As someone who enjoys the often problematic flossy rap of the 21st century it was interesting to visit the rap and hip hop cultural atmosphere that started it all. Hip hop started from the hood and was popularized by poor young Latinos and black individuals. I admire the defiant and revolutionary performances, pieces and music that these young adults produced. Graffiti is particularly empowering because the writers demand that their names be seen, refusing to let the risk of injury or of being caught stop them. Even though artists knew that their pieces on trains would inevitably be destroyed or altered by “the buff” they continued to write on them because it would guarantee that their piece would be seen by more viewers. Graffiti is not just art in difficult places, it is studying colors and the right paint to use, it is knowing the train schedule to know where and when you could most safely paint. Before taking this class I never considered the elaborate process that went into making a graffiti piece.
Women have always fought for their place (whether it be in rap, graffiti, hip hop culture, the workplace, or literally anywhere). Female artists in the hip hop industry had to protect their reputations and be prepared for harsh judgement. I would like to learn more about the women in hip hop who made a path for today’s artists such as Nicki Minaj, Lizzo, Tierra Whack, and Rico Nasty. Although hip hop definitely started as male dominated, I believe that you can see a shift towards popularity for both genders in the rap industry. I admire how women in rap took how men sexualize them in their music and made it empowering for them instead of demeaning. In today’s culture women in hip hop embrace their sexuality and own it.