The Sins of the (Dogg) Father...
Don't let recent MAGA lovefests overshadow all of Hip Hop
In this edition: Quick thoughts on the Hip Hop controversy du jour; Other Hip Hop news that isn’t about dumb sh*t; and new entries on our dope interdisciplinary Hip Hop events calendar!
🤑 MAKE AMERICA GREEDY AGAIN
[VIDEO VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE]
For every Snoop Dogg rocking at a crypto bros Trump rally, I’ll show you a bunch of teachers that are using Hip Hop to help a young person get excited about learning.
For every Nelly, I’ll show you a collective of mental health professionals utilizing Hip Hop music, culture, and sensibilities to improve the well-being of a person for whom traditional therapy methods did nothing.
For every Rick Ross, I’ll show you a slew of independent Hip Hop artists that also work on the front lines of the fight for social justice.
For every Soulja Boy, I’ll show you an assortment of Hip Hop-flavored nonprofit organizations improving the lives and livelihoods of members of their community.
For every media outlet sharing these engagement-bait stories or videos of Rosanne Barr and Tom MacDonald or posting a reaction video to garner more reactions, I’ll show you a collection of recent news stories that highlight the innovative, inventive ways that Hip Hop music and culture are helping uplift humanity.
And I’ll do it every single week. Hell, I’d do it every single day if I could.
So yes. It is important, for sure, to call out what would seem like sellout behavior from some of our genre’s most iconic celebrities. But just as much as we might be engulfed by disappointment, we should just as easily remember that while these celebrities may have entertained us throughout the years, may even have done some good things for their communities, they rarely uphold or apply the true tenets of Hip Hop music and culture to their careers. They rarely represent the core ideals of an inclusive, caring, inventive, and innovative culture which is meant to uplift the lives of those being oppressed—not celebrate the success and ascension of the oppressors.
Alas, most of the entertainment world’s successful (and rich) artists have never been, and will never be, true warriors for a more just and inclusive society. Not when there is more money to be made by showing up for any side that offers a bag.
To be honest, we shouldn’t a) be expecting it, or b) be surprised when it doesn’t happen.
(I also think this all ties into a much bigger issue than just capitalist artists capitalisting... But more on that later.)
For now, if you are disturbed by Snoop, Nelly, Rick Ross, or Soulja Boy cranking it for Trump, or the abhorrently racist (and frankly, bizarre) rap-flavored appropriations by folks like Barr or MacDonald or Marjorie Taylor Greene, or the divisive rhetoric circulating regarding Hip Hop’s “true” origins, you have every right to be.
At the same time, it is more important than ever that we recognize that what we are seeing is not Hip Hop. It’s a part of Hip Hop, for sure. Some of it is pure bastardization of Hip Hop, no doubt. And much of it are things that Hip Hop’s cultural participants have to work out among themselves.
But what we’re seeing does not represent the kind of Hip Hop that we talk about when we say ‘“Hip Hop can save America!”
For that kind of Hip Hop, you’re in the right place.
- Manny Faces
[VIDEO VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE]
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📰 HIP HOP NEWS THAT ISN’T ABOUT DUMB SH*T
(This section brought to you by our Reddit community! r/hiphopculture!)
🕊️ RIP DJ Juice, New Jersey mixtape DJ veteran
🔥 Producer Madlib Loses Home & Music Equipment in Los Angeles Fires
❌ Chuck D Denounces Use Of Public Enemy’s ‘Burn Hollywood Burn’ In Wildfire Videos: “Learn The History”
📺 Video recap of 2024 National Hip Hop Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring Marley Marl, Kool Moe Dee, Lords of the Underground and others
🎶 A hip-hop journey rooted in identity: Cecil Tso, known in the music world as Tsoh Tso, is a hip-hop artist, producer, and DJ whose artistry is deeply intertwined with his Navajo heritage and personal experiences
⚖️ Drake's Lawsuit with UMG Explained: Here's What You Need to Know
☮️ Hip-hop music is used to send anti-bullying message and inspire Philly elementary students to develop career goals
💓 “Spreading Love is the Way”: An Interview with Blu and Exile
🐰 Bad Bunny Talks Coming Back Home on His ‘Most Puerto Rican’ Album Yet: In an exclusive video interview, the world-conquering Latin superstar discusses why his new album is filled with traditional sounds and rhythms from his homeland
🖼️ AGO’s hip-hop exhibit investigates the music genre through pop culture, with a sprinkling of fine art
🏆 Kamryon Johnson wins Michael Ford’s annual $10,000 Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship
📺 Rapsody video interview, on breaking barriers, her GRAMMY journey, and music empowerment
🕺 "It became a fusion of cultures": MT Pop on Red Bull Dance Your Style win
🙏 SO MANNY THANKS
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📺 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
📅 INTERDISCIPLINARY HIP HOP EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES
(This section brought to you by our brand new DISCORD COMMUNITY! Join the ongoing conversation today!)
Jan. 23, 2025 [Eugene, Oregon]: Bluegrass x Hip Hop group Gangstagrass at The Hult Center
🎉 Jan. 31, 2025: 🎂 MANNY FACES’ BIRTHDAY!!! 🥳
Jan. 31, 2025: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS DUE for the next Words Beats & Life: The Global Journal of Hip-Hop Culture
Jan. 31, 2025: APPLICATIONS DUE for the Next Level international traveling artist residency
Through Feb. 16 [Chicago]: Kid Prince and Pablo, a Hip Hop adaptation of The Prince and the Pauper [Review]
Saturdays, Through Feb. 22 [NYC]: Hip Hop Literacies Series at New Lots Library, Brooklyn
Feb. 22, 2025 [Bellport, NY]: Cultural Empowerment Event: Hip-Hop & Mental Health
Mar. 14, 2025 [NYC]: Hip Hop Orchestra Experience
RELATED: Interview with orchestra leader JooWan Kim
Mar. 21-23 [Columbus, OH] The 2025 Hip Hop Literacies Conference at The Ohio State University
April, 3-6, 2025 [D.C.]: Words, Beats & Life Festival
April 18-19, 2025 [Hartford, CT]: The Trinity International Hip Hop Festival
April 22-25, 2025 [NYC]: Teachers, bring your class to Word.Sound.Power at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
June 6-7, 2025 [NYC]: #HipHopEd Conference (Email hiphoped@gmail.com to be added to the update list)
Oct. 11, 2025 [L.A.]: Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final
November, 2025 [D.C.]: Third Annual Hip Hop Studies Conference at Howard University (More info to come)
Couldn’t have been said any more perfectly. Thank you for your insights and uplifting of the culture!