Today, a huge gap exists between "pop" rap music and "underground" rap music. Through listening to various rap concentrations and genres I have discover influential media that redirects my ideals about current rap music. Pop rap consists of talk about women, money, fame, and abusive substances. In contrary, underground rap, a true vision to 'underground' society, exemplifies the purpose and movement of rap culture. Take for example, Sam Adams, and aspiring "pop rapper" who puts out songs such as "Drivin me crazy" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cpOMtfqJZ4) which emphasizes the college life and 'getting with' college girls. This classifies as "pop" rap-- A song to make college girls dance. This is an example of a song and message fabricated by the media. The media, or medium of music, is shaped by the individuals deciding what is 'popular music' or what is dispensable.
There exists an entirely different rap culture. This is where my "new artifact" derives from. Through my life experience, I have stumbled upon a "real rapper" (as actual underground rap fans would describe him) who doesn't succumb to industry standards. Reef the Lost Cuaze is an underground Philadelphia rapper who refuses to sign a contract with any main studio. He describes through his music a hesitation and hate relating to doing what record execs want of him (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKNNezzxM7s). Reef States, "My pockets still flat, as years go by I feel that, I’ll never make it, record exects; like you're not good enough kid face it.."Reef's refusal is due to the fact that the studios refuse to accept his messages through the media about his life and his triumphs.
Media labels such as Interscope, Universal, and Sony distribute media that they believe the public desires. Underground rappers, the individuals with a real message, fall to the way-side, because industry executives believe the public won't 'understand' their message.
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting point. It seems that a contract with a recording company requires and artist to conform to the company's standards. With that said, I wonder to what extent the music we hear daily is inspired by the artist or an executive. It would be interesting to note the subject matter of a particular wrapper both before and after a record deal so that comparisons might be made.
Your post raises important questions such as the commercialization of rap as a form of countercultural resistance. It'll be great if you could make connection with the key question raised in the Media/Society book-- Is it possible for widely circulating mass media texts to be oppostional or counterhegemonic? (p. 182, 183)
ReplyDeleteAlso your judgement about what counts as 'authentic' music also raises the question: what makes music authentic? Is there any common standards to judge them with?
It's bold to take on this controversial topic, though. Good job.
Joe's suggestion about comparing the before/after of a record label is a good idea. There should be studies like this.
d.