Re: Origins of Rap

Matthew Robert Chicoine (scooby@umich.edu)
Tue, 20 Feb 1996 17:23:36 -0500 (EST)


Word. It isn't bullshit at all to know your past, or respect AND understand
where those artists are coming from, their culture and individuality. And
whoever said the "universal" outlook on music oversimplifies the issue
is right. You've got to understand perhaps where I'm coming from.
I'm in a college environment (U of Michigan), taken many classes on music
(mainly history/ethnomusicology), and have become somewhat disgusted by
the "scholasticism" which seems in the end to have little to do with the
music. Its trivia (after a point, that is). My response does seem a bit
reactionary now, but too often have I been in situations where music is
over-analyzed, and in turn is misunderstood and lost in words. I think
the whole point in this thread is really that hip-hop is constructed
within a framework of complex diversity (musically and culturally), and
therefore the point is being missed when the argument sets out to pinpoint
one origin. Maybe thats not whats going on, my bad. It is "all one" when
you stop talking and start listening, though. THATS my point. I'ma shut
the hell up now. Peace-
B

PS I take that back. Correct me if I'm wrong, but scratching is at least
recognized as having been . . . discovered by Grandwizard Theodore.
But who knows, some cats in Jamaica very well might have been doing it
before. As far as DJs toasting over vinyl with musicians, that is DOPE. I
never knew that. You learn something new .. . .... . ..

On 20 Feb 1996, araya,juan carlos wrote:

>
> Its not BULL-SHIT to know your past and learn from the masters. Arrogance
> keeps the mind weak, lack of respect of the past works only limits you of
> the great possiblilities of the future. I like to repeat that no one owns
> music (no Eurocentric or Afrocentric, there are many sades of color) such as
> no one owns a style. Culture and history is very important in understanding
> music. Diversity in people is what makes people beautiful and also music. A
> people's music is a reflection of them and their culture and there history.
> History is important, in Music and in life. Knowledge is power but without
> wisdom knowledge is nothing or worst - dangerous. There is much wisdom to
> learn from the past.
>
> Juano
>
>
> "So why the bickering over "whose" music is rap? You could
> argue about it forever and it would get you nowhere. Don't let national
> boundaries stop you, you could keep going with "Its a Black thing, Its a
> male thing, Its a New York thing, Its a South Bronx thing." Thats a lot
> of stupid bullshit. All you can really do is give acknowledgment and
> props. "Realize, its all one" -DJ Shadow. I love that statement, its all
> that needs to be said. Peace-
> bubblicious"
>