities.”

CNN, he contended, spends more time on the apparent emotional collapse of Britney Spears or who wore what at the Grammys instead of what’s going on with the coming presidential election.

During a self-described vibe session, Chuck D (his real name is Carlton Ridenhour) exhorted college students to take full advantage of their time at Winston-Salem State - don’t take it for granted, he said.

Wallowing in ignorance will not get anyone anywhere in life, Chuck D said, and intelligence is vitally important, especially when voters will be electing the next U.S. president - someone who will have a significant effect on our lives for the next four years.

Chuck D helped found Public Enemy in 1982 along with Bill Stephney, Professor Griff, Terminator X and Flavor Flav (yes, that clock-wearing Flavor Flav of Flavor of Love fame). Together, they combined pounding beats with uncompromising pro-black odes to empowerment, such as “Welcome to the Terrordome” and “Fight The Power.”

Along with such other artists as KRS-One, Public Enemy injected political content into rap music, paving the way for current artists, such as Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, Mos Def and Common.

On a night that presidential candidate Barack Obama was poised to win primaries in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, Chuck D said that people ought not look at the presidential election as some kind of game.

“We’re talking about voting for the next president in a country that has been hypocritical for the last 200 to 300 years,” he said. “This isn’t the Super Bowl.”

There has been much talk about Obama’s possibly becoming the first black president, but Chuck D told the audience at last night to not get things twisted. If Obama is elected president, he would perhaps have so many people begging for his attention that he might not even have time to hear the concerns of black people.

That’s not to bash Obama, Chuck D said. That’s reality. It might be better to have Hillary Rodham Clinton as president and Obama as vice president, he suggested, and then Obama can later go for the presidency.

During his lecture, Chuck D threw a lot of information at the audience and criticized BET and President Bush. He wants people to think, he said.

He stressed that college is a prime opportunity to gain knowledge and develop skills, and if students don’t take advantage of that opportunity now, they will pay for it later.

“You don’t stoop down from college to be stupid,” he said.

R*I*P

R*I*P
Stanley TOOKIE Williams
1976-2001

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