Hip-Bop (or Suburbia and Hip-Hop Collide)

I've never been a big fan of Hip-Hop music, but I have always been intrigued by the people who produce it. Artists like Dr. Dre, Run D.M.C, and Snoop Dogg redefined how urban and suburban culture in America relates to one another. It's always funny to look at a white, middle class teen's iPod and see numerous songs by people very different than them and with content totally foreign to the suburbs of America. In recent years I have been impressed by the creativity of Eminem. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I caught part of Bill Maher's show on HBO. His guest that night was star, Jay-Z. Perhaps the most successful hip-hop star of all time. What struck me the most was the way that he acknowledged the intersection of suburbia and hip-hop music, most notably in white kids who have no concept of what it means to be a black teen dealing with the pressures on the street. However, the most startling thing that happened during the interview was the presentation from Maher to Jay-Z of a "bible" of all of Jay-Z's songs bound in a black leather book, complete with a red ribbon bookmark, and an embossed "B" on the cover. I think it's interesting that a cultural icon like that has achieved the same status, at least in some of the American public's eyes, as the Son of God. I wonder how many "church" kids could quote a lyric from one of his songs but not a verse from the Bible?

By now, I am sure that most people have seen press coverage and Youtube coverage of Kanye West's outburst at the Video Music Awards. I have mixed emotions, which seems to be the reaction of the American public. I saw on Twitter that someone pointed out what if all of our sinful moments were captured on national TV and rebroadcast multiple times? That person was simply asking where is the grace in such a scenario.

Of course President Obama had more colorful language to describe West's comments Sunday night. In an interview about something else he casually, almost jokingly called Kanye West the King James Version of a donkey. Of course the problem was that in the instant connection culture we live in, the internet was a buzz with Obama's comments. Again one ask to ask the question, "What were you thinking?" to West and Obama.

Like I said, I'm not necessarily an astute sage of hip-hop but at the very least it's entertaining!