Makayla Thompson                                                                                         March 22, 2016

Cultural Appropriation and White Washing of Hip-Hop Culture

According to popular belief, Hip Hop has for the most part has been exclusively considered to be a part of Black culture. We've heard many people say that Hip Hop and everything attached to it is meant to be a "Black thing", but what does that really mean? As new forms of Hip Hop emerged many people have formulated this new idea and distinction between what is "white rap" and "black rap" which has resulted in new findings around cultural appropriation and the white washing of Hip Hop as a whole. Cultural appropriation is defined as the adoption or the use of elements of one culture by members of another. However, when we think about cultural appropriation today it is often seen in a negative light because it often happens when a dominant group exploits the traditions of a smaller group without understanding its meaning or the history behind it (http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6422361/macklemore-race-hip-hop-cultural-appropriation-hot-97 ). For example, in the figure below, many people have adopted and made it a tradition to dress in Native American dress for Halloween as a costume.

            While it is true the Hip Hop is a collaboration of different sound it has also been true that modern rap music often reinforces certain stereotypes about Black people. When we think about rap music today we often get an image of violence. Rap music, under the genre of Hip Hop, is associated mainly with aggressive behavior, offensive lyrics, and tough attitudes. According to Jeff Chang's book "Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation" he explains how Hip Hop and Rap music originated and further explains its slow introduction into mainstream media. He expresses that the reasons in which Hip Hop had a hard time making it into the mainstream of music was because it was birthed from a place of poverty. Chang says that in the rise if Hip-Hop the neighborhoods were riddled with gang activity. He states "The Savage Skulls were one of the most fear gangs in the Bronx...if you were looking for protection or trouble; you quit your click and joined the Skulls".     Photo by: Sugar Hill Records Ltd.

            In this association of Hip Hop and violence in the Black community, modern day mainstream companies began to popularize Rap and Hip Hop through the endorsement of white artists. The formulation of this new era in Hip Hop raised many questions and concerns about the authenticity of Hip-Hop(https://thehiphopista.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/rap-and-authenticity-whos-your-posse/  ) and further created distinctions between "good rap" and "bad rap “or in other words white vs. black rap artists.  Stereotypical ideas of gang violence and obscene lyrics began to stick harshly to the black community and paint an ugly and even racist picture of Black people in general. While in contrast black rap artist who have made a name for themselves and acquired wealth are considered to be living a “white lifestyle”. In an article by K McLeod called "Authenticity within hip-hop and other cultures threatened with assimilation" states that "male black musical artists who become moguls in their own right, who become extremely rich and live what might be called a 'white lifestyle’. The popular image of the wealthy, white business magnate is one that has been elevated in black culture as a mark of success". But what does this thinking do for the image of other Black rap artist. To think that being wealthy and reciting certain lyrics are only associated with white people, leaves underground rappers in a position where they are seen as violent and disrespectful. In this way cultural appropriation and white washing of Hip Hop music has a negative effect on the Black community as a whole. The origins of Hip Hop music are overshadowed by white artists who have assumed a position in Hip-Hop culture. We often invite other styles of music into our own, but when does it become harmful to Black culture? Cultural appropriation is real, and creates labels that are not always good for black culture. It further perpetuates stereotypes of black people and draws lines between what is good and bad in society.

References

Mcleod, K. (1999). Authenticity within hip-hop and other cultures threatened with assimilation. Journal of Communication, 49(4), 134-150. Retrieved March 22, 2016, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1999.tb02821.x/abstract

Cheng, J. (2007). Can't Stop Won't Stop. Blood, Fire, and Some Music, 1(1), 40-55. Retrieved March 22, 2016, from http://cantstopwontstop.com/