World hip-hop questions US rap

Dola has hit not only in Africa but had a number one in Holland
A recent international hip-hop festival which brought together rap artists from around the world has raised the question of why non-US rap is so political - whereas mainstream American rap appears frivolous.
Many of the performers at the three-day Trinity International Hip-Hop Festival in Hartford, Connecticut, were critical of the way that US rap - which is by far the best-selling - appears concerned mostly with money, drugs and sex, and has little to do with its roots in the angry political expression of groups like Public Enemy or KRS One.

"There's this negative perception of hip-hop as being a criminal artform, as being the home of the uneducated and non-thinking people," said Nigerian MC Oke.

"When you go across the continents of the Earth, people are embracing hip-hop as the force to change and transform the world."

'Sex, money and drugs'

The artists, who came form countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, and Iraq, were brought together by a group of Hartford students in collaboration with American non-governmental organisation World Up.

The festival was designed to promote international understanding and community development through hip-hop.


They don't really want to hear about your opposition to George Bush - they'd much rather hear about what you want to do with George Bush's wife

Jacqueline Springer, 1Xtra
Rolando Brown, of event sponsors the Hip-hop Association, said the festival highlighted there was "more of a focus on positive community development" outside the US.

"Some will argue that it's because of a lack of an economy, others would say it's because the international market has always been a little bit more conducive to development than the US has," he added.

MC Dola, a Tanzanian rapper who is one of the biggest-selling artists in East Africa, said that outside of the US, stars maximise their appeal by talking about social issues and rapping in their own language.

"We have been able to filter out the elements of sex, money and drugs - you don't get that in Tanzania," he explained.

"You don't get airplay if you talk about these things in your music. Over 99% of the rap in Tanzania is in Swahili - and it actually has a political message to it.

"They are the records that sell and appeal to a wider demographic of people than any type of music."

Changing market

However, many artists in Hartford blamed the current preoccupations of US hip-hop on the music industry, and stressed they believe record labels and radio conglomerates are actively promoting negative stereotypes to bury rap with a positive or political message.

"Being sensational about violence or sex or drugs is a huge part of it," said Chee Malabar, a rapper with Asian-American act The Himalayan Project.


The Himalayan Project mix their politics with personal stories
"It's easier for Americans to buy into that than it is to look in the mirror and say, 'some of the social policies and institutional hierarchies are messed up'.

"That's hard to sell, and ultimately it's about selling."

But Jacqueline Springer, of the BBC's urban music station 1Xtra, said that she strongly disagreed with this opinion.

"People haven't appreciated that although rap is the biggest-selling genre now, it's layered, so there are people who are underground, who have more of a political voice," she said.

She also pointed out that the age of the average rap fan has decreased, which has transformed what rap artists produce.

"They don't really want to hear about your opposition to George Bush - they'd much rather hear about what you want to do with George Bush's wife," she said.

"They don't want too much politics or too much sociological content rammed down their throats, because they're looking at rap as a fantasy - 'if I can famous, I can get iced-out teeth as well'."

Here lies the problem. Each artist has some charactertisic going for him. When they do speak about a solid subject matter, they tend to place their words properly. However styles make everything! When making a fight or even a pro wrestling match, if styles are similar, you might get an interesting match up. That does not work well in music. If styles are the same, you cannot tell the difference between the artists. It is like you are listening to one continuous style with no distinction. Enter Cassidy and Papoose.

Papoose has recently gotten a steetbuzz in the last 2 years, as well as Cassidy. Here is the problem they both sound the same. Observe:

Cassidy
I'm a hustler, I'm a-I'm a hustler homey
I got the product, narcotics for the customers homey
Fiend's open they be smokin like a muffler homey
Niggaz phoney so I only got a couple of homies
If you a hustler I could-I could fuck wit you homey
You spend a couple of bucks I'll stay in touch with you homey
I get money I get 20 a K, I got 20 strips all doin 20 a day - ay!
I get cake from buds and haze I'm makin dubs
They hatin cause I'm on the grind like I'm makin love
Wit cops got the block hot like a Jamaican clubs
Cop wait, wait for a drought and then I make a flood
Try to take my cake you gon' take a slug
But you can take my information if you takin drugs
'Cause I could sell Raid to a bug
I'm a hustler I can sell salt to a slug, 'cause

Papoose
My live crew pop like guy moo pop advise you pop
Wise new plots I ride through blocks and find new spots
Nah-uh you not uh-huh you watch
When I hop out the dread be like, "Man don't do dat"
Get lined up like five roof tops I cock two glocks
Find you behind new locks 'cause papoose got
Two knots inside two socks few rocks inside shoe box
You got two hot blocks who block you got
You dropped, you dropped you hot you not you popped you flop
you got to stop hops you not Tupac
Chew shots through blocks since doowop pop and koolats
Every last one of you niggaz could eat the ooh wop
I stack money while you spending your dough
I must-stash like the hair between your lip and your nose
Never partied always ran with the mothers
The only Summer Jam I ever had, was if my gun jammed in the summer
Cock the Uzi
Chip a nickel and diamond for a loosey
You coming through shining like we 'aint riding for the Louchey
Homie none of your diamonds don't induce me
'Cause yo I put blood on your ice, and turn your diamonds into rubies
Kill intent, catch my enemy at a big event
Watching while he party in advance of getting bent
Soon as he try to use the bathroom I'm slipping in
Sending guns smoke through the vents
I'ma add something stupid like, can I buy one of your cigarettes
Put the burner under his chin and leave the ceiling wet
They incorrect, niggaz spending money to get respect
They don't know the way to get respect is disrespect
How you cut a nigga in the face to get a rep
Real gangsters cut him in his neck
And if you catch an attempt murder that don't mean you a bigger threat
That just means you 'aint no motherfucking killer yet
My pistol send you to death
Rip through your Mitchell and Ness
Like car dealers you hit the deck
They hit your man with the Smith and Wess
Dump shots all in a nigga chest
You could see his bones he missing flesh
Stead of getting a gun, you run and go get a vest
Niggaz tore your man out the frame and you 'aint get the picture yet?
Dope fiends lined up making the strip a mess
That dope got them fiends online like the Internet
They tried to come on my block selling that fucking boy
Nigga my gun got fire like its unemployed
Say send me out the semi out they let me out I'm focused
Dessies out the holsters
Empty out the 4-5th
If I was a blood, I split the C like I'm Moses
Supercalifragilisticexpealahoeless

Papoose is more gifted than Cassidy, and does have a form of a stage presence. They are not saving the east coast, and need to live life more to get better content. They still have a chance though. They need some distinction, or they will be forgotten in about another 6 months.