Racism & Misconceptions in Hip-hop/ Rap.

Music plays an enormous role in the lives of many. But, a lot of times and, with hip-hop and rap music most definitely, we are blinded by this misconception of fame and money that it gets in the way of hearing music for it’s one soul purpose- to tell. We get blinded by the vulgarity of the language or the sexual content of the song, or the race by which the artist is which then immediately makes the song “trash” or “bullshit”. But, with our subjective listening we miss the story trying to be told and unfortunately, more often then so, the song conveys real life issues and potent ideas of the world we live in but, it’s the truth. The problem with this is, that we are just as blinded to these issues and ideas in reality as we are when we listen to a song that interprets them. Just like we are blinded by subconscious racism within Hip-Hop music.

Deep seated racism plays an enormous role in the many misconceptions related to hip-hop/ rap music. The assumption that rap music is made up of a bunch of thugs, or when talking about hip-hop/rap music assuming right away that it is a black artist. With this being said when we recognize a hip-hop or rap song that is written by a white male/female we generally pay more attention to the lyrics and the story itself.

For example, in Macklemore’s song “White Privilege” he says-

“Culturally appropriated by the white face? And we don't want to admit that this is existing so scared to acknowledge the benefits of our white privilege”

Macklemore is confronting the fact that the white artist in hip-hop have transformed music into something more culturally acceptable, but also how many people tend to forget the roots of where hip-hop music lies and he explains how music should have no face, no race. Music no matter what race is writing it is authentic and this “white privilege” he talks about has led to racism within the hip-hop music culture.

Racism today is just as much of an issue within music that it is within society itself and half of the time we don’t even realize that its happening.

To see how relevant this idea of racism in music really was I started talking to a group of (white) friends about music as we all share diversity in the music we tend to listen too. I mentioned 2Pac’s song “Ghetto Gospel” and immediately this idea was thrown out there that 2Pac was degrading god and that he should be ashamed of this song. But, I asked if they had heard the song before and nobody had except me.

I expected this.

“It ain’t about black or white cause we human
I hope we see the light before it’s ruined, my ghetto gospel”-2Pac

I then proceeded to tell them that this song is about the evil that 2Pac perceived in society, and he also states reasons that our lives are ruled by fear. And, after listening to the song, many of them had opened their mind to what the song was really about and actually understood the deeper meaning, gaining an interest in 2Pac. This goes to show how stereotypes and racism are brought about through music and how music seems to be portrayed by something as little as the title of the song but, what looked like a racial stereotype happened unintentionally.