Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes

Last updated
Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes
Directed by Byron Hurt
Written byByron Hurt
Produced byByron Hurt and Sabrina Schmidt Gordon
Starring
CinematographyBill Winters
Edited bySabrina Schmidt Gordon
Release dates
Running time
56 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes is a 2006 documentary film written, produced, and directed by Byron Hurt. The documentary explores the issues of masculinity, violence, homophobia, and sexism in hip hop music and culture, through interviews with artists, academics, and fans. Hurt's activism in gender issues and his love of hip-hop caused him to feel what he described as a sense of hypocrisy, and began working on the film. [1] [2] The premiere of the film took place at the Sundance Film Festival, and was welcomed by a standing ovation. [3] It has also won Best Documentary at the San Francisco Black Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Roxbury Film Festival. On February 20, 2007 the film aired on the PBS Emmy-winning documentary series, Independent Lens .

Contents

Interviews

The film features interviews with many hip-hop artists including Busta Rhymes, Chuck D, Clipse, Doug E. Fresh, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, M-1, Tim'm West, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli. [1] [2] [3] Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes also features academics such as Dr. James Peterson of Pennsylvania State University, Professor William Jelani Cobb of Spelman College, and Michael Eric Dyson of the University of Pennsylvania. [2] [4] Activists, journalists and poets such as Kevin Powell, Sarah Jones, and the Hip Hop Minister Conrad Tillard are also interviewed. [5]

Noted moments

Of the one-hour documentary, media outlets largely focused on three specific interviews:

Interviews with students of Spelman College regarding a protest against the appearance of Rapper Nelly, who originally contacted the school to have a bone marrow drive take place on campus. The student body asked the rapper to hold a forum to discuss his video "Tip Drill," in which he is seen sliding a credit card down the back side of a woman. In response, the rapper canceled plans to hold the bone marrow drive at the school. [1] [2]

An interview with Rapper Busta Rhymes in which the rapper walked out when confronted with a question about homophobia in the rap community. Rhymes is quoted as saying: "I can't partake in that conversation," followed by, "With all due respect, I ain't trying to offend nobody. . . What I represent culturally doesn't condone [homosexuality] whatsoever." When asked if the hip-hop culture would ever accept a homosexual rapper, Busta Rhymes then exited the interview. [3]

To reveal the effect of the commodification of women in hip-hop, Hurt interviewed concertgoers at the BET Spring Fling in Daytona, FL. Hurt was appalled by the actions of black youth at the concert, who were indiscreetly touching and taking videos of women. One young man that was interviewed commented that "Look how they dress” to justify the actions of the men at the event. In this segment of the documentary, Byron claims that the objectification of women in hip-hop lyrics and music videos has taught young men to view women as sex objects for their own personal pleasure. [6]

Many media outlets focused on the interview with activist and rapper, Chuck D of the rap group Public Enemy. The rapper was quoted as stating: "BET is the cancer of black manhood in the world, because they have one-dimensionalized us and commodified us into being a one-trick image. We're [shown] throwing money at the camera; we're flashing jewelry that could give a town in Africa water. We got $160 million contracts, 'cuz we got happy niggas." [1] The rapper also stated a link existed between the sales of hip-hop music to young white Americans, and the amount of pressure on black artists to create more of that content: sex and violence. [1] [3] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice-T</span> American rapper and actor (born 1958)

Tracy Lauren Marrow, better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American vocalist working in both the rap and heavy metal genres, as well as a songwriter, actor, and producer. He began his career as an underground rapper in the 1980s and was signed to Sire Records in 1987, when he released his debut album Rhyme Pays. The following year, he founded the record label Rhyme $yndicate Records and released another album, Power, which would go platinum. He also released several other albums that went gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busta Rhymes</span> American rapper (born 1972)

Trevor George Smith Jr., known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes. He has received 12 Grammy Award nominations for his work, making him one of the most-nominated artists without winning.

The Native Tongues were a collective of late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop artists known for their positive-minded, good-natured Afrocentric lyrics, and for pioneering the use of eclectic sampling and jazz-influenced beats. Its principal members were the Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love, and Queen Latifah. The collective was also closely tied to the Universal Zulu Nation. Rolling Stone cites the track "Doin' Our Own Dang" as "the definitive Native Tongues posse cut".

Leaders of the New School was an American hip hop group based in Long Island, New York.

<i>The Big Bang</i> (Busta Rhymes album) 2006 studio album by Busta Rhymes

The Big Bang is the seventh studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on June 13, 2006, by Aftermath Entertainment, Flipmode Records and Interscope Records. Production for the album took place during 2005 to 2006 at several recording studios and was handled by Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz, Mark Batson, DJ Scratch, J Dilla, Timbaland, Mr. Porter, will.i.am, Sha Money XL, JellyRoll, Black Jeruz, Nisan Stewart and DJ Green Lantern. The official cover artwork was revealed on May 7, 2006. The tracklisting was released on the 15th.

Rashia Tashan Fisher, known professionally as Rah Digga, is an American rapper and actress. She is best known as a longtime member of the Flipmode Squad, a hip hop group led by Busta Rhymes. Her debut album, Dirty Harriet (2000), peaked in the top-20 of the Billboard 200, and she released her second album, Classic, in 2010. She starred in the horror film Thirteen Ghosts (2001) as Maggie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip hop (culture)</span> Subculture including music, dance and graffiti

Hip hop or hip-hop is a culture and art movement that was created by African Americans, Latino Americans and Caribbean Americans in the Bronx, New York City. Hip hop culture is characterized by four key elements: rapping, DJing and turntablism, breakdancing, and graffiti. Other elements include historical knowledge of the movement, beatboxing, street entrepreneurship, hip hop language, and hip hop fashion. Some of these are argued to be the “fifth element”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch It (Busta Rhymes song)</span> 2005 song by Busta Rhymes

"Touch It" is a song by Busta Rhymes. Released on December 13, 2005, it was the first single from Rhymes' Aftermath/Interscope debut, The Big Bang. The song reached number one in New Zealand, and number six in the United Kingdom. The song features a minimalistic beat provided by Swizz Beatz, and a sample from the song "Technologic" by electronic duo Daft Punk. "Touch It" in turn was incorporated into Daft Punk's live album, Alive 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See</span> 1997 single by Busta Rhymes

"Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released as the lead single from his second studio album When Disaster Strikes... The song was written by Rhymes and its main producers Shamello and Buddah. The song contains co-production by Epitome and additional vocals by Fabulouz Fabz, who was Rhymes' road manager at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurt (T.I. song)</span> 2007 single by T.I. featuring Busta Rhymes & Alfamega

"Hurt" is a song by American hip hop recording artist T.I., released as the third official single from his fifth studio album T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007). The hardcore hip hop song, produced by Timbaland and Danja, features guest appearances from fellow American rappers Busta Rhymes and Alfamega.

<i>Black Sexual Politics</i> 2004 book

Black Sexual Politics: African Americans, Gender and the New Racism by Patricia Hill Collins is a work of critical theory that discusses the way that race, class and gender intersect to affect the lives of African American men and women in many different ways, but with similar results. The book explores the way that new forms of racism can work to oppress black people, while filling them with messages of liberation.

Byron Patrick Hurt is an American activist, lecturer, writer, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. In 2010, he hosted the Emmy-nominated television show, Reel Works with Byron Hurt. His documentary Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and broadcast nationally on PBS in 2007. His film Soul Food Junkies received the Best Documentary Award at the 2012 American Black Film Festival and aired on PBS' Independent Lens in January 2013.

LGBT representations in hip hop music have existed since the birth of the genre despite blatant discrimination. Hip hop has long been portrayed as one of the least LGBT-friendly genres of music, with a significant body of the genre containing homophobic views and anti-gay lyrics, with mainstream artists such as Eminem and Tyler, the Creator having used homophobia in their lyrics. Attitudes towards homosexuality in hip hop culture have historically been negative. Slang that uses homosexuality as a punchline such as "sus", "no homo", and "pause" can be heard in hip hop lyrics from some of the industry's biggest artists. However, since the early 2000s there has been a flourishing community of LGBTQ+ hip hop artists, activists, and performers breaking barriers in the mainstream music industry.

"No homo" is a slang phrase used at the end of a sentence to assert the statement or action by the speaker had no intentional homosexual implications. The phrase is also "added to a statement in order to rid [oneself] of a possible homosexual double-entendre".

Misogyny in rap music refers to lyrics, videos, or other aspects of rap music that support, glorify, justify, or normalize the objectification, exploitation, or victimization of women. It is an ideology that portrays women as objects for men's ownership, use, or abuse. It diminishes women to expendable beings. It can range from innuendoes to stereotypical characterizations and defamations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Look at Me Now (Chris Brown song)</span> 2011 single by Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

"Look at Me Now" is a song by American singer and rapper Chris Brown featuring fellow American rappers Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes released as the second single from Brown's fourth studio album F.A.M.E. on February 1, 2011. The artists co-wrote the song with its producers Afrojack, Diplo, and Free School, with additional writing from Ryan Buendia. Musically, "Look at Me Now" is a "dirty south–inspired" hip hop song that features "thumping bass, spacy synth and horn jam sounds."

Hip hop feminism is a sub-set of black feminism that centers on intersectional subject positions involving race and gender in a way that acknowledges the contradictions in being a black feminist, such as black women's enjoyment in hip hop music and culture, rather than simply focusing on the victimization of black women in hip hop culture due to interlocking systems of oppressions involving race, class, and gender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calm Down (Busta Rhymes song)</span> 2014 single by Busta Rhymes featuring Eminem

"Calm Down" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes from the album Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God. The song features American rapper Eminem and was produced by Scoop DeVille. It was released for digital download on July 1, 2014 by The Conglomerate Entertainment and Empire Distribution.

Feminist activism in hip hop is a feminist movement based by hip hop artists. The activism movement involves doing work in graffiti, break dancing, and hip hop music. Hip hop has a history of being a genre that sexually objectifies and disrespects women ranging from the usage of video vixens to explicit rap lyrics. Within the subcultures of graffiti and breakdancing, sexism is more evident through the lack of representation of women participants. In a genre notorious for its sexualization of women, feminist groups and individual artists who identify as feminists have sought to change the perception and commodification of women in hip hop. This is also rooted in cultural implications of misogyny in rap music.

Hip hop music, developed in the South Bronx in the early 1970s, has long been tied to social injustice in the United States, particularly that of the African American experience. Hip hop artists have spoken out in their lyrics against perceived social injustices such as police brutality, poverty, mass incarceration, and the war on drugs. The relationship between hip hop music and social injustice can be seen most clearly in two subgenres of hip hop, gangsta rap and conscious rap.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Zurawik, David (2007-02-20). "A daring look at hip-hop". The Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on 2007-02-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Guthrie, Marisa (2007-02-19). "Crimes behind the 'Rhymes'". New York Daily News . Archived from the original on 2007-02-22.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Richards, Chris (2007-02-19). "A Hip-Hop Fan Hunts the Reason Behind the Rhyme". The Washington Post . Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  4. ↑ Wiegand, David (2007-02-20). "Academic view of violence and sexism in hip-hop". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  5. ↑ "A Look at Hip-Hop, 'Beyond Beats and Rhymes'". NPR.org.
  6. ↑ Hurt, Byron. Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhythms. PBS Indies. 2006.
  7. ↑ Bigg, Matthew (2007-02-20). "US hip-hop film sparks debate on masculinity". Reuters . Retrieved 2008-03-09.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.