ENGLISH 101S The Art Of Reading

Discuss McBride's attitude toward hip-hop. Why did he dislike it at first? What did he come to admire about it? What does McBride still not like about the music? How do you feel about Hip-Hop music?

James McBride’s essay Hip-Hop Planet deals with the African emotions in relation with music, specifically with that of Hip-Hop and the reason why it holds such importance in the culture. McBride’s attitude towards Hip-Hop, at first, is abstract and indescribable, he begins the essay with a reverie in order to describe why a part of him hates the music but, as the essay progresses, McBride can be seen confronting his real emotions. He disliked the music at first because it reminded him of a past that he desperately wanted to forget, a past that he wanted to leave behind, a past that grouped him with the people of his culture. As he grows up, he understands the importance of asserting one’s identity, specifically if that identity has been suppressed by the world for centuries and he realizes that Hip-hop has become a way of reasserting identity for the African people (Karvelis, 2018). He still cannot entirely embrace the music as it portrays various aspects of violence and he does not want to associate himself with that but, overall, he has started falling in love with the music (McBride, 2007).

I, personally, admire the genre of Hip-Hop, as it has created a niche wherein people with oppressed identities can express their aggression and agony and still feel safe.

Karvelis, N. (2018). Race, class, gender, and rhymes: Hip-hop as critical pedagogy. Music Educators Journal, 105(1), 46-50.

McBride, J. (2007). Hip Hop Planet. National Geographic Magazine, 1-5.