Hip Hop History Essay, Research Paper

Music is the most powerful vehicle of human

expression. As the embodiment of love, disapproval,

happiness, experience ? life, music speaks to us, because it

comes from us. Each people, in each paradine of the human

experience instinctively and systematically change the music

of the past to represent the realities of the present. In

this century, black music, more specifically Hip Hop/Soul

music, has been that music that has brought to plain view

that which evidences our humanity ? hope, hurt, joy and

passion ? in such a way that the world has no other choice

than to feel its power and marvel in its brilliance. When

one discusses the relationship between Soul music and the

civil rights movement, it becomes a dialogue very akin to

that of the chicken and the egg. The period of ?Classic

Soul? is that period primarily, but not exclusively

referenced as the 1950?s, 60?s and 70?s (Stephenson 186).

This is the time frame of the American Civil Rights

Movement, and the impact of the massive changes going on,

are reflected in the music and the culture. So one would be

correct in both assuming that the Civil Rights Movement gave

rise to Soul music, as

much Soul music contributed to the success of the campaign

for civil rights. Soul music during its heyday, did more

than simply entertain. For a race of people it served as a

source of motivation, strength and education, for a people

immersed in turmoil and tragedy. The institution of

segregation had effectively inhibited the general populace?s

awareness of the great achievements and contributions made

by African-Americans throughout the history of the United

States (Franklin 429). Inasmuch, Soul music sought to bring

that undersight to light. Soul songs like Donny Hathaway?s

?To Be Young, Gifted and Black,? was revolutionary, in that

they sought to instill pride of one?s history, but at the

same time motivate a new generation to reach new heights. As

Hathaway says, ?We must begin to tell our young, ?Don?t you

know that there is a whole world waiting for you???, he is

calling for the teaching of black pride to the youth, which

was a wide spread trend in black communities of the ?60s and

?70s (Hathaway). James Brown?s ?Say It Loud, I?m Black and

I?m Proud,? became an anthem for the movement (Brown). The

song?s lyrics like, ??.Don?t quit moving, until we get what

we deserve?we?d rather die on our feet, than keep living on

our knees,? were words of inspiration for those involved in

the struggle for equality. ?Whereas the predominant theme of

rhythm and blues was love and other kind of human

relationships, soul singers voiced concern about the social

injustice, racial pride, black militancy, and forms of

protest (Southern 517).? Eileen Southern?s statement on Soul

music greatly describes the type of works produced by

Hathaway and Brown at the time, yet was definitely not

exclusive to these two artists. The period wherein Soul

intertwined with the Civil Rights Movement, produced music

greatly influenced by the environment in which its creators

lived. Donny Hathaway?s, ?Ghetto,? and Marvin Gaye?s ?Inner

City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler),? speak of the harshness

of life in the Inner City (Hathaway/Gaye). Societal ills and

political unrest were a major theme of Soul music, and

Marvin Gaye?s work, almost more than any other artist, was

demonstrative of this fact. Gaye?s album What?s Goin On, was

his commentary on the social problems of the period, and

through its success tremendously impacted the increasing

social awareness. Despair within the black community was

given voice in Gaye?s ?Inner City Blues?. Inflation, taxes,

unemployment and police brutality were numbered among the

themes addressed in the song. The sense of hopelessness of

the piece can best be conveyed in the line saying, ?this

life ain?t worth the living?.makes me wanna holler, throw up

both my hands!?(Gaye). ?Save the Children? goes on to ask:

?Who is willing to try and save a world that is destined to

die??, yet goes on to say ?live life for the children?let?s

save the children (Gaye). So, even in the midst of great

despair, Gaye, and other artist of his genre, did believe in

the possibility of change. “Ball of Confusion,” debuting in

1970, gave the Temptation’s take on the societal ills

plaguing their times. It explored the white migration to the

suburbs, urban riots, politicians, etc., as it expressed the

sense of turmoil experienced during that time which seemed

to all come together in a “Ball of Confusion.” The lyrics

state that “the only person talking about love my brother is

the preacher?the only person interested in learning is the

teacher”(Temptations). These lines express a theme of love

and education as the cure to society’s problems. In a deeper

sense, it says that people should focus on solutions, not

the problems which create despair. In the spirit of this

solution-based songwriting, a strong, no-holds-barred

message to youth about the importance of getting an

education was given voice in October of 1966. James Brown’s

“Don’t Be a Drop Out” is a story of a drop out who compares

himself to friends who continued their education. The song

says, “they kept on pushing when the going got tough, and

now they know that things don’t seem so rough”(Brown). James

Brown knew the importance of this first hand having no

formal education. He implemented a program which encouraged

kids to stay in school and gave scholarships for those that

wanted to go to college. Brown also worked to improve the

quality of education in urban areas. He later releases two

anti-drug songs, “King Heroin” and “Public Enemy No. 1.” He

had realized the devastation that drugs brought to the black

community and the songs were used as the tool to educate

blacks about their danger. James had become a role model for

black youth not only through his music but through his

commitment to the black community, thus serving as a shining

example of the lessons of his music. Brown’s message of

change by improving currently existing systems was

conservative in comparison to some more radical artists.

These artists, like the Last Poets, believed that change

would only come around through a revolution. The Last Poets

who use a combination of spoken word and music in their song

“Niggers Are Scared of Revolution” exemplify this. The song

addresses apathy in the black community about black

revolution and the lack of participation in the movement

(Last Poets). Gil Scott Heron is an artist with a similar

message. His work “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”

discuss the media’s purposeful ommitance of pertinent black

issues, and the manner in which change will occur. The song

“Power to the People” by the Chi-Lites was originally the

slogan for the Black Panther Party. “Young, Gifted and

Black” by Nina Simone, “People Get Ready” by the Impressions

and Edwin Starr’s “War” are just a few of the many songs

which drew the black community together to raise social

consciousness. Black music, specifically Soul music, will

never disappear. Though the motivation for the music may

change nominally, the spirit behind it will always stay the

same. Passion, pain, despair, love and hope, will forever

remain key elements of the human experience. This truth is

the reason in which we have seen Soul music change to fit

the times in which it exists. Some hip-hop artists such as

De La Soul, Public Enemy and even Arrested Development

carried a strong message of social change. Yet, their time

too was limited as the black American climate slightly

changed. Today artist such as the crowned king and queen of

the newly dubbed category of “Neo-classic soul” bear the

torch. D’Angelo and Erykah Badu talk about revolution and

the state of the black community and relationships. Badu’s

“On and On” expresses her thoughts of how she feels that we

are born into the middle of a world in constant struggle as

she says, “?.my life keeps going like a rolling stone?..I

was born under water with three dollars and six dimes (a

metaphor to 360 degrees in reference to her never-ending

struggle)”(Baduizm). D’Angelo addresses the rampant use of

marijuana in his “Brown Sugar” as he writes, “I want some

more of your brown sugar?.your love makes me high right to

the sky?.my eyes are blood burgundy.” His Devil’s Pie

addresses drugs and money (Belly Soundtrack). Both Badu and

D’Angelo give their takes on bad relationships in “Tyrone”

and “Shit, Damn, Mother Fucker,” respectively. Badu’s “Other

Side of the Game” even addresses the issue of being involved

with a man who sells drugs. She writes, “Do I really want my

baby?..work ain’t honest, but it pays the bills.” The

subject matter addressed by Badu and D’Angelo express many

of the problems endured by today’s generation, some of which

may not have been experienced in the same manner of

generations past. Music is an expression of life. Hence, it

can only be a reflection of life’s experiences. Soul music

speaks directly to the human experience. It attacks the

maladies of our existence. It empathizes with our pains, and

rejoices in our happiness. Masterfully, has it changed so as

that it remains sensitive to our needs today. Only the beat

has changed. The Soul of soul, however, the message, will

always remain.