When I heard that Common was coming to Spring Fling, I almost broke down in tears. I have admired him for his work, passion and devotion to hip-hop since I was introduced to his music, and I lament the fact that I will not be able to see him on April 26 with the rest of the Tufts campus because of a track meet. Some of my teammates joined me in a collective mourning session, complaining as if we were all going to miss an opportunity to be reunited with a good friend.
Then, when we were asked, "Why is Common such a good hip-hop artist?" one of my friends responded, "Because I actually listen to his words." This comment made me think deeply about an element of hip-hop which is so often forgotten: knowledge.
Now, if you appreciate hip-hop as much as I've grown to appreciate it, you know that there are five elements of hip-hop. This includes the master of ceremonies (MC), disc jockey (DJ), graffiti, breaking (B Boy) and knowledge. When listening to the Top 20 Countdown of Jammin' 94.5, whose slogan is "No. 1 for hip-hop and R&B," I laughed when I heard songs like Soulja Boy's (short for Soulja Boy Tell 'Em) "Yaw Trick Yaw," Shawty Lo's "Dey Know" at No. 15, 2 Pistols' "She Got It" at No. 6 and Usher's "Love in the Club," which sealed the No. 1 spot. Though I'm entertained by many of these songs (and you will not see me hesitate to dance to them at various parties around campus), they lack the element of knowledge that was once so ingrained in hip-hop culture.
With a culture that has roots in artists like Chuck D from Public Enemy rapping about "Fight the Power" and Boogie Down Production telling youth to "Stop the Violence," it is obvious that the original discourse of social change in hip-hop has been mollified. This can be explained through the corporate consumption and shift of control of the music industry to six companies: Vivendi Universal, Sony, AOL Time Warner, Bertelsmann, EMI and, of course, Viacom (which owns MTV, BET and VH1).
Or it can be explained by the promise of money and celebrity to artists who focus on topics such as urban ugliness, greed, misogyny, crime, homophobia, sex, male physicality and violence. The exact cause I cannot pinpoint. However, I know this is not the case everywhere.
Globally, the story is different. As hip-hop grows internationally, its influence can be seen across borders as an avenue for social commentary advocating change. Mainstream hip-hop has hit all ears, as some countries strive to mimic American popular culture, while others work to create their own forms of hip-hop. The true message of the music can still be found in many of these countries.
An example can be seen in Senegal, where artists use their music to educate the people. Senegalese hip-hop artists attribute their motivation to the American socially-conscious rap of the 1980s, including the song "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy. Their voice was influential in the 2000 election of President Abdoulye Wade over Abdou Diouf. When asked, Senegalese MC Moussa Sall said, "In 2000, it's like hip-hop really changed the power. We were telling the people what they needed to know about politics." Moussa and several other artists were featured in an independent documentary film entitled "Africa Underground: Democracy in Dakar," which views the 2007 presidential elections through the perspective of hip-hop artists (and happens to be showing at Tufts this Friday). This documentary explores the hip-hop culture of Senegal, demonstrating the global impacts of the music.
Along with Senegal, hip-hop has grown to influence many other countries and continues to spread over continents. Looking at the issue internationally raises the question of whether hip-hop can return to its original socially conscious message in America. Can hip-hop bring forth the leaders that will influence the youth to take action against injustice? Can it help influence the next political elections?
Well, with artists like Common still around, my answer to all these questions would be yes. Common would most definitely be on a list of the Top 50 most influential hip-hop artists of all time. So while all of you are enjoying a free concert on the President's Lawn on a sunny spring day, remember to "listen to the words" and not take them for granted. As for me, I'll be jumping over hurdles in a Tufts speed suit singing Common's "Break My Heart" to myself.
Ikenna Achonolu is a sophomore majoring in community health.
