American Politics & Pop Culture

Wednesday’s discussion with Professor Pate and Melisa Riviere was extremely interesting and informative. As someone who does not listen to hip-hop or rap, the panel offered insight into a genre and social/cultural milieu I was not familiar with. Both Professor Pate and Riviere are qualified experts on the topic, as they both are involved in the artistic and academic aspects of hip-hop. This idea of expertise and credibility was discussed in some depth on Wednesday. The difference between hip-hop spheres in academia and the community play an integral role in how hip-hop is understood. Professor Pate said he there should be a separation of these two spheres. In order to have critical interpretation and explanation the divide needs to be kept, otherwise hip-hop turns into nothing more than marketing and commercialism. Riviere called this a divide between practice and theory, yet at the same time hip-hop can be used to entertain and teach. She noted that hip-hop can give insights into the justice system, marginalization and social change.

The sole academic study of hip-hop may lose some experts’ credentials without the aesthetic appreciation as well. Hip-hop is meant to bring people together, and without both aspects this is harder to accomplish. Marginalized people and their product of hip-hop cannot support the exploitation experienced when hip-hop is without academic examination. Gangster rap looks at racial tensions and police brutality. Other forms of hip-hop deal with government and personal empowerment, all of which need academic exploration. These issues are not always understood by those who do not have to deal with racism or inequality. Hip-hop can act as an “excursion into cultures different than your own,” which Professor Pate said is a good thing. Though scholarship focusing on hip-hop is young, it is out there and should be used in framing social and cultural understanding.