what is real

From the beginning of this course, we have focused on identifying literacy practices. The question that has driven most of our discussions has been less about defining what is and isn’t literacy, and more about seeing literacy in most of everything. From this frame of reference, we can definitely see hip-hop as a justified form of literacy. Hip-hop is literacy, not only because we can identify traditional literary devices within the form, but because it is recognized. People listen to hip-hop, people discuss and debate hip-hop, people love hip-hop.

Hip-hop is literacy because we can learn from it. A lot of the time, hip-hop receives a bad rep- this is typically directed towards mainstream hip-hop. But the reality of the situation is that there is much more to hip-hop than the mainstream. Underground hip-hop is where we see much more authentic displays. This is where hip-hop is communicated through poetry and rapping. The motivation is real, and the listener notices. On the other hand, mainstream “hip-pop” (as many hip-hop artists like to refer to it) is centered on the idea of maximum profit. I don’t believe this “hip-pop” form was envisioned by early hip-hop pioneers. I believe they would find “hip-pop” phony.

 

check out this underground hip-hop song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg8xfWqCmc4