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

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/05/27/Michael_Eric_Dyson_Can_You_Hear_Me_Now

Author Michael Eric Dyson criticizes the commercialism and sensationalism of today's hip hop. Political messages in hip hop, he argues, have been diluted. "Hip hop has now been reduced to so much commodity fetish, with the bling!"

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Sociologist and cultural critic Michael Eric Dyson talks about his book, Can You Hear Me Now? This program was recorded in collaboration with the Commonwealth Club of California, on May 27, 2009.

Named one of the 100 most influential black Americans by Ebony magazine, Dyson touches on politics, the arts and the personal, including justice, poverty, faith and spirituality.

Known as the "hip-hop" intellectual, he examines issues of class, race and poverty, and political strife. - Commonwealth Club of California

Michael Eric Dyson, named by Ebony as one of the hundred most influential black Americans, is the author of sixteen books, including Holler if You Hear Me, Is Bill Cosby Right? and I May Not Get There With You: The True Martin Luther King Jr. He is currently University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University. He lives in Washington, D.C.

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[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.

[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.

[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

[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]

@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!

[cincy2bg]

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

[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"

[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?

[cincy2bg]

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

[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