I think this convo that has evolved is great: tohunga said some true stuff, the root tempered it with an intersting comment as well. The conclusion I've come to is that, even though its roots are in the ghettos of urban Black America, hip hop is a flexible apparatus that can be used in many ways to express and make art. Now, when someone uses that apparatus to talk about Black pride, I'm gonna relate more than the next man. When someone uses it to talk about poverty, the next man is gonna relate more than me. Yet both of us can relate to both, just on different levels. This is a simple summary of what I'm thinking. If anyone wants to add more thoughts (on this or on the original talk), be my guest.

By the way, tohunga, after reading your 1st reply, just wanted to let you know I'm Canadian. Other non-Americans know why I feel the need to distinguish!