Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop
I keep coming across old essays I wrote that seem to have disappeared off the face of the planet--this one was for a high-school textbook. Glad to see it's holding its own.
Tell me what you think:
BEFORE HIP-HOP WAS HIP-HOPby Rebecca Walker
© Prentice Hall Literature Textbook
If you ask most kids today about hip-hop, they’ll spit out the names of recording artists they see on TV: Eminem, P. Diddy, J. L o, Beyonce. They’ll tell you about the songs they like and the clothes they want to buy. They’ll tell you about the indisputable zones of hip-hop like “EO” (East Orange, New Jersey), the “ATL” (Atlanta, Georgia), and the “West Side” (Los Angeles, California), neighborhoods they feel they know because they’ve seen them in all the glossiest, “flossiest” music videos. Hip-hop is natural to these kids, like air or water, just there, a part of the digital landscape that streams through their lives.
I watch this cultural sea change with fascination. It astounds me that hip-hop has grown into a global industry, a force that dominates youth culture from Paris to Prague, Tokyo to Timbuktu. I can’t believe that in small, all-white towns like Lincoln, Nebraska, high school boys wear their clothes in the latest “steelo”: pants sagging off their waists, sports jerseys hanging to their knees, baseball hats cocked to one side. Even in the pueblos of Mexico, where mariachi bands and old school crooners still rule, it is hip-hop that sells cars, sodas, and children’s toys on TV.
The vast empire of hip-hop amazes me because I knew hip-hop before it was hip-hop. I was there when it all began.
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Comments:
I love this essay so much. It really sounds like a fun school too! Despite a vibrant music scene, I'm afraid most of the Bay Area I recall in the early days of hip hop was very segregated racially and musically, though I think Berkeley High had a bit of your 141 in it from what I heard through friends, seems as if no city competes with Gotham in that regard.
Bling culture seems to kill off most progressiveness in the arts especially music. Rich kids and those who aspire to flaunt garish wealth ultimately never make it as truly dynamic and complex entertainers-intrinsically devoid of edge and struggle I guess.
Still, the stereotype smashing effects of Hip Hop are fascinating. May its more prominent stars cease to be stagnant (Beyonce et al and their made in sweatshop clothing lines) and actually get much more political, hopefully...
Hey Rebecca !! I am about 12 years ahead of you and East Coast for real. I too remember early hip hop. I also remember rap before it morphed into hip hop. It was culturally relevant and political (not all of it of course) and all of the living generations of Black people could relate to it on one level or another. Black women were Queens and sisters. I can not say the same for what is playing out here now. THe "music" seems to be for $$$, entertaining "others" and not for teaching truths or history and perpetuates the worst stereotypes of Blk people and especially our women.There is still rap and "real" hip hop but the young people are not getting to hear it. The old heads know where to find it but the young ones aren't interested. Sad. I hope like Life that hip hop will come full circle and return to it's roots and the airwaves. Soon. Thanks for this post. I'd like to hear some more of your early work.
Thank you for posting this ! I am a homeschooling mom who has been trying to locate this essay to use in a lesson with my daughter. I had almost given up looking for it.
heyy rebecca ...wuzz up..we are now taking your story at school and i have some question about the story....i wish u could answer them soooon...1:why are u amazed by the fast empire of hip-hop ...2:why was it so important for you and your friends to define ur selves through dress,,slang,,dance,,muzic....& plz tell me about you cuz ur new for mee....:p:P..btw nice to know you and meet you..hope you read it...and what do you mean by before hip-hop was hip-hop??
we think your work is great! we are working on it for a school project, soo awesome ^^
penis
this essay is orrible very long
this is too long
it sucks
i hate your work
Hey, Rebecca ! I am high school Freshman. We just read your story in our textbook just about a week ago. I thought it was interesting and very convincing. I love your style of writing and how you can really connect with the readers. When I read your story, I got zoned out. I was glued to your piece like the middle of Oreos that keep the two cookies together. I thought it was amazing and very well-thought out. Hope to find more stories from you. I'm sure you won't disappoint. ;) -Kayla
I still remember when hip hop first came about. It was rhythmic and a bit annoying and load at first. But we all came to get used to it and eventually became part of our culture.
Nice blog keep on posting this kind of interesting posts
I love your style of writing and how you can really connect with the readers.....
oh that's nice!
Would I speak frankly? I like to be at designer jeans although to be on your page is much charming for me
I watch this cultural sea change with fascination. It astounds me that hip-hop has developed into a all-around industry, a force that dominates adolescence ability from Paris to Prague, Tokyo to Timbuktu. I can’t accept that in small, all-white towns like Lincoln, Nebraska, top academy boys abrasion their clothes in the latest “steelo”: pants billowing off their waists, sports jerseys blind to their knees, baseball hats artsy to one side. Even in the pueblos of Mexico, area mariachi bands and old academy crooners still rule, it is hip-hop that sells cars, sodas, and children’s toys on TV.
OMG i hate your essay is horrible long and i don't like hip hop
I can’t accept that in small, all-white towns like Lincoln,
To all the ignorant morons posting crap like "your essay is too long" and "I hate it", PISS OFF. Firstly, this is not even a long essay. Two paragraphs is by
no means
a long essay. You clearly haven't done your work in school; if you had, you'd have written essays longer than this. Second, Rebecca's essay is not stupid. I would greatly appreciate if you'd school yourself on web etiquette (and proper grammar, while you're at it). Obviously, some people's parents didn't raise them with manners. My apologies Rebecca, no one should have to put up with rude, stagnant, closed-minded garbage like that.
Well I also thought hip hop means like those children think when they see those artist on TV but I have got a new meaning from you.
thanks 4 your paper it wil help me for my research............
Before hip-hop was something like tribal songs from Africa, from there are the "beats". :)
Very well written. Thanks for posting this.
Hip-Hop has a stylistic trend of flashiness that appeals to teenagers who pledge allegiance to the popular culture. College and high-school students perceive it as a sort of party music..
Unfortunately, people especially the youth follow less and less of those cultural and spiritual moorings much cherished by our forefathers. In this regard, no one bothers about influencing and shaping the youth for stable future. All cheer up that hip hop.
I really don't get what you mean by it was hip hop before hip hop. Sorta complex to understand. lol.
Hmm I dont get it.. I mean hip hop music...
Yeah great entertaining for kids.
great book
hey im a freshman at orhs and i think your book was the best nonfiction book i have ever read
Fantastic post indeed. Thanks to the author for this great share. Looking forward for more quality stuff. Thanks again.
Divine! this is so with keeping with my Lenten Journey. I liked her thinking around a lot of things. I am inspired in this season of Lent to focus on my creativity and spirituality.
It is my humble request to please keep up on updating your blogs. I enjoy reading your blogs and I am regular visitor to this site. Thanks.
Yep, this is a good thing.
Thanks for the tipss and I’m glad I found this blog .
I love hip-hop songs, it's makes you dance like the techno or party songs. It's popular now especially to the young teens.
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