AFRAM Blogpost 2

Emma E

In Hamilton’s article, How Rock and Roll Became White, Hamilton uses Jimi Hendrix to examine the segregation of rock music. Hamilton addresses that Hendrix was quite literally “alienated” from rock and roll as a black man, as he was called “a black man in the alien world of rock.” That’s quite the statement considering artists like Memphis Minnie were revolutionizing sound on the electric guitar less than 25 years before Hendrix picked up his. By discounting Hendrix’s place in rock, it is clear that the white takeover of rock segregated the genre, and “alienated” black artists from it.

In Theresa Riley’s interview “Still Fighting the Power” with Jeff Chang, the article explains the original and lasting purpose of hip hop as a political and revolutionary tool. As Riley’s article points out, rap is largely political, and critiques the systematic problems that exist in our communities. Though this is not the case with all rap, it’s helpful to recognize that rap emerged as a social tool and voice. Though hip hop is still considered a “black” genre, it is interesting to see the white take on rap as similar to the takeover that occurred in rock and roll. As seen on this video, “Why Are White Rappers Usually Hated” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6Tm9bGmlMQ), some white rappers have used black stereotypes, including language and clothes to commercially gain from hip hop. This is recognized to be insincere to hip hop and rap’s true purpose as a voice to communities and people, and problematic in nature.

The music video and first song of Beyoncé’s Lemonade, “Pray You Catch Me,” exemplify the potential political impact of hip hop described in Riley’s article. In this video, Beyoncé wears a black hoodie, representing the hoodie worn by Trevon Martin and marking a (not so silent) protest against the violence against black bodies and the violence that destroys black relationships (Beyoncé did not release the music video for this song on YouTube, but here is the audio:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNElZwUADQ&list=PLxKHVMqMZqUSPF11Ghs0KqDfOGhB9Vw5E&index=4). Jorja Smith uses “Blue Lights” to break down the stereotypes surrounding black men in her community, and the harmful and violent impacts of these stereotypes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8YwnQMQuJI). “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar on his album To Pimp a Butterfly also represents a political movement and protest. As the album represents a struggle against capitalist white supremacy, “Alright” became an anthem of protest and strength. The song was adopted by the Black Lives Matter movement, and was used as a rallying cry in protests across the country and the world (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY BLM protest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2hKKT7JWcA).