Hip hop
Hip hop is famous among the African American communities among other ethnic groups. However, it is more dominant among African American communities who use it for entertainment. Hip hop to African American communities is not only for entertainment purpose. The African American communities in the past have used hip hop as a way to express problems they face like discrimination, segregation, political representation, and market their ideologies and uniqueness like language. Artists among the African American communities have played a major role in creating awareness of what it is like to be an African American. Among the artists in the forefront includes Kanye west and jay z. so I want to prove that hip hop to Africana Americans is not only useful for entertainment purposes but a genre that helps them to show their identity.
African Americans in the past have used hip hop for different purposes:
Political representation-
artists have composed songs in which they use to campaign and create awareness on political ambitions. African Americans for a long time desire to have more representation in the government. President Obama used hip hop artist to create awareness and campaign. Artists like Young Jeezy released the song “my president is black” about President Obama as the first Africana American president. African American residents use hip hop to show the desires they have in political inclusion.
Creating awareness and globalization of black culture
The young generations use hip hop as an avenue to communicate and express themselves globally. The language used in composing the songs is a representation of the young generation ideologies and diversity. Most African American youths are minorities the hip hop exposes them and their woes to the world. The hip hop culture also contributes to youth self-consciousness. Political and daily lives messages dominate in the songs.
Inadequate resources distribution
hip hop erupted during the segregation era. No one could tend to the needs of black and Latinos who were pushed poor educational facilities and vocational colleges. Hip hop expressed discontent with such measures and calls for equal distribution of resources. Hip hop helps in creating societal problems like racisms which led to discrimination and segregation.
Identity
Hip hop is culture, religion and way of life. In the hip hop culture, there is the unique language used, use of gestures, code of dressing and fashion. The norms followed are common in hip-hop culture. The composition of the songs uses common beats and lyrics use a certain poetic sequence. The unique language ensures that the pronunciation of certain words is different from the rest. The younger African American youths imitate and mimic famous hip hop artists because they believe the artist is a representation of what they are to the rest of the world. Artists like Jay Z and Kanye West used hip hop as the ladder to step up globally. The music prepares the youths to step up in hardship situations and overcome challenges.
In conclusion, hip hop influence on African Americans is huge. It is shaping how minority groups are using alternative ways to express themselves. Upcoming generations will use the hip hop culture to know their cultures, the hardship the communities have passed through in the fight for equality and non-discriminatory society. Hip hop will be more relevant in future because it elicits power emotions and significant meanings across different ethnic and racial groups.