Concluding Post

The reason why I chose to write my blog about Hip Hop was because I've always been really passionate about the music I listen to. Doing my blog on this topic really expanded my knowledge on the subjects in many ways. I always enjoy learning new things and I figured this would teach me a lot.

In this blog I went into detail about the several different elements that make up hip hop. Such as Hip-Hop dance, emceeing, djing, and graffiti. These elements create a culture that brings many people together, and help them express their talents and creativity. I also made some points about why many people seem to think Hip Hop afflicts society.

Many people tend to think Hip Hop as whole is only rap music that is displayed on TV. However it is mainstream rap that depicts Hip Hop and the black community as a negative influence. When it is the mainstream music corporations who exploit rappers, and only release certain music. 

Hip Hop will overcome this shadow that is 'bad' rap music that is giving it its bad reputation. It was founded by people who really wanted to make a positive change in the community. And it grew so fast and spread all over the world. There are people all over the world who appreciate Hip Hop so much and adopted its culture. This just proves how much of an effect it has had on the world. I wonder how completely different the world would be if everyone in the world adapted to that lifestyle. It would be strange, but also fun.

Wu Tang.... Foreva

One of my favorite hip hop rap groups has to be Wu Tang Clan. I like them because they have a really raw, gritty, almost disrespectful vibe to them. The crew has such an original style you can't help but acknowledge it. Although the members of wu tang clan are known for some irreverent behavior, the have proven themselves to be intellegent and wise as well. Wu Tang is a sword style of kung fu martial arts prscticed in China, the term "wu  tang" translates into the english word battle (WU-TANG CLAN Frequently Asked). The rap group consists of 9 members: Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Rza, Gza, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Raekwon, and Ol' Dirty Bastard. They formed in 1993 in Staten Island, and are one of the most successful rap groups ever. Rza was basically the leader of the clan, abd stated by an article found on The Wu Tang Corp website:

The vision of the Wu-Tang Clan is undoubtedly due to the musical skills of RZA. Under his direction, the group - through its own efforts and the solo projects, all of which he produced or co-produced - created a hazy, surreal, and menacing soundscape out of hardcore beats, eerie piano riffs, and minimal samples. Over these surrealistic backing tracks, the MCs rapped hard, updating the old-school attack with vicious violence, martial arts imagery, and a welcome warped humor. By 1995, the sound was one of the most instantly recognizable in hip-hop (Wu-Tang Clan).-

The first Wu Tang single was Prorect Ya Neck, which became an underground hit. Then record labels started offering the group contracts but they declined. They didn't sign with a label until they got a deal that would let each member record solo albums (Wu-Tang Clan). The group released a group album, and then each member went and did a bunch of solo projects. They debuted their first album, Enter the Wu-Tang, November 9, 1993 and it went platinum (Wu Tang Clan Biography).

Why People Have Misconceptions About Hip Hop

Many people tend to misunderstand hip-hop, and look down upon hip hop music in comparison to other genres of music. There are a lot of 'rappers' who misrepresent hip hop, and this is the main reason why people have these misconceptions that they have. Listeners are only exposed to mainstream rap played on the radio; they aren't going to be into the underground artists whose music actually has substance.

Many artists who are new to the music industry are very often taken advantage of by record labels. These labels exploit the artists' talents, and abuse the artists for profit. Usually the companies will change up the entire artist, from how they dress and act in public, to what their music sounds like. These artists are naive and will do anything the record labels tell them will make them famous.

In an article by News Week Magazine gives examples of Salt 'n' Pepa, who were taken advantage of by their record label: 

CHERYL JAMES AND SANDY DENTON knew very little about the music business when they landed their recording contract that transformed a couple of Sears' customer-service reps into rap's most successful girl group: Salt 'N' Pepa. How little? In 1985, when their manager said sign on the dotted line, they did: a 1~year contract with Next Plateau Records for 50 cents per album sold  with no option to renegotiate even if they were to become, say, a top 40 hit machine. Three platinum albums later, they made about $100,000 a year each, while their manager and record company raked in millions. "I always knew something wasn't right with it, but I didn't know what," says Denton of their ironclad deal. "We were intimidated by this white business-man telling us it was the right thing to do." Adds James: "We never even thought of a lawyer" (A Risky Business).

These rappers who don't know what to expect when it comes to record labels usually end up with little to no money once they are not famous anymore. And the music they come up with is a false representation of who they and where they come from. When in fact they put on a facade created by the record company so that the artist will be praised by the audience. Then once the artist's prominence has dwindled and they no longer have a use for them they spit them back out into the real world without having actually made any real money. The music that is being made by such rap artists make songs that often cheapens any other artists' music, from the perspective of someone who doesn't acknowledge hip hop's full potential. 

Rap music does have a tendency to be negative and materialistic. The hip hop music that is put out is a reflection of our society's current state. In Jeff Mendelman's rendition of Mos Def's song Hip hop, he stated: “rap music will reflect and analyze wherever we’re at in America. If we’re virtuous, so too will rap. If we remain a misogynistic, malevolent, materialistic society, so too will rap” (Mendelman). 

There are just certain artists who portray hip hop in a very negative way. It isn't limited to only mainstream, but that tends to be what most people hear and base their attitude towards hip hop solely off what is played on the radio.

 "A Risky Business." Newsweek 18 July 1994: 56-57. Rap Coalition. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.rapcoalition.org/A%20Risky%20Business.htm>.

Mendelman, Jeff. "From Jay-Z to Kanye West: Does Rap Music Promote Bad Values?"PolicyMic. N.p., 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.policymic.com/articles/3001/from-jay-z-to-kanye-west-does-rap-music-promote-bad-values>.