Hip-hop essay help!

[TacoSauce 10+ year member]

I have to write a research paper on "Debating hip-hop"

I basically get to choose what I want to write about, but it has to have purpose to it.. such as Hip-hop vs the media and stuff like that.

Do you guys have any other ideas of what I can do, or any sources to help me out?

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[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

true hip hop VS mainstream rap and the media (you can argue this end by combining mainstream rap and the media) is a great idea IMO. i would stick with that (your original idea)

 

[wu36ca 10+ year member]

Anything made after 1996 sucks. The end.

 

[TacoSauce 10+ year member]

Can I get at you on AIM? I know you know your hip-hop so I could use your input. (IgnoreMe)

 

[Gauntlet 5,000+ posts]

true hip hop VS mainstream rap and the media (you can argue this end by combining mainstream rap and the media) is a great idea IMO. i would stick with that (your original idea)

I categorically hate the concept of "true hip-hop." If anything, the artists that get mainstream play these days are substantively closer to the ethos of hip-hop's beginnings than the underground artists. Not that I necessarily with that argument, because said music really blows, but in terms of causal links between the two there's really none for the argument you're presenting.

Plus, hip-hop versus the media has been done to death, and there's not much more to gleam from the debate. There's little intrinsic value in it anyways. A better approach, I think at least, would be to look at how the music has changed in terms of substance while still trying to maintain the same style. You can analyze this in the context of cultural changes, and determine which of the two you think is the explanatory variable. If it's the latter, then the issue is not necessarily the music itself, but music as a reflection of our culture. Look into whether that reflection is accurate. If it's the former, then the issue is why does our culture embrace it, and is there a self-fulfilling prophecy taking place beneath the surface. Then as a subpoint you can tie in the underground acts, who are also trying to evolve the genre but garner far less support. Tie that back to the culture.

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

I categorically hate the concept of "true hip-hop." If anything, the artists that get mainstream play these days are substantively closer to the ethos of hip-hop's beginnings than the underground artists. Not that I necessarily with that argument, because said music really blows, but in terms of causal links between the two there's really none for the argument you're presenting.
i should of clarified, by true hip hop i meant, true hip hop to me. not the "concept".

Plus, hip-hop versus the media has been done to death, and there's not much more to gleam from the debate. There's little intrinsic value in it anyways.

well its probably for some homework assignment. i doubt any of these people have ever heard the argument before.

A better approach, I think at least, would be to look at how the music has changed in terms of substance while still trying to maintain the same style. You can analyze this in the context of cultural changes, and determine which of the two you think is the explanatory variable. If it's the latter, then the issue is not necessarily the music itself, but music as a reflection of our culture. Look into whether that reflection is accurate. If it's the former, then the issue is why does our culture embrace it, and is there a self-fulfilling prophecy taking place beneath the surface. Then as a subpoint you can tie in the underground acts, who are also trying to evolve the genre but garner far less support. Tie that back to the culture.

you are obviously much better than I, at writing essays. doesnt suprise me as i saw your rap threads years back where you would freestyle posts against other members and i must admit, i was quite a bit shocked at how well your verses came together //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

taco: i would much rather talk to Gauntlet about the subject. i remember when i joined back in 03, he was THE hip hop "guru" if you will, to learn anything about hip hop you wanted. id say hes a much better candidate for getting info from than myself. i would also have to agree that his idea for the essay topic is quite strong too.

 

[pioneerpimp 5,000+ posts]

man, theres too much to argue. take krs ones by all means necessary song and whole cd. rock can talk about death. but when hip hop does its bad for everyone to listen? its stupid and the reason is is because the media is racist, hypocritical, judgmental and persuasive to people over the age of 30 that are close-minded.

 

[Gauntlet 5,000+ posts]

taco: i would much rather talk to Gauntlet about the subject. i remember when i joined back in 03, he was THE hip hop "guru" if you will, to learn anything about hip hop you wanted. id say hes a much better candidate for getting info from than myself. i would also have to agree that his idea for the essay topic is quite strong too.

Thanks, but I'm not helping anymore. I've laid the seeds.

man, theres too much to argue. take krs ones by all means necessary song and whole cd. rock can talk about death. but when hip hop does its bad for everyone to listen?

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif Right, because that's the precedent the media always refers to when it talks about hip-hop being violent. WTF are you on.

 

[pioneerpimp 5,000+ posts]

ok. whn it comes to hip hop, or shitty rap, in the media, its always about violence. run dmcs DJ, biggie, tupac, big L, and more have been killed because of the music industry and people taking the music too seriously, and you havent laid any seeds. not only does slug ****, he doesnt know what he is talkin about half the time, and cunninlynguists have falling off. too bad for you. sloppy seconds was the end of their time. and slug has not only sold out, his cds are half assed and ant is the most non progressive producer to ever make a instrumental.

 

[ThomasG 5,000+ posts]

Do real hip hop vs mainstream. Or old skool hip hop vs todays.

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Write about how because of rap's influence on suburbia music has gone to shit. I mean seriously songs like Laffy Taffy and Crank dat Soulja Boy would not have even made it out of the studio in the days of Rakim, KRS-ONE and the like. It is the need to get some catchy tune on the radio is the reason why only 2% of what comes out is worth listening to. Hell even Flavor Flav rapped with a purpose back then. It is all about the dollar now, not about the love. I mean to a certain extent it was about the money, but Nelly made more money on one of his shitty albums than Public Enemy or Eric B and Rakim probably made combined. Imagine a whole world full of gimmic *** rap acts and wannabe tough guys.

But i would debate whether music influences people to do certain things. Like does rap about weed influence people to smoke, or does rap about killing influence people to kill. Or you can take the argument of whether changing the lyrics of songs will curb the violence. Apparently people feel like it will.

I know i went a little off, but there should be some ideas in there somewhere.

 

[Gauntlet 5,000+ posts]

ok. whn it comes to hip hop, or shitty rap, in the media, its always about violence. run dmcs DJ, biggie, tupac, big L, and more have been killed because of the music industry and people taking the music too seriously, and you havent laid any seeds. not only does slug ****, he doesnt know what he is talkin about half the time, and cunninlynguists have falling off. too bad for you. sloppy seconds was the end of their time. and slug has not only sold out, his cds are half assed and ant is the most non progressive producer to ever make a instrumental.

You're not making any sense.

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

man, theres too much to argue. take krs ones by all means necessary song and whole cd. rock can talk about death. but when hip hop does its bad for everyone to listen? its stupid and the reason is is because the media is racist, hypocritical, judgmental and persuasive to people over the age of 30 that are close-minded.

Pioneer i see you know your shit about GOOD rap music. I feel like people don't want to think anymore. I mean take Kanye west for instance. When his stance got a little bit political he is labeled as controversial now. But yet they keep sticking cameras in his face. By all means necessary actually had meaning. they just dont make songs like Jimmy and Illegal business no more. I gotta listen to ignorant shit, about low hanging chains and air force ones.

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

ok. whn it comes to hip hop, or shitty rap, in the media, its always about violence. run dmcs DJ, biggie, tupac, big L, and more have been killed because of the music industry and people taking the music too seriously, and you havent laid any seeds. not only does slug ****, he doesnt know what he is talkin about half the time, and cunninlynguists have falling off. too bad for you. sloppy seconds was the end of their time. and slug has not only sold out, his cds are half assed and ant is the most non progressive producer to ever make a instrumental.

1) not trying to be a dick

2) not trying to ride gauntlets nuts

pretty sure he was talking about on this forum. you registered in 2007. i have seen nothing but info, and good arguments about hip hop on gauntlets account since 2003.

i dont think he meant he "laid seeds" like he changed how people look at hip hop. just a way of saying, hes argued the point 100 million times, and doesnt want to argue it 100 and 1 million times.

 

[Gauntlet 5,000+ posts]

i dont think he meant he "laid seeds" like he changed how people look at hip hop. just a way of saying, hes argued the point 100 million times, and doesnt want to argue it 100 and 1 million times.

I just meant that I've given him some ideas for his paper. Whatever he wants to do is up to him. But I don't think this fool realized that...hard to follow logic when you're only comfortable with ad hominem.