From: atb@whomp.engin.umich.edu (Adrian Bradley)
Subject: Re: Understanding Hip Hop
Date: Fri, 09 Oct 92 18:35:30 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor
Originator: atb@whomp.engin.umich.edu


In article <BvvA0s.5LK@acsu.buffalo.edu>, v065nlpz@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Amil) writes:
> In article <fedde.718651552@Minsk>, fedde@Minsk.docs.uu.se (Fedde Engler) writes...
> >Madison J. Gray <34LI4E6@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> writes:
> > 
> >>But in order to understand the black experience, you hav to have lived 
> >>the black experience, and in most cases that means being black.
> > 
> >Man...are you saying whites cannot understand this music to the full length
> >of it? What a load of crap, if that is what you mean! I have been listening
> >to this type of music from its VERY, VERY start, and I love it so much, that
> >when a dope beat comes on, it even seems to affect me physically sending wierd
> >feelings over my body. I call that an experience of this music and I don't
> >have to be black to feel it. 
> > 
> 
> 	Fredde, what I think he means is that since you're white, you
> CAN NEVER KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE BLACK, and understand the
> "black experience" fully.  THATS THE TRUTH, even if you dont believe that.
> Since hip-hop music incorporates so much of being black, and it is 
> primarily aimed for blacks, being white removes you one level, whether you
> like it or not.  Its not a question of racism, though.  Sure, you can 
> understand what they are saying in the lyrics, but some of it you cant
> relate to because you just aint black!  Like, you cant ever know what
> it feels like to be harrassed by whites and called "nigger" and shit.
> But Im not saying you cant empathize with that.  And, of course, since
> hip-hop is growing every minute, different types of rappers rap different
> types of things (eg, House Of Pain) to appeal to a broader audience.
> 
> 							       aMIL

MHO:

To add to this, I would like to say that since rap is one of the few
genre's of music that we Blacks are "credited" with starting, we hold on to it
jealously. This means that for some of us, we have a hard time accepting white
rap and white rap fans because we don't want them to "bleach" out our art form.
Most of us respect white rappers that at least recognize where the rap started
and have blacks that are down with them for proof. (which is, ironically, what
Vanilla Ice tried to do with the "Word to ya mother.") 

I would guess that it's hard to accept still being a sort of "outsider" 
although being down when it comes to the actual Black experience. But there's
nothing that hinders you from reading other materials on Black culture, such
as the autobiographies of famous Black civil rights leaders, such as Malcolm
X. And if you've read some of those already, then you'll have more of an 
understanding of the Black person's struggles, although you won't be able to 
live them without changing your skin color and coming to America. Or, think of
it this way: The role models of the famous scientists, engineers, and inventors
of this country are generally white. Therefore, we can't relate completely to
their experiences, although nothing but desire stops us from trying to attain
a job as such. Yet, because we are black, we are automatically stereotyped by
corporate America such that we have to work harder in order to attain a job 
that most whites would get by knowing somebody that works for the corporation
and/or are a part of family. Same thing with rap, just that blacks tend to
run things and automatically stereotype whites when they say they are rap fans.
'course most of us respect you, Fedde, and Gumby and y'all others out there 
'cause we've seen your posts and what you usually say makes sense. (Well at
least I do - don't wanna talk for everybody)


Back to hip/hop!!!  

PEACE to, D.I.P., all white listeners of hip-hop (other cultures, too), all
down Black brothers and sisters, and anybody else that reads alt.rap.

(hope I covered everybody...d:-)  )

==AD