Post Traumatic Hip-Hop Disorder

Nightmares of the disintegration of two of the world’s icons of perpetual power, pseudo-strength and financial control have haunted the minds of the masses of the third planet after the “tragic” events that occurred on September 11, 2001. Otherwise known as 9-11 or 911, this day changed the way life on the planet Earth is viewed and lived by all of its “intelligent” inhabitants; the so-called “human” inhabitants. These are the same inhabitants that have dwelled upon the Earth’s surface for thousands of years. Or are they? These Earth dwellers are very impressionable. In fact, they thrive on the impressionability of each other. Therefore we can say that, with constant pressures to “be-like”, the residents of the planet have changed from what they used to be. Or have they?

Destruction has been a favorite pastime of the indigenous peoples of Earth. They flourish on destroying each other, everything that they have created and that which they do not understand. It’s a check and balance type of living. Like Legos… build them up to break them down. That is their forte. And oh my! … Don’t let someone else create or discover it first! That just gives an even greater reason to break it down or destroy it. And when one’s creation is destroyed, tampered with, taken away or not accepted as valid by another, it is considered cause to strike back at the culprit. Then the ping-pong begins. Somewhere in the shuffle the original reason for the contempt is lost and battling continues nonetheless and new reasons are thought up to validate the feud. This might strike an analytical being as odd, when these people proclaim up and down that they are “loving, caring and peaceful”.

Don’t get it twisted. Not all earth dwellers are down for the hodge-podge of nonsense. There are the few that see past it and make moves towards unity and cohabitation. However the “powers that be” do their best to see to it that when these forces grow and create, they are slowly broken down from the inside via corruption and deceit. These are the X’s and the Kings, the Garveys and the Ghandis, the Christs and the De La Souls. These people have focused their lives on going against the grain, a focus on opening the individual minds of the people, as opposed to using mass hypnosis and manipulation through words and promises of fringe benefits. By showing the people that having and individual thought process can help the masses more productively than just being sheep in the herd.

Hip-Hop began as a movement that was full of originality and integrity: The voice of a people who needed and desired only to be heard by that of whom could relate. It was creative genius that flourished from areas of poverty to other areas of poverty and showed that, despite limited finances and resources, a people could create something that was artful and valid. Something with a voice that said “we are, we can and we will!” Hip-Hop’s strength and appeal spread to areas globally where people who were incapacitated in one way or another could relate. It stretched passed the boundaries of race, religion, skin tone, demographic location, language, and sexual preference. It was an example that a people could not be held back if it persisted and innovated, even if it was a relatively “small” people.
Hip-Hop breathed life into Earth dwellers everywhere.

When Hip-Hop first made itself known, it was an important thing to maintain and bring forth originality. This was the individual soul aspect of the Hip-Hop community. MCs prided themselves on being original stylistically and lyrically. To “bite” or emulate another MC was considered taboo. B-Boys would incorporate their own break dance moves into what they learned by watching others. Variations and evolutions of style were key. DJs would mix, blend and scratch break beats in their own particular style to obtain a unique sound. Bombers (Graffiti artists) prided themselves on the unique magnificence of their artwork. It was a marker of high esteem when a whole neighborhood knew who you were because of the mastery of your pieces and throw-ups. This is where the creativity of the “battle” came into play. It was healthy competition. Creativity put to the test. It was a sin not to be original. Even members of crews prided themselves on being individuals. Individuals building up the masses with the idea and belief that everyone can add to the mix by including individual creativity and expertise. Every individual is an expert at being him/herself. Therefore, there is something to learn from or teach to everyone else. Thus we have the rainbow effect of Hip-Hop.

In today’s Hip-Hop arena there are a wide variety of styles in all of the four elements of Hip-Hop. However we seldom see anything more than the MC, or should we say “rapper” in the main showground where Hip-Hop is mentioned. Hip-Hop has been polluted by the mainstream. Its appeal has not only caught the eye of the people who can relate. It has caught the eye of the big business people and control mongers. It has been molded and shaped (in the eyes of the mainstream) to appeal in a certain way. Very much the same as mainstream television, radio and printed news is broadcasted and distributed. The people with money who want to make more money and have more control invest lump sums into developing “artists” in the ways they see fit and make them easily accessible to the masses by paying off others to advertise and play mainly music and videos of specific types of artists. You see what they want you to see. You hear what they want you to hear. The repetition and conditioning makes easy prey out of non-suspecting, unaware and impressionable peoples, particularly youths. This material is made easily accessible. It is also glamorized to encourage conformity as opposed to individuality. This brings us back to the sheepishness, back to the herd, back to the lack of individuality. The images that are pushed in mainstream “rap music” are not exactly original. Most of the acts are generic and very gimmicky. They are trying to get to the “big bucks” and artistic integrity is no longer a factor.

Since Hip-Hop took such a strong hold on society when it first became widely known, it is taken in immediately as a representation of authenticity because of its roots. This is why it is easy to put it in front of people who are ready to accept it as authentic. It was so readily accepted back in the days that it is seldom questioned for its authenticity anymore, except of course by Hip-Hop “purists”. Many of the people who purchase these “mainstream Hip-Hop” records are people who would like to be able to relate to where Hip-Hop originated. They have the money to provide for large sales and keep the “artists” selling as the record labels tighten their grips on controlling the presented image of Hip-Hop. These recording labels look upon this music as disposable: a way to earn a quick buck…a gimmick…nothing. Yet somehow they manage to control the image that Hip-Hop has on the majority of the word, pretty much the same way that News media does. You see and hear what they want you to see and hear. Here is where the connection is… Throughout the 8 years in which Mayor Giuliani was in office in New York City, he was the hated soul, the bane of New York City. Now, through the media, he has been made into a hero because he did his job during the 9-11 crisis. Did the people of NYC not pay him to do the job he was doing? The job that he had done inappropriately for 7 ¾ years? Did the world forget all of the oppression of the little people? How about support of racism and police brutality?

Did all of the people of the United States forget the underhanded presidential election by which G.W. Bush was elected? Did they also forget that Bush’s family members are power mongers who have long had business ties in the Middle East and that they have now made their personal business a threat to the welfare of an entire country of innocents?

Did all of the oppressed people of the world forget what the United States has been doing to keep those countries oppressed? Do the people of the world not consider it terrorism when the US bombs other countries? Did all of the Puerto Ricans forget about Viequis? Did all of the Black people forget about the refusal of reparations? What happened to that 40 acres and a mule? Did everyone forget? No. They have been blind-sided by the media who is over glorifying the prowess of the US and its government. Flag waving zombies now inhabit the US!

Upon personally surveying several members of the diverse Hip-Hop community it was found that the majority of the people were upset and traumatized by the activities that transpired on 9-11. However, it was amazing to see that most of the people who shared views similar to that of the flag waving zombies were the ones who listen to mainstream Hip-Hop and participate in the activities governed by what BET tells them is Hip-Hop. Those who actively participate in what Hip-Hop was originally based upon and listen to Hip-Hop that is mainly underground and gets no commercial airplay tended to not favor flag waving and patriotism as a result of 9-11. Mind you, these were not necessarily those underground Hip-Hoppas who are activists, rebels and renegades. They were just those who display a genuine appreciation for Hip-Hop as an art and a way of life and not as a source of makin’ millions and gettin’ some “trim”. Thus we can derive that those folk who are most impressionable by the mass media are more susceptible to the commercialized hypnotism of mainstream rap music.

Hip-Hop still lives in its truest form, in its original form: The basic four elements.

The Hip-Hop community can take this time to either see that they are being manipulated by the media and big business and make an adjustment or the world may be on the path to watching Hip-Hop fall. The powers that be know of the human’s inclination to destroy each other from the inside, and would love nothing more than to see it happen here and now. That’s what they are working toward. The mainstream is very powerful and carries a great many followers. All that needs be done is to completely sever the ties to the underground and things could get really ugly. The 9-11 events have given great reason for Hip-Hoppas to be creative. Not creative in support of what they think everyone else will think is appropriate, but in what they deem important to themselves on an individual basis. This will bring back creativity into the realm of the mainstream’s eyes: removing the blindness that the “powers” have provided, letting the new generation of Hip-Hoppas know that it’s OK to be you. It’s ok not to wear a do-rag, bandana, sweatband and a fitted cap (that doesn’t fit) all at the same time in order to be a part of the crowd. Individuality is what makes a Hip-Hop persona important.

Many a 9-11 song has been recorded and it’s pretty boring and typical to hear all of the “kill the Taliban”, “get those bastards”, “they’re gonna pay” joints. How about a little bit of variation? Maybe something about giving the US some heat for its wack foreign policies? Why please the masses? Why not let them know how one feels just to see if anyone else can relate? There are cats in other countries that have their own brand of Hip-Hop that may agree with what you are saying. Isn’t that hat Hip-Hop is all about? Expression? Expression of the self with incorporation of others into that expression… Right? Where is Hip-Hop headed? Only we know as individuals in relation to the whole. Think about it and read it again. Don’t be a victim of Post Traumatic Hip-Hop Disorder. Hip-Hop lives in you.

© 2006 Goggles Paisan

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