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The Kanye West Effect

By Salim Muwakkil

Unlike many in my demographic cohort, I don’t hate rap. In fact, I consider hip-hop the most important musical innovation of the last 50 years. People once laughed when I said that, but as we enter hip-hop’s 30th year with the entire world rapping along, people laugh no longer. Lately, however, American hip-hop has been a hard sell. The thuggery,… return to article

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    Salim Muwakkil’s concerns that HIp Hop has stagnated as an expressive art form and is trapped in “ghettocentric” cliches about hoes and gangstas is well taken. The sensationalist and flashy “stripper chic” and self-empowerment images of young thugs with their ostentatious “bling blings” and luxury cars has run it course. All Hip Hop is saying is how certain folks have “made it” in a kind of cynical way. We are treated to all manner of Vegas-style sensationalist imagery. How many more scenes of dapper dudes in front of their big mansions and limos loaded with sulaciously inviting women are necessary to make the point.  Flashing success in a way that mocks “the man’s” value system is all very good. But the problem is that Hip Hop isn’t saying much anymore.

    Let’s hope, as does Salim, that Hip Hop transcends this stage and gets down to the business of making some real statements. I know lots of people think art doesn’t have to do that to validate itself but it would be a refreshing break in HIp Hop’s case.  Also, it is much needed. Let’s hope that Hip Hop’s future insights into the human condition are as inviting as all those flashy images of “livin’ large.”

    United States Posted by cabdriverinchicago on Mar 14, 2006 at 10:42 AM

    Note to Salim and anyone else reading this:
    Yeah Kanye West has begun to show some progressivism in his music, but he cant be given full credit for this resurge. Listen to some Mos Def and Talib Kwali.

    United States Posted by NaderRaider on Mar 16, 2006 at 2:22 PM

    This is a bit silly.  To claim that Kanye West is some kind of vanguard for intelligent hip-hop is frankly absurd.  When there are groups like The Perceptionists and Blackalicious who are both lyrically more intelligent and astute, why hold up on Kanye?  Even more mainstream rappers like Andre 3000 of Outkast far overshadow West.  Not to mention Blackstarr as the above poster mentioned and Immortal Technique.  I could go on with names that are making new courses for hip-hop (MF Doom!).  There’s so many intelligent rappers making music now just like in the past with groups like Gangstarr.  These guys have pushed the lyrical and musical frontier for years.  I’ve known rap as the most profound musical innovation for 10 years now, and I feel embarrassed that I didn’t know earlier.

    United States Posted by puerile on Mar 16, 2006 at 6:48 PM

    While it might be silly to call Kanye West a vanguard, he arguably has the greatest name recognition to the general masses.  He is not the sum total of the politically/socially conscious hip-hop/rap movement but he is the one who can bring it into the living rooms of suburban and rural US.

    United States Posted by jams on Mar 19, 2006 at 9:25 PM

    With all due respect to Mr. West, thanks to those who mentioned more deserving artists than Kanye.  Frankly, I find the bolded quote of this article a little offensive.  Talib Kweli refers to Black Star as the “vanguard of our movement” in “Ms. Hill” on his album “Right About Now”.  Regardless, hopefully social conscious hip hop will be brought to the forefront with the release of Dave Chappelle’s block party documentary.

    United States Posted by Caleb on Mar 20, 2006 at 9:52 AM
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