What Is Hip-Hop Anyway?

What Is Hip-Hop Anyway?

AND WHY ARE WE FIGHTING SO HARD TO SAVE HER?

Sure there are about as many perspectives about what it means to be Hip-Hop as there are people who claim allegiance, trying to identify what is real vs fake hip-hop is even more difficult.  Every time I ask the question, I get a different response. What does it mean to identify yourself as “HIP-HOP”? How exactly does one become Hip-Hop?  Are you initiated into it?   Are you born in or sworn in? Do you pledge, take an oath, make a commitment, do you sacrifice anything? Does anyone vouch for you, sponsor you, do you need references? Is it exclusive?  Are these questions rhetorical?

Some say it’s a movement, a culture, a way of life.  The definition often falls along generational, or commercial lines.  How old you are is generally reflected in how you view hip-hop. Gen X’ers who grew up on Soul & RnB have a vastly different view of hip-hop because they witnessed her birth, and watched her evolve. A young adult or teenager today cannot fathom a pre hip-hop world, and their definition and perspectives of this middle aged culture sometimes falls short of depth and substance, and if often viewed simply as a music genre, or a street culture. Does anyone really know what hip-hop is anymore? Is there a definitive answer?

It’s not enough to get confirmation from web inquiries and unscientific polls. I really want to get to the bottom of this question because I believe the conversations about hip-hop are compromised if those having the conversations cant even agree on what it means to be HIP-HOP. 

So, let’s take it back a step.  I wondered how the pioneers define hip-hop. Those who were there and started this phenomenon… What does hip-hop mean to them?  How do they explain it?  In a 1989 Davey D interview (later published on his site www.daveyd.com/interviewbambaataa96.html), he asks Afrika Bambaataa how he defined hip-hop. Bambaataa explained:

“People have to understand what you mean when you talk about Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop means the whole culture of the movement. When you talk about rap you have to understand that rap is part of the Hip-Hop culture. That means the emceeing is part of the Hip-Hop culture. The Deejaying is part of the Hip-Hop culture. The dressing, the languages are all part of the Hip Hop culture. So is the break dancing, the b-boys and b-girls. How you act, walk, look and talk is all part of Hip Hop culture. And the music is colorless. Hip Hop music is made from Black, brown, yellow, red and white. It's from whatever music that gives that grunt, that funk, that groove, that beat. That's all part of Hip Hop.”

That makes sense! Okay now we have a definition from a person who was there, who had a hand in it, and is respected for the role he has played in the culture.

With the ammunition of a better definition, I now wonder how do we identify something as hip-hop?  What does real hip-hop look like?  How can I spot a fraud? Or is there such a thing?  If a person dresses hip-hop and also raps, does that validate them as authentic? It’s very subjective, especially with no solid criteria to judge. 

I recently spotted a viral photo of Lauryn Hill, Trina, and Nicki  Minaj that suggested Lauryn was Hip-Hop, Trina was Rap, and Nicki was Pop…  hmmm, ookaaay… I see where they were going with this, but my first question was, why use 3 female rappers for this viral photo? It seems divisive to me, as they aren’t the ones supposedly killing the game are they? But anyway I digress and move on… They are all rappers! “Rapping” is what Emcees do in Hip-Hop.  Nowadays the rap music genre has gone so mainstream it’s considered very popular music, so yes, Nicki M would certainly be pop.  But does that mean she isn’t Hip-Hop?

There’s a wonderful document called the Hip-Hop declaration of Peace (http://www.declaration-of-peace.com). It was presented to the United Nations Organization on May 16th 2001, signed by Temple Of Hip Hop, Ribbons International, UNESCO and 300 Hip-Hop activists, pioneers and UN delegates. KRS One, Pop Master Fabel, Afrika Bambaataa, Ralph Mc Daniels and Harry Allen were some of the people who helped create this declaration. On the website it states this document recognizes Hip-Hop as an international culture of peace and prosperity. It is also a set of principles, which advise all Hip-Hoppers on how to sustain the peaceful character of Hip Hop Kulture and to form worldwide peace.

Here’s the first Principle (there are 18 of them):

Hiphop (Hip'Hop) is a term that describes our independent collective consciousness. Ever growing, it is commonly expressed through such elements as Breakin, Emceein, Graffiti Art, Deejayin, Beatboxin, Street Fashion, Street Language, Street Knowledge and Street Entrepreneurialism. Wherever and whenever these and future elements and expressions of Hiphop Kulture manifest; this Hiphop Declaration of Peace shall advise the use and interpretation of such elements, expressions and lifestyle.

And the fouth:

Hiphop is a term that describes our independent collective consciousness. As a conscious way of life, we acknowledge our influence on society, especially on children; and we shall forever keep the rights and welfare of both in mind. Hiphop Kulture encourages womanhood, manhood, sisterhood, brotherhood, childhood and family. We are conscious not to bring any intentional disrespect that jeopardizes the dignity and reputation of our children, elders and ancestors.

After reading, and understanding the full document, I realized some things.  The first and most important is, if there is no universal definition and authentication of hip-hop, then what exactly are we using as the basis of our conversations on the culture.  I sometimes sit on hip-hop themed panels and no one ever even mentions a graff writer or a B-girl.  A lot of the conversation about hip-hop are just commentaries on styles and preferences of Rap music and artists. If we are to have productive conversations about Hip-Hop, we must agree on what exactly it is. 

From this document I also found something greater - The 18 principles.  Wow! Principles in Hip-Hop, what a novel concept!  Imagine if we really adopted them, demonstrated them, and used them as the guiding light for our culture.  Sure hip-hop would still be fun and exciting! But maybe it would be less corruptible. Maybe it would have integrity and young people could depend on it being a true source of hope and inspiration. 

We need some rules in hip-hop.  We need direction, instruction, and ways to keep the posers, haters, and capitalists from further devouring it.  People must know that hip-hop is not theirs to abuse, vilify, and exploit.  Hip-hop has a pulse, a soul, and an earth shattering heartbeat. We must save her.  But we can only do that if we can agree on what she really is.  ###    

Gotta show love to Awesome AC Wolf & my entire Chi Rock fam... This song takes me back to the essence of the culture, the reason why I am Hip-Hop. Dig it! ;-)