I would also point out, that some “families” are unhealthy.

We all have family members who do unhealthy things. That doesn’t mean it’s good for us to hang out with them and pick up their bad habits, just because they’re “family”.

Not all “family” is good company to keep.

I understand your point about mainstream hip hop vs, underground, but the point is actually kind of irrelevant.

It doesn’t matter. Why?

Because even if hip hop has been “stolen” by white people, black people are still listening to it!

And the point that the author is making is valid. And, even with the real hip hop, most of it still doesn’t have a positive, and uplifting message. A lot of it is still just venting about life in poverty, and the problems in a life of poverty.

It’s still not giving a message of hope, and inspiration, to inspire kids to do better with their lives. It’s just saying “poverty is hard.” “Yeah bruh/sistah I feel you.”

That’s not inspiring someone to get a college degree.

Also, with your “Crew” comment, I get that you see crew as “family” but hanging out with people who have bad habits and encourage you to do the same is not the same as real family.

And that’s not the same as having healthy associations who will lift you up, rather than encourage you to stay put in the same habits.

If you associate with people who are poor, you will become or stay poor yourself.

As a famous Tibetan Master said:

“A crystal, when placed on a piece of cloth, takes on the color of that cloth, whether white, yellow, red or black. In the same way, the friends with whom you keep company the most often, whether suitable or unsuitable, will greatly influence the direction your life and practice take.”
– Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

I like your brilliant comment. I would had that it is not new what is happening now. The mainstream used to pay big money to make sure that our people would get involved in minstrel shows.

“Hip Hop” was BOUGHT by the white corporate music industry. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PAY BOG BUCKS to solicit hustling, misogyny, crime, money, pimpin, ho’s, drugs, and all the other things that “lead to poverty.” -Specifically leading -BROWN PEOPLE- to poverty, and in their white supremacist minds ideally leading them (people of color) to kill each other in order to exploit them. This is NOT where true Hip Hop comes from. That is “commercial rap” aka “Main Stream Hip Pop” you are speaking about.

The 4 elements of Hip Hop: Graffiti, Bboying, DJing, and Emceeing, came about in New York in the 60’s/70’s as an outlet for impoverished people and Outlaw gangs who had very little and lived in DANGEROUS situations, to express themselves in alternative ways over violence. Afrika Bambaataa saw these expressions as something positive and encouraged the youth to develop their artistic sides as a means to rise up from poverty. SO he turned his outlaw gang from the Black Spades into Zulu Nation. He dubbed this new movement, hip hop.

“CREW” was family. and instead of going for “self” as you say, which is the problem with capitalism (profiteering at the expense of others, exploiting others for self), we should b acting as families to help each other raise our kids, educate our communities, grow our own food, and do all the things our GOVERNMENT wont.

And I LOATHE LOATHE LOATHE the military advertisements you have here on your site. As an African American male, you obviously cant see how this is perpetuating the White Supremacist ideals that built this country on the backs of your people on top of stolen land at the cost of the lives of the natives that were already here in so called “America.” It is the military who steal our tax dollars for the modern day colonization of other countries in order to monopolize resources so we can have laptops and cell phones. If they didnt steal our tax dollars, ALLLL that money would be going into our communities. we ALL could get education for pennies, food, shelter, clothing, and medicine would b readily accessible for EVERYONE -black, white, green, or whatever. Not for free, but not for money either. We dont need money to eat. Food grows. we just need to work together to grow it, so it wouldnt be “free” but it would cost any money -it would be contributory.

but mainstream Hip Pop, reaches the people of color. and “they” (white corporate amerikkka) know that.

How high can you score?
How high can you score?
That would be a dope song.
We need more people like you
Brandale~

Yes yes yes!
This needs to be reblogged..reposted..

Hip Hop has changed to JAIL CULTURE ENERGY. It’s like we are in prison. The only alternative is to TEAR DOWN this culture to build it back up.