I am not going to lie, I have a hard time connecting with these readings. This is mainly because I do not have much connection to rap/hip hop coming from Iowa where country music is king. Moreover, I was raised by a mother who had a fascination with classical music and that is where my heart has ended up. I will say that I understand it has an amazing cultural aspect to the African American community and it has become a main stream way for people within that community to express themselves.
The article that intrigued me most talks about how there can be some disconnect with people like me except in an Israeli sense in regards to rap as a form of musical expression. The Haaretz article spoke most on this and it had a statement about an Israeli rapper from the Tel Aviv suburbs who began to engage in rap. This may seem contradictory at first but then I started to think of what rap music has traditionally tried to express.
The Haaretz article didn't spare and expense when it came to speaking on that as well. Rap has traditionally been a means for a group such as the African American community in the United States who faced extreme cultural issues as a means to express themselves musically. I can see the natural connection and desire for Israelis who feel the same way to use rap as a means to communicate their cultural struggle.
That being said, what has traditionally turned me off to rap music is the violent nature of some of its lyrics. It makes sense why a group who is facing some sort of persecution to want to have their own identity when it comes to their musical style, but that can so easily become a means to use that musical style to express a negative response. I think that is where the violent nature of the lyrics can come in. It saddens me when people use music and the arts to promote anger and hate as compared to the special way music can draw people together.
That being said, I love the idea of people having their own cultural way of expressing music. From reggae to hip hop, to the rock and roll of the 70's, each generation has seemingly used music to express themselves. That generational gap is what makes it hard for me to connect with certain forms of music, but at the same time I still need to respect it. I just hope and desire for people to use music and the arts as a way to promote unity though a peaceful means as compared to using it to promote marginalism and hate.
I think it is interesting that you stated that people often use music to promote anger and hate through rap lyrics because I think that the point of the articles we read was to show that the rappers are creating a sense of identity and community by using lyrics that promote what they believe in.
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