Separated at birth...

Country and hip-hop lifestyles are almost indistinguishable. I wouldn’t state that they are identical twins, but fraternal ones most definitely. With fraternal twins you have the same parents, but do not favor as much as with identical twins. With looks aside, you may notice numerous traits that are the same, with just a few differences.

In comparing the hip-hop lifestyle to that of the country lifestyle, the appearance of each is shockingly the same. Yes, the wardrobe couldn’t get more opposite as each lifestyle has a very distinctive way of dressing. A typical die-hard country music listener would most likely wear tight jeans and a western shirt, with a pair of cowboy boots on the side. In hip-hop the stereotypical male rap listener would wear baggy jeans and an oversized t-shirt, and perfectly cleaned sneakers. It is interesting that these are the only two musical crowds that have an obvious style that tags on the music. You can not say the same for those that only listen to oldies or top 40.

Another comparison proving that country and hip-hop life is close to the same is the feeling of the music. For example, typical country music sound is a “woe is me” such as, “my wife left me and my dog died” type of lyrics. Interestingly enough, the blues has the same concept. Also, for the sake of instrumentation, country music almost always has an autistic guitar or harmonica playing in the background as does blues music. In fact, with blues you may only hear a harmonica or a guitar. Since blues music has evolved in the hip-hop music to a faster beat called rap. Most rap music is that of where the artist has been wronged in some way, and he/she is angry about the situation.

Comparing two cultures of supposedly completely opposite ways of life and thinking, I find it relieving that people still have much in common. On a lighter note, country and rap music both speak of “bitches” in their songs, even though in country he is probably voicing more of “dog dying” problem verses problems with his girlfriend issues.

Music has such a way of opening doors of expression for all people. Depending upon their makeup, people find ways of relating the problems they encounter through different genre. Music has been and always be something that connects us to each one another. Through music, we find ways of vocalizing in acceptable ways to be completely understood. Music can be the language of reconciliation. Long live the different flavors we encounter; they articulate to us about the person telling the story!

Shame Shame

Hip-Hop is mostly a salt and pepper culture. You have the black 50 Cent types and the white Eminem’s. Whatever happened to rappers of other cultures? You never hear of the famous Asian rapper, maybe William Hung, but that is more for laughs. Every once in a awhile you also come across your Latin rapper, such as “Pit bull”, who is well known in the hip-hop community, or you stumble across a rapper named Rico Pabon. Both Pit bull and Rico Pabon have good beats that you could dance to in a club or listen in your car while you’re driving.

Living in America, you see diversity whenever you turn a corner; so why is it not seen in the hop-hop rap culture? You have mostly black and white people that are getting recognition in this world. It can be argued that hip-hop needs to branch out. People are getting tired of seeing the same face with the same songs on the radio or at the club.
Hip-Hop is a lifestyle mostly amongst people that live in the urban community. Having visited friends that lived in an urban community all races and ethnicities are included.

A definition of hip-hop is “A popular urban youth culture, closely associated with rap music and with style…” So where are the Asian rappers? In thinking of an answer to the question, I am wondering if they are going through the same uphill battle that a white rapper once faced. Once hip-hop emerged from the scene a white rapper would have been laughed at or considered whack. People naturally get scared of change or new beginnings. If I were of Asian descent, I would feel pissed off that doors were being slammed in my face due to race and not talent, a reverse racism.

It takes most people less than 4 seconds to see if they like a song on the radio before they make a decision to leave it on that station or to turn it off. When turning the song off the listener misses the messages that the artist is trying to portray. As a society of young people we have gotten stuck in a rut; we keep listening to the same type songs and turn off anything outside of our interests. We are missing the message left unanswered of why the Latin or Asian or anyone else that doesn’t fit the “mold” of a typical rapper is left out. I keep wondering what would of happened if the Beastie Boys, Kid Rock, Paul Wall, Eminem, or even Vanilla Ice hadn’t been given a chance. I would like to see “Creativity Through Diversity”. What a great blend in hip-hop music we could enjoy. It is time once again to reshape the mold of those we call rappers.




To Listen to Rico Pabon:
www.myspace.com/ricopabon