HipHopandFolkTales

Mainstream American Rap, like many other art forms began as a means for people to express themselves and although it has gone through many changes and forms the objectification of women, an extremely crass language, and the continuous references to drug use are all common elements. This has made this genre of music to be dismissed as a lesser form of art than Jazz, the Blues, and Rock and Roll. Yet, there is the beauty in the rhythm of the beats. One of the greatest DJs in the history of Hip Hop, Afrika Bambaataa, said in an interview that Hip-Hop beats comes from many categories in music, for example: Hip-hop music is made up from other forms of music like funk, soul, rhythm & blues, jazz, rock heavy metal, salsa, soca (calypso), TV shows, kiddie shows, horror movies, techno, pop, disco, African, Arabic, reggae -etc. . . . and if you use any records from these categories, you will see that the music is made by people from different races or nationalities from all over the planet, but it`s roots start with black people.” Then to accompany the beats there are the lyrical talents of Hip-Hop greats like Tupac, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Ludacris, and Lupe Fiasco, just to name a few, who can easily refute this claim. The lyrics in each of their songs transcend past simple enjoyment and expression to something more. These artists can serve as the voice of a people who otherwise would be almost voiceless and thus, through Rap many have become empowered through the language presented in its music.

Zora Neale Hurston presented us a collection of Negro folk-tales in her book, Of Mules and Men. One of the stories tells of a father who, after having his daughter return all finished with school, asks his daughter to write him a letter. She agrees and the father begins dictating the letter. “ Now tell 'im, 'Dear Brother, our chile is done come home from school and all finished up and we is very proud of her. "Then he ast de girl "Is you got dat?" She tole 'im "yeah." "Now tell him some mo'.’Our mule is dead but Ah got another mule and when Ah say (clucking sound of tongue and teeth) he moved from de word.' "Is you got dat?" he ast de girl. Naw suh," she tole 'im. He waited a while and he ast her again, "You got dat down yet?" "Naw suh, Ah ain't got it yet.""How come you ain't got it?" "Cause Ah can't spell (clucking sound).""You mean to tell me you been off to school seben year and can't spell (clucking sound)? Why Ah could spell dat myself and Ah ain't been to school a day in mah life. Well jes' say (clucking sound) he'll know what yo' mean and go on wid de letter."

What Hurston presents here is the power that is present in oral language. The father has yet to understand the difference between oral and written language and so there is still a tremendous power in spoken word. This oral power continues in today’s music and it is in this way that Hip-Hop is so important and so powerful. Although it may seem like plain enjoyment or expression Hip-Hop has the ability to go past simple word like the stories presented in Hurston’s book. The stories the African-Americans tell in Hurston’s book take on more than simple stories. Many times folk tales are dismissed as a simple narrative in the minds of many but to those who listen they are much more. These folk tales carry the traditions and history of the community and in way Hip-Hop takes the place of this. media type="youtube" key="Tc3DPvbmJTo" height="344" width="425" Hip-Hop has taken this role amongst many in today’s society. I have a hard time defining who I mean when I say the many in today’s society because this genre of music has become widely popular all around the world. It does not matter what your ethnicity is, or the amount of money you have. Hip-Hop transcends and speaks to those who stop and listen. In the folk tales of the community of Eatonville in Hurston’s book there were stories of hope. In the story, “How the preacher made them Bow Down” There seems to be a man down on his luck. “Brother you don’t look like you gittin’ holt of much” says the big preacher and the man responds, “You tellin’ that right brother. Groceries is ain’t dirtied a plate today.” In this story there is an offering of hope more through praying, but there is hope that things will get better nonetheless. media type="youtube" key="1P7DEJb_OM4" height="340" width="560" Things might seem bleak for a lower-middle class kid, but when he turns on his radio and hears Kanye West rapping “I remember I couldn’t afford a Ford Escort or even a four-track recorder / so it’s only right I let the top drop on a top drop Porsche / it’s for you – that’s important” These kids then see a glimmer of hope. Kanye was just a middle class kid. His witty lyrics and catchy beats have skyrocketed him into stardom and riches. Another kid might not be performing all that well in school. He then could turn to Jay-Z, “I felt so inspired by what my teacher said / said I’d either be dead or a reefer head / I’m not sure that’s how adults should speak to kids / I teach his ass” or Kanye “My teacher said I was a loser / I told her why don’t you kill me / I give a fuck if you fail me / I’m gonna follow, / my heart…” As you can see, these songs offer inspiration to those struggling in school, in life and offers them a way out. media type="youtube" key="lacB4-gSsrk" height="344" width="425" Also, in the United States there hasn’t been a group of people that has been as oppressed and mistreated as the African-Americans. In the times of slavery they would tell stories of the massa and how the slave could outsmart the massa like in the story, “How Negroes Got Their Freedom. In many of their songs rappers express the way they feel about the way the government and other public figures and many look to them to somehow, through listening to their songs, expressing how they feel. In listening to Kanye West rapping, “Drug dealer buy Jordans / crackhead buy crack / and a white man get paid for all of that,” one would feel empowered through listening to this. There are others out there who share the feelings of helplessness and feel inspired to do something about it and like rapper Kool Moe Dee who raps, “Knowledge is infinite / suckers ain’t into it / ignorance is bliss / and they’re kin to it,” inspiring those who listen to pursue knowledge. Hip-hop has been associated to low-income African-Americans, but stop and listen to the music, but go past the beats and listen to the lyrics. There you will see the real beauty that is in these songs. Even through all the caustic language there is hope in these individuals that they will be better and these songs further empower those who listen with the necessary arsenal to be able to withstand the hardships that life throws. Like the slaves of the past listening to the folk tales of the massa being outwitted by the slaves a good Hip Hop song has the ability to transcend past simple enjoyment. media type="youtube" key="Yblw3MSviVQ" height="344" width="425"