Ray Charles Music

Do you think that Hip Hop has does more than just entertain?

I am a believer in the idea that art is a powerful thing, and that it has the power to stop wars, to push the limits of human acheivement, and bring people together across national, cultural, ethnic, class, religious, & racial lines There was actually a book written (i forget who wrote it) titled " Why Hip Hop cannot save America". I think the author of the book had caught onto a growing feeling that Hip Hop, a cultural, musical, & dance phenomenon created in the African-American community, had gained a great cross over appeal, espescially among youth. Hip Hop has been responsible for many young people who have nothing in common, coming together to celebrate their love of Hip Hop music & dance. Some cross over artists include Eminem (Rap), Robin Thicke (RnB), Lady Sovreign (Rap), Jin (Rap), Justin Bieber (Rap), M.I.A [Indian] (rap) etc (all of whom are white, except mia ) In the dance world, crews form that regularly include members of different races & classes. The most prominent of which is the dance group Jabbawockeez--an American street dance crew consisting of African-American, Fillipino, Korean, Vietnamese & Mexican members _____________________________________ The reach of Hip Hop extends outside America as well, there are thriving Hip Hop music & dance scenes in countries like Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, Phillipines, China, & Brazil. Fillipino All Stars (World Hip Hop dance champions 2008): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNRR9rdIcag&feature=related Chinese Hip Hop artists: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FddcFdQQfB0 So my question is, do you think Hip Hop does more than just entertain? Do you think it has the power to, for example, end racism (among younger generations)

Public Comments

1. Um. I hate hip-hop. Hip-hop isnt special i can say just about the same thing about any genre of music. The only thing that changes is preference. And i have to agree with daphane Hip-hop just help create negative stereotypes for us. Its bad for kids to listen to because it makes kids think drugs, sex, and stealing is good. I HATE IT!
2. white people wanna steal out music when we created it in the first place, wanna listen to it, buy it and even copy it but they wanna hate the artist course hes black! what the fuck, ul never find a black racist listenin to the white music crap Also, yeah it has dont more than entertain, but it is dying out with all this bitch shake your ass and nigga il kill you crapp comng out
3. if anything, Hop Hop just promoted more negative stereotypes about Blacks. R&B is fine, but Hip Hop really messed you guys up
4. I hate rap. Especially the type from the blacks. Their rap is terrible. Chicano rap is somewhat bearable. But rap in general is bad because it promotes the wrong things. Prostitution, Homicide, etc. Edit: Lol. I think I offended some rap fans.
5. Its a culture That anyone can adopt to. No it cant end racism, some people will accuse people who are not of African descent of selling out. it only takes one racist person. Edit: as usual people are missing the point. This is not about black people, his talking about hip hop bringing people who wouldn't otherwise have anything in common closer together
6. When did it ever entertain? It's only purpose seems to be to elicit anger.
7. I hate hip hop it's caused tensions between west and east coast, it's caused peoples deaths, promoted gang violence, and drug use. If that's the music our country should be based on, than were in worse shape then I thought.Also, it isnt music it's people talking there's no rythm to there voice and most of them can't sing.
8. i don't know only group i like bone thug and harmony
9. I love how people are here saying they hate hip-hop when they only understand what the mainstream media allows them to. TRUE hip-hop like KRS-ONE, Immortal Technique, Lupe Fiasco, Kid Cudi (if you really look into the meanings of his songs you will see the complexity), etc can have a huge influence on people if it were to get as much exposure. B-boys and break dancing also come with hip-hop, which is very popular in asian countries and various parts of the US. The same way that Reggae blew up and brought people together. I believe that if people opened their minds more and actually dived deeper into what hip-hop really is(outside of mainstream crap) they would realize that it isn't money, cars, hoes, Lupe Fiasco - Handcuffs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqXq8R4wnYQ Lupe Fiasco - Conflict Diamonds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Z4K_WWeBA&feature=related People will only believe what is shown to them and most don't care to learn anything else. True hip-hop gets political. It focuses more on change than anything, the betterment of society, revealing the truth. I feel sorry for the ones that can't find it in themselves to actually look behind the curtain that is mainstream and seek more than what is laid out in front of them.
10. I hate hip hop. Do I think it will end racism? I'd hoped so, but then I went to this site and was disgusted. What site? Not sure. The sooner we come to understand That There Is No Such Thing As Race! the sooner we become developed spiritual beings. There is not such thing as race. There is only environment. Was I the only kid who understood melatonin in fifth grade? There Is No Such Thing As Race! Hip Hop has nothing to do with race. It has everything to do with a failure of imagination. Do something new, for Pete's sake. Hip Hop is so boring.
11. Hip Hop is just music.. Just because different people like music, doesn't mean it brings people together. If you watch your average rap video, how often do you see different races hanging together? Rare! Maybe the ocassional white dude in a group of blacks. Plus, hip hop is much about confronting each other and battling each other. When different races come together, there is a lot of racist remarks toward each other. Also, it's normal for people who enjoy music by a certain race, yet dislike them at the same time. You ever hear some of these white folks talk about how ghetto and bad blacks are, but are hip hop fans? Look at Korea where they love hip hop, but think so lowly of blacks. They love the music and style but just stops there.