Hip Hop: What is it All About?
By: Leslie
Many people see hip hop as baggy pants, bandanas, cornrows, flashy gear, and loud music. It may be true, but hip hop has its own unique identity. Hip hop is more just than a music form; it’s also a state of being, a form of expression, spoken words, a lifestyle, a mind set. It’s also a way to express oneself by way of dress, language, culture, writing, personality, and attitude. One of the amazing things about hip hop is the influence it has on young women of color. The hip hop generation spans many ethnic cultures and includes people between the ages 10 and 35 whose social development was and is shaped by hip hop’s influence.
Hip hop has not just had a major impact on young women of color; it now also provides an outline for their lives. We can say that young women of color increase hip hop’s success. Want a further explanation? It’s the way we style our hair, the way we walk, talk, turn, and pose. Not only is hip hop in our everyday lives, but also it’s in our taste regarding clothing, food, partners, and friends. Women now affect many elements of hip hop culture, including break dancing, poetry, MC, DJ, graffiti artist, pop locking, and beat-boxing. Hip hop has even expanded into the worlds of pageants and high stress, high stakes, top models. For example, Tyra Bank’s UPN show, America’s Next Top Model, selected two hip hop style models in the last two years. The models’ style was hip hop; but their identity also stood out and that was important.
Despite the revolutionary impact of hip hop on society, it also has negative effects on young women of color. Critics say that hip hop promotes rebellion and a “pro-pimp” message of prostitution. Many hip hop artists do exploit women of color and many song lyrics objectify and disrespect women, negatively influencing young women.
But, I think it’s all about perspective. If one is focused, hip hop can have a positive impact on one’s behavior, and the poetry of hip hop can teach one about life. For example, Tupac Shakur and Nas are hip hop legends. Their song lyrics can have a positive impact on the lives of many young women of color. In “I can,” Nas encourages positive outcomes for young students. The song promotes self-confidence, optimistic thinking, and self-appreciation. In “Keep ya head up,” Tupac Shakur promotes valuing women, rather than exploiting them. “I wonder why we take from our women, why we rape our women? Do we hate our women? I think it's time to kill for our women, time to heal our women, be real to our women.” Instead of trashing women, Tupac provides a message of hope to young women who are struggling.
Hip hop is not necessarily baggy clothes, tattoos, or “ghetto” attire, although it is an icon in the female fashion industry. Hip hop is bringing out ethnic cultures and influencing a more natural look. Hip hop is all about expression, and that’s important!
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