What's an example of hip-hop being sanitized as a result of it being studied? Is that the case of any other cultural phenomenon being studied? Take for instance something like film. If you learn about certain styles and techniques and cultural significances, does that take away from the essence of watching movies?

So I guess if someone wanted to study what 9th was talking about, the transition from overground/underground to commercial/mainstream, that would be a disservice to hip-hop?

I can think of worse ways as to how hip-hop has been sanitized, starting with radio airplay and media exposure--an overall lack of balance with the music--plus others that have been mentioned countless times in this post already.


BROTHER_DONTE
misterbrother@aol.com

"REUNION" by Muhibb Dyer

Grandma's macaroni and cheese, hot rolls,
a can of Miller Lite over a game of Bid Whist
on a sunny day forever in our memories
where kids with spaghetti stained shirts
get their diapers changed
in between playing in the sandbox
and the drunk uncle once again tells everybody
he ain't they family no more!

Earth, Wind and Fire and Jay-Z play simultaneously,
old folks "bop"
and young folks "drop it like it's hot"
and church folk tell both of them
they're going to hell.

But even still we laugh together,
pray together, and accept everybody
from the gay cousin
to the white in-laws who married in
to Muhammad (even though we still call him Larry),
we are still blood, still tradition, still culture,
still generations of strength whose legacy
will continue 'til the end of time.

Reunited.

From the 2003 12-month calendar "The Children are Crying."

For more information, e-mail thechildrenarecrying@hotmail.com

More on "The Children are Crying" calendar:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/Metro/jan03/110295.asp

More on the Milwaukee poetry scene:
http://www.jsonline.com/onwisconsin/music/jan03/109313.asp

Check out local hip-hop/spoken word act BLACK ELEPHANT at:
http://www.kairocom.com