an awesome hip-hop DJ/friend from Vancouver posted this yesterday. I feel his point here and what many of my other friends of all races involved in hip-hop culture have been saying in response to this to be some of the most powerful evidence Ive had in my years of research on hip-hop culture up till now, that hip-hop is SO MUCH MORE then rap music, and that the influence of hip-hop CULTURE is a crucial force in the modern world and will hopefully continue to be one for many decades to come. Born in the wake of the civil rights movement, hip-hop culture connects to a complex history of racial politics in the US that continues to influence the growth of the culture for many people today, despite all of its fair-weather friends heed to this piece of wisdom please future generations: I think everyone who claims to be hiphop needs to take a long hard look at what is happening in the world right now. Theres a lot of fair weather friends of the culture who ride with hiphop when its easy... When the time comes to stand for whats right theyre nowhere to be found. You cannot separate the culture from the American reality of today.... You cannot just listen to trap and twerk in the club, take some dance classes, rock some street wear and consider yourself hiphop. Its so much deeper than that. From day one hiphop has always been about struggle, knowledge of self and uplifting the community. Today it is clear as day we need to bring that consciousness back, more than ever. Just some thoughts inspired by Q-Tip taking to the streets in the aftermath of the #Ferguson decision. A question Im asking myself and I hope you all do too. DJ Static
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 22:27:14 +0000