Cobb

An interesting writeup here at BBCi about the "Art of Rapping". I have another article somewhere where someone flat out says that rappers are today's poets, and people just aren't realizing it.

So you are not one of those people who things that Eminem is Satan, and is destroying America (or at least American kids according to a lot of conservatives)?

I think Eminem is a prime exemplar of the porno that is American pop culture. He's stumbled onto something in understanding that everybody *wants* him to be Slim Shady - so he's dealing with it more intelligently / self-referentially than say Britney Spears, but neither of them will ever transcend it.

I am not convinced that the devolution of middleclass values will spell the end of America, because while I respect the staying power of that great mass, I tend to be more elitist. In being conservative I am not being populist.

It is the fundamentalists of the religious right who feel the necessity to evangelize their puritanical values. They are those who need this to be a Christian nation because in the end, they are mediocre and want to be empowered by a kind of determinist hierarchy of power. They are threatened by pluralism because they don't possess the skills to deal with the world on its own terms. This is the Pat Buchanan world view and it cannot rule - it is incapable - it requires overwhelming force, and that force will not be mustered or if mustered, sustained.

Cobb,

your last two statements are perfect. I've had argument upon argument with Buchanan supporters (and the likes of his "clones")... to no avail. Great stuff.

I remember back in the 80's, going to see RUN DMC and Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious five, Kurtis Blow, Roxanne Shante, & The Fat Boys in Philly. I don't remember if I was the only white girl from the burbs, in the audience or not, I just know that I LOVED rap and rappers back then. I never felt out of place, and no one ever bothered me or my friends. When I would come into work wearing my newly purchased RUN DMC concert tee-shirt, much to my surprise the black males at work were stunned that I was even AWARE of rap, let alone paying to see a concert! Funny huh? Those were great times. I think Eminem is very talented and he is one of the few rappers I listen to today. Do I listen to him because he is white and I am white? Not hardly. BTW, Big Daddy Kane was always one of my favorites, I never thought of Eminem in those terms. Interesting.

I get really annoyed with the whole, you aren't "black enough" crap that some people spew regarding music and other topics. Recently, I got into a little debate on an "Urban" (code word for black) music site, when the editor suggested that if you didn't vote for John Street (current black D mayor of Philly) you were a racist. I can't stand such limited thinking and attitudes.

Also, Tim Burke wrote an excellent post about taking his daughter to a museum in Philly and coming in contact with the general (mostly African American) public. Check it out, he mentions you.

Yeah it's too bad that he doesn't have comments. I'm glad I impressed him on that, but I may have tended to agree with him from the bourgie perspective. My argument would be more around the fact that our public spaces are poorly designed...

I think white people want him to be the next Elvis in hip-hop but that's not gonna happen: cause 2pac is the only greatest one and living legend. He had more to offer to his people. If 2pac was still alive, he will never be where he at right now. He will never be at biggie's position either. People need to kill that noise about him being Elvis in hip-hop.

2pac,nas, biggie: They are bigger than Slim Shady.