1 post tagged “hip-hop commentary”

Defining hip-hop as a form of art, apart from music 

Defining art:

Isn't hip-hop just a genre of music? The difficulty in defining any form of art is perhaps a function of the problem intrinsic to defining art itself. Regardless of how much we understand its historical beginnings, the days of canonical, academic art but a relic. Post Enlightenment relativism and post Renaissance emotivism have effected a degradation of standards that has rendered both the terminology and criteria by which modern art is described and judged all but arbitrary.

Lest we acquiesce to the meaninglessness and absurdity of this immutable dilemma—defining that for which no standard can exist—it is incumbent upon the freeman to bear the woe and torment of lawlessness and strive to erect at least a point of reference for the many, if not the masses. The palm of society is art itself and its lifeline reveals a gauzy sketch of who we are, who we were, what we’ve done, and maybe even what we’ll do. Yet, even without an Academy protecting the annals of academic rigour and artistic decency, the judgement of art, or any genre therein, may be acutely possible within a community of the willing providing its members can agree, at the very least, on terminology. However, even the pursuit of this small morsel of accordance comes but with its unique set of quandaries.

On Hip-Hop:

Difficulty in defining hip-hop is, inevitably, no different in this respect. Relativism, emotion, and partiality are almost impassible given the novelty of the genre and the paucity of relevant, rigourous study thereof. And again, agreeing on the terminology is but a first step, though an important one, in defining hip-hop. But without a clear starting point, perhaps describing what hip-hop isn’t will assist us in defining what it is.

A paramount question in this task: Is hip-hop music? Without tackling the chore of first defining music, it is, perhaps, easiest to examine some elements common to the constitution of music that hip-hop does not necessarily share. Regardless of what may accompany it, music is always comprised of some type of melody which is produced by various instruments and is described variably by notes, tones, meters and such. Even non-Western music, which can be difficult to describe in Western terms, has its own equivalents by which music is measured. Music without the melody and without instruments is, essentially, nothing (or at the very least no longer able to be considered music).

The same is not true for hip-hop. Although hip-hop is often accompanied by music, if the essentials of music are stripped away, the essence hip-hop still stands. Unaccompanied by any melody at all, hip-hop is still recognizable as such. Ciphering is perhaps the best example of this. In a free-style cipher, the hip-hop artist puts forth only his lyrics without the aid of any musical instruments or melodies and even without singing. I’m talkin’ bout niggas on the corner, gettin it in with no beats and no box. The consummate importance of the lyric to hip-hop is a distinction that separates it from music. Music without lyrics, still continues as such. Hip-hop without lyrics ceases to be. It would be, at most, music and at least, silence.

Notwithstanding its frequent accompaniment by music, hip-hop can always stand without it. This does not mean that the genera are mutually exclusive, but all forms of art can be accompanied by music without being transformed into music. Painting and Sculpture accompanied by music still remain Painting and Sculpture. Poetry accompanied by music is still poetry. With the same regard, hip-hop, accompanied by music is still hip-hop. Hip-hop is not weak nor is it fragile. Its essence does not collapse under the weight of music. It is a new art form—an unique expression of culture coded secretly to be understood universally.