Hip Hop Speaks Out: We Cannot Be Denied

world-headphone.jpgGemcee, a moderator at my hip hop forum RapDogs.com, has written a great article called We Cannot Be Denied. It talks about turntable courses at Berklee College of Music and the work professor Stephen Webber has done to promote the recognition of hip hop in academic circles. Professor Webber has also helped create the Harvard University Hip Hop Archives website which tracks hip hop’s movement and effect on our society.

As a female Canadian rapper, author Gemcee gives unique perspectives on hip hop culture.

Excerpt from the article:

Do rappers read? Yes silly, they do. In the movement that is Hip Hop we have created a niche for writers who come from this culture. Writers like Toure, Cheo Hodari Coker, and Nelson George who are great reflections of Hip Hop journalists. Also, popular fiction novelists like Sistah Souljah and Erica Kennedy, who’s novel “Bling” I am reading right now.Some people believe that much of the Hip Hop literature that is around perpetuates stereotypes. The truth is, these novels reflect the harsh realities that many youths face. Their redeeming qualities are the fact that they are brutally honest and they share the consequences of decisions. These books are used to communicate in a way that is considered meaningful and anything to get kids reading and thinking, should be considered a positive.

So in the movement that is hip hop, a place where we have created poets, philosophers and independent, intelligent thinkers….it also inspires street novels. Chalk another one up for Hip Hop. Literature like this confirms that the spreading influence of hip hop is reaching far and wide. We cannot be denied.