I think the only thing that sort of drives me crazy about this conversation is the "cultural appropriation" element. If what every white artist is doing is cultural appropriation, then This and this and this and this and this and this and this are cultural appropriation. Hell, all of the "warhorses" of classical orchestral music are Italian and French music written by German dudes played on Italian and french style instruments. Plus, the idea that the pentatonic (Blues) scale is somehow singularly african is pretty insulting to every Asian and most native american cultures. Or that percussion heavy music is either. Hell, the Guitar is a classic blues instrument. A descendant of the Viol family, developed in Spain, turned into what it is today in Germany. Now, banjos ARE distinctly african, but you mostly see these guys playing them these days. Side note, This is also tangentially Germany's fault. Now, I say all this and I probably sound like an asshole. I do not begrudge the idea that Black Americans hold on to hip hop as a cultural beacon. Indeed, I think it's crucial for cultures to have unifying elements that they can point to and say "this is who we are." It is one of Canada's failings that we have very few of these things (love my country as I do). I do, however, begrudge the idea that a.) anything about it is uniquely new, when really it is a "sliced bread" just like almost any other musical innovation ( and that is the highest compliment I can give any musical art. I mean it.), or b.) that no one else can touch it without permission, or the "blessing" of black america. Then again, I'm some nerdy, long-haired white bitch. What do I know.
That ain't it, bruh. The difference between hip-hop and those examples you pointed out is that those artists don't get belittled, demonized, other-ized, and scapegoated for their genre of music, except for when its sung a White rapper. If I have to hear one more person say "Macklemore raps about real things, not drugs, money and hoes" one more time, I'm gonna punch them in the mouth. When someone says "this is cultural appropriation," when it comes to hiphop, they're pointing out the fact that people are saying: "It's not your words, style, culture or all that other stuff that we don't like, we just don't like you and how you look." Which is TOTALLY A THING THAT HAPPENS HOLY SHIT. That's the message being sent, when the culture is absorbed while the people from whom it was borne are kept at arm's length by people who don't want to associate with my skin-color. When Forbes says that hiphop is run by a White, Blonde, Australian Rapper named Iggy Azelia, it's disregarding all of the effort that the Black community put into hiphop. It's a genre entrenched in a culture that's had to deal with oppression and suppression for decades. That's where the roots of the genre come from. And it's not like this is the first time it's happened either (Read: Black people jailhouse rock is scary, Elvis jailhouse rock is fuuuun!). Seriously. Twerking. The Harlem Shake. "The Trap House." Fucking YOLO. All of these things get "discovered" by White people and repeated ad nauseum while simultaneously ripping it from the context it came from. There's a reason Black people get sick of it. Yours isn't the first time I've seen the "instrument traced back to its lineage" argument, haha.The issue is that the people that created the music are excluded from it and their contributions are obscured, ignored, or flat out denied. It's not that White people can't make hip-hop without the "blessing" of Black America. Just don't forget where it fucking came from! Edit: Similarly: - "Quirky" ukele covers of hiphop songs fuck those things SO MUCH - The fact that I get told I'm not Black while a bunch of Frat kids next door are blasting some Kid Cudi song about weed KID CUDI SUCKS GET SOME BETTER MUSIC FRAT BOYS NEXT DOOR. - Big Lexi. Seriously? Seriously - The fact that my roommate will listen to Fort Minor for DAYS at a time put shoves his headphones into his ears as soon as I play a Kendrick Lamar song on my speakers so he can avoid hearing it. If I sound butthurt...it's because I kinda am, sorry, haha. My love for hiphop has stemmed into its own rebellious political agenda. I listen to it because I like it for sure, but I also LOOOOOVE listening to it because it makes everybody in my immediate vicinity uncomfortable - which is great."White people ruin everything man. I only got to say fo'shizzle for a week."
I would argue that this is not cultural appropriation, it's just straight racism, and should be treated as such. Also, I don't think Forbes, the former business magazine turned clickbait is the sort of place I would go to get my news on popular culture of any kind. Then again, I'm probably not most people (considering I saw this video and asked you about it - not realizing you'd already posted it. I like talking to people who actually know what they're talking about). And this is not the first time it has happened to another culture. Read up on the Sarabande. Stolen from the new world, brought to Europe, and considered so salacious as to be outlawed in some places. Everyone wanted to dance their dances, but they were perfectly okay with also using them as slaves and stealing their gold, too. People hated the Gypsies, and murdered them without consequence, but were glad to steal their music. Let me be clear: I'm not trying to say that the situation's not fucked up. There's no denying that it is and incredibly so. What I'm saying is that European culture has been doing this systemically for hundreds of years and Black culture is just the latest victim. In some senses I kick myself about this. Like, what am I expecting you to do with this information? It's cold comfort. The perspective does nothing to improve your situation. I guess I do it because it's the only comfort I can offer. Sorry.f I have to hear one more person say "Macklemore raps about real things, not drugs, money and hoes"{...}When someone says "this is cultural appropriation," when it comes to hiphop, they're pointing out the fact that people are saying: "It's not your words, style, culture or all that other stuff that we don't like, we just don't like you and how you look."
It's a genre entrenched in a culture that's had to deal with oppression and suppression for decades. That's where the roots of the genre come from. And it's not like this is the first time it's happened either (Read: Black people jailhouse rock is scary, Elvis jailhouse rock is fuuuun!).
Haha, don't sweat it! We didn't even touch Native Americans and the shit they've had to deal with in the EDM and Sport scenes. The fact that you're even aware of it is nice enough. At least you don't pretend it doesn't exist like my roommates do, heh.
I think they're mostly just happy the Hippie era is overWe didn't even touch Native Americans and the shit they've had to deal with in the EDM and Sport scenes.
You also have black people involved in subcultures not associated with black culture getting shit from other black people for not acting black (Laina Dawes talks about this with regards to metal in What Are You Doing Here?; I have heard similar things from black goths). Together with that this looks like it has more to do with policing borders than with music as such.
If anyone tries to kick this black guy out of metal shit in my presence I will fucking fight them. I am a crazy bitch with nothing to lose.
That video's hilarious. I love it when bands don't take themselves too seriously.