Colin McEnroe Show: Rhymes, Rhythm And Rap In Connecticut
Nestled in the shadow of New York, Connecticut owns a vibrarnt hip-hop scene.
Rap, as it turns out, is not a passing fancy. The genre is more than 30 years old now.
But it's exact relationship to mainstream culture is still a bit of a question mark. Rap is one element of hip-hop. Hip-hop is now one very big thread running through the weave of American popular culture. It's almost impossible to imagine a time in the future when that thread would have been tugged out of the fabric. But as rap and hip-hop blend in to the mainstream, you have to wonder whether rap will persist as a free-standing independent pursuit.
That's one of our topics today, as we talk to a rap scholar and a group of rappers.
Is rapping today what it was in 1983 for Kurtis Blow? Or is it more like learning to play the saxophone -- a talent you might use to explore in any number of directions without committing to one subculture? Do I even know what I'm talking about?
Leave your comments below, e-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.
***This episode originally aired Nov. 17, 2010.***
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E-mail from John
…another on extreme metal? Very much connected to a subculture, and just as self-aware. Maybe lacking "legitimization" from the academy and the mainstream, but…all the more reason to consider exposing your listeners.
WNPR Hip-Hop Follow Up
The WNPR Hip-Hop Follow Up has begun here http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=14776&uid=74713857843#!/topic.php?uid=74713857843&topic=14776
The search is over. I think
The search is over. I think Khaiim just laid down your new theme music.
Follow up to show this Saturday, plus reply to Sean
First of all, had alot of fun on NPR wit Colin and Chion "MC Wolf" we need to do a track luv, ha ha fa real on point wit da rhym snippets!
Secondly, we didn't have enough time to fully rhyme and go in depth but... we will be broadcasting a live follow up to the NPR Hip-Hop feature on Saturday 11/20/2010 at 12 pm, so check http://www.rapoets.com/fb for the link to listen live.
Thirdly, on the live follow up Saturday, we will address any comments posted here (or on my fb page), including Sean's about 1. Words to Music and 2. Sexism... And we will not shy away from the truth of the matter. We will also point listeners to the names of a lot more CT artists we feel you should know about. (One is txting me right now - Emjae just got back from rockin Japan peace!)
One more thing, Apathy has represented for CT Hip-Hop probobly done as much or more to raise the status of CT Hip-Hop as any one I can think of, so that was BIG of him to call in and show love. Peace everyone I'm looking forward to getting more in depth on Saturday ONE!
E-mail from Sean
I am white and I have loved rap since my childhood because of the increadable expressive capabilities of the rappers. I have a degree in English literature, and I challenge anyone who has embraced the works of Joyce and Kerouac to deny the genius of the best of hip hop. I grew up in a ski resort in Vermont and I used to pump up for races with NWA. Now that I'm a father of three girls (who sounds like I've let the record skip), I'd like to ask two questions to your panelists: how do you feel about the transition of words to music (ie Jay Z doesn't write anything down, vs Eminem has tons of paper covered with rhymes), and also, how do you feel rap has matured in regards to women, gays and others?
Good show!!!
Good show!!!
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