Rap and hip-hop are turning half a century. Fifty years in which he has transcended the niche to become an unstoppable force. Voice of protest, was beyond the ghetto in American cities to win the world. Even in Latin Americawhere, after decades of germinating, today it is one of the favorite genres, from the danceable to the rebellious.
ranking
A week ago, Billboard Español published its list of “The 50 rappers in Spanish Most Essential of Yesterday and Today”, precisely in honor of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. The list selected by the publication’s staff includes prominent Latino rappers such as ResidentVico C and Ivy Queen, and emerging talents like Young Miko, Santa Fe Klan and West Indian Villain.
And although not everyone agreed with those chosen by Billboard (many users of social networks protested that some emerging artists were excluded), the list included undisputed names such as C. Tangana (position 44), Myke Towers (No. 30), Snow Tha Product (No. 25), Archangel (No. 21) and Queen of Ivy (No. 8). And the top 10 included consecrated like daddy yankee (No 6), Tego Calderon (No. 4), Ana Tijoux (No. 3), Vico C (No. 2) and Residente at the top of the list.
And it was not exempt from Argentines, with duki in position 23 and Thunder in the tenth, a pleasant surprise for the one who has just presented his new work, in homage precisely to the 50th anniversary of the musical and cultural movement that revolutionized the world, hip hop. It includes “Tranky Funky”, his new song in collaboration with Tatool and Brian Taylor; “Fuck el police remix” with Cypress Hill, which has already surpassed 2 million views; and “Dubai” with Beny Jr, a classic reggaeton with a clever play on words.
But perhaps the Billboard list is missing other female voices from these pampas, like that of Nicki Nicolewhich does not stop its global impact and continues to conquer every stage it steps on: it has just released what is already one of the most listened to albums globally this year, with great collaborations by Milo J, Young Miko, Rels B and YSY A. And in During her time in Europe, she toured Barcelona, Gijón, Caldas de Reis, Madrid (at the Botanical Garden) and Paris (at Lollapalooza France) being cheered by thousands of people and replicating that special bond that she achieves with the public before returning to Buenos Aires. Aires: it has four Movistar Arenas, scheduled for August 26 and 27, September 7 and 8, in its busiest year.
History
On August 11, 1973, Clive Campbell (popularly known as Kool Herc), an 18-year-old DJ, threw a party in the Bronx. Unknowingly, the men and women who danced that night were witnessing the birth of a socioeconomic and political miracle, which came to be known as hip-hop.
If you consume rap fleetingly, possibly through commercially focused entertainment conglomerates, the genre is mocked and scorned. In fact, hip-hop can be seen as a problematic musical phenomenon, typified by the bling, the bustle, the fights and the exaggerated stories of drugs and women in bikinis.
But that would be reductionism. Rap has spread like an infectious phenomenon that has fueled empathy, boundary-pushing storytelling, and a cascade of anti-colonial messaging. Their songs became hymns for the underrepresented minorities in the media. And hip-hop played a vital role in that communication: in shaping our battle for young minds and the future of society.
Before many of us had a proper understanding of what apartheid, imperialism or white supremacy was, A Tribe Called Quest sang “Stir it up” propagating the struggle of Steve Bikoa South African anti-apartheid activist.
Discs
With albums like KRS-One’s “You Must Learn” and “I Can de Nas,” hip-hop helped tear down “white men’s lies,” revaluing “black history,” and inverting the logic of villains. presented as heroes. At the same time, the victims of the “FBI Counterintelligence Program”, some of whom were serving prison sentences, were re-evaluated in the United States. “A Song for Assata” by Common & Ceelo told the story of Assata Shakur (who has lived in exile in Cuba since 1984), and numerous songs mentioned Mutulu Shakur (who recently died, just a few months after being released after spending 37 years in prison), as well as Geronimo Pratt, and many others.
And hip-hop has certainly served as a soundtrack to the excesses of capitalism, shedding light on the darker and often enslaving side of the “free market system.” singers like Dead Prez they explicitly recounted the pain of deeply exploitative employment. And in ‘They’ Schools, he demonstrated how the education system serves as a conduit for those jobs, because it’s not designed with black interests or problems in mind: “They (the schools) don’t teach us anything other than how to be slaves and workers.” tough / For white people to build their shit / Make their businesses succeed while they exploit us.”
battles
Later, Queen Latifah faced misogyny in songs like “UNITY,” while lauryn hill and Rapsody took over from Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou to elevate the stories and lived experiences of black people, and especially black women.
Against the backdrop of Reaganomics and the “crack epidemic”, ice cube he harnessed his gift for telling anti-establishment-minded stories, and documenting the ills (and emotions) of living in economically disadvantaged and therefore gang-troubled areas of Los Angeles. K’naan did the same for his life in Somalia. And Italian rapper Ghali brought compassion to the debate about migrants arriving in Italy on small boats (he has raised money to finance a boat to help save their lives).
Thus, on both sides of the Atlantic, rap put young people in tune with a more progressive shift. Authors like kendrick lamar and J Cole achieved more cultural change than many schools.
Legacy
Hip-hop’s 50th birthday is largely a celebration of commercial success, and it is understandable that this is the case. It is a culture that has taken the byproducts of economic pain and created millionaires, even billionaires. But his true legacy and power must be measured not in chart positions or dollars and cents, but in hearts and minds won and changed.
from the dream of pan-africanism to the reality of raising a culture of entrepreneurship in disadvantaged communities and the movement towards equality, hip-hop’s main contribution has been to raise the consciousness of society: giving space and time to many marginalized people to tell their own stories with voices no apologies.
From New York to Los Angeles, from Memphis to Milan, and from Paris to Buenos Aires, new generations have used the hip-hop trumpet to tell their stories. He has not created a utopia. That was never possible. But the power of her lyrics to tell the truth is a powerful thing.
by RN
Image gallery
