Well, I'm gonna jump into this discussion some more ... [but asses are safe
from mudhole stomping. ;-)]
Saddassa writes:
> However for some kid to whipp up a sense of grievance so as
>to emulate but localize a particular type of conscious rap is fake.
>Then consider that U.S. fans dont care about U.S conscious rap let alone
>this foreign stuff and it aint gonna fly stateside. I think that it
>would be better to make song about "Party and Bullshit" which has a
>universal appeal especially as foriegn sales count more to acts in the
>Uk and elseware than to the U.S.
I think this just confirms the source of my gripe, really. Why do
US/foriegn sales count more to acts outside the US? Because the music
industry priviledges a US perspective on everything. Thus the mainstream
doesn't want to hear what anyone has to say unless they sound just like
Americans. My point is that this is fucked and that I give respect to
those who make good hip hop *and* try and change this situation, from
inside or outside the US.
Saddassa's point seems to be that the need for foreign (read US) sales is
just the way it is, and so those outside the US should produce a wack
Coca-Cola kinda rap about "partying, baybee" because it has "universal
appeal." If you want to just accept that, that's your choice, and I
respect your right to make it. But man, I don't appreciate someone from
the US telling me what is "fake" and what is not when it comes to hip hop
in Australia or anywhere else. When a Lebanese-Australian like Sleek the
Elite drops rhymes about Australian racism and all sorts of other shit in a
thick Aussie accent over hip hop beats that are cut up from traditional
Arabic music (care of DJ Soup...), this is way beyond "emulation". Let hip
hop communities everywhere else in the world debate and decide for
themselves what it "real", and *listen* to what they have to say rather
than *telling* them how to do their shit.
Of course, many dont care what will fly stateside. They are happy to put
expression above mainstream success. But, as Erik G writes:
>it also means that we can have a terrible
>time finding what is out of the main stream. ...
>Now we've heard about some rappers with English accents (Slick Rick
>anyone?), but what about Australian, New Zeland, Belize, South African,
>anyother from the old empire?
In Aussie hip hop, there's a bunch of people doing great shit .. Sleek the
Elite, Boomdocks, Brethren, DJ Soup, MetaBass n Breath to name a few. Not
to mention the DJs, writers and breakers doing their thing. To keep up
with releases/find out more, a good place to start is Bomb Australia's web
page at <http://smople.thehub.com.au/~bombaust/bombaust.htm> The Funky
Wisdom column they have there is a weekly underground rant about local
releases and other aspects of hip hop culture in Sydney and elsewhere.
Check it out....
Peace
..Kboy
"This is the dialogue, a co-op of culture
Not an entree for an ethnic vulture"
MetaBass n Breath