Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes - Part 5 of 6

HIP-HOP: BEYOND BEATS AND RHYMES is a riveting documentary that examines representations of gender roles in hip-hop and rap music through the lens of filmmaker Byron Hurt, a former college quarterback turned activist. Conceived as a loving critique from a self-proclaimed hip-hop head, Hurt examines issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in todays hip-hop culture.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hip Hop
• Def Jam
• Russell Simmons
• Byron Hurt
• Sut Jhally
• Politics
• Culture
• African-American
• Black Women
• Sociology
• 50 Cent
• Public Enemy
• Chuck D
• Busta Rhymes
• Racism
• Sexism
• Rap Music
• Tupac Shakur
• Masculinity

[GurlCaa]

3:24 - "I SOLD WATER LAST SUMMER..HOLLA!!!!!!"

[VESSEL1991]

that white guy was so nervous it made me uncomfortable

[TheDueI]

Damn that homo erodicism stuff was crazy true lol

"To all rappers shut up with your shutting up/

And keep your shirt on, at least a button up/

Yuck, is they rhymers or stripping males?/

Outta work jerks since they shut down Chippendales/"

-- MF Doom, Beef Rapp, MF Doom - MM.. Food? (2004).

[behinddacurtain]

8:00 Bullshit I´m white, east european wtf is that dude talking about, there is a different between white America and all other white people on this planet americans need to differentiate

[BRADSZ99]

@LIKWITCREW1 Dude. I get that. Im not denying that. Anyone who tries to tell you that they arent artists or were just spewing violence and mysogeny and whatever are just dumb. Thats not what im saying. Im saying that the rap community ebraced the "gangsta" label. They used it routinely and intentionally aligned themselves with the "gangsta" persona. It was a reappropriation of an originally negative term. the same way the "n" word or "queer" have been taken back by their communities.

[LIKWITCREW1]

@BRADSZ99 its not gangsta music and the rappers did not give it that name, no such thing as gangsta rap, you cant kill someone with words, these are artist even the most wannabe hardest rapper is an artist thats put time into the music, gangstas dont go around saying they are ,gangstas are killing are in jail, the most so called gangsta rapper is actualy being conscious even if he doesnt realize it, they are spitting stuff that people like the panthers or brown spades were soeaking without music

[BRADSZ99]

@LIKWITCREW1 just because its conscious doesnt mean its not gangsta music. it was self labeled. They were attempting to represent the common people, the silenced underclass, and make a statement. and alot of gangsta rap, NWA and PE included, is widely considered brilliant. its the trash by people like nelly, jadakiss and cam'ron that people see as harmful. I will agree with you though, that a lot of people live life with their eyes shut to reality, justifying their views with bullshit.

[BRADSZ99]

@SpikeyJamez I just think that the industry is having less of an impact now. Also i think were seeing the effect of the huge reduction in violent crime in the late nineties. Rap seems more personal, and expressive than it did in the last decade. i mean, look who's big right now. Jay Z, Kanye, Drake, Currensy, KRIT, Pusha T. The dumbasses like Nelly and CamRon and Jadakiss are out of the picture. Its being returned to an art form, not a cash machine.

[BRADSZ99]

@mcamurray hahah. ew. thats really irritating. I dont really know, I like to think that my views in some way represent the publics, but who knows. But i do think it's misguided to blame the public. the fact is, many white people have very little interaction with black people outside of hip hop, and are going to walk away with some prejudice. its a sad reality, but nearly impossible to avoid. i do think the image being portrayed today is more accurate and positive than ever. would you agree?

[LIKWITCREW1]

was no such thing as gangsta music, what people did not realize is that NWA was concious rap, listen to cubs lyrics they are mad about what crooked cops are doing what the governent not doing anything for people its just they said it in a more agreesive way that people didnt listen to it that way since it was more aggresive apporach the media named it gangsta rap, it was telling you whats going on and wrong in the hood, rappers did not name it that,,open your eyes

[mcamurray]

@SpikeyJamez what does any of this have to do w/ my comment? i'm well aware that the majority of hip hop fans in general are white. i never said i had an issue w/ white ppl liking hip hop, my issue is some of them acting as though listening to a few songs about living in the hood gives them an accurate picture of the lives of an entire community of ppl.

i hope i cleared up any misunderstandings, b/c i honestly don't know what aspect of my comment youre reacting too...

[mcamurray]

@BRADSZ99 i agree with you. i dont have an issue w. white ppl liking hip hop. i guess i didnt express myself clearly enough with that comment, but i always hated when i would go on trips sponsored by my honors program aand ended up being the only black one. all the kids would ask me the dumbest questions, or assume i was "gangsta" based on some lyrics that they heard in a rap song. even after spending weeks w/ them, theyd still be convinced that i was raised in a damn jay z song.