That was one of the best mainstream pieces of rap writing for years. But what would you know – you’re contributing to the most distasteful and uncritical hip-hop magazine ever.

But definitely word to the people @ OhWord.com That place is the shine of Rap on the net & definitely the exception to the rule.

Until yesterday, I hadn’t realized the extent that hip-hop bloggers attempt to brainwash their readers.

It seems that many hip-hop bloggers really have some sort of agenda, not unlike cable news channels or various national newspapers; however much less significant on a much smaller scale.

Is it out of vain? Contempt for culture not parallel with hip-hop? Some other reason I am not aware of?

The Oh Word piece linked up top was not only based off misinterpetation, but also more redundant than the article in which it berates.

Peep: (4th paragraph @ Oh Snap)

“According to this hip-hop fan, the primary reason why hip-hop writing in The New Yorker fails is that the wrong people read the magazine.”

This quote negates the whole purpose of his retort.

Is he suggesting that the New Yorker shouldn’t print stories of which its readers aren’t familiar with? Or that hip-hop stories can ONLY be written in hip-hop publications?

I don’t recall any successful magazines that don’t print stories which are outside the knowledge of their fan base.

I don’t see how a hip-hop story could have been presented to an unfamiliar audience much better.

As far as the alleged condescending tone of the article, I see it but I don’t see it. Considering the gripe is legit: So what? If it is condescending, it is the inherent nature of affluent whites vs. hip-hop community (tha fuck yoo thank, jack?).

I’d say it is considerably worse when when the writers themselves are condescending toward their readers. You may note that including this blog, 4 out of the 8 blog writers on XXL think that their sh*t smells sweeter than their readers’.

What is worse: A writer’s cockiness towards subject matter or the readers who pay their salaries?

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bottom line, this was a story that should have been covered in an urban publication…but wasn’t. so, in order to get a well-researched article about something of import and interest to hip-hop, we’ll just have to withstand a “outsider” writer pulling quotes that make miss jones look like idiots.

the blog on ohword about this is exceptional. the one above, not so much.

http://spam-o-matic.org/culture/newyorkerhiphop.html

I thought the Hot 97 article was pretty good, actually. The article was kind of condescending, but all articles in the New Yorker that aren’t about Democratic politicians or “high” intellectuals are kind of condescending. It’s not just hip-hop.

class resumed.

1. I would have to disagree; I believe that he was rather efficient throughout the article.

Couldn’t you have found better support? He used 5 words to define the action in which Gravy was verbally illustrating.

2. Again, very poor example. The author can safely assume that the readers will have very little to no knowledge of hip-hop culture. Therefore, these types of explanations are needed.

3. I don’t like how many writers do this. However, in the second sentence of any piece as long as this one, you are going to need to grab attention any way you can. And after having done that, the author preceded to quite objectively describe Gravy and his experience at the building.

4. As Drew aptly pointed out above, a rapper like Game does an effective job of painting himself as a criminal. As a matter of fact, he let MTV camera crews follow him and his gang around in his hood. Furthermore, if we are to take him at his word in his raps, he is indeed a criminal.

5. I’m not sure how you interpeted this, though I assume in a negative light. Here is the real quote:

“Chuck D. famously called rap “CNN for black people,” and, to the extent that the analogy has merit, a more precise application might be Hot 97, which, like the first cable news network, has struggled with an identity crisis in the face of declining ratings.”

The only reason he uses this quote is to to set up a more accurate example (replacing CNN with Hot 97). Also, he implies that Chuck’s quote itself is not necessarily accurate.

My question for the commenters is: Did anyone actually read the real article? It is amazing how many of you say how “on point” or “spot on” her response to the article is, when in fact it seems to me another sightless defense on anything that doesn’t celebrate hip-hop culture in all its glory.

The first 2/3 of the artice was very informative and constructed very well. I failed to read the last 1/3 of the artice, due to symptons consistent of those diagnosed with ADD.

“Class dismissed”
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