Section 1 :
NEWS //
MUSIC CHANGING perception
IGGY AZALEA
AZEALIA BANKS
The music industry , as a creative dimension , has always been a vehicle of expression , giving an opportunity of escapism for those within it . The magnitude of musical genres and variety being a sphere for individuality and self expression , depicting lyrically the lives of the artists who create it . Hip hop music , or more specifically rap music , is arguably one of the biggest platforms for stating controversial opinions . With violence being outwardly considered to be inherent due to the long establishedAmerican East Coast / West Coast rivalry which has caused not only a media storm around the genre with the deaths of artists Tupac Shakur and Notorious B . I . G ., but an ingrained political and social perception that rap inspires youth violence with talks of gang culture and shootings .
However , the individuals who seemingly hold these opinions are looking in on a genre they fail to understand , misreading hip hops message and original foundations created from deep-rooted social and historical context . Today ’ s rap music is a mirror of contemporary society , of its ’ predominantly young , urban artists remaining true to it ’ s traditional lexicon of poverty to self made success , hustling and women . It ’ s ability to depict a creators story enables it to be a voice for a group , so under represented and negativelyperceived by the media . However , as with anything , as its success inclines proportionally does its ’ commercialisation and the varying forms of appropriation by new artists within the industry , increase . Although originally the oral tradition of delivering stories over drum beats and music stems from African roots , the contemporary idea of rap music is said to have been conceived in New York ’ s South Bronx , as DJ ’ s began saying rhymes over the songs they played . The industry now has
16 JUICEBOX | GIRLS SUMMER |
We look at the evolving music industry and the potential changing face of Rap ...
a persona that is predominantly black male – stars such as a Jay Z , Kanye , Lil Wayne , Drake and Kendrick Lamar . But there is always an exception to the trend , such as Eminem , an example of the way the commercialisation of the genre from the 70 ’ s until the 90 ’ s has diversified hip hop . The themes , however , have remained consistently and arguably objectionable – violence , misogyny and homophobia reoccurring through many lyrics . For successful rapers , though they do tell their ’ rags to riches ’ stories , their music is also an opportunity to showcase the scale of their success as they describe lifestyles of money , partying and multitudes of women . Many young audiences then aspire to emulate thelifestyles depicted , consequently viewing rap as one of the only ways to escape their current life .
“ THE OVER ARCHING CATALYST FOR THE EMOTIONAL REVOLT AGAINST
RAPPERS SUCH AS IGGY AZALEA IS THAT MANY BELIEVE , AS BANKS , THAT FOR HIP HOP “ THE BLACKNESS IS GONE ”
Whether the music offers escapism for it ’ s listeners or the lyrics are secondary to the sound of the genre , the industry is evolving , it ’ s diversification allowing a change in perception . The current expanding of those pushing the genre has created a feeling , amongst the originators and the ‘ die hard ’ fans of raps roots , of appropriation .
Industry ( relatively ) new-comer Iggy Azalea is an example of such controversy . The Sydney born star received 4 Grammy nominations in 2015 , including the best rap album for her 2014 release ‘ The NewClassic ’. There was uproar , mainly driven by rapper Azealia Banks , stating : “ At the very least y ’ all owe me the right to my f *** ing identity and to not exploit that sh * t ,”. Banks in a clearly emotional state , added ,“ That ’ s all we ’ re holding on to with hip-hop and rap ... I feel like it ’ s being snatched away from me orsomething ... The blackness is gone .” The over arching catalyst for the emotional revolt against rappers such as Iggy Azalea is that many believe , as Banks , that for hip hop ‘ the blackness is gone ’. It seems the disapproval is mainly at the fact Azalea , a white , blonde haired Australian is using the same themes of struggle within her music as the generations of artists before her but more for her own cause rather than participation , desensitising the genre from its ’ roots .
Highlighting of cultural appropriation within the hip hop music industry was brought to the forefront of the medias interest thanks to viral video ‘ Don ’ t Cash Crop My Cornrows ’. The video features Hunger Games star Amandla Stenberg , discussing hairstyles , twerking , grills and more as emblems of black culture that pop culture has adopted and acquired to own . Then posing the question “ What would America be like if we loved black people as much as black culture ?”. To every creator of artistic material , there is potential scrutiny and critique to the music they produce , however in a genre such as hip hop it seems that there is more pressure due to the detailed history it has . Whether the industry is changing at the hands of commodification , appropriation or just pure natural progressive evolution is arguable , and even though money is the aim , what should always come first is the music . With the music remaining the priority it is certain that there will continue to be a receptive audience and a diverse range of artists .
Words / Graphics : Caitlin Banton Illustrations : Zuleha Oshodi