GWSS 241 Blog Post 2

This week I am analyzing two articles, “Histories and "her stories" from the Bronx” by Oneka LaBennett and “The Rise of Seattle Hip Hop” by Kyle Fleck. These articles discuss two very different niche areas of the hip-hop genre however, I believe they offer a point of connection. LaBennett’s article sheds light on the hidden narratives about hip-hop that have been established by female artists in the Bronx, such as “Sha Rock,” a Bronx-based emcee. What I found most provocative about this article is that due to dominant historical narratives about hip-hop, these female artists have been forced to reside at the margins of the music industry despite the fact that they physically reside in the epicenter of this genre, the Bronx. Alternatively, Fleck’s article details developments that led to the current state of Seattle hip-hop. What I found most interesting about this article, and the aspect of the article I connected with LaBennett’s article, was that Fleck cited a female artist, DoNormaal, as the, “newest wunderkind” of the Seattle hip-hop scene. This was interesting to me because she is nearly the only female mentioned in this article, supporting LaBennett’s claim that historical accounts of hip-hop culture have privileged male narratives. More importantly, however, it begs the question: are females the future of hip-hop? We know from LaBennett’s article that females are deeply rooted in this genre’s history, despite narratives that attempt to erase that history. However, maybe females of hip-hop will be correctly written into the future, offering a platform to reflect on the females that came before them.   

DJ Selections:

·      Maliibu Miitch - Give Her Some Money [Official Video]

o   This song is from Maliibu Miitch, a current black female hip-hop artist from the Bronx.

·      doNormaal - wannabe (prod. Wolftone)

o   This song is from doNormaal who Fleck mentioned as the, “newest wunderkind” of the Seattle hip-hop scene.

Articles:

·      LaBennett, Oneka, “Histories and ‘Her Stories’ from the Bronx: Excavating Hidden Hip Hop Narratives” (Links to an external site.) Afro-Americans in New York Life and History.  July 2009, Vol. 33, issue 2, p109

·      Fleck, Kyle, “The Rise of Seattle Hip Hop: An Incomplete Timeline of How Rap Replaced Rock as Seattle's Dominant Musical Force.” The Stranger, January 26, 2016 https://www.thestranger.com/music/feature/2016/01/27/23480690/the-rise-of-seattle-hiphop