Intello Mondial

One of the songs I’ve been listening to lately is My Life by The Game ft. Lil’ Wayne. As a music aficionado Hip Hop is definitely there in the top of my music genre ranking. I have recorded Rap songs and I am about to start working on a Vocal Book of Poems … yes, I know is there anything I am not involved in? However, I don’t only listen to Hip Hop as a matter of fact .. check this out and try not to choke .. my favorite artist is .. DRUM ROLL .. Darren Hayes! Yes, Darren Hayes of Savage Garden (well of what used to be Savage Garden).

Getting back to hip hop as I listened to My Life today there are a few thoughts that started rolling in my head. What is Hip Hop all about? Where does it come from? How did it get started? Why is it so popular? And many more. I’ve had these thoughts before but now I have a blog and I can share my views with whoever wants to read.

Here are my 2 cents on the topic of Hip Hop.

Beyond the funky beats, catchy “hooks” and “rhymes”, the “bling”, the Hip Hop Honeys, and how could I possibly forget the so-called “dirty” lyrics, Hip Hop to me is an art for poets. Poets with a social conscience that is. Hip Hop originated as a way for Blacks in Inner Cities to express their feelings towards to the social injustice they were experiencing. It was meant to uplift spirits, push people to greatness while asking them to not forget where they came from. It was a way to tell White America about an America many of them did not know existed or refused to admit existed.

Hip Hop was created so a Black man or woman would never suffer alone. That is Hip Hop THEN.

I refuse to believe Hip Hop was created to give people an opportunity to brag about taking another human being’s life or how much wealth you’ve accumulated illegally. This is Hip Hop NOW.

So what happened?

MONEY. Money happened. Add Money to the most beautiful thing and watch it quickly fade into the ugliest of things. Money is a catalyst for disaster. Yet, society encourages you to get money at whatever cost and that money determines your worth as a human being. Not your virtues, character, morals, or personality. None of that. Nothing but money speaks louder about who you are. I find it fascinating that we always end up becoming who we say we will never be. Ironic, isn’t it?

And then there’s the whole debate about what should and should not be said in Rap songs. Pure hypocrisy of course! I say all words are meant to be spoken by EVERYONE. If a word is offensive to some people, then I ask: Why was it created in the first place? Of course that’s a stupid question. My point being any other race should be able to freely use the word “Nigga” or “Nigger” as any Black person. Unless the day comes when that word is totally banished from the English vocabulary. We should stop giving so much power to words. I mean who are we fooling? I would rather have a “non-black” person say “what’s up nigga?” to my face rather than behind my back. Why? Well it’s simple. A “What’s up nigga?” only deserves another “What’s up nigga?”. It’s like Romeo and Juliette or like Juice and Gin.

Ya Dig?