Hip Hop and the Relation between Reality and Mainstream

Chapter 8

In Stakes is High, Jeff Chang writes about Hip Hop and how the artists see their world and present this to their audience.  Chang writes that rappers 15 years ago presented their messages that asked questions like “What’s going on?” and “What is to be done?” but now “rap music today reflects the paradoxical position of the hip-hop generation” (Chang, 2010) and it’s now more about selling clothing lines, alcohol and various products.  In my opinion, Hip hop is about expressing art through chant and music.  I do believe that when rap started there was a point to the message and there was usually some sort of cause behind that message but now it’s about pushing products and making money.  I do not agree with Chang that this is how the whole generation sees their world however it is definitely a message that is prevalent throughout.    

 

Chang, J. (2010). Stakes is High. In M. &. Krasny, Sound Ideas (p. 643). New York: McGraw-Hill.

 

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