Hip-Hop Is About Injustice
Hip-hop contributes to forming both positive and negative worldviews and ideological attitudes of today’s youth. Like other manifestation of art, this reflects modern reality; that is, it raises questions that concern its adherents. It includes various issues of sexuality, gender identity, refugees, sexism, and racism. As a cultural phenomenon, hip hop presents complex and controversial ground. Historically rooted in New York City’s Black and Latino youth subcultures, hip hop emerged as a form of socio-cultural expression (Gosine & Tabi, 2017). Young people, especially socially and culturally marginalized by race and class, express their discontent, anger, and struggle. They show the meaning of their social realities and thus show resistance.
One of the clearest examples of the theme of refugees and sexism is the work of Honey Cocaine, where she shows criticism of nationalism in the United States. Her song and music video Bad Gal showcased how criticism of the racialization of the Asian diaspora and the cultural conflict between blacks and Asian Americans can be demonstrated (Chan, 2016). The refugee figure is read through numerous shots in which she denies culture. It is presented at 00:48 for the first time when the singer appears in national costume and says, “I got me a pair coca unexpected” (QueenHoneyC, 2013). Honey Cocaine overturns the notion of the passive, traumatized, disadvantaged, and feminized Cambodian as a refugee in need of protection.
The problem of refugees and identity preservation is also raised in her work by such a popular hip-hop artist as MIA. In one of her interviews, she says that music lessons allow her to talk about the pressing problems in the world, in her country, which affect everyone. She says in her music that “We’re used as a scapegoat to build a wall, but people have always mixed and moved” (M.I.A, 2018). MIA shares her experience through the microphone and music, just like other artists.
It is noteworthy that there are similar problems worldwide, so they concern everyone. For example, rapidly developing China also has oppressed migrants, working classes, and young students. The official trailer for Underground Chinese Hip Hop clearly demonstrates the gap between the population of one nation: many shots are a comparison of the developed capital and the lagging provinces (Synergetic, 2016). In hip hop, artists have found a vehicle to express their anger, frustration, dreams, and hopes for a generation fighting for their place in the newly developed China.
Understanding Hip Hop Problems Concept
- What problems could you identify that the performer would like to convey?
- Which of the clips you have watched best demonstrate the issues raised?
- Which clip is the most critical? Why?
- Do you think it is possible to influence changes in the world through music?
- How do you understand ‘hip-hop style’?
The above questions were asked by independent participants, who explained their understanding of hip-hop in detail after watching the video clips. Based on the survey, the biggest comprehension difficulty came from Honey Cocaine’s Bad Gal video, with participants emphasizing that they only understood the song’s message after the interview was over. In the opinion of most, the most understandable and critical clip is Underground Chinese Hip Hop, which raises issues of inequality. After learning about the history of the MIA, the participants also identified the issue of refugees and the preservation of identity in the videos they watched earlier. As it turned out, the hip-hop genre is understood by many as a protest in general, but they do not pay attention to what problems it means. Therefore, it is believed that to influence the world positively, it is necessary to show the meaning more clearly.
References
Chan, K. (2016). “Bad gal” and the “bad” refugee: Reading neoliberal critique and refugee narratives through Cambodian Canadian hip hop (thesis). University of California, Los Angeles.
Gosine, K., & Tabi, E. (2017). Disrupting neoliberalism and bridging the multiple worlds of marginalized youth via hip-hop pedagogy: Contemplating possibilities. Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, 38(5), 445–467.
M.I.A. (2018). Matangi / Maya / M.I.A. [Video]. YouTube.
QueenHoneyC. (2013). Honey Cocaine – Bad Gal. [Video]. YouTube.
Synergetic. (2016). Underground Chinese hip hop. [Video]. YouTube.