The Vision of the Hip-Hop Generation
The vision of the hip-hop generation and its young people was in full and glorious effect last night. While many older Americans -- who marched and struggled so hard so Senator Obama could run for president of the United States -- never dared to believe in his candidacy's real potential, young people, particularly the hip-hop community, had faith and their imagination became our reality.
The election of Barack Obama, a resounding progressive voice, is a clear reflection of hip-hop politics. It is a reflection of the 35 million people who downloaded Eckhart Tolle's The New Earth, and all of the other popular books espousing this new, emerging consciousness. Promoting love, compassion and generosity over fear, anger and greed; promoting lasting peace through dialogue and opportunity will be more economic to the American people in these troubled times than the promotion of war. Obama's election as president is a beautiful testament to the American collective consciousness that is flowering. This more loving consciousness will be necessary to protect us from some of our hurtful human choices and tendencies. We will need it to create balance with the constantly emerging advances in technology so, going forward, we can use these advances in a positive way to lift up Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.
I don't think I'm overstating it when I say that today, I feel like America has dodged a bullet. Let's support this beautiful leader to do the work necessary to promote and execute on the change agenda we all voted for. Let's each do our part to insure that this is a transformative time in America, where our country can be a leader in creating a positive and lasting change in the world.
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"... Barack Obama, a resounding progressive voice..." Whatever gave you that idea?
Mr. Simmons,
If your nuanced comments got lost, it is possibly due to a culmination of many factors.
MOTOWN, the sound of Young America, could also be credited with this long journey.
Over 65 million of Americans had a stake in making this happen including the Sound of Young America and the Rock 'n Roll generation. I am not particularly a fan of hip hop but I respect your claim in this result....
We all have a stake in it. One could not have happened without the other. There is no time for divisiveness. That is is what the rethuglicans want......
Well said bokiluis. I could not agree more.
Interesting that you would interpret this post as "divisive". On what do you base that? If you do not feel that you are a member of the hip hop generation then you are not. So what? Why is the impetus on denying the validity of others you clearly do not know? Who is being divisive here?
Hip Hop "generation"? I remember cliques in high school being organized around tastes in music...bu
Hip Hop is no more (or less) relevant than any other musical genre. To label an entire generation hip hop is as meaningful as the "Pepsi Generation".
On a more personal note, I find the language of hip hop to be offensive, not the vulgarity mind you, I mean the all out abuse of the English language. It's as if the artist(s) spent months "making up" new ridiculous words, and it is this language that most defines what hip hop is to me.
If anything Barack Obama is the opposite of Hip Hop. His command of language, his ability to speak to very complex issues unscripted is real evidence of his brilliance. It is impossible to express these concepts in the adolescent language of hip hop.
I'm aware of the limits of my own perspective so (to anyone) please don't waste keystrokes defining Hip Hop for me. In the end, it's art, and that's all it is.
Stop projecting your cluelessness. If you think that there is no hip hop generation, you are in that tradition of writing Black and Latino youth out of history. Continuing to denigrate all that they have accomplished, for example, spreading the culture all over the world before the internet, making gold when radio did not play hip hop, having the same language you hate spoken all over the world by other youth, then it is clear that you are just not paying attention.
That's alright, though, it is perfectly your right to do so. But just because you are blind, don't project that onto others. No one needs to define anything for you. The mind is clearly closed. Enjoy it nonetheless!
People all over the world wear Levi's too. Is there a Blue Jeans Generation? Get over yourself man, it's just music. Spreading a style around, or having some hit records are _not_ grand political accomplishments.
Mr. Simmons, I would go out on a limb and say that Barack Obama won despite your "hip-hop" politics. A subculture that perpetuates stereotypical behavior, glorifies ignorance and materialism, defers taking on the actual ills of society by talking about cars women and alcohol and warps the image of what relationships should be to an extreme level of self indulgent lack of commitment. Mainstream hip-hop has been subjugated by corporate avarice and proft centered mentality, where once original and creative ideas have been regurgitated and overtly marketed cultural black hole. Maybe if you said, the hip hop of the eighties and early nineties which actually stood for something, told stories of hardships, dreams, and ideals akin to "fight the power" or "the message", has finally triumphed then perhaps I would agree with you. But to equate the vapid and unproductive state of hip hop with President Obama's image is self serving for you sir.
The reason Obama won and is such an inspiration to MANY is because he transcends all these labels which men like you happily would place on him. In his books Mr. Obama portrays his character as one who finds this categorization, this imposed naming, these monikers unappealing. President Obama isn't merely black, or white, he isn't Hip Hop, he supercedes these images and stands for something higher, which is hope, compassion, responsibility, and progression. I would ask you to look beyond such petty and confining labels and realize that this is somthing greater.
I was preparing to respond to Russell with precisely the same sentiments, but you wrote it far more eloquently and concisely than I could have. Kudos.
I am technically a member of the hip hop generation, though I now detest the music and the culture - there may be an element of it that pays lip service to love and peace, but for the most part the culture is brutish, ignorant and a celebration of self-centeredness and violence.
Is this guy back on drugs, or what?
You know, Arianna, as a black man I believe in diversity, but this is ridiculous.
Who's your next black writer going to be, OJ Simpson?
ricland
Hmmm, I wonder if Hip Hop nation would've brought the same level of enthusiasm for Kucinich: a far more progressive candidate than Obama. This is not about progressive politics. Let's just skip the pretense, shall we.
I understand SImmon's sentiment, but I just don't buy it. It doesn't take a genius to see that Prop 8 passed because a large segment of the so-called Hip Hop generation, and African Americans in general, voted for it. Explain to me how voting to strip rights from gay people who just want what heteros have promotes love, compassion, and generosity. There were other issues in this election in addition to voting for the president, issues that will impact people more immediately and more directly.
So, with all due respect, Mr. Simmons, you're simply putting lipstick on the pig.
The Hip Hop community made a large contribution to this campaign,
we did not dominate the vote but represented in numbers larger than 2004-
The Hip Hop community has to be careful about their role in this win,
Yes, we did it! But we did as a small partner, with a large number of
young people of all backgrounds, 50% of the suburban white vote,
66% of the Latino vote, the Union vote, lastly votes that came in lastly
from people over 45, and the gay vote-
This was a "we are the world" win for Obama,
yes everyone can take credit, but we shouldn't make the mistake
of thinking we could do it on our own.
I'm happy to be black and witness this win-
but I know in my heart that latinos, whites, asians, gays and others
made this a reality...
Do you think hip-hop "promotes love, compassion and generosity over fear, anger and greed"?
a good one, nee.
Mr. Simmons, this was the week that my partner and I finally felt shut out of full participation in our own country. Proposition 8 fell like a portcullis between us and our future. Not every American was allowed to dodge a bullet.
Not to worry, we'll wave to you all from the interment camps.
bullshit, your supposed progressive hip-hop is the exact reason the increased black vote aided prop 8. Until hip-hop can voice itself with respect for women and without homophobia your "progressive" hip-hop politics is a crock
bush sure had us singin the blues long enough
No doubt that the hip-hop movement was very helpful in inspiring youth vote. The Will I.am, Yes We Can video is mainstream, but I am also aware of grittier examples.
http://new
Enjoy.
I need facts that hip-hop played a major role in Obama's election. "Tons of hip-hop artists got out the vote", won't do. Also, hip-hop does not have universal rights on virtues, like love, peace, and brotherhood. Just some facts please.
Relax for Christ sakes
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