This makes me really sad. I wish I wouldve been able to see it. A few days ago, I read an article quoting one of the producers of Holler... as such: If we dont succeed, its going to be difficult to do another rap or hip-hop show on Broadway. (which the writer of that particular article went on to joke that that wouldnt be bad thing) Stuff like that infuriates me. Im sick of this elitist perspective that hip-hop and rap are somehow lowbrow forms of music and that they dont belong on the Broadway stage. Im tired of people who refuse to consider hip-hop as the beautiful genre music it is or refuse to recognize rappers as the poets they are. Why shouldnt hip-hop be on the Broadway stage? Why shouldnt I be able to go spend my money at a Broadway theatre and watch the artists tell a story through a genre of music that is 100% valid? Why the continual blabber about how theres no audience for this type of show? BULLSHIT. In 2008, In the Heights came onto the scene and ended up winning the Best Musical Tony, proving that you can have a Broadway musical with an original story, HIGHLY contemporary music that includes a significant amount of rap, and (*ahem*) people of color and still be successful. It certainly gave my teenage self hope and excitement at seeing characters on stage that I could easily relate to, singing and rapping to music that I recognized and that spoke to me. That connection... is that not what theatre is all about? But this isnt about me. And its not about In the Heights. Its not even totally about Holler If Ya Hear Me (a production which, Ill admittedly say from what Ive heard, had its fair share of problems). Its about this disgusting, unjust, and all too common idea that hip-hop is somehow at the bottom of the music barrel, and that it doesnt belong in real musical theatre. Its a bigotry thats rooted in racism and classism, and I will not stand for it. I pray that what happened to this production--and the fact that it even existed--lights a fire in the musical theatre world, and that we can finally see a change. I PROUDLY look forward to the next hip-hop musical on Broadway. On a closing note, heres a Tupac lyric from Ghetto Gospel that sums up exactly what Im trying to say (and coincidentally enough, was used as promo for Holler...). If you take your time and hear me, maybe you can learn to cheer me.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 05:38:47 +0000
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