Race in hip hop

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Although hip hop is a primarily music oriented culture, the political significance of race sometimes comes into play, with accusations of cultural appropriation against non-black-- typically white and Asian-- performers, and charges of racism and self-stereotyping against black performers.

Contents

[edit] Overview

By the United States 2000 Census, three-quarters of the United States' population is white, while one-eighth is black. However, almost all popular rappers in the United States are black.[1] Some believe this discrepancy is a good thing; popular rapper Kanye West has said: "I hate music where white people are trying to sound black. The white music I like [sounds] white".[2]

The most notable exception to the skin color trend in rappers is Eminem, who is of mainly Scottish descent, who grew up in the primarily black city of Detroit[3]. According to the Guinness World Records in 2005, Eminem is the highest selling rapper of all time.[citation needed] In his song "White America", Eminem attributes his selling success to his being more easily digestible by a white audience, because he "looks like them."

Despite so many rappers being black, most hip hop record purchasers tend to be white, reflecting demographics and economics. According to musicologist Arthur Kempton, "Today 70 percent of hip-hop is bought by white kids".[4] Russel Simmons has said that this percentage is upward towards 80%. Record sale statistics may be misleading, though, because they can't take into account the bootleging, burning, and downloading of hip-hop CDs.

[edit] Cultural appropriation?

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White performers have long been involved in the making and development of mainstream rap, although hip hop music and hip hop culture began with and have commonly been associated with African-Americans. The derogatory term wigger is often applied to white people involved in hip hop music.

This racial stereotyping is so long established that in 2006 the music broadcaster VH-1 in partnership with egotrip created a reality TV talent show called "The (White) Rapper Show".

[edit] Accusations of racism and stereotyping

[edit] The "n-word"

[edit] Race in underground hip hop

See also: Underground hip hop

According to political rapper Zion of Zion I, socially conscious hip hop has a mainly white audience: "...so many Black people don't want to hear it. They want that thug shit." In addition to Zion, several other underground rappers, such as Boots Riley of The Coup, report nearly all-white audiences.[5]

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[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Best, Steven; Kellner, Douglas (1999). "Rap, Black Rage, and Racial Difference". Enculturation 2 (2). Retrieved on 2006-06-12. 
  2. ^ Kanye West: 'White People Should Make White Music'. Soundbuzz/Yahoo! Music (27). Retrieved on May 12, 2006.
  3. ^ http://music.yahoo.com/ar-289114-bio--Eminem
  4. ^ Anderman, Joan. "HIP-HOP SETTING THE BEAT IN FIRST, BLACK ARTISTS HOLD BILLBOARD'S TOP 10", The Boston Globe, 2003-10-04. Retrieved on June 12, 2006.
  5. ^ Kitwana, Bakari (June 24, 2005). The Cotton Club. The Village Voice. Retrieved on February 2, 2006.
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