Anisa Saigo

Professor Trent Kays

English 102-06-S17

February 13, 2017

Since the late 1970s, the media has been heavily opinionated on hip-hop and rap artists and the

culture. Many people believed that hip-hop and rap was just something for the moment. People

have a negative view on the two because of some of the negative outlooks in the music that the

media portrays. Hip hop and rap is an outlet for many people especially for African American

people who not only looks up to rap and hip hop for just music but for the way we live our lives.

Scholarly Journal Article:

Bridges, Thurman. Towards A Pedagogy of Hip Hop in Urban Teacher Education. The
Journal of Negro Education, vol. 80, no. 3, 2011, pp. 325338.,
www.jstor.org/stable/41341137.

This article explains how the media portrays Hip-Hop as being a negative influence on

African- American boys. Through a thorough analysis of their cultural, social, and

educational experiences. Hip-Hop in an African- American household can have a strong

impact throughout young black boys all over the country. This article correlates to this

topic because in the media, such as social media hip-hop is shown as a negative view.

Moreover, it impacts black boys because they see men that look just like them, which

leads them to think that it is fine to parade around in expensive jewels and other

material objects. In this journal article, Bridges explains that hip-hop is a culture, as well

as a way of life for African Americans. Not every person involved in the nine different

elements of hip-hop have a negative impact but also a positive impact throughout this

important staple in the African American community, where black boys can look up to.
 Article:

Blanchard, Becky. "THE SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF RAP & HIP-HOP CULTURE."

THE SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF RAP & HIP-HOP CULTURE. Stanford

University, 26 July 1999. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

Blanchards article, The Social Significance of Rap & Hip-Hop Culture, explains that the

hip-hop culture shouldnt be ridiculed in a negative light. Throughout the hip-hop culture

there is being spreader to adults and even children. Keep in mind when broths start

flexing the verbal skills, it always reflects whats going on politically, socially, and

economically. The hip-hop culture was developed during a time of poverty and African-

Americans were almost forced to create a culture that was relatable to them.

Throughout the article, there should of been more research on different media outlets

besides the news, such as CNN and Huffington Post. This article correlates with my

theme because it touched on the media and their bias opinion on hip-hop and rap artists

and the culture. Overall, this article touched on how the hip-hop culture isnt just about

the flashy lifestyles of these artist but them, mainly African Americans being educated

and informed on what is going on throughout the world and in the everyday struggles

we as blacks go through.

Book:

Neal, Mark Anthony, and Murray Forman. "That's the Joint!" Google Books. Routledge, 2004.

Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

A book that relates to my topic is Thats the Joint!. Authors Mark Anthony Neal and Murray

Forman speaks on the best known and influential writings on rap and hip hop from when

it was first developed to hip hop and rap today. This book is relatable to my topic
 because it states the importance of hip hop and rap in peoples lives especially African

Americans. Moreover, this book showcases the evolution and the strong

impact since the late 1970s. One thing this book could have included

was more media biased opinions on hip-hop and rap. I wouldve liked

to hear about the opnions of people in the music industry on the hip-

hop culture. This book is split up chapters on the nine elements of hip-

hop, as well as different topics such as, where hip-hop was developed,

and the artists who helped make what it is today. This supports my

theme because it is always important to state where it was founded so

I can have a strong opinion on what the media thinks of hip-hop and

rap.

News Article:

""Fresh Dressed"." CNN. Cable News Network, nod Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

This news article from CNN greatly shows an outlook on how the media portrays the hip hop

culture. There is a whole segment section where it dedicated to all things hip-hop. It

speaks on the nine elements of hip hop which are; breakdancing, emceeing (rapping),

graffiti art, deejayin, beatboxing, street fashion, street language, street knowledge, and

street entrepreneurialism. It also touches on how the hip hop culture doesnt just impact

African Americans but races everywhere. Although, this segment on a popular news site

is detailed it should have more opinions attached to it. I would like to hear different news

anchors opinions about what they think the hip-hop culture is and how does it influence
 them. This article is useful for my theme because it explained many different topics that

are shown throughout the hip-hop culture. I thought that every news website was going

to have an unpopular opinion but CNN had a positive view on a culture that is very

important.

News Article:

"Hip Hop Culture." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 05 May 2011. Web. 15 Feb.

2017.

This news article from the Huffington Post is similar to the CNN one, except the journalists write

on updated pop culture based solely on hip-hop. Every week since 2011, The Huffington

Post has been updating their site on hip hop news on the artists and the culture

surrounded by it. This segment has mainly information on the artists and what they do

on a daily basis, such as promote music, and they also speak on their personal lives as

well. Just like the CNN, article I wished that there was more of the journalists having a

stronger and more impactful opinion on what they think hip-hop has become. Also, how

do they think hip hop with the artists and culture and how it can expand. It is good to

know that not every media outlet has a negative opinion on hip-hop but instead can

show the positive side so that the readers can become more comfortable as well as

gaining more knowledge on the hip-hop topic.

Hip- Hop and Rap are vastly impacting people around the world. Majority of media outlets

showcase a negative opinion on hip hop and rap artists and the culture surrounded by

it. They usually portray the black artists as negative people, which isnt true. I am glad

that there are media outlets that showcase the beauty of hip hop artists and the culture
surrounded by it. I have found useful articles and books that shows opinions of the way

the media has a great impact on hip-hop and rap.