One thing I would like to focus on is sexism within Hip Hop. I noticed that within The Get Down, the b-boys, DJs, MCs, and graff artists were majority men. Books, Shaolin, and the rest of the Get Down Crew would wear clothes that covered their whole bodies and sometimes they rapped about sexual acts on women they would “get with”. Mylene, who is trying to pursue a music career, seemed to only have a good shot at making it big if she acted more promiscuous and dressed more revealing. She was even encouraged to say that she was single in order to catch more attention and create more fans, while still portraying a “child of God” image. I relate this to the reading “Hip Hop Is Not Responsible for Sexism” because although sexism is clearly practiced in Hip Hop, I believe that sexism is a product of hour society.Another thing that I feel like can be connected is the influence of young adults/teens on society. In the Get Down the kids/ teens had a bigger impact on their community than they thought. In the specific reading by Tricia Rose, she talks about how kids and the younger generation have the ability to put a stop to sexism within hip hop.
Sexuality and Sexual orientation are also very important in the world of Hip Hop, the reading Rumor Has It by Riley Snorton and in The Get Down both showed that. Dizzee, although his sexuality was never confirmed, fell in love with another man. This is was such an important part of the show because as a Black man in the Hip Hop world, in the 70s being gay or liking the same gender in anyway was very “hush hush”. The show emphasized the point that I felt Rumor Has It touched upon on the phrases “pause”, “no homo”, etc. Because none of the men talked about liking anyone but women. When Shao found Dizzee sleeping with Thor, Dizzee’s love, Dizzee acted shy about it and Shao said she wouldn’t tell anyone. Shao automatically saying that he would not say anything shows how forbidden it seemed to be to like someone of the same sex, especially as a black man. Portraying this perspective of life experience during this time I think was an important addition of the show that I definitely appreciate.
