Hip Hop influence prevalent on NSU campus
Lerone Graham
Section: Student Life
Hip Hop began in the 80s as a form of expression for young black youths, borrowing different elements and styles to create their own culture. Today Hip Hop is arguably the biggest, most influential culture in the United States. With much debate on the way Hip Hop has evolved, many wonder if Hip Hop's influence on the youth is a gift or a curse.
Five minutes on Norfolk State's campus, or any college campus for that matter, will make the influence of Hip Hop evident. Like any culture, Hip Hop culture evolves as time moves forward. In another time period on this campus, you would likely see students wearing Malcolm X t-shirts and "X" hats, playing Public Enemy or Queen Latifah.
Fast forwarding to 2007 and glancing at the same campus, you are likely to see students wearing t-shirts with slogans such as, "I Got it for Cheap" and "Virginia is for Hustlers". As the culture evolves, it appears its followers are choosing sides based on whether they feel Hip Hop is changing for better or worse.
James Barnes, a junior at Norfolk State feels that Hip Hop isn't in the hands of the people anymore. In his opinion, the powers that are in the music industry dictate which songs the people hear, which dictate which songs sell, which ultimately shape the trends and sentiments shared by the Hip Hop community.
"It got too big," Barnes said, "Anytime we create something that makes money they're going to take it away."
With recent documentaries such as "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes" and CNN's "Hip Hop: Art or Poison?" claiming that Hip Hop portrays dangerous negative stereotypes that many buy into, some are wondering whether this evolution is hurting young black people. Comedian Vince Morris commented on this idea in a standup special where he said that not only is Hip Hop popular, but it is now dictating what it means to be black. Jamilah Coleman, a freshman at Norfolk State said that if today's Hip Hop represents blackness then the black race is in trouble.
Five minutes on Norfolk State's campus, or any college campus for that matter, will make the influence of Hip Hop evident. Like any culture, Hip Hop culture evolves as time moves forward. In another time period on this campus, you would likely see students wearing Malcolm X t-shirts and "X" hats, playing Public Enemy or Queen Latifah.
Fast forwarding to 2007 and glancing at the same campus, you are likely to see students wearing t-shirts with slogans such as, "I Got it for Cheap" and "Virginia is for Hustlers". As the culture evolves, it appears its followers are choosing sides based on whether they feel Hip Hop is changing for better or worse.
James Barnes, a junior at Norfolk State feels that Hip Hop isn't in the hands of the people anymore. In his opinion, the powers that are in the music industry dictate which songs the people hear, which dictate which songs sell, which ultimately shape the trends and sentiments shared by the Hip Hop community.
"It got too big," Barnes said, "Anytime we create something that makes money they're going to take it away."
With recent documentaries such as "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes" and CNN's "Hip Hop: Art or Poison?" claiming that Hip Hop portrays dangerous negative stereotypes that many buy into, some are wondering whether this evolution is hurting young black people. Comedian Vince Morris commented on this idea in a standup special where he said that not only is Hip Hop popular, but it is now dictating what it means to be black. Jamilah Coleman, a freshman at Norfolk State said that if today's Hip Hop represents blackness then the black race is in trouble.
August 30th
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