A friend sent me a youtube video
What am I supposed to say to this? Am I to lament the unfortunate
crossover appeal of black music and style creating a subsequent dredging
of substance and meaning, or should I mark this as a moment of sincere
cross cultural enthusiasm and an adoption of black space as a
celebratory vehicle, even despite its not adhering to any rules of the
form. IE, rhythm, flow, and general excellence? What are we to make of
the minstrel aspects? The performance of blackness as spectacle? The
complicity of an actual black person, still regulated to a position of
server and “homie”. What of the donning of Sunglasses, clocks, and gold
chains? In the realm that these adornments spring from, they are parts
of ritual costumes used to deny access to the individual while
paradoxically announcing that individual’s presence as a person of life,
vitality, and matter. Its seems that often it is the strip mining of the
objects, and these forms of expression that further separate the black
masses from their political and social inheritance, It is indeed a short
jump from a gold chain and clock that asks “What time is it!?, to that
great sixties anthem of collectivism answering “It’s Nation Time!”
However from the distance of winding tubes that make up the internet,
and TV media, its seems a chasm as wide as the Atlantic Ocean.
3 comments
And thanx Mekeva, for sending this to me. …..I Think…..
. . . for me to poop on.
I was considering situations when it would be ok for a white man to “rap.” The only one I can conjure is when it satirizes the utter dorkiness of the white man. For example: “If you are not well paid, then put your hands up. And if you rarely get laid, put your hands up. If you have a pet cat, then a put your hands up.” All the while you should show off your lack of dancing ability and general lack of soul. It might also be acceptable to parody a particular artist. For example: 2 live crew weatherman, DJ skrew sportscaster, or bushwick bill consumer ombudsman. Otherwise, if you are making a sincere attempt, or even a half-ass one, then you will likely fall in to the pit of satirizing African-American culture, which is obviously bad form.