Hip Hop - Music of the Movement?

Jay Woodson (center in white) facilitates workshop

On Friday I attended a session entitled "Counter-Culture Hip Hop" facilitated by Jay Woodson from the National Hip Hop Political Convention (NHHPC). It challenged my understanding about the history and nature of hip hop and the depth of conversations happening within the Hip Hop community. The session, attended mostly by 20-30 somethings, was a dialogue with Jay posing questions, and the group hashing out answers. What is Hip Hop? What is our dominant culture? What does it mean to be counter cultural? What is the difference between mainstream Hip Hop and underground Hip Hop?

Hip Hop started around 1974 in the Bronx in New York City, in the socio-economic context of the urban black and latino ghetto amidst increasing gang power. It began in public places, as a way to bring peace, love, unity, and fun in the lives of the community members. Hip Hop, however, has become a mainstream phenomenon, marketed by record companies as a culture of materialism, consumerism, sexism, and gangsterism. Meanwhile, underground artists removed from the machine of big record companies, “keep it real” by creating an alternative culture of social and political conciousness, and the original principles of peace, love, unity, and having fun.

One of the participants, a hip hop artist himself, said that the social movements of today need 21st century movement music – “We Shall Overcome” should be honored and remembered but has lost some of its relevance. I commented that the nature of current movements, being so diverse in cultural basis, and covering so many issues from environmental justice to social justice to indigenous rights, may struggle to find music that unites all. Another participant suggested that hip hop could indeed be that music, since it is now a global culture, and incorporates other music forms like reggae, jazz, and rock.

I think the questions and struggles happening within the hip hop community are directly parallel to the questions and struggles of these movements themselves, and am convinced they deserve more attention.