Hip Hop's 'Commodity Fetish' - Michael Eric Dyson

[nevawrong]

great speaker

[odewale123]

man sed justin timberfake, lool.

[Kinghercules]

We created HH. We deiced whats the shit and whats not. The problem is that as Afrikan Americans we are ignorant about ourselves and our history. This creates the problem of havin hit songs like "Pretty Boy Swag." We know white ppl dont like us. We know that white ppl hate our culture and that is why you have the Lil Waynes and Jay-Z out on the radio all the time and not Cesar Commanche or Immortal Technique. MED avoids the problem. The problem is white supremacy & he doesnt address it.

[Kinghercules]

Micheal Dyson is A FUCKIN JOKE!!!!!

All of yall sittin here watchin this Im sure has never watched any of Dr Amos Wilson's videos.

Its sad that ppl like this get so much air time but REAL brothas that be talkin bout REAL SHIT you dont hear about.

[cincy2bg]

@Kinghercules Im curious to know what specific criticism you have about what M.E.D said in this video?

[Kinghercules]

@cincy2bg

Well its obvious that you are a MED fan.

Have you seen any of Amos Wilson videos?

Or Dr James Smalls, John H Clarke, Marimba Ani or any REAL Black scholars videos on here?

What is MED talkin about? How mainstream media doesnt except HH in its true form? WHO GIVES A FUCK!!!!

We have to stop tryna get white ppl to except us for who we are.

And yes Elvis did like a few Black ppl...those that taught him how to dance and did his music. Besides that he was a RACIST MF!

[bennykoy]

If you are impressed with this person, then you are not too sharp yourself. "Hip Hop Intellectual"? If a person is truly "hip hop", then he is not an intellectual. If a person is an intellectual, then he DEFINITELY isn't "hip hop"! It's like Jethro Bodean saying, "I either wanna be a brain surgeon, or a street-car conductor." Again, give me a fucking break, brah!

[cincy2bg]

@bennykoy You said "If a person is truly "hip hop", then he is not an intellectual" why does hip-hop and intellectuals have to be mutually exclusive? I am curious to know your definition and understanding of hip-hop and intellectuals?

[bennykoy]

Big word, big word, intensity, big word, anger! hip-hop gesture, faster, faster! See how smart and almost black I am? Jesus Christ, give me a fucking break. "I'm an intellectual. I AM! See?"

[cincy2bg]

@bennykoy Are you referring to his articulation? Should he be forced to talk less than he know how? Lets not forget he has an ivy league PHd so there is a chance that he has vocabulary that enables him to articulate well. He is also from detroit, MI where there is a STRONG music culture (hip-hop, motown, etc) which may provoke natural expressions that you say are "hip-hop"

[coexhisting]

Malcolm/Martin/Chuck/Paris/Bro­ther Ali/Immortal/M1 all in one. Word is bond! One love Dyson. An important man that will go down in history. What a delivery!!

[KinglyNumbaOne]

If only people had enough intelligence and education to not be blown away by this man's college-level vocabulary choices, and could really comprehend what he says.

Anybody who can do that knows that Dyson does nothing but dress up trite left-wing talking points in scholarly vocabulary and spews them at lightning speed.

He is a hack and is the walking definition of the term "pseudo-intellectual."

[cincy2bg]

@KinglyNumbaOne what critique do you have of the points he made?

[oklapi]

No, quite the contrary ?

[34Illmatic]

God knows I love this guy. Long live MED!

[SonicTheRebel]

2pac's most succesful album wasn't his most political. That goes to show if you rap about money and bitches it'll sell more than rapping about real issues.

[cincy2bg]

@SonicTheRebel you make a great point. I am interested however in the influence and powere that patrons of hip-hop realize they have on the type of music that is produce. If the hip-hop community will rather buy the "money & hoes" music over other kinds then hip-hop artist have an incentive to make "money & hoes" music. So in all actuality people who support the "money & hoes" music is killing hip-hop

[omegaweapon116]

If such an intelligent man can defend hip-hop, that should be proof enough that it is a brilliant art form. The medium can be used or abused. It invokes contemplation, breaks down boundaries, and unites ppl of all cultures. This is why I love it. Not to mention the beats are dope hehe When ppl say hip-hop is garbage because of what is said in its lyrics, don't blame the artform, blame the individual. This is hard for many people.

[cincy2bg]

@omegaweapon116 You really made a great point. In the spirit of Michael Eric Dyson who is a religious scholar and lover of hip-hop i would reiterate your point with this analogy. Critics of hip-hop look at the artist and judge the art. Meaning they look at hip-hop artist and come to judgement about the hip-hop culture. This phenomenon is also evident when non- christian believers look at christians (which translates to followers of christ) and judge christ (the divine figure). This has to stop

[pong224]

@omegaweapon116 or blame the corporations who promote the same recycled garbage shit over and over again. I bet Dilla's rolling in his grave right now lol

[edupbeat]

He's right, when cube/chuck d was spitting that shit,no one was listening!Hell, Pac was about the only one who America paid attention 2. Look, pop culture doesn't want a militant, african garment donning, rapper. Its wants one with tight pants and hand bags, and designer glasses(wtf!) This is why there r so many artificial "beefs" cause u got a bunch of pussies running around with 2 much estrogen.

[Xmn32]

Elementary remarks sir!

[fdcaa3]

he alwayz go big

[TheDollaCShowLive]

Micheal Dyson is always on point.

I don't care who says what...he's on point.

[MrKingofblings]

agree! music already exist before we do.. at least have a little nobility to that?...

[S2Cents]

This guy wrote an entire book trying to argue against Bill Cosby. I don't know. Seems there are better things to do than that, especially for a black intellectual and activist. Lots of problems. I guess what Im sayin' is I humbly wonder about a person that takes such issue with Cosby....

[GuillermoMajores]

Really? What was the book about?

[LeGioNoFZioN]

there was and is support for political hip hop, but he is mentioning the far left political strain which didn't get much supoprt. he ignores the fact that other political stripes have made influence in hip hop and continue to do so.

[LeGioNoFZioN]

cling to the old rugged cross Mr Dyson, that is the only commodity we all need

[artformeandyou]

Michael Dyson seems very racial centric, and very 'color' vs 'non-color' minded. He notes one  'white' / 'black' scandal that happened, but left out many 'non racial' scandals involving hip hop. Even the notion that hip-hop is purely 'owned' according to the color of ones skin is quite offensive. This is the type of mind set that allows racism to continue. Let's move beyond the color barrier, and look to talking about culture with out racial dividers.

[S2Cents]

I wish we could. I've felt depressed lately. I'm skeptical that Americans want to move past racial mindsets. Much of the so-called "left" is obsessed with race. A focus on class would be more useful, but try telling that to any progressives...

[cinemaman3105]

A lot of progressives like myself agree with you.

[S2Cents]

Can I ask you a personal question? Are you white?

I ask this because most of the time when I have expressed my view that class, not race, is the most fundamental issue, or area in which to focus when attempting to understand and change society it is thrown in my face I am a typical white liberal that just doesn't get it. Etc. -Of course as a white male I would not take race seriously enough. I strongly disagree and can make arguments to support my view, but no matter, I'm just being white.

[cinemaman3105]

lol NO, I am Mexican-American and was raised working class, but I understand what you're saying. I wish that working class people of all races new how much more they had in common with each other than with upper middle class people of the same races.

[GuillermoMajores]

I think the mentioning of that particular scandal and the ommitance of others, was done with intent of emphasising a general point. In regard to the notion of hiphop being 'owned', I think that's synonymous the term MOBO (coined by Kanya King), meaning "music of black origin." One you may find less offensive. Also, given that he's an activist (noted by S2Cents) implies he's probably been subject to racist prejudice & discrimination, so you'd expect him to seemingly come across as racial centric.

[kmardes]

just like back then, as now, hip hop is horrible 'music'.

all of hip hop combined do not account for 1% of the originality and creativity of a Stairway to Heaven. Period.

[bawokoroma]

I think he is a preacher or at least was.

[smsthalia]

According to Wikipedia:

"He received a Ph.D. in religion from Princeton University, and is an ordained minister of the Baptist denomination."

[c0ngo]

Since his early twenties, it's a big part of who he is.

[bawokoroma]

I know exactly what you mean.

[thisismyfunnyname]

Dyson's delivery appears to be model after preachers.