Things Hip Hop Music Has Taught Me
Posted on November 23rd, 2008
I like hip hop. Granted I wear a belt with my pants and despise uncurved baseball hats, but I do enjoy it when an MC steps to the mic like a phantom and drops lyrics that could skin a cat.
For years I was confused about the difference between “rap” and “hip hop”.
What are the fundamental anomalies? Is there a clear line between the two? Who is Funkmaster Flex?
I suppose I could have investigated the issue, perhaps asked around. Instead, I just made up my own mind and defined the rule as it stands to me. Because really, musical taste is a tricky bitch. We all like different things; a lot of people probably hate your favorite band and the sooner you understand that the better off you’ll be. So why now make up your facts?
This is my hypothesis: Rap is money/hoes/guns. Hip hop is about the beats and the musicianship. It’s soulful and poetic.
Hip hop is also about guidance, leadership and life lessons.
We can’t talk about hip hop without first discussing the race issue. Yes, a lot of rap and hip hop fans are young white kids who emulate MCs in what they wear and how they talk. This is a fact that cannot be ignored.
I’d like to apologize on behalf of all white people. Apparently today’s youth don’t understand that you can enjoy a particular sport, film or musical act without completely imitating it and basing your entire personality on that of an image. (This practice is not exclusive to the hip hop genre; go to any small town in BC and notice the amount of long hair and Megadeth t-shirts on those born after 1987.)
Now that we’ve solved the race problem, I’d like to explain how hip hop has impacted my life by outlining my years of experience with the music.
Strap on your Adidas!
1985- 2001
I did not listen to hip hop during those years.
2001-2004
In eleventh grade, one of my friends gave me the Beastie Boys’ “Hello Nasty” on a CD-R. I enjoy the whimsy, their sense of good-time having, and that there were three of them. A good, even number if you ask me. In their music videos, the Beastie Boys often wore red, yellow and blue jumpsuits and pranced about the streets of New York. I guess you could say they taught me how to enjoy life, and that if you got the jammy you don’t need the permit.
I first heard Public Enemy when I watched Spike Lee’s film “Do The Right Thing“. Chuck D’s raspy growl was complimented by the greatest hype-man of all time, and viking helmet wearing sexpot Flavor Flav, and together, they were just amazing. They inspired me to read newspapers and care about issues. I bought a large stereo and carried it around on my shoulder… that is, until the batteries died. An eight back of D batteries will set you back about fifteen bucks, and it’s just harmful to the environment because I’m not going to properly dispose of them. I’m going to bury the batteries in my backyard like any normal person.
I listened almost exclusively to these acts back to back. Public Enemy got me angry, Beasties calmed me down. Like a nice piece of key-lime pie after a meal of spicy chili. A perfect combination.
2004
Eminem released his album “Encore” on the heels of two hit singles, “Just Lose It” and “Mosh”. The latter was a biting indictment of the Bush administration, the war in Iraq, and the lower class suffering in America. Obviously it had no impact on the election and Bush was elected to a second term. Way to go, Marshall!
Two weeks before I was to head to Vancouver and my new life as a broke writer, I discovered Rage Against the Machine. Holy fucking shit. Rapping AND guitars? I nearly made in my shorts when I first heard “Killing in the Name”.
2005
Attended Vancouver Film School. Incurred crippling student loan debt. Met Bob Woolsey, became a borderline alcoholic.
2006
I’m not going to lie- 2006 for me was all about punk rock. I barely listened to rap music in 2006. It was seminal acts like Ramones, Iggy, and The Clash, with new stuff like Against Me! and NOFX taking up space on my iPod. I apologize.
2007
I was in and out of rehab until Christmas.
2008
This year has really broadened my hip hoponomical taste. I’ve been introduced to such amazing acts as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Eric B and Rakim, Jay Z, Ludacris, Nas and of course, Immortal Technique.
Immortal Technique is, from what I can gather, a Peruvian fellow who hates the government. He has the face of a sex offender (like a really violent one who tattoos “captures” on his forearm) and frequently raps in Spanish, which is nice because I enjoy the Pixies and learning. He tells stories about the drug trade that are honest and have morals. He taught me not to do cocaine, nor to believe anything Jeff Goldblum says.
The Future?
As is the trend with many of my blogs, I set out on a journey to teach YOU something, when I myself end up teaching ME something.
And what have I learned, you ask? Well, I have realized that hip hop music has not really taught me anything. I still have the same bad habits and imperfections as I did before I listened to hip hop… which was seven years ago.
Oh my, that’s sad.
Jesus.
What is wrong with me.
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Tags: beastie boys, bob woolsey, eminem, eric b and rakim, George Bush, hip hop, immortal technique, jay z, ludacris, Mos Def, public enemy, rage against the machine, rap, rehab, run DMC, talib kweli, white kids
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5 Responses to “Things Hip Hop Music Has Taught Me”
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Scott Says:
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:48 pmThis is my new favorite blog.
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Sean G Says:
November 24th, 2008 at 4:27 pmyou got a lot to learn son…. haha
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bob Says:
November 24th, 2008 at 4:53 pmI know little to nothing about hip hop, nor do I really care to know anything, and yet I still know basically everything cited here. There’s got to be more than this.
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Scott Says:
November 24th, 2008 at 9:50 pmAndrew didn’t even scratch the surface, but it wasn’t bad for a white boy.
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Nick Says:
November 25th, 2008 at 5:00 pmI learned so much from this blog that I think it’s time you change the website to ‘andrewandbob.com’.