Since its inception in the late 1970s, hip-hop has gone through many of the same cultural changes as rock 'n' roll. Both started as dance/party music (think Sugarhill Gang for hip-hop and Chubby Checker for rock) then went into their rebellious phases (Public Enemy, followed by much of the conscious rap scene of the early 90s/Bob Dylan and a lot of the folk/hippie rock of the late 60s). Following their rebellious phases, both were homogenized by the mainstream and migrated into popular and commercial culture. As they moved to the center and towards popular acceptance, the messages in both rock and hip-hop changed drastically. For rock, this started with the 80s hair metal scene and it's wildly excessive party scene. For hip-hop, it began with with the business-like sophistication of Jay-Z and optimistic feel-good raps of Kayne West and Lupe Fiasco.
Over at NPR.org, "the Pop Off team — Jay Smooth of illdoctrine.dom and pop music writer Maura Johnston of theawl.com" go in depth on the metamorphosis of hip-hop from media of the rebellion to theme song to Sex in the City 2. In introducing the broadcast, an NPR writer also brings up a god-awful, terrible, horrific, forehead-slapping commercial hip-hop based Toyota commercial (from a parody perspective though it is a lot like the vids I have seen from the Flight of the Concords guys).
Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, where the music and the message are still relevant, people are using break dancing in an attempt to motivate, unify, and encourage the youth of Uganda. Break dance sessions are bringing together kids whose lives have been absolutely destroyed by a continent at war. Using a music that by its roots was born in chants and hollers of the African tribes, break dancing and "b-boying" is giving Ugandan kids an outlet and promoting peace and cooperation through music.
BOUNCING CATS film trailer from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.
Maybe there will be a day when hip-hop in Uganda will be used to pitch mini-vans and sell movies about Manhattan socialites. Maybe that is the natural progression of popular music. At least I'll have the blues and death metal.
(By the way, while researching this post, I found Roger Ebert's review of Sex in the City 2. Besides ripping off an absolutely classic introduction, he says there is more cleavage in the movie than at a pro wrestler's wedding. I don't get it.)
