In 2006, the Boston Globe reported that Berklee College of Music had joined the movement to encourage new, more "positive", directions for rap and hip hop. Berklee joined Essence magazine's Take Back the Music, a campaign that seeks to convince young rap and hip hop artists to choose alternatives to the lyrics about violence and sex that are so prevalent in these genres. Berklee has been referred to as the leading contemporary music institution in the world. One professor in particular, named Bill Banfield, is aware of the social impact of black music. He teaches a class entitled, "African Studies: the Sociology of Black Music in American Culture."

While hip hop is far from the first genre of popular music to meet with cultural criticism (e.g. heavy metal, ragtime, jazz, and disco); hip hop poses a great threat to society because, unlike other musical styles that created controversy, it is marketed to children rather than adults.

Essence accuses much of today's music industry of creating songs and videos which portray black women as sexual objects rather than human beings. This trend in today's popular rap music has the potential to be extremely detrimental to young black girls. Similar sentiments were communicated through Spelman College's protest of Nelly's upcoming performance on campus due to his song "Tip Drill." The video for this song shows Nelly swiping a credit card through a woman's butt.

On the other hand, Essence magazine also highlights hip-hop artists with positive messages that they consider admirable. Berklee, too, has encouraged positive forms of the craft through such events as hip-hop empowerment summits.

Many organizations and artists in Boston's underground hip hop community have been long been struggling to achieve this sort of transition in the tone of rap music. Specifically, the Boston Hip-Hop Alliance supports hip hop artists and organizations with positive messages, encouraging them to communicate message which tell the often unattractive truths of reality rather than the "bling-bling" party lifestyle discussed portrayed in popular hip hop music. Now that several colleges and magazines have shown initiative, it appears that these grass-roots artists have finally been heard. Boston's Project: Think Different, the organization responsible for the Eighth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival's short film Diana, has also gone on record saying that they hope to join Essence magazine and Berklee in their fight to promote positive hip hop and spoken word.

Many professors and music historians aim to illuminate the fact that much of early hip hop reflected the black experience in a more honest way and with a more socially conscious attitude. Songs like Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" (referenced by several artists in African Underground: Hi p Hop in Senegal as an influential piece of music), Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?," and Will Smith's "Parents Just Don't Understand" support this point.

While American hip hop artists still often insist on ignoring this movement for change and opting for violent, sex-laden lyrical imagery; African Underground: Hip Hop in Senegal shows us that in Senegal this is not the case. Elsewhere, it seems, hip hop musicians are using their craft to spread positive messages about community and religion. The socially conscious artists portrayed in this documentary seek to create positive change with their music rather than mere market dividends. If we all spread this documentary around the US, maybe our hip hop industry will finally catch on!

ABOUT

The Media That Matters Film Festival is a project of Arts Engine, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization.

SUBSCRIBE

Media That Matters News RSS Feed
Media That Matters Films on iTunes
Media That Matters Films on Miro