Versus Hip Hop on Trial Debate

Jesse Jackson, KRS-One, Q-Tip, Estelle, ?uestlove, P. J. O'Rourke, Jaron Lanier, and 14 other rappers, poets, academics and pundits came together in London on 26 June to debate the motion, 'Hip-Hop on Trial: Hip-Hop Doesn't Enhance Society, It Degrades it', chaired by the BBC's Emily Maitlis, and moderated online by Jemima Khan.

Presented by Intelligence Squared and Google+, it was the third in their new joint debate series, Versus. The first ever global debate on hip-hop saw fierce arguments put forward by speakers who were live on stage, and also beamed into the event via Google+ Hangouts, a live multi-person platform.

• Category

  News & Politics

[bonitaapplebum00]

I hate these types of debates/discussions because people arguing against hip hop treat it like it's this monolithic entity where it only sounds one way or they'll use some negative lyric as the face of the whole genre.

When in reality it's just like any other art form...there are positive aspects to it and there are negative aspects. Find some shit you like and keep it movin'

[Angel Tezel]

It's more so the the commercialization of gangsta rap being the most dominant form of rap in the mainstream. People don't want to hear conscious rap in the mainstream. Which is why we have the Lil Wayne's & Jay-Z's and others as the most popular Hip-Hop artists. Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco are good but are not as dominant as these other rappers. People complain about Hip-Hop image, sex, money, misogyny, violence but when someone who is conscious comes along the majority don't want to listen it.

[David Romero]

Professor Rose KILLED it. Absolutely bodied it. Sad that most people on that panel couldn't even begin to understand her critiques.

[David Romero]

Professor Rose KILLED it. Absolutely bodied it. Sad that most people on that panel couldn't even begin to understand her critiques.

[footballmaniac88]

KRS-One's killed his first response that was crazy

[Dragon Musk]

Conscious rap (Illogic, Immortal Technique, Aesop Rock, Lupe Fiasco, etc) is a fine art in my opinion. Fine art is more complex and acquired. To like conscious rap, I think it's about having some awareness/appreciation/desire instilled. It's like choosing broccoli over French fries. Conscious rap is beneficial and educational imho. Thankfully, the internet may immerse us in mainstream, but it's also a place to escape it! :-)

[bigruexxl]

They have banned all the critical social conscious rappers from TV because they are too dangerous! It's a fairy tale that everybody wants to listen to cheap gangsta rap or plastic beats. You can become adjusted to listen to it therefore they play this crap on heavy rotation. Groups like Public Enemy and N.W.A. influeced my thinking - not only mine. That's the danger for all the real criminals like politicians. They want this system and they don't want people thinking critical about it.

[Kevin Dublin]

Michael Eric Dyson took them to church! Was Tricia Rose suggesting that because a majority audience buying rap is White males that Black rappers should make their music for white males? Nah, let them go to lonely island and pop some tags. If I may so quote the eloquent and concise Dyson, "nigga please!"

[bullboombap]

Michael Eric Dyson is an absolute embarrassment. He should have never been chosen to lead this debate. KRS One is completely delusional. What a joke.

[bullboombap]

"Society" is not who is producing and marketing mainstream hip hop. It's mainstream hip hop, or should I say "pop," music artists. Although I shouldn't refer to them as artists. You have to be accountable for what you put out to the world when you have the platform to do so. It's pitiful.

[bullboombap]

Why doesn't everyone get honest. The fact is they didn't define the topic in debate. The side AGAINST is talking about current, mainstream hip hop. The side FOR is talking about the positive aspects throughout the history of hip hop culture. Current mainstream hip hop is just pop music that abuses women and black culture with negative stereotypes for money. That is, unfortunately, the most widespread & impactful part of hip hop currently. It's a disgrace & shouldn't even be considered hip hop