WingsOfAnAngel
Banned
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 3
The Hip-Hop War
As the United States military now begins to occupy the nation of Iraq we are seeing a new phenomenon in the world. As a large percentage of US soldiers are Hip-Hop fans (due to the large numbers of African-Americans, Latinos and White fans in the service), and the large number of Iraqis who can access Hip-Hop via satellite television and from cds' mailed to them by relatives living in the US, we are seeing a war where Hip-Hop is being listened to on all sides.
Hip-Hop, the music that was once called "the voice of the voiceless" and the "ghetto CNN" is now the preferred music of choice for American soldiers occupying the streets, homes, government buildings, mosques and schools of Iraq. So, the music that has railed against the police in the US, due to first hand experience that artists have had, is now the music of the imported police in Iraq.
This should not be surprising, given the traditional methods of US corporate co-opting of movements. Hip-Hop definitely poses an established threat to the understood order in the US, so instead of banning, which would be almost impossible to do under US law, Hip-Hop has been commercialized and removed from its grassroots foundation. Those Hip-Hop artists who remain true to the code are denied the needed airplay that is needed on radio and television by corporate forces who wish to present an acceptable Hip-Hop.
What is acceptable? Messages glorifying crime, thuggery and destructive behavior are deemed acceptable, because not only do they sell records, but the behavior that those songs may inspire fits into an overall unstated goal of the American elite - keeping the black community weak, divided, and self-destructive.
However, messages that offer hints of liberation, universal brotherhood, social, political and cultural awareness are deemed non-marketable.
Finding artists willing to sign record deals who will rap and sing about anything no matter how stupid doesn't seem to be a problem. Artists intoxicated with the millions that they have earned and yearning for more ill-begotten games, for the most part, do not have the time to sit and think about the social ramifications of what they are saying. Instead of realizing that they can be the voice of the oppressed worldwide and make a contribution to humanity that will change the course of history, artists are satisfied to live lives full of intoxication, destructive sexual behavior and mindless consumerism.
American soldiers occupying Iraq are getting messages on their headphones that encourage them to come back to the US and have a good time and do not worry about anything unless you get disrespected by someone stepping on your shoes, and then you should blow them away. Imagine how different the scenario would be if the soldiers where listening to Common, Mos Def, or Talib Kweili? How different would it be if Muslim artists such as Freeway or Beanie Sigel where defending Islam, Muslims and those who struggle in the name of Islam, instead of defending a self destructive lifestyle? Would that American soldier think twice before they go a commit the next atrocity if his or her hero is giving a message of liberation and knowledge?
Those US soldiers coming from the ghettos and barrios of America, are now in a situation where they are taking orders from officers who hate Hip-Hop, and when they come back to the states will become the political and cultural enemies of their children. They have more in common with the people of Iraq, or the people of Palestine, than they due with their suburban born and bred commanders and the old Southern guard of the military. Yet, look at the names and faces of those who have already died in Iraq, these slain soldiers represent the have-nots in American society, those who move to the beat of Hip-Hop and those who shy away from the police, but they are in Iraq, and dying in Iraq, to become exactly what they resented in America - illegitimate power.
The most powerful voice that exists in the world today to the youth is Hip-Hop, and this is a voice that is essentially anti-establishment born in the slums of America and still today championed by artists, even if they are short sighted, grew up on the outside of American power. Hop-Hop can and should be a powerful voice that will tell the other side of the American story, and be the counter-commercial to the selling of pax-Americana.Hip-Hop can be the voice that makes the US soldier lay down his weapon, the high school student walk away from his recruiter, the gang banger put down his gun, and the young person who decides to reach for the stars, but in order to reach that potential a civil war is needed in Hip-Hop and I hope and pray for that day to come soon Allah willing.
Umar ben-Ivan
Umar ben-Ivan is an American Muslim freelance writer and activist.
As the United States military now begins to occupy the nation of Iraq we are seeing a new phenomenon in the world. As a large percentage of US soldiers are Hip-Hop fans (due to the large numbers of African-Americans, Latinos and White fans in the service), and the large number of Iraqis who can access Hip-Hop via satellite television and from cds' mailed to them by relatives living in the US, we are seeing a war where Hip-Hop is being listened to on all sides.
Hip-Hop, the music that was once called "the voice of the voiceless" and the "ghetto CNN" is now the preferred music of choice for American soldiers occupying the streets, homes, government buildings, mosques and schools of Iraq. So, the music that has railed against the police in the US, due to first hand experience that artists have had, is now the music of the imported police in Iraq.
This should not be surprising, given the traditional methods of US corporate co-opting of movements. Hip-Hop definitely poses an established threat to the understood order in the US, so instead of banning, which would be almost impossible to do under US law, Hip-Hop has been commercialized and removed from its grassroots foundation. Those Hip-Hop artists who remain true to the code are denied the needed airplay that is needed on radio and television by corporate forces who wish to present an acceptable Hip-Hop.
What is acceptable? Messages glorifying crime, thuggery and destructive behavior are deemed acceptable, because not only do they sell records, but the behavior that those songs may inspire fits into an overall unstated goal of the American elite - keeping the black community weak, divided, and self-destructive.
However, messages that offer hints of liberation, universal brotherhood, social, political and cultural awareness are deemed non-marketable.
Finding artists willing to sign record deals who will rap and sing about anything no matter how stupid doesn't seem to be a problem. Artists intoxicated with the millions that they have earned and yearning for more ill-begotten games, for the most part, do not have the time to sit and think about the social ramifications of what they are saying. Instead of realizing that they can be the voice of the oppressed worldwide and make a contribution to humanity that will change the course of history, artists are satisfied to live lives full of intoxication, destructive sexual behavior and mindless consumerism.
American soldiers occupying Iraq are getting messages on their headphones that encourage them to come back to the US and have a good time and do not worry about anything unless you get disrespected by someone stepping on your shoes, and then you should blow them away. Imagine how different the scenario would be if the soldiers where listening to Common, Mos Def, or Talib Kweili? How different would it be if Muslim artists such as Freeway or Beanie Sigel where defending Islam, Muslims and those who struggle in the name of Islam, instead of defending a self destructive lifestyle? Would that American soldier think twice before they go a commit the next atrocity if his or her hero is giving a message of liberation and knowledge?
Those US soldiers coming from the ghettos and barrios of America, are now in a situation where they are taking orders from officers who hate Hip-Hop, and when they come back to the states will become the political and cultural enemies of their children. They have more in common with the people of Iraq, or the people of Palestine, than they due with their suburban born and bred commanders and the old Southern guard of the military. Yet, look at the names and faces of those who have already died in Iraq, these slain soldiers represent the have-nots in American society, those who move to the beat of Hip-Hop and those who shy away from the police, but they are in Iraq, and dying in Iraq, to become exactly what they resented in America - illegitimate power.
The most powerful voice that exists in the world today to the youth is Hip-Hop, and this is a voice that is essentially anti-establishment born in the slums of America and still today championed by artists, even if they are short sighted, grew up on the outside of American power. Hop-Hop can and should be a powerful voice that will tell the other side of the American story, and be the counter-commercial to the selling of pax-Americana.Hip-Hop can be the voice that makes the US soldier lay down his weapon, the high school student walk away from his recruiter, the gang banger put down his gun, and the young person who decides to reach for the stars, but in order to reach that potential a civil war is needed in Hip-Hop and I hope and pray for that day to come soon Allah willing.
Umar ben-Ivan
Umar ben-Ivan is an American Muslim freelance writer and activist.
