Ethnicity mixed with music.
64
The white girl has something to say...
As a middle class Caucasian female, I've never quite been listened to when it came to my opinion about hip hop. Something about my skin tone automatically denies me the right to have a respectable input on anything hip hop related. Why is our country so set on breaking free of racial stereotypes, yet we can't accept that an ethnicity other than a African American can enjoy hip hop?
Growing up I remember, my mom, also Caucasian, frequently playing 80's and 90's hip hop. While my peers were drooling over the Backstreet Boys and Aaron Carter, I was appreciating the crafts of Tupac and Notorious BIG. I didn't know anything different from that music. Sure, my mind developed a little sooner than most girls my age, but I found comfort in that music. I couldn't relate to the physical hardships the rappers I listened to had, but I understood the emotional struggles perfectly. That genre of music formed who I am today.
The peak of my favorite music was 90's hip hop and boy, what a time that was. Artists were putting passion, thought, and creativity into their work. No one was talking about things they didn't know about back then. It seemed like everyone kept it real. As a listener, I found love and appreciation for my artists keeping it real with me. Lyrics had actual meaning back then. I reminisce this music because my generation's hip hop lacks these elements to the fullest. I rarely come across a song that has lyrical value over flowing from it anymore. If only artists today could go back to the days of Makaveli, maybe we'd have more passionate music.
To this day, I get scolded, laughed at or just plain surprise from others who don't feel as if I should have an opinion on hip hop because of my race. My love for hip hop will never change, and I plan on pursuing a career in music journalism. I hope one day I can show people how OKAY it is for people of different backgrounds to appreciate a wide variety of music. In this capsule I hope I can change at least a few of your opinions on us white girls.
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Honestly I think music is universal and should be enjoyed by everyone no matter what the genre. I'm African American and I like some rap not all. I love country music and any type of music that calms my soul no matter who the artist is. It's amazing to me that people can be racially biased in music. I really am!
SPomposello Level 2 Commenter 3 months ago
I so agree with you. I'm an Italian male and have encountered the same problem. On more than one occasion, I've encountered a situation where I would be listening to an old school 90s hip hop or r&b song that I love and an African American or Hispanic person happens to be listening to it as well, they would look at me and say something like...
"You don't like this kind of music, right?"
or
"Oh, lemme find out you like this"
or
"You don't know about this" --- Ummm.... Yes I do, moron, because I WAS GROWING UP WITH IT ON THE RADIO AND MTV/BET!! DUH!
or in another situation, I may get asked something like, "So what kinda music you like, rock?"
It may not sound racist off the bat, it's not like they're calling you or me the "C" word, but it's all in the context of what they're saying. It's indirectly racist.
Also, I happen to be married to a dark Hispanic woman. Whenever people of another race learn this, they act shocked. One time, a stupid young person said to me "How come you didn't marry a white girl, that don't make no sense".
I tell you, this is so, so, sooooooooooo...... sad because we are still getting into the early 21st century, this is the year 2012, and this kind of a thought process still exists!?