MICHAEL MARROTTI - IN THE DEFENSE OF HIP HOP

Michael Marrotti is an author from Pittsburgh using words instead of violence to mitigate the suffering of life in a callous world of redundancy. His primary goal is to help other people. He considers poetry to be a form of philanthropy. When he's not writing, he's volunteering at the Light Of Life homeless shelter on a weekly basis. If you appreciate the man's work, please check out his blog:www.thoughtsofapoeticmind.blogspot.com for his latest poetry and short stories.

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                      IN THE DEFENSE OF THE HIP HOP

In the defense of hip hop: hip hop is in contempt. Those who partake in this seemingly endless display of banality, and blatant rip-off of other talented artists (through the thievery known as sampling) are usually the ones who are close minded when it comes to the exclusion of hip hop culture. The word 'eclectic' holds no relevance, for their ears are shut off to anything that doesn't emanate from a keypad engendering what they call; rap music. 
    It's a digital sound, easily duplicated, anyone with a few fingers can do it. How hard is it to push a button, make a loop? The word adept does not apply. Musical instruments are collecting dust as keypads are finger banged like a much needed, repressed orgasm. The finished product is a sham, and the trendy morons can't get enough of it. All praise goes to the "producers" as bona fide musicianship takes a backseat in this cliché realm of contemporary culture. 
    The pseudo lyricism that flows as they like to call it on a digital beat (rap is nothing but talking, anyone with a tongue can talk) is in dire need of tutelage, and a trip to the public library. The use of intellectually adept word play is suffering severely in this imbecilic genre. It leaves no room for interpretation when overusing words like hustle in a lazy way to explain a multitude of common rap phrases. No need for a dictionary app. This is actually working as a detriment to the English language.
    I will on the other hand salute the ghetto imagery that manifests after listening to a few tracks that mostly cover the same themes: money, murder, bitches and weed. Words like misogyny, redundancy and monotony come to mind whenever I'm unfortunate enough to be amongst a feeble minded enthusiast listening to this repetitious genre.
    The urban dress code affiliated with hip hop is not only satirical, but deplorable. The length of white tee shirts rival that of most conservative dress sizes. Jordan shoes have become synonymous with barbarity and incognizance. Pants hanging below the asshole leaves plenty of room for the flow of fresh air (maybe they suffer from flatulence) and plenty of time for appetite loss if you happen to walk behind them. Formidable tactics are implied by the tilting of baseball hats to a side angle. These alpha males are keen on macho bravado. Although most of them are inflicted with a hilarious Jewish stereotype: the perception of power tools eludes them.
    Rap stage names that begin with "Lil" or "Young" are prevalent, and commonplace, whereas monikers like "Gotti" are so slowly slipping behind where they should be since the racial term "white privilege" has come into the forefront. Speaking like an asshole is one thing, but having a paradoxical name is another. 
    Lauryn Hill and the Wu Tang Clan are notorious for racial slurs. Their enmity towards the white race is out in the open, yet plenty of whites still buy their albums and proudly wear their tee shirts. Is this a product of self loathing or stupidity on the part of the Caucasian? Also, why is this permissible?
    Woman have been denigrated and debased to nothing more than sexual objects. Yet the feminist movement remains dormant. Do we really want our daughters learning how to twerk and submit to these so called "lyricists?"
One can't help but conceive that the rap genre endorses the propagation of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. The last thing this turbulent world needs is another dead beat dad. Food for thought, instead of an excess of ranch. 
    Hedonism has its perks, but it also has its boundaries. Decadence can only go so far before everything deteriorates around it. Rap is self centered, self obsessed. A perfect compliment to capitalism. 
    What's cloaked in the shadows and undermined by needless self indulgence is benevolence. I'll be so bold as to say these folks need a lesson in Marxism. It's blatantly evident what's transpired in the name of the material incentive. Let's think about community, let's discuss the benefits of the moral incentive. Step outside yourself for a minute. It's not all about you. If your ends are detrimental to the means of society, where's the justice in that? 
    Hip hop enthusiasts will vehemently oppose these words, and to be honest with you, I can't blame them. They've been dumbed down immensely, indoctrinated if you will, to a mediocre, incognizant existence. Hip hop has become their religion. If you look up to morons who spew shit, chances are you'll emulate it and need a breath mint. This genre has run its course. I see no hope for reformation or originality at this point. Put down the ranch and pick up a book! It's not too late for you. Playing a real musical instrument demands devotion, but once learned, is one of the most rewarding feelings available to man. Heed my advice, assholes, try it. If we profoundly accept this cliché, decadent, talentless way of making music, there'll be nothing new and exciting in the future. Nothing to anticipate. Is that what you want? It's not that far fetched. The rap genre is already on the pathway of banality. Like I said before, once you cross certain paths, there's no turning back. Our minds deserve better. Our women deserve better. We deserve better than this nefarious buffet of filth, that's plaguing contemporary culture.