Nothing But A Little Music

Last week was a unique one for me. All around—whether it was through e-mail lists, cable news shows, or packed Science Center lecture hall audiences—one of my great loves was subject to seemingly endless discussion. Some say that it’s dead, others say that it’s misogynistic and homophobic, and for almost half of American internet respondents, it’s a “poison.” It’s polarizing, prominent, and loud. It’s hip-hop.

The so-called debate was discussed at length last week. First, there was Paula Zahn’s rather ominously-titled CNN special, “Hip-Hop: Art or Poison?” Besides a relatively one-sided debate that did its best to trash the genre without being overt, the promo asked, “Shocking images and lyrics have America asking: ‘Has hip-hop gone too far?’”

Here’s the real question, though: Are that many Americans really shocked, or are media outlets simply using what used to be a national issue to spark controversy against an oft-criticized sect of our population? After all, the days of politicians denouncing gangsta rap and smashing tapes on national TV are long gone. And besides a few Eminem references about Dick Cheney’s wife and the occasional hunting joke, the vice president’s name isn’t being trashed by rappers with anywhere near the same kind of ferocity as was the case with Dan Quayle in the early 90s.

Around the same time that CNN tried to paint a broad stroke on the hip-hop canvas last week, it also took a zoomed in approach, airing another piece about the difficulties being faced by gay rappers in the industry. The featured artist, “Deadlee,” doesn’t have an upcoming release, a major-label deal, or any real reason to get airtime. Sure, openly gay rappers are about as common as openly gay NBA players (though the Tim Hardaways in the rap game are far more prevalent), but a report on a no-name artist—gay or not—isn’t much of an attention-grabber. No, most Americans don’t really care that much about this stuff.

And while you can’t really fault a network for doing what it needs to do to try and boost ratings, the issues that most capture the hearts and minds of the people in this country cannot be captured on vinyl or CD. Hip-hop, as much as I love it, is no Iraq war, no global warming, and no abortion debate. It’s just music.

That, in fact, is the argument that was made regarding the hip-hop discussion when it made its rounds at Harvard last week. The popular documentary “Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Byron Hurt, was shown to a packed crowd on this very campus and featured a number of the industry’s biggest names weighing in on the topic of hip-hop. Not surprisingly, we, as overzealous Harvard students, turned out in droves. But in places outside of liberal college campuses, the ‘issue’ isn’t really all that big a deal. And it was the interview with rapper Jadakiss—probably the least eloquent of the big-name artists featured in the film—that surprisingly issued the most important point: it’s just entertainment. All this undue media attention is falling on deaf ears.

Make no mistake, however. While I’m tired of the detrimental coverage that hip-hop has received, the genre is still a great, great love of mine. Common’s own love affair with hip-hop might be in the past, but for me, it’s still going strong. I’m not in agreement with Nas—hip-hop is alive and well, and I’m loving every lyric of it.

But is it possible to love the music without embracing the unconstructive images that it undoubtedly creates? The answer is a resounding yes; it just takes some perspective. Sure, some say hip-hop demeans women, bashes gays, and perpetuates negative black stereotypes. But it’s not real life, and most people realize this. Besides, we do have a way to make the stuff we don’t like go away. In the same way a frustrated Congress has the power to alter an unjust war by adjusting the President’s funds, we as consumers can make hip-hop whatever we want it to be. If we don’t buy it, the artists won’t make it. It’s that simple.

Of course, I’m not equating the state of hip-hop with the state of Iraq. I realize that our country has bigger fish to fry, and I want my television news to address the stuff that matters. The majority of the people here aren’t too passionate against the music, and those that are can fight the powers that be. In the meantime, if you don’t like it, do what dead prez says: Turn off the radio.

Malcom A. Glenn ’09 is a history concentrator in Leverett House. His column appears on alternate Tuesdays.