By Brett Grotenhuis

There are many people, particularly at this university, who cringe at the sound or mention of hip-hop music. Many claim it is profane, violent, provocative and that it can ruin one’s spirit. Often times this is true, but it is unfair to label an entire genre of music with these descriptions. Artists and groups, past and present, have tried to break out of the norms of hip-hop and spread a positive and constructive message to their audiences while staying true to the original craft.

For those of you who cannot stand hip-hop, I recommend reading this with an open mind. While many claim hip-hop negatively influences the listener, few are aware that hip-hop has roots that extend to other culturally accepted genres of music and can send positive messages through its music and lyrics.

People often forget hip-hop spawned from a combination of legitimate genres. There are many groups that have a distinct funk feel to their music, such as A Tribe Called Quest, Jurassic 5, Gang Starr and The Cool Kids. Some of the earlier groups have a sound similar to ’80s rock, such as Run DMC, The Beastie Boys and The Cold Crush Brothers. The group Nappy Roots has a Deep South blues feel that focuses on the difficulties of growing up in poverty.

Some artists incorporate more classical instruments for a soul feel. The rapper most known for this approach is Common, who often ponders and praises God in his songs and works with such accomplished singers as John Legend and Macy Gray. Even the constant rhythms of reggae helped inspire some early hip-hop. The Fugees were a hip-hop group most known for their Caribbean sound, and Bob Marley’s son Damian has worked with hip-hop artists NaS, Eve and Snoop Dogg.

Many rappers tell of faith and prayer in their songs. DMX describes his experiences of communication with God through prayer in his song “Angel,” and Houston native Paul Wall expresses how his faith in Christ helped him and his family fight through struggles in “Just Paul Wall.” Chicago rapper Twista spreads his message of hope for all those struggling with various trials, and he stresses the importance of keeping a positive attitude in his song “Hope.” The artist Common shares his insights on the possibility of a female God, or the equivalent of a heavenly mother in his song “Faithful.”

Some of you may be wondering where to find this music. It is a difficult process, but I find it enjoyable. I have spent hours browsing and listening to music samples in online stores. It’s the most convenient way to browse because everything is in one place. I found that searching in the hip-hop or rap genre and clicking on either the “Alternative Rap” or “Hip-Hop” sub-genres were helpful in finding this more sophisticated music. Most online stores have clean versions of the hip-hop and rap songs and albums.

Although the majority of songs and artists incorporate profanity, provocative innuendos and violent behavior, there are some individuals in the same industry who try to undo the negative influences others have inflicted on the audience. Before anyone makes a judgment on hip-hop or any other music produced, one must understand these performers are just telling the stories of what they know best, just as any writer would write about whatever he or she knows best.

This is the style of all musicians, from modern rock stars to the early blues singers singing about racial prejudice and exposing the cruelties of the Deep South. Hip-hop music is meant to entertain, but it is often meant to uplift. I understand BYU students are taught to have high standards, and I can testify there are plenty of examples of hip-hop music that meet these standards.

Brett Grotenhuis is a freshman at BYU majoring in English. He is from Fremont, N.H.



Copyright Brigham Young University 9 Jun 2009