“Ladies and gentlemen,” began Hip Hop club member and Human Services program student Ventae Parrow, “we’re here to share some information we believe is vital to you connoisseurs of hip hop.”
And that’s how the Tuesday, Sept. 30 Hip Hop Club Round-table Discussion got underway. What followed was an hour of upbeat chat regarding the popular music genre and the idea that corporate interests have directed it away from its positive roots.
“When hip hop came out,” Parrow explained, “it was about community. It was about unity. Peace, love, joy, happiness.” Parrow cited artists like Afrika Bambaataa and Melle Mel as examples.
“But negativity sells more than positivity,” Parrow went on to say.
The sentiment was echoed by Coewisha Burns, Web Design student.
“I wish we could go back to the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s when the music was about something,” Burns declared.
The highpoint of the meeting came during a snack break when the song “Stop the Violence” by local artists L’oreal 2 Lyrical, E-Dizzle, Charie, and 4 Vursys was played over the conference room speakers. A creamy, R&B twinkle made the track reminiscent of Notorious B.I.G. hits. The message of the song, however, had a deep meaning to the group.
“We want to enjoy music,” Parrow exclaimed, “and enjoy ourselves at an event and not worry about dodging bullets because someone got upset. This song was brought about when four minds came together and asked ‘What can we do?’”
Another problem facing hip hop that the club has identified is a lack of improvisational skills from major acts today, like Drake.
“I look at a lot of artists,” Kyle Hayden, MATC recruiter and club advisor, reasoned, “and they can’t freestyle and that’s a fundamental thing to being an artist.”
“That’s what separates the rappers from the emcees,” Parrow agreed.
The powers that be in the music publishing world should do themselves a favor and attend the next Hip Hop Club event, where only the truth is spoken.