So Channel 4 in the UK, aired a show called 'How Hip Hop changed the world'...
Now I was raised on Old school Hip Hop, and in the top 50 slots of the show, there were some undoubtedly correct slots - everything from GrandMaster Flash, Cool Herc, Run DMC - you know...all the stuff you would expect to be in there..
And they consulted the Mega stars of HipHop for their opinions such as Jessie J & N Dubz......
WHAT???
Since when do N Dubz have any authority on HipHop?
And so they must have consulted some "pretty serious " names (quote from the show- i'm thinking JayZ and the like..), and in amongst ALL the moments you could choose for a lifestyle that has impacted literally EVERYTHING, what is the number one moment that is 'picked'??
President Obama getting elected as president.
Don't get me wrong, its cool and all that, but its hardly Hip Hop is it?? Politics, yes but Hip Hop, no.
But then it goes on to say that there were a few rappers that were pulled in to his campaign (Jay Z, LL Cool J, Nas) and after all, Obama did say he liked listening to a bit of Jay Z, so i guess its all ok...
I love it when a sub culture that grows out of the ghetto, has hard beginnings, influences the world for a positive impact (and before you start, its not about gangsters and all that - it never was - the hip hop elements NEVER featured gangs, guns or bling), and then along comes politics claiming it for themselves.
I guess that if you asked any B Boy or B Girl their opinion, I suspect that they wouldn't have chosen Obama as their ambassador., but he chose Hip Hop to be included in his values, but only when it suited him. Call me cynical, but I'm sure he hit a target group of people that was ready to vote for him...or vote for his values such as Hip Hop, even though he aint got a clue.
If N Dubz and Obama represent Hip Hop, then I think they must mean another Hip Hop than what I know.
Well done channel 4, you managed to try to Hijack Hop Hop for MTV, Politics and Gangsters - I only hope the Hip Hop community is wise enough to sort out the true moments in your top 50, from the crap.
Rant over.
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