Comments on: Hip Hop and the South Side

By: Esteban

Esteban — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:21:21 +0000

Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after looking at a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
Regardless, I’m certainly pleased I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!

By: anonomous

anonomous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:16:23 +0000

So if u can I’m asking spread the word and see if you can do something about this is killing our kids culture and race

By: anonomous

anonomous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:13:48 +0000

And also being a man who care about the kids of tommorow and who has turned towards christ I tried too give you the best description I could of how too help our kids and o yes parents monitor what your kids do watch all of that their friends who they hang out with keep in touch with teachers and be aware of signs tht they are slipping away into what society wants or gang life drug usage and look for signs such as slipping grades change in personality talk , slang,dress,if there out late at night sleepong all day. Take thes serious and find out what is going on so you can save them ..ike the bible says: raise a child in the way he should go and in the end he will not depart from you

By: anonomous

anonomous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:04:27 +0000

I know you all may not understand if your not with the hip hop culture or for tht matter blackbut Ithere are a lot of. Concerns in the black community tht are all self destructive such as no desire too learn better ourselves getting good grades is being white speaking properly is white you have too be tough and have street cred instead of building ourselves in school and preparing for the real world so we can compete in job market..believe me the streets do nun for us but kill us only two options out in the street either you’ll be killed or on drugs or in jail and thts basically what the streets do too us black people now if your not black. You goytta understand are pains of what thts like too be tricked into a lifestyle from a lack of knowledge and no escaping it because is all around you and thts all you look up too because your dads not in your house basically you have no option soon ypur mom goin let you outside and next thing you know one thing leads too another you find drugs(which is easy on the street) gangs find u and is all downhill from there you gotta understand a lot of blacks don’t have a fair chance because of where th ey come from is not our choice we wewe were young didn’t know anybetter and it look cool at the time …somost blackk people would agree with me and say yea this is basically the truth of how young kids live these days..I say get them involved in as many activitys as you can if you hear them ttalk about gangs or smoking or drinking disipline. Them and save there life so tht they could make this country world city a better place for us and until we take steps foward as a race were taking steps back…this is what is like in black americat may seem hopeless but all we can do is save our youth before they get swept away i

By: claude

claude — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:41:59 +0000

believe me i know all about this growing up in chicago @anonomus we observe this first hand and i think others like u need too step up and bring light too this

By: anonomous

anonomous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:38:17 +0000

as a member of a orginization known as black peace stone nation and also growing up with original mentality of not too harm the innocent i believe in…in chicago ive been thru much in my years a life of drugs drama and bullshit tht has stopped me from being all i can be and because of it it has held me back it life but tht does not keep me from trying too better the younger kids and promote peace too them and try too help them make better decisions and see what hip hop and also gangs does too us…..hip hop especially today does nothing for us like it was said in the article all it does it bring light too what already happening in the community and glorifies it also as being a young black male i also see the negative side of things it causes other young male and females too do pop pills live the fast life throwing away your future too rap sellin drugs glorifying murder is just crazy n naive i even had too back out of this lifestyle cuz it was so out of order..but im blessed too have my sanity or what little sanity i do have after living recklessly so long…really wat rap is doing is showing the culture of glorifying gangs whether it be bricksquad young money or taylor gang is a gang life style(but new generation of get high reck some get females money and chase that every day so tht all it is mainstream gang culture and is turning all the minds of vulnerable innocent kids tht dont even have nun too do with gangs and affect them is a sad but true statistic cuz the minority is becoming the majority so unless we do some about it innocent people are going too keep getting affected n kids going too be more and more reckless younger and younger because this music promotes reckless living and not caring about nun but gns money killing cars women etc

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 16 May 2011 02:14:21 +0000

A great breakdown of this complex interrelationship. This feel like the intro to a much greater work – I’d like to see you continue this investigation and explore what it looks like/takes to understand, engage and counterbalance these negative influences. No doubt a lot of work needs to be done in this area and you might be able to provide ample leadership to others in this regard. Solid work!

By: Patrice

Patrice — Tue, 10 May 2011 22:11:19 +0000

Julie your paper is very organized and well constructed. I love how you take your reader on the journey with you at the beginning of this piece. As I was reading your paper I was looking for information that would be new to my understanding of hip hop since it is the culture that I have grown up in and am familiar with.
I am not sure I understand where John Allen is getting his information from when he says, “When it first started hip hop was laced with hard subjects but had a beauty to it as well. People were trying to explain how they were feeling during the difficult era of the civil rights movement and rap provided a non violent, yet raw and honest way to express the struggles of their reality.” Is he talking about hip hop music or the hip hop culture? During the civil rights movement African Americans wrote Negro spirituals which are basically the same as gospel songs today. Hip hop rap music wasn’t birthed during that time.

I liked the history part of your paper, but for many that may not be familiar with hip hop I think it would do your paper justice if in the section you explain the difference between the hip hop culture and hip hop rap. Rap is a form of music esteemed from the hip hop culture. Hip hop – the culture is a lifestyle . Hip hop is something you live, how you dress, and how you talk. Rap is something you do!
Great work!

By: Graham

Graham — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:34:20 +0000

With little left to say, (being toward the end of the line) I have to commend for the great construction of your paper as far as organization and headings are concerned.

As for the points. I like that they are so well structured, it seems as though you could build on this for a year, and maybe you will, but it seemed as though maybe you had more to say. I do think Alexis is right in recommending links and examples constantly. You have a very specific and tight genre which many people are unaware of. Thanks for informing us.

By: Lauren Neustel

Lauren Neustel — Tue, 10 May 2011 05:07:33 +0000

I obviously knew that hip-hop and rap were influencing their cultures but I had no idea to the extent. Lip piercings, hair cuts, the way you dress… I never realized each of these things was representational of a different artist.

It is evident through your extensive research and interviews that you are passionate about this subject and see the consequences with the youth you work with. I really appreciated the hyperlinks to the music you mentioned. But can you include links under the “Breaking Molds” section. You only have one by Trip Lee but you mention other artists and I’d like to see which songs of theirs you gravitate toward.

I really like the quotation about theology coming out of fingertips. It was something I thought about as I read each section (and was very beneficial). Maybe you could guide the reader to do this (in the tragic event that they don’t do it for themselves).

Great work Julie!

By: Emily.M

Emily.M — Mon, 09 May 2011 18:31:36 +0000

I can definitely relate to Jerod’s comment. I too am quite unfamiliar with hip-hop culture, but you’ve done a wonderful job of breaking down the key elements of culture as portrayed negatively though hip-hop. The categories of drugs, gangs, violence, authority, education, and women, insightfully informed me of this cultural reality many kids find themselves in today. I loved the quote that read hip-hop “galvanizes what has already been circulating in the culture.” That is a very powerful quote and deeply helpful in understanding this conversation.

Another quote I found intriguing said that “hip-hop is unique in that it goes beyond talking being violent.” It makes violence seem normal. Interestingly enough, this idea paralleles with Patrice and her work on teens and television.

Overall, I’m really glad to have read this. Thanks for bringing to light this, if I may, this “galvanization.”

By: Jerod Wanner

Jerod Wanner — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:23:07 +0000

Being almost entirely unfirmiliar with the hip hop culture this post was incredible insightful. Your way of drawing the corelations between hip hop culture and the actions of its listeners was unavoidably clear. As long as these artists continue to permeate these values to kids and present them in a glorified state. I feel like this is arguement has been raised so many time without any real resolve. You explain how rappers are attempting to create there art in a way that pushes dignity and morality onto its listeners but what has the feedback loop looked like on that end? In your experience do these Christian artists speak to these inner city kids? I’m just wondering if your noticing them and seeing their importance just because your looking for it. Are these artists reaching these kids and if so are the kids listening?

All around phenomenal paper in which you really presented a heart felt overview of a very serious issue. Thanks for this.

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Mon, 09 May 2011 00:22:05 +0000

Your paper is incredibly well-researched and thought through. I was very interested in learning about this type of culture that I do not know much about. I was slightly misdirected about the main thrust of the paper. What I thought was the thesis seemed to focus solely on manhood and womanhood, but you went above and beyond and reached topics of drugs, gangs, violence, etc. I am very impressed.

By: Lacey

Lacey — Sun, 08 May 2011 15:17:35 +0000

Julie Excellent paper! I especially enjoyed how your introduction began with a personal story. This made the paper seem more personal and relatable. This paper is very in-depth and hits a lot of details. After reading this, I came away understanding the influence that hip hop culture truly has. This helped me to better understand a little more the influences that my little sib goes through in Cabrini!
Towards the end of your paper, when you said, “They are meeting an important need for many who would have no Christ-centered music without what they are doing.” Was a bit confusing. Maybe this thought should be re-worded? Was not quite sure what you were trying to get across here.
Lastly, I love how you embedded that music video into your paper. I would love to see other examples of hip hop influence like the hair, clothes and maybe even a link to who these hip hop icons are.
Excellent job Julie, you should feel so proud of this paper!!