What is our "culture"

blackslash

Superstar
Bushed
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
17,946
Reputation
-1,985
Daps
25,316
for the most part...cultures are related and interdependent. Humans no matter what region or look, share a commonality.

Hip-hop is more prominent evoking such culture because blacks were marginalized in America. The hood. The projects, were from what rappers talking about, all they have is jail, street, rap or be a ball player. And even if the rappers push for streetness, they are influenced by the materialism of mainstream American society. Which is why the rap about fancy luxury goods. The underbelly of that is, one has to work hard to get to where they at. Hip-hop has also been marginalized, so lovers of hip-hop fight for hip-hop to be expressive and do whatever and push for the culture.
tbh if the "culture" is what you described(even tho i dont see it as a culture) then I fail to see what mufckaz be "fighting" so mufckin hard to preserve
 

MartyMcFly

What's up doc, can we rock?
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
59,888
Reputation
9,373
Daps
161,141
Reppin
P.G. County
tbh if the "culture" is what you described(even tho i dont see it as a culture) then I fail to see what mufckaz be "fighting" so mufckin hard to preserve

I'd say he has a point though in what hip hop culture started as: The voice of the voiceless. It was a way for marginalized blacks to make music for themselves, make themselves feel better and just speak out, whether it be a block party jam or something like the message. But it was truly for us, by us (no fubu).
 

MartyMcFly

What's up doc, can we rock?
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
59,888
Reputation
9,373
Daps
161,141
Reppin
P.G. County
And if you think about it, we've been pushed out of other areas where we could dominate minus sports. There aren't enough of us in politics or enough of us who PAY ATTENTION to politics to really make our voices be heard, we've been pushed off of national tv as far as tv shows go as well. Think back to when Good Times was on a big network, along with The Jeffersons and Sanford and Son..then you had Amen, The Cosby Show, A Different World, Fresh Prince, Martin, Living Single, New York Undercover, Out all Night (Patti Labelle, Vivica Fox, Duane Martin, Morris Chestnut) and several other shows that starred US. These shows were on ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS. Now? We got a couple Tyler Perry shows on TBS, one on Nickelodeon and a couple on BET.
 

Mr Uncle Leroy

All Star
Joined
May 19, 2012
Messages
10,363
Reputation
-160
Daps
4,629
tbh if the "culture" is what you described(even tho i dont see it as a culture) then I fail to see what mufckaz be "fighting" so mufckin hard to preserve
because its the voice, without that voice, especially in america, there is no "black" voice...few blacks casted on shows, or on tv, but who is telling the story? 43 million blacks in america...and there is so much unity and division, some division/colorism because of blacks adjusting to being in america, socio enomics issues, but the variety of black unity needs to be embraced, thats what white america does...humans are going to have conflict...but history channel, car channel, sports channel...a lot of those mediums need to be explore into formidable business, although they are often condensed into rap...sports rap, some tv shows is the only way to even see blacks on TV or to hear a black voice...but that voice...needs to expressive of all the various factions, still pushing for unity..

that were rap needs to evolve to, building business...remember when rappers raped about clothes, no they have the own clothing lines...that needs to be the case for multiple hip-hop theme brand, and the base of hip-hop needs to expand because rappers cannot be role models, but with how blacks are in america, family structure and lack of various black views, rappers are looked to as some sort of entertaining role model
 

blackslash

Superstar
Bushed
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
17,946
Reputation
-1,985
Daps
25,316
I'd say he has a point though in what hip hop culture started as: The voice of the voiceless. It was a way for marginalized blacks to make music for themselves, make themselves feel better and just speak out, whether it be a block party jam or something like the message. But it was truly for us, by us (no fubu).
hmmm..so the culture has pretty much no unique ordinances or ceremonies oor what not outside of entertainment?

Also it seems this "culture" revolves itself too much aroound finances...

Edit: Example...when i see these rich ass jews not much changes traditionally when money comes into play

The things they valued before money came through is what they value now

their view on manhood and rites of passage(manhood)

Theeir observing of the Sabbath

etc. etc.

We on the other hand

I cant help but look at hip hop "culture" and merely see "American Youth Culture"
 

MartyMcFly

What's up doc, can we rock?
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
59,888
Reputation
9,373
Daps
161,141
Reppin
P.G. County
because its the voice, without that voice, especially in america, there is no "black" voice...few blacks casted on shows, or on tv, but who is telling the story? 43 million blacks in america...and there is so much unity and division, some division/colorism because of blacks adjusting to being in america, socio enomics issues, but the variety of black unity needs to be embraced, thats what white america does...humans are going to have conflict...but history channel, car channel, sports channel...a lot of those mediums need to be explore into formidable business, although they are often condensed into rap...sports rap, some tv shows is the only way to even see blacks on TV or to hear a black voice...but that voice...needs to expressive of all the various factions, still pushing for unity..

that were rap needs to evolve to, building business...remember when rappers raped about clothes, no they have the own clothing lines...that needs to be the case for multiple hip-hop theme brand, and the base of hip-hop needs to expand because rappers cannot be role models, but with how blacks are in america, family structure and lack of various black views, rappers are looked to as some sort of entertaining role model

And that's what Nas was getting at with Hip Hop is Dead. He mentioned it SEVERAL times and I guess it got lost in the media but he repeatedly talked about the fact that we don't own our own music. We don't own our culture. We allow it to be taken by others, used, and sold. The black voice doesn't get heard because the people who own networks, studios, and record labels don't give a damn about the black voice. We got Tyler Perry but he hones in on one black voice and continues to beat that drum. But who else is there?
 

MartyMcFly

What's up doc, can we rock?
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
59,888
Reputation
9,373
Daps
161,141
Reppin
P.G. County
hmmm..so the culture has pretty much no unique ordinances or ceremonies oor what not outside of entertainment?

Also it seems this "culture" revolves itself too much aroound finances...

Sad to say breh but I'd have to say that. I feel like we have our own things within culture but like I said and like someone else said, we're too segregated as a people.
 

Mr Uncle Leroy

All Star
Joined
May 19, 2012
Messages
10,363
Reputation
-160
Daps
4,629
hmmm..so the culture has pretty much no unique ordinances or ceremonies oor what not outside of entertainment?

Also it seems this "culture" revolves itself too much aroound finances...
jew are a group of people, but not entertainers...also jews are very involved in finances but are sometime spendthrift

hip-hop culture is going to about money, because once artist figured they could get money, thats all they rapped about, but there are other artists in others genres making money and they dont rap about money, hip-hop does need a balance in musical content.

that why america black culture goes back to africa, because while africa has had its dealings with white europeans, africa still has its traditions and there are blacks there who are extremely successful.
 

Mr Uncle Leroy

All Star
Joined
May 19, 2012
Messages
10,363
Reputation
-160
Daps
4,629
Edit: Example...when i see these rich ass jews not much changes traditionally when money comes into play

The things they valued before money came through is what they value now

their view on manhood and rites of passage(manhood)

Theeir observing of the Sabbath

etc. etc.

We on the other hand

I cant help but look at hip hop "culture" and merely see "American Youth Culture"
jews are connected to israel...even after holocaust with jews in germany, they went back to their culture

that where the tradition goes...to..Africa...Africa talks about rite of passage...
with blacks 300 years of slavery...confuses them on their identity...since hiphop is
microcosm of black culture/influence which is microcosm of african culture/influence...there are layers to dig into. African culture talks about rites of passage.

The five rites are birth, adulthood, marriage, eldership, and ancestorship. A rite is a fundamental act (or set of rituals) performed according to prescribed social rules and customs. Each of these rites are a key component that are a part of traditional African cultures. Some societies have more elaborate and extensive ceremonies than others, but these five themes are the thread that links families and villages in traditional Africa and provide the necessary structure for individual growth and development. The 5 rites briefly described below represent an integrated initiation system that has given indigenous African cultures the stability and longevity to provide a model of consistency and inter-generational unity. They represent a complete set of devices that prevent the inherent conflicts between various age groups or the systematic ill treatment of women, children, or elders. These problems are commonplace in western cultures, but they are virtually unknown in indigenous African cultures. These African cultures were not “perfect” as all human societies have problems, but they do provide a viable example in the modern world of how to solve social conflicts and contradictions and give individual the societal support to discover and fulfill their life mission and unique contribution.


RITE OF BIRTH
The Rite of Birth is the first of the major African initiation rites and it involves initiating the infant into the world through a ritual and naming ceremony. Nearly all African cultures hold that the infant has come from the spirit world with important information from that world, and is bringing unique talents and gifts to offer to the community. The infant, in fact, is believed to have been commissioned to come to the world and accomplish a particular mission or project, and often has a great message to deliver.


Therefore, it is the responsibility of the family and community to discover the infant’s unique mission through consultations with a diviner and to have rituals and a birth chart done. This is done to clearly determine the new community member’s mission in order to guide him/her through their life path. The infant’s name is given after the determination of the mission and it is a reflection of the infant’s personality or the life mission itself.


RITE OF ADULTHOOD
The Rite of Adulthood is the second major initiation rite and it is nowadays the most popular among the set of rites. Most people today assume that “rites of passage” only refers to initiation into adulthood, and they are often not aware that adulthood rites are only one set of rites within a larger system of rites. Adulthood rites are usually done at the onset puberty age (around 12-13 years of age in many cultures) and they are to ensure the shaping of productive, community-oriented responsible adults. There is nothing automatic about youth being productive members of society, nor is there anything particularly difficult about transitioning from a child to an adult. This transition to adulthood is exceedingly difficult in Western societies because there are no systems of adulthood rites to systematically guide and direct the young person through this important stage in his or her life cycle.


In Western culture adulthood is seen as a status achieved at the age of 18 or 21, or simply when the person graduates from high school. Unfortunately, in most cases there is no fundamental guidance or transformation from a child to an adult that is required or expected. This “leave it for chance” approach to adulthood development is the root of most teenage and youth “adult” confusion, chaos, and uncertainty. When the youth reach a certain age, somehow they are expected to magically transformed into an “adult,” eventhough they often receive very little guidance.


On the other hand, African societies systematically initiate boys and girls. They often take the young initiates out of the community, and away from the concerns of everyday life, to teach them all the ways of adulthood: including the rules and taboos of the society; moral instruction and social responsibility; and further clarification of his/her mission or calling in life.


RITE OF MARRIAGE
The Rite of Marriage is the third major initiation rite and it represents not only the joining of two families, but also the joining of the two missions of the new couple. In other words, the marriage rites are performed for not only the coming together of male and females to procreate and perpetuate life and the coming together of families, it is also an institution that helps both the husband and wife to best fulfill their mission and objectives in life. Unfortunately, in Western society a vast number of marriages fail as they are often based upon the couple “falling in love” and thereby entering the relationship in an unbalanced state. Individual often “fall in love” quick and “fall out of love” just as quickly, as soon as they recover from the emotional “love at first site” syndrome. African society, on the other hand, does not emphasize individual looks and lust as the primary motivation for marriage, but rather the basic focus is on building families and communities. The focus is on the collective more than the individual. A person is not generally considered an adult until they have married and had children.


RITE OF ELDERSHIP
The Rite of Eldership is the fourth major initiation rite and it is an important component of the initiation system, because it is the elders who represent tradition and the wisdom of the past. In African culture, there is a fundamental distinction that has to be made between an “elder” and “older” person. An older person has simply lived a longer life than most of people, but it not considered one who deserves high praise and respect. This is because the older person’s life has not been a positive example for the community. An older person could be a thief or drunkard, an evil person, or could be someone who never married and had children, and thus these examples would certainly prevent a person from being considered a respected elder.


An elder, on the other hand, is someone who is given the highest status in African culture because s(he) has lived a life of purpose, and there is nothing more respected than living a purposeful life. The life of an elder is centered in the best tradition of the community, and is someone who has gone through all of the previous three rites, and is a living model for the other groups in the society to emulate. An elder is given the highest status and along with new infants because these two groups represent the closest links to the wisdom of the spirit world.


RITE OF ANCESTORSHIP
The last of the five major rites is the Rite of Ancestorship, which concerns passing over into the spirit world. This final initiation rite is an extension of the elder/older distinction because the status that a person has in life is the same status that they bring with them when they pass on. There is virtually no African society that believes that when a person dies this ends all ties and communication with the living. Rather, African philosophy from one culture to another agrees that the spirit of the deceased is still with the living community, and that a distinction must be made in the status of the various spirits, as there are distinctions made in the status of the living.


One of the most important distinctions is the difference between an older person who dies and who is seen as nothing more than a “dead relative,” and a respected elder who passes on and is revered as an honored “ancestor.” The dead relative dies without honor and is someone who is not remembered as a great person or someone who should be followed or emulated. On the other hand, a respected elder who passes on becomes a respected ancestor and is given the highest honor. This group of ancestor wield great power and are often called upon in matters of trouble or uncertainty to help influence a favorable outcome. Thus, ancestors are respected elders who have passed away and who continue to serve as an extension of the family and community.
 
Last edited:
Top