BY HANIF MICHAEL PANNI
What is Hip Hop?
EW’s new hip hop writer says hello.
I
was 5 years old when the movie Colors
came out. I didn’t really understand the
plot of the film, but I remember digging on
the soundtrack — particularly the title song by
Ice-T. My big brother also liked it, so it had to
be cool. Listening to that song made me want
to become a rapper myself, so I decided to
write my first rhyme, called “Crayons.” It had
the same rhyme scheme as “Colors,” but in-
stead of rapping about gang warfare and cops,
I just talked about the many colors of crayons.
Little did I know that this would be the genesis
of my hip hop obsession.
Many things have changed in hip hop cul-
ture since then. Ice-T started a heavy-metal
rock group, Ice Cube is making hit movies,
and a guy named Robert Van Winkle became
Vanilla Ice. These Ices have one thing in com-
mon: They’ve all had their albums publicly
run over by politicians driving bulldozers.
(Well, not Vanilla’s, but let’s hope that hap-
pens real soon!) The destruction of this mate-
rial was to prove the point that rap music is
dangerous, tasteless, and just all-around bad.
A lot of folks throughout the country agreed
with the gesture, as it reinforced their precon-
ceived notions about the culture itself. This ig-
norance still runs rampant with the help of the
constant bombardment of media-induced mis-
interpretations of hip hop’s ideals and values,
grouping it all together instead of recognizing
its diversity and expressive potential. That’s
unfair.
It’s like saying, “I hate the saxophone!”
when the only artist you’ve been exposed to is
Kenny G. I mean, hip hop doesn’t just talk
about Bentleys and Hennessey. Innovation is
infinite in this particular culture’s tendencies.
Its influence in society is great. People are re-
alizing that hip hop is more than planes,
chains, and asses that shake. Hip hop is dig-
ging in record crates, using old beats and
breaks to become the soundscape for an entire
generation. Hip hop is holding a big-ass boom
box to your face and blasting the new hotness.
Hip hop is walking through high school
friendless, with broken earphones bigger than
your head and a few old mix tapes as your only
accomplices. Hip hop is honesty and promises
becoming a Leader of the New School, with
new language that isn’t just cool — it’s def,
dope, fresh, and bangin’! Hip hop is political
frustration; anyone can see that if they have
enough patience. It’s late nights in the
basement writing a declaration of
your own independence, making
a prolific statement with one sen-
tence.
Hip hop is finally in the hall
o’ fame of rock and roll, soul,
S
to stay on the ruff path, no mat-
ter how long it is. True
Americana, hip hop is
standing in a circle with a
bunch of friends making
fun of each others’ mamas.
Good hip hop is original,
and for a lot of people it
makes this harsh planet a little
more digable. Hip hop is free-
styling off the top with no rehearsal. It’s
“Chapelle’s Show,” “In Living Color,” and
that new McDonald’s commercial. Hip hop is
funk, and jazz. Hip hop is blues because it has
to be. Sometimes, hip hop is the best way to
truly express how you feel after a tragedy. Hip
hop is loyalty; samples making obscure oldies
artists rich off of royalties. Hip hop is a New
York subway car in the 1980s. Hip hop does
not believe the hype. Hip hop is black, though
some of the most popular artists lately are
white. Hip hop is Colors, Breakin, Beat
Street, and Wild Style. I’m a hip hopper for
life because it inspires my inner child. ew
Good hip hop is original, and
for a lot of people it makes this
harsh planet a little more digable.
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