The use of urban dance as a way to keep youths out of trouble is by no means a new idea and is in keeping with the long tradition of the nicer side of hip hop.
Far away from the media frenzy of the drug and gun culture surrounding some of today’s more celebrated urban acts, the arts of breakdancing and in many respects hip hop grew out of a desire to keep kids away from gang culture.
Far away from the media frenzy of the drug and gun culture surrounding some of today’s more celebrated urban acts, the arts of breakdancing and in many respects hip hop grew out of a desire to keep kids away from gang culture.
Is it somewhat distressing that an art which grew out of a desire for good is now seen by many to epitomise, even celebrate, the very culture that it grew to oppose?
Breakdance, b-boying or b-girling is one of the most renowned styles of street dance and evolved as part and parcel of the hip hop movement in the US. It was, if not developed, seen as an alternative to the violent gang culture which sprang up in the US at the time of hip hop’s inception.
Breakdance, b-boying or b-girling is one of the most renowned styles of street dance and evolved as part and parcel of the hip hop movement in the US. It was, if not developed, seen as an alternative to the violent gang culture which sprang up in the US at the time of hip hop’s inception.
Seen by many as the godfather of his art, Afrika Bambaataa Aasim (pictured) has stood as a beacon against the darkness of the problems surrounding hip hop. When urban music began to be seen as an artform embroiled within drug and gun culture, Bambaataa was the man who began holding peace conferences. It is widely, if not oficially, noted that the quelling of violence between gangs in New York credited to New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani was the result of work done by Bambaataa.
Originally a member of the notorious New York street gang The Black Spades in the 1970s, Bambaataa’s route in life later took a much more peaceful route.
As gang culture died down around 1973 and hip hop began to take over, from the ashes of the Black Spades, Bambaataa formed what was simply known as The Organisation, now the internationally distinguished Universal Zulu Nation. The group organises cultural events and youth activities all over the world and now has numerous autonomous branches in countries as diverse as France, the UK and Japan. Spreading the word of peace love and unity, Bambaataa used his influence and leadership to inject something more positive into the community. Now the Nation, in its own words is focussed of ‘raising hip hop awareness’ on a world wide scale.
As gang culture died down around 1973 and hip hop began to take over, from the ashes of the Black Spades, Bambaataa formed what was simply known as The Organisation, now the internationally distinguished Universal Zulu Nation. The group organises cultural events and youth activities all over the world and now has numerous autonomous branches in countries as diverse as France, the UK and Japan. Spreading the word of peace love and unity, Bambaataa used his influence and leadership to inject something more positive into the community. Now the Nation, in its own words is focussed of ‘raising hip hop awareness’ on a world wide scale.
Now, along with other pioneers such as Grandmaster Flash, has become what Rolling Stone unfortunately calls a ‘forgotten elder statesman’. This doesn’t mean that his message of peace, love and unity is going unheard.
In an interview with Streetgangs.com in September 2005, Bambaataa spoke out about gang violence in New York and LA and the image of hip hop across around the world. He sees a “misconception of what Bloods and Cribs were”.
“We have to come up with some kind of plan to get them out of the situation they’re in”, he stresses the need to talk and that, “people and not money is what people should be respecting”.
“We have to come up with some kind of plan to get them out of the situation they’re in”, he stresses the need to talk and that, “people and not money is what people should be respecting”.
Advice that reflects both the image of hip hop across the world and potentially the image the more impressionable among us draw for themselves when bombarded with the imagery and gun-culture, homophobia and misogyny which seems to prevail in so much modern urban music.
This is culture which has led to a host of cries against its international image and its effect on youth, including this article on David Cameron’s views on knife crime.
Although around two years old, it epitomises the view of hip hop held by many, quotes from the Snoop Dogg song ’20 Dollars to My Name’ follow the lines of, “Nothing left to do, but buy some shells for my Glock / Why? so I can rob every known dope spot / I got 19 dollars and 50 cents up in my pocket with what? / With this automatic rocket / Gotta have it to pop it, unlock it, and take me up a hostage.”
Although around two years old, it epitomises the view of hip hop held by many, quotes from the Snoop Dogg song ’20 Dollars to My Name’ follow the lines of, “Nothing left to do, but buy some shells for my Glock / Why? so I can rob every known dope spot / I got 19 dollars and 50 cents up in my pocket with what? / With this automatic rocket / Gotta have it to pop it, unlock it, and take me up a hostage.”
Not something we can all relate to, not something especially David Cameron can relate to. Interestingly, and amusingly, the article references Cameron’s edition of Radio Four’s Desert Island discs where he chose Bennie Hill’s Ernie (the fastest milkman in the west).
Although the image painted in the Snoop Dogg song mentioned is, arguably, a reality for a lot of people and it is hard to question what is unmistakably someone’s art when it comes from their own life and personal experiences.
Although the image painted in the Snoop Dogg song mentioned is, arguably, a reality for a lot of people and it is hard to question what is unmistakably someone’s art when it comes from their own life and personal experiences.
The question becomes where many artists draw the line between celebrating and gloryfying this lifestyle and just singing about it.
