humanity
Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes
Black death:
Homicide is the leading cause of death for Black men aged 15-34
49% of gunshot victims in the USA are Black men aged 15-24
Black men are 14 times more likely to be the victims of homicide than other races
1 in 4 Black women over 18 are sexually assaulted
Black women are 35% more likely than white women to be physically assaulted.
These figures are completely out of proportion with the percentage of the overall American population that is Black.
But it cannot be denied that gunplay, and being tough and invulnerable are part of the image of manhood in America as a whole. “At the heart of American identity”
In general, society limits the range in which men can express their emotions. This is a cause of “hyper-masculinity”.
Prison Crisis
The war on drugs has amplified this by incarcerating so many young Blacks for insignificant drug offences.
One commentator notes that ‘the misery that arose from the war on drugs’ has been commodified by the music industry (and related industries)
--------------------
Stats pp. 109, 110
Prison culture is a part of gangster rap – some of that is posturing and posing, but some of that is real.
---------------------
The film refers to a “culture of animosity” (beefs). Chuck D notes that it’s confrontation with the wrong person.
They don’t confront the person who really affects their lives; it’s as if they don’t see who is really responsible.
Chuck D on Black death: “Black death is being pimped by corporations. Black death is the bottom line in the Black money maker. … Young men think that this type of street cred will lead to profitability.” We have been “one-dimensionalized” . Following a program that has been laid out for them.
A caricature of Black masculinity – but one that is completely subservient to the white dominated power structure. Only a limited number of representations of blackness are allowed by the industry.
The switch to gangster music occurred at the time
Black death:
Homicide is the leading cause of death for Black men aged 15-34
49% of gunshot victims in the USA are Black men aged 15-24
Black men are 14 times more likely to be the victims of homicide than other races
1 in 4 Black women over 18 are sexually assaulted
Black women are 35% more likely than white women to be physically assaulted.
These figures are completely out of proportion with the percentage of the overall American population that is Black.
But it cannot be denied that gunplay, and being tough and invulnerable are part of the image of manhood in America as a whole. “At the heart of American identity”
In general, society limits the range in which men can express their emotions. This is a cause of “hyper-masculinity”.
Prison Crisis
The war on drugs has amplified this by incarcerating so many young Blacks for insignificant drug offences.
One commentator notes that ‘the misery that arose from the war on drugs’ has been commodified by the music industry (and related industries)
--------------------
Stats pp. 109, 110
Prison culture is a part of gangster rap – some of that is posturing and posing, but some of that is real.
---------------------
The film refers to a “culture of animosity” (beefs). Chuck D notes that it’s confrontation with the wrong person.
They don’t confront the person who really affects their lives; it’s as if they don’t see who is really responsible.
Chuck D on Black death: “Black death is being pimped by corporations. Black death is the bottom line in the Black money maker. … Young men think that this type of street cred will lead to profitability.” We have been “one-dimensionalized” . Following a program that has been laid out for them.
A caricature of Black masculinity – but one that is completely subservient to the white dominated power structure. Only a limited number of representations of blackness are allowed by the industry.
The switch to gangster music occurred at the time