Members of the Texas State Board of Education gave preliminary approval Friday to remove significant areas of curriculum from civil rights and global politics and replace them with conservative historic figures and beliefs. Courses that would be affected by these changes include social studies, history and economics.
One of the subjects debated amongst the lawyers, dentists and publishers, who make up the board, was whether or not Hip Hop should be taught as a cultural movement. According to the Huffington Post, right wing members voted that Hip Hop should be deleted as a requirement and that students should not be taught about its cultural impact across not only the United States, but the world.
Conservatives also approved to have a sociological focus on institutional racism and its presence in American society banned from the books, as well as removing important references of Latino and Hispanic figures throughout history.
The Texas State Board of Education approved of the new expectations with a 10-5 vote, and a final decision is expected to be made in May, but not before holding an open forum where the public can produce additional arguments and even possibly, different amendments to stop some of the changes from being implemented.
If the amendments are approved, the changes to the content will affect learning nationwide because most school textbooks are published in Texas and would be taught to millions of students for the next 10 years.
http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/artist_videos/659615?sel_song_id=3312743&autoplay=1
it baffles me how ignorant human beings still are in 2010.
what educational value does hip hop have?
racism at its finest
Thats fucked up.
Yea I read about this yesterday. Texas State Board of Education intends to keep Texas ignorant and racist.
The hiphop thing is less important than censoring history to fit a extreme conservative viewpoint, but it’s still bullshit.
As I already mentioned. It’s the re-writing history bullshit that bothers me the most. Here’s the kicker…Hispanic and black historical figures are barely taught in school in the first place.
Here’s another kicker, maybe.
“because Texas is one of the largest consumers of textbooks in the nation, publishers use these curriculum standards for textbooks that are distributed in nearly every state in the union. Thus, what happens in Texas will impact the nation.”
Now I don’t know how much truth there is to that because I got it from a Fox News article (called “Why the Texas Textbook Wars Matter to Every American”) arguing FOR these changes to textbooks and defending against liberal criticism, but if textbook publishers do really cater to terrible curriculums than that is a scary thought.
And of course hiphop has been a global cultural phenomenon, Texas included.
Liberal or conservative aside, history is history. You don’t fuck with it. Ima go listen to Bun B now.
It doesn’t surprise me. Somehow they’d twist history to the point the WHITE people become the victim of slavery or some crazy bullshit. And any Hispanic revolution wasn’t really the spanards, english or french fault just crazy “rebels being disgraceful”. Even though alot of American countries are practically Natives who were raped by most likely these countries (or Portugal)
I think what bothers me the most is that its removing history and telling it how they want to. Yeah we’re going through this with the Christopher Columbus bullshit now they’re changing Hip Hop’s influence or Hispanic history?
So if you’re children barley know who Cesar Chavez or Malcolm X. two people barley taught when I was in primary school (graduated in 2008 so yes very recent) you know who to blame.
Love “barley” especially with hops.
“History is written by the victors”-Winston Churchill.
Yeah he is a white guy, and it may not be right but he was pretty accurate in his statement. Hell few care about historical accuracy, they just care about what suits them. Seems like most people get there “news” and “facts” from one of the following sources.
a.) from circulated emails.
b.) unverified websites and blogs.
c.) opinion shows which purport to be news (fox news).
d.) TV and movies.
Oh my it seems we have uneducated people writing our history books again!!! Hip hop is alive and well..There is nothing non-cultural movement about it.
Well this is how history has always been. The people in control writes history. It’s not fair but that’s how its always been
Anyone who isn’t socially brainwashed and self-aware living in Texas can tell you the vibe out here is VERY racist and suppressive. Besides California, Texas has the most biased and racist driven laws on the books. The white folks out here, just because they tolerate us (to a certain extent) don’t mean they like us. They know how influential Hip-Hop is in our society as well as around the world. And that’s the big problem. Their history isn’t OUR history. And they damn sure don’t want to foster a CULTURE that brings people from all races and backgrounds together!
But I will say this! With the way Hip-Hop has been in the last ten years, what in the fuck do we have to dance and celebrate about?! Why are artists constantly making music about all this materialist bullshit that most of us hard-working, check to check living people can’t relate to?? Our music has absolutely NO substance, it’s meaningless/mindless, creative-lacking bullshit. And when our culture is challenged by political forces, a bunch of racist bastards who’re severely out of touch, then how can we expect to have any defense against their charges? Martin Luther King said it best: “You don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”
Hip hop is a culture–a culture of stupidity, ignorance, cliches, sexism, silliness, immaturity, racism, hate, narcissism, perversion, self-promotion, and lack of talent, to say the least. It is the worst thing to happen to music and it is a joke. Anyone can speak along to music and make up fake words just for the sake of rhyming. It requires no talent and most of the samples are stolen from truly talented musicians. Hip hop artists can’t even play instruments. While I certianly don’t agree with right wing Chrsitians from Texas choosing what kids learn, I do have to agree with them on the hip hop thing. If hip hop is so important that it has to be taught in school, then why isn’t rock ‘n’ roll culture, classical music, jazz culture, or anything else just as important. The left wing is as bad as the right wing.
it doesn’t have to be taught in school, but you don’t know a damn thing about hiphop so don’t talk about it. It’s not what you hear on the radio, for starters.
If your talking about commercial hip hop that you’d hear on a commercial radio station then I’d have to agree with you but besides that your making a brass generealization. 😛
If you dislike rap so much,what thell hell are you doing on this site?
you dont know what your talking about so probably best you be quiet now, Hip Hop has many artists that are speaking on issues fools like you should be learning about, their are literally thousands of songs that show creativity on the very highest levels within music. and as for your assertion that its easy I will guarantee you couldnt even remotely come close to writing a verse anywhere near to level I can myself and many artists in this culture can. Lyricism isnt simply about rhyming meaningless vernacular together but if you where anything but an ignorant fool on this subject you would already know this…
Hey, bullshyt theory, I agree with you. I like that you are able to criticize hip hop even though i think you probably loved it at one time. It is true that hip hop is about greed, materialism, and all the things BooBoo put in his comment (see booboo mccall’s comments). However, I do have to disagree with you on your point that “hip hop brings all people together”. Personally, I find it to be racist and divisive. Just my opinion.
This is an outrage. Hip Hop is a part of our fabric, culture, it’s shaped our history. It was, is and will continue to be a voice of a culture, just like jazz and rock and roll is. It is important to our past, present, and future. To try and stifle, ignore, or erase this hip-hop contributions would be detrimental to the growth of our society.
I feel you Sista April. But haven’t the last two generation of rappers (since 1993) stifled, ignored and (damn near – with the exception of the underground, of course) erased the legacy of Bambaata, Kool Herc, GMF, GM Caz, Melle Mel and others? Do we need the Texas Board to point this out? With the manner in which Hip Hop presents itself today, who would want its drunk and high a$$ stumbling to the mic to talk about the good old days? Days that it obviously doesn’t respect?
wow, two stupid comments in one post. amazing.
ok so what parts of Jazz & Rock & Roll history is covered in text books? umm none
so why the hell should hiphop be included when it clearly doesnt have as much cultural significance as Rock or Jazz does, which are also omitted from textbooks.
you stupid bitch
your all retarded,i think most of you are basing your opinions of ignorant rap
not hip-hop
The actions of the Texas Board of Education show a great deal of stupidity … but then reading some of the comments here (read DAB’s) … show that too many Americans can’t spell worth a damn either.
Idon’t know which is most frightening.
One thing is clear … Americans had better start caring more about educating their children.
Hip-hop ain’t no cultural movement. It ain’t even music. Don’t y’all know that?
We’re open-minded down here in Texas. We listen to both kinds of music: Country and Western.
Hip-hop ain’t no cultural movement. It ain’t even music. Don’t y’all know that?
We’re open-minded down here in Texas. We listen to both kinds of music: Country and Western.
As usual Crackers wanna leave out the historical contributions of non White people. What’s even worse they wanna leave institutional racism outta history books. They wanna brainwash the next generation to not know their own history and make them assimilate to White culture. Fuck the Texas Board of Education.
your an idiot, HIP HOP has no race there are as many white people or “crackers” as your ignorant racist ass likes to refer to them contributing to all area’s as there are black people…your NO different than the idiot white folks that enslaved black people in africa way back…
“If the man don’t treat you right, he won’t teach you right” – The Hon. Elijah Muhammad.
Teach our own babies and we won’t have to worry about what’s not included in their books. It’s included in OUR books. Read everything from John Henrik Clark to Amos Wilson. – Bro. Shabaka
“They (Public school history books) seem to only glorify the European claiming African was only 3/5 of human beings” – M1 of Dead Prez, ‘They Schools’.
Man speak on it! I don’t even know why everyone’s actin like this is some new shit, they BEEN pickin and choosin what to include in their “his-story” books. Schools aren’t built to INFORM people, they’re nothin more than occupational warehouses…trainin us to enter the workforce in some capacity or another, be it a doctor or a fry guy. Then the “education” they give our hoods, ghettos, slums, barrios, etc…those schools don’t even get the proper funding for up-to-date, RELEVANT learrnin tools or even teachers that give 1/2 a fuck, yet we wonder why the dropout rate is so high in these areas. The GOOD schools are the occupational warehouses, while the HOOD schools are there to train us for the nation’s biggest industry, the one that makes the biggest bucks of all…the PRISON INDUSTRY. I know this much, no child of mine will EVER step foot in a public school, even if I gotta write out every lesson plan and teach her myself. Name ONE thing public that’s ever been any type of good, outside of maybe the public library…public schools, public bathrooms, public housing, public transportation…it’s ALL fucked up…
there are BILLIONS of things more important that kids are taught in school that are more important than hip hop.
you’re a fucking retard if you think hiphopo has any educational value.
you’re fucking retard if you don’t see that it does. depends on the type of hip-hop. You have consciousness and social awareness artists suck kweli, mos def, nas, immortal technique and so on. Which they do teach in their music.
you’ve just proved yourself to be “a fucking retard” with that comment idiot…
DX again does a shitty job of reporting.
Why dont you actually look up what latino and african fiogures they omitted from the books instead of just claiming they did.
DX is onlt adding to the propganda instead of being a legitmit(sp) source of news.
thats whats gone wrong with this website. shit used to be about the facts.
now its just another gossip bullshit site for kids.
The cultural formation of Hip-Hop has created more conversation about diverse ideals than affirmative action has done in the last 20 years (1990-2010). While it has created stereotypes of a black males in the hip-hop aesthetic of rap; it has allowed non-minorities to gather their own personal understanding. An understanding that might be completely different from the their, while wise; uninformed and socially numb parents. The impact of what hip-hop has done to diminish racism/classicism won’t be understand until the next generation is old enough to vote.
see… that guy can put tpgether some good points. alot of you can learn something from him
Good points K. Dante. But a couple of things: 1) Do you think an understanding by non-minorities should be valued over a MISunderstanding of Black males by the Black males themselves as well as the non-minorities via the stereotypes? 2) How has Hip Hop diminished classism? A few aspects of racism, MAYBE. But classism?
Good questions Bro_Shabaka.
Misunderstandings of ANY race will always exist, until we can move the education off the television and into the classrooms. Where “educated” adults of hip-hop may use their presence on young minds to create a platfom to discuss “the truth”. A process that I personally hope and believe could shed light on the fictional-biopics that television has created of hip-hop.
With the question of classicism; Hip-hop has created more progessively rich minorities that any sports league could do. And I mean, the use of the minorities’ skills that don’t involve physicaly labor. Making CEOs out of desperate street kids, poor/forgotten musicians more money from sampling, and breakdance; a pure genuine movement art-form. If you don’t believe me about the breakdancing part, watch the Oscarsl; the only art-performance there was……..was taken from hip-hop aesthetics. Hip-hop IS a vital key used to gain access to monetary security for ALOT of minority families.
Hip-hop is NOT BLACK THING. Whether it be a Korean dance crew, white kid with his stencils, latino’s reggaton, or the obvious black kids lyrical prowess. Hip-hop is important because it is a voice of a progessive world. When the world changes; hip-hop changes with it.
Got you KD – However, I’m not sure if you actually answered the question: Do you think the fact that “non-minorities have gathered their own personal understanding” (understanding of what, I’m not sure) is more important than Black males being stereotyped to the detriment of themselves and the Black community as a whole? Although I DO agree with you regarding the ‘misunderstandings’ that exists in every race, what I think is troubling about Hip Hop is that there is a GROSS misunderstanding of important issues such as Manhood, treatment of women and even wealth prevalent in and promoted BY Hip Hop. And the tragedy is that these misunderstandings are being experienced by the same people who actually created the art form, African American youth. So I don’t yet see how Hip Hop has really diminished racism, except its perception of such in the mass media, when you have so many Black men being stereotyped as criminals and Black women being stereotyped as sexually promiscuous. And this is what happens when the folks who created it no longer control it. Which brings me to my point on the classism question. Classism is an issue of both income AND wealth and how it’s approached or applied to a collective. So yes Hip Hop has enabled some African American individuals to acquire higher incomes but how much of that income has been converted to wealth and the effect the conversion has had on African Americans as a whole can surely be debated. Not to mention the fact that the materialism and irresponsible financial habits promoted by Hip Hop actually work to exasperate the problem of classism and wealth distribution in this country. And yes I agree that Hip Hop is not a “Black thing”. However, as the originators and primary practitioners of the culture, it affects us differently than it does other races.
First off,DJ No name,you’re an idiot.
With that said,perhaps you’re just listening to the stuff that is on the radio, which I will admit,is a bunch of idiots who can not rhyme.
On the other hand, there is underground rap with the likes Skyzoo,Termonology,so on so forth.
Think about this:Does anyone believe that the board of education in Texas right now even know about the other side of hip-hop?
Many people on this site,or at least in this article’s comment section seem to just listen to the industrial rappers/inspirational failures like Gucci Mane,Rick Ross,and lets not forget:Lil Wayne.
For this,I would understand the exclusion of hip-hop.
As for the radication of Hispanic figures throughout U.S. History,I am pretty disappointed.
First of all, many organizations made the break through in this country to assert the importance of hispanics in the 20th century.It’s as relevant as the African-american organizations,the same thing.
A lot of figures such as Malcolm X,Cesar Chavez and Rosa Parks are losing their image in the State of Texas.
This history books take breif glimpses of them and Cesar Chavez isn’t mentioned at all.
Point:Take advantage if you can put in your two cents.
GONNA HAVE TO ROLL WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD ON THIS ONE…B-BOY TO THE DEATH, BUT HIP HOP IS NOT SOMETHING YOU TEACH IN A CLASSROOM, IT’S SOMETHING YOU ABSORB THROUGH LIFE… U LIVE IT!!
DPL23602
To say “you live it”, doesn’t give any validity to what it “is” you live. To say “you live it”, is like calling Hip-Hop a band of gypsies or drug induced hippies; who will disappear with the times or the caravan that is pop-culture. Alot of white boys who “live” in rich surburban communities who don’t know the life but are drawn to its “truth”; do they live it? Because alot of them sure do feel it. To say you just live it, devalues the culture and you as a human being. Devaluing your art? is that what you want?
90% of the comments below are stupid.
No one is saying there should be a hiphop 101 class in school so stop debating that. Hiphop doesn’t need to taught unless it’s a music history class.
A. Texas Board of Education is saying Hip Hop Is Not A Cultural Movement, which is a lie.
B. And much more importantly, they are trying to edit history books to fit their political and racist viewpoints.
Pimp C just rolled over his grave.
Well I am not surprised considering Hip Hop is a sociological nightmare that has turned into perpetuating stereotypes of what a black person should be and do and what a white person should be and do and it just keeps the circle going. Artists get stuck in the same role with little movement because they have to “keep it real” for the “real talk” of the “streets” . Although poverty is a pro dominate theme in hip hop with upcoming artists so is drug dealing, prostitution, and other stereotypes of what hip hop is supposedly.
I think it would be hard to discuss the societal changes that happened in the 60s without discussing Rock.
I doubt any class that would include anything that had to do with hip hop would discuss other genres too.
Hip Hop is Rock and Roll all over again. Most of what you see now on tv and on the radio is the hip hop version of hair metal. Soon hip hop will see a Nirvana like act that will change the game.
Is there any concrete information out there? What class had hip hop in it? Seriously. Unless you have any actual knowledge and not just creating a straw man to attack, STFU.
Funny that everyone is taking up arms about this article, but say they did declare it a cultural movement and teach about it; what in the hell would they teach about? The devolving of the African american community and Hip Hop itself to what it is now? I’m sure all of you would be bitching and calling out “racism racism!” then too. Hip-Hop has affected our culture yes, but most of those changes are negative involving the bad sterotypes of black people and the black people following the guidelines of Hip-hop to live up to them.
Sure, there is positive, intelligent hiphop that is out there. But that hip-hop isn’t mainstream and has no real relevance in a cultural standpoint. As much as people can learn from say, Blue Scholars, the problem is THEY WON’T because most of them won’t hear them. They’ll hear the likes Gucci Mane or Flocka.
Metaphorically if Hip Hop were a city, the good hip-hop would be a small nice suburban borrough surrounded by the rest of the city with the worst conditions imaginable. Even though that space exists, the city still sucks balls.
I think it’s the intention behind the decision. None of these kids will ever know what rap was SUPPOSED to be. All they’ll know is what they see now. Yes, that’s a problem.
And I think you should also consider the fact that this decision symbolizes the way history has been distorted. As a child, I was always told Malcolm X was the “bad guy.” I was told black people had no history beyond slavery. They have the power to erase everything about black people that is good, and teach us to hate ourselves.
I understand that you’re angry at the rap that’s out today, but please remember, rap is only a quarter of the culture of HIP HOP.
After reading this article I was instantly angry and disappointed because being a history major myself all I get from this article is that the conservatives in Texas want to sweep things such as institutional racism, the impact of hip-hop, and the history of Latinos under the rug….Institutional racism is quite evident in society it just isn’t as visible as individual racism…the difference in socio-economic status between suburbs and the inner city is not a coincidence…..hidden covenants in housing deeds and redlining is a great example of institutional racism….hip-hop is definitely a cultural movement and is a direct reflection of what is going on the urban communities around the world….all of the policies, laws, traditions, and practices from the late 1800s and early 1900s have a direct impact on what we see today….all of the seeds that were planted back then have blossomed into the current conditions and now “they” are trying to conceal the facts
in all honesty, what are my kids going t be missing out if they dont learn about hip hop? they dont learn about rock or pop or jazz or country in their classes? what makes hip hop so special in that regards. and trust me, hip hop is almost all i listen to. but to be honest, this really isnt a big deal…
true dat true dat.
true dat true dat.
because pop isn’t a movement specific to one group of people. Pop is mass culture, which we learn about on a daily basis. Rock, jazz, and country, all stem from black musical roots. I don’t think I ever heard the name Jimi Hendrix uttered by teachers in my high school. But I sure did hear Beethoven and Mozart.
And btw, we do learn about jazz (although very little) because of its prevalence during the Harlem Renaissance. Jazz happens to be rooted in an African American cultural movement, just as Hip Hop (not just rap) is rooted in a significant cultural movement. To ignore that is tantamount to ignorance.
and this shit is NOT racist. yall dumb hoes need to gtfoh
and on top of that, i dont want my kids learning about plies getting his dick sucked or nas rapping about oochie wallie wallie in the 5th grade. or BIG smashin hoes or pac shootin up cops.
dont get me wrong, there are a lot of great artists but even they digress into speaking about stuff like this all the time. name a rapper with at least some notoriety that doesnt
cosign
I can name 3 artists that don’t rap about that stuff from Chicago, and thats only one City.
1. Lupe Fiasco
2. Common
3. Kanye West
There are Positive Sucessfull rappers, the 1st 2 rappers just need to get more recognition then Kanye, because of his personality issues!
thats besides the point. the excuse they gave for not teaching about hip hop was that it was degrading to society and to women. well guess what, hitler was slightly more degrading to society then hip hop, wouldn’t you agree? and yet they still teach about him in schools. all they have to say about hip hop is that it was a major type of popular music developed out of african american culture in harlem in the 1970s. Their not gonna discuss the subject matter of Lil Wayne songs in a history textbook. In fact if it would make them happy, they can even put in a sentence about how “Critics of hip hop claim it is degrading to society and to women”
and if you want and answer to your question, how about Rakim, Mos Def, Run DMC, Public Enemy, Atmosphere, and countless others. Not to mention that many of the people who complain that hip hop is degrading to women listen to bands like the Rolling Stones or AC/DC which are quiet mysoginistic themselves. (For the record, I love the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and hip hop of all kinds including the gangsta rap you’re complaining about)
Ok aintnuthin, stop commenting. What you are describing is a course solely dedicated to the subject of hip hop. What this article is about is mentioning hip hop in a text book as a cultural movement, not a detailed semester learning about different rappers and their lifestyle but the impact of hip hop as a whole on society. God damn people on DX twist shit out of proportion all the fucking time just to complain and then look stupid.
Out of fun, I’ll take that challenge
Slug
El-P
Aesop Rock
Black Thought
Apathy
Lupe Fiasco
Common
Slick Rick
Dougie Fresh
Beastie Boys
Cunninlynguists
Dilated Peoples
People Under the Stairs
Gym Class Heroes…
People turn deaf ears to the unrecognized far too often and make assumptions w/o full research into their debate.
who cares what they teach the kids ? They wont even let kids pray in school anymore because they might offend some raghead wearing terrorist kid. Hip hop is not for the schools. Schools needto teach kids how to get a job, get knowledge on things that will get you a job. go to college and become a doctor or something besides a drug dealer. hip hop is not what it used to be. this site dx makes over 30,000 dollars a month off of hip hop news that they plagiarize from other sites or make up. Hip Hop is a business, not a cultural movement give me a break. If you think its important for your kids to learn about swag,gwop,moving birds or big rims or any of the other things you can find in 9 out of ten raps songs with a different beat then you are a idiot and probaly are unemployed or living on da welfare
I stopped reading after raghead wearing terrorist kid – EPIC WIN HAHAHAHAHAH
speaking of shit that gets made up, how the hell are you going to say that kids can’t pray in school? That’s just a lie. They can’t be led in prayer, not because of terrorists, but because of the separation of church and state, and school being a service of the state. You’re wasting everyone’s time. “Who cares what they teach the kids?” Are you serious? The correct answer is “anyone who cares about the future of America.”
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I don’t respect Texas! Bunch of hillbillies
I love hip hop but some people take the whole “Its a culture” thing to rediculous heights……….
If you wana be technical you could say Disco was a Culture too, that package came with its own Music, Dances, Fashion and lifestyle too, but do you really want the school board teaching classes on Olivia Newton-John and the Bee-Gees??
Didnt think so………..
Hip-Hop’s 4 Elements (MC’ing, Break-Dancing, DJ’ing, and Graffiti) have influenced people and cultures all over the world. I see no problem with incorporating Graffiti into art classes, Break-dancing & pop-locking into dance classes, Urban fashion into Fashion courses, etc etc. Apparently, the Texas School board doesn’t realize that Hip-Hop is more than just the 1-dimensional. disrespectful, ignorant BS that comes on the radio.
CULTURES CLOTHING: What are you talking about. People dont break dance anymore, unless you are a dancer who goes out and CONSCIOUSLY decides to do it. And people have been spray painting WAAAAAAY before Hip Hop came out. Thats didnt start with Hip Hip. People have also been DJ-ing WAAAAAAy b4 hip hop. Stop listening to KRS-1.
Yall stuck in the PAST! KRS-1 is trying to remain relevant with that hip hop religion BS.
Keep in mind that if they DID try to teach about hip hop, they’d most likely MISrepresent it.
Do people really need to be making walls of words and emotions about this? Are you seriously that mad that hip hop isn’t being taught as a cultural movement in school? It’s hip hop, never did I think that it would be relevant in a school class unless it was some sort of music class. If people want to learn about hip hop then they should go learn about it, not be taught it because it is a mandatory curriculum. The things taught in school are things that help you understand how and why we came to where we are. That’s thousands of years and hip hop hasn’t had a significant impact like many world events. Nobody would even be offended if this wasn’t an article cause nobody honestly expects hip hop to be a course in schools.
It’s thinking like that is the reason why they dont take this seriously. Hip Hop has a big impact on recent history. It has shaped alot of the culture today. If rock can have its own class why cant hip hop? And then they want to ban the history of school racism in text books? You know that means that kids wont learn about Brown vs, The Board of Education? It’s bullshit.
Hip-Hop is DEAD!!!
it has been DEAD for years!!!
I thought it was too until I realized that it simply went underground where it is enjoyed and used by many of us who don’t look to tune into mainstream society for our information, education, edutainment, etc.
BRO_SHABAKA : OH STOP IT WITH THAT UNDERGROUND CRAP!!! Even the UNDERGROUND doesnt make positive music anymore. That has been an excuse for far too long now. UNDERGROUND is more of a unit of folks who havent blown yet. Who is the biggest “underground” artist (s)? Now its prolly SLAUGHTERHOUSE. One of them dudes is a crip, LOL. Another is a failed COMMERCIAL rapper. Another is a rapper who use to STAY in beef and talks about a lot of violence. And then there’s Joel Ortiz who is prolly the only one worth anything, morally speaking.
Reeltalk – You speak of the underground as if it’s a set group of artists that don’t exceed your knowledge sphere. There are PLENTY of underground artists who have NO INTENTIONS OR DESIRE to go mainstream. There are others who have established their own following on majors and then decided to start their own imprint and put out their material independently. The ones I listen to are ALL conscious and NONE are in gangs. I’m talking Dead Prez, Tarica June, Talib Kweli and others. I’m not talking about artists who are rhyming about Lil Wayne and Jeezy garbage and are ‘bubbling underground’ as unknowns while looking to get discovered by the majors.
#1 – If you don’t think hip hop is a cultural movement, what the fuck are you doing on this site? We’re talking about SOCIAL STUDIES here, not biology class. Hip hop is a very significant culture that originated in the United States, and deserves to be discussed in their textbooks.
#2 – This isn’t just about hip hop, this is also about representing african american culture/history in the education system. The idea is that a black student should be able to pick up a fuckin textbook and say that there are people that resemble him/her in the book.
#3 – Hip hop isn’t the only thing that they are supressing in these books.
“the board approved an amendment that deletes a requirement that sociology students ‘explain how institutional racism is evident in American society.'”
Just one of many examples.
#4 – Write to these clowns if you’re pissed off! I’m going to!
Peace
FUCK THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
a musical history class is fine to discuss hiphop.
everday 5th grade social studies is not a place to discuss hiphop
so just where does hiphop fit in millions of years of actual history of importance?
so should we leave parts of the revolutionary war or WW1 or women rights movement or desegragation to make mention of hiphop since its so important?
What the hell are you saying? Do you really think that there is a maximum number of pages allowed in a book? If you’re not going to teach cultural influences that shaped the world around us, then what are you going to teach? Historical figures are nothing without their influences and their era. Hip hop is important. It would be important to you if you were an actual DJ, but apparently you don’t find your job “important.” I’m glad I’ve never been to one of your shows. You’re a disgrace to our culture.
Hip Hop “was” a cultural movement. Now it’s just business.
They took out hip hop to put in country music. They took out institutional racism to include Confederate heros. Elementary text books are going to be biased as kids in some sense can’t handle (or understand) the truth. But Texas is not where I would want my kids to get all their info from.
social studies is the “integrated study of the social sciences and humanities. Examples of the disciplines of the humanities literature, law, history, philosophy, religion, and visual and performing arts (including music). Social sciences are the fields of academic scholarship which explore aspects of human society.
How can you claim explore human society when you ignore one of the most popular social outlets. How can you claim Hip Hop music shouldn’t be a part of of social studies, when music is discipline of humanities.
Texas is wrong for this. Some of you people on this site make me sick.
like Nas said, ” Hip Hop Is Dead”…. you aint paying attention
its the commercial hip hop that they see… they aint seein the other side
Fuck Texas. Hip Hop Lives and breathes in this culture. If they take Hip-Hop out the community then they are just as Confederate as they were in the civil war.
I didn’t know that hip hop was even mentioned in text books in the first place…
Now I think of it, I apologize and withdraw my statement in the support of hip-hop being taught in schools. The aesthetics of hip-hop, at their core, are rebellious artistic statements against sociological status. So the decision by the Texas school board makes perfect sense. Hip-hop ALREADY DOES exist in schools. In the cafeterias, hallways, and parking lots. Where kids will be forever beating on the walls, desk, and cafeteria tables. Maybe thats where it’s supposed to exist, out of the hands of teachers and in the spirits of the children. Hip-hop is so ever changing but always present, that is bound to misinterpreted or misconscrewed. ………..oh yeah HHID, Hip-Hop is not dead. Just saying the words Hip-Hop; youre speaking into existence.
K.Dante
This should come as NO surprise to anyone. Hip Hop has continued to deteriorate over the last 10 years to the point that its just ridiculous. Unfortunately, when talking about being included in TEXTBOOKS, they have no choice but to examine the MAINSTREAM, popular hip hop. Now with that said, think about who the stars are what their subject matter is. Now, how in the WORLD can you expect someone to want to TEACH about this to the youth of AMERICA? You cant teach about an art form and no reference the LEADERS of the industry. When talking about paintings, do they go out and search for the unknown or “underground” artist? NO! You look at those at the forefront. And even the great Jay-Z, or even Biggie, come from the STREETS and lives of CRIME. You CANT teach that. We are the ONLY music that glorifies and includes crime as a REGULAR principle.
And that even includes the “underground”.
WE DID IT TO OURSELVES!!!
Are you retarded or just ignorant Reel Talk? You really think you can’t teach about outlaws? Then how do you know about Jesse James or Billy the Kid? You know about these cats because they chose an alternative lifestyle. Do you remember reading about the revolution? That’s against the law. History isn’t only made up of rule followers.
And hip hop isn’t the “only music that glorifies and includes crime as a regular principle.” Have you ever heard of heavy metal, punk, rock ‘n roll, or even early swing music? So don’t say that hip-hop brought this upon itself. Hip hop is a way of life that exists in the world. To say that a way of life is unfit to be studied because it is different than most is ignorant at the least, and racist at the most. History should never make good behavior a priority.
This should come as NO surprise to anyone. Hip Hop has continued to deteriorate over the last 10 years to the point that its just ridiculous. Unfortunately, when talking about being included in TEXTBOOKS, they have no choice but to examine the MAINSTREAM, popular hip hop. Now with that said, think about who the stars are what their subject matter is. Now, how in the WORLD can you expect someone to want to TEACH about this to the youth of AMERICA? You cant teach about an art form and no reference the LEADERS of the industry. When talking about paintings, do they go out and search for the unknown or “underground” artist? NO! You look at those at the forefront. And even the great Jay-Z, or even Biggie, come from the STREETS and lives of CRIME. You CANT teach that. We are the ONLY music that glorifies and includes crime as a REGULAR principle.
And that even includes the “underground”.
WE DID IT TO OURSELVES!!!
“Conservatives also approved to have a sociological focus on institutional racism and its presence in American society banned from the books”
This is more troubling than the hip hop issue.
HELL. YEAH. Word is bond to that fam. SMH.
Very disturbing!
that is terrible as well. they are trying to erase us.
yeah, that’s huge
Everybody commenting is making it seem like this shit is hip hop 101. It’s not a lesson about hip hop they are leaving out but just the impact of hip hop. Someone on here was talking about Plies & Wayne but that’s not what this is about. It’s about hip hop as a cultural standpoint, not the artists lives and what not. Fuck it though hip hop deteriorated as soon as it became a competition to see who could make the most money and all the new school cats say fuck old school move on so it’s pretty fucked when a genre doesn’t respect the founders and originals. That’d be like saying fuck Hendrix go Coldplay.
Only hip hop has this issue with paying dues to the vets. Not saying new school isn’t good but the fans need to pay some respect to the people that made this form of music possible instead of dividing. Hip hop died a long fucking time ago as soon as money became the only motive rather than to teach and inspire.
fuc em i love hip hop ma niggaz i grew up listenin 2 dat good shit.Fuc em!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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This is expected from texas one of the many states in the south that still lynch people! They are fuming because they can’t force their children to stop buying and listening to hip hop and rap music! when we lived in clearlake, texas we used to drive around to get familiar with the state as we drive through various rural areas killeen, caldwell, bastrop, lee, fayette, milamand, as well as dallas, austin, houston, el paso, san antonio, beaumont, galveston we heard hip hop being played extremely loud and every single time the window rolled down it was a caucasian or mexican person in the car.
All the children in texas regardless of race, religion etc.. will hear hip hop/rap music and will learn about it one way or another in every school both public and private it may have changed from how it used to be but it is a permanent part of society this will not change a thing.
Now that we live in California we experience the same thing mostly caucasian and mexicans listen to hip hop/rap loudly in their cars all around this state.
Hip Hop is very much alive in its current state!
HIP-HOP IS A CULTURE, FUCK THEM!!
THE 10% HAS STRUCK AGAIN.
AND THEY SAY RACISM DOESN’T EXIST ANYMORE.
THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.
ANYONE WHO DEFENDS THIS IS AN IGNORANT, RACIST LEECH WHO WILL CONTINUE TO LET THE DEVIL-MINDED FOOLS SUCK THEIR BLOOD, WHILE THEY’RE SUCKING THE BLOOD OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE, DRAINING THEM OF THE KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY CONTAIN IN THEIR MINDS.
IT’S TIME WE TAKE THIS SHIT BACK TO THE FOUNDATION WHERE IT BELONGS.
P.E.A.C.E (P_OSITIVE E_DUCATION A_LWAYS C_ORRECTS E_RRORS)
BLESSINGS!!
If you think Hip-hop has not changed this world in the way we dress, talk, engage with other races, and political views you were born yesterday. I don’t care if you don’t like the music all you have to do is turn on the television for 5 minutes and you will either see it or hear it. Pick a channel any channel! Almost every genre of music is a hybrid of hip-hop now. Just stating facts. Take it out of history books? Shit, hip-hop is on Seasame Street, real talk. Out.
haha sesame street!!! thats funny, but sooo true. i love this comment you made. well said!
Everyone stop trying to be so intellectual and listen up…School is necessary for reading, writing, science, and mathematics..Hip-Hop can die tomorrow and we’ll all live. However if kids cannot read or write, who cares if they can drop a hot 16 off the dome?? I don’t remember being taught about Stevie Wonder in school, so why the hell would I need to learn about these dickhead rappers (or even the good artists)? It’s not racism, it’s just unnecessary in a school curriculum…
You’re not very intelligent, are you?
in this nation when most of our kids aren’t getting in college, fuck hip-hop. they need to focus on their core subjects
That’s just completely idiotic. Your view of academics are blurred and people like you are the reason the education system is wacked. Creativity and art are just as important as any other subject taught in school. Texas, along with everywhere else for that matter, continue to berate its true potential in favor of breeding politicians, lawyers, and architects. We need music and art in our lives just as much as any other subject. Without that, we may as well be lifeless robots.
this is extremely racist. i learned all about various cultures in history classes, cultures that had a huge effect on the people. we had to learn about baseball’s affect on America during the Great Depression…baseball was considered a culture. which after learning about it, i agreed. we had to learn about speak- easies and jazz and elvis presley…this was all culture. all these examples are situations that heavily influenced the american people and changed their lifestyles (if u dont agree, read a book). & @dlp23602 we didnt learn about Stevie Wonder in school because he came about AFTER those books were written. The history books used in schools now dont discuss current events. Hip Hop is a movement, it has influenced EVERY music genre since its creation, it has followers of every race. The only issue is that it was created by black people so Texas wants to erase us from their books. theres nothing we can do about the books they are going to print, but Hip Hop is still alive & well. they cant stop the movement. the future kids of America will see. If you think about it, Hip Hop is more popular than ever before, its now on more radio stations, music video channels, in clubs, ect. Also, Hip Hop is not just about music, its an entire way of living. Thats why it should be taught in books, cus ignorant people like you dont understand Hip Hops definition.
They ain’t talkin about teachin em how to rap you jackass they talkin about teaching the impact it has had on our country and on the black community. If it was takin out it is as easy as saying that because it helped blacks rise up out of povertey it is not an important in white america.
Fuck you. Fuck ery one of yall who think anything ill of hip-hop. It lives in breathes in the hearts of your kids and shows the poor there is a way out through creativity and hard work.
Well people in the South have always endured this all through out time in our nations history they have always found ways of not embracing our culture especially Black Culture it was just over 60 plus years ago they meaning the majority rule didn’t even want us going to school together amoungst ourselves or alongside them it’s a shame we still live in a world with people who think this way sad but true.
YO!
Anyone wanting to step up for hiphop should first be MORE shocked at this:
“Conservatives also approved to have a sociological focus on institutional racism and its presence in American society banned from the books, as well as removing important references of Latino and Hispanic figures throughout history.”
The people who voted against teaching hiphop as a cultural movement do not know how it came up, nor how it has affected so many aspects of society (as most people do not). However, they DO know how important and necessary a topic institutional racism and institutional ethnography is in bringing about critical analysis in society in order to give power and voice to minorities and those who have been controlled by the “symbolic elites” and those in position to control what and how knowledge is produced. Hiphop is included in this (the portrayal of bboying in the 1980’s and the gangster-imagery of today of “what hip-hop is”) but there is so much more! Without showing the historic influence of hiphop in bridging cultures (including the latino, hispanic and african influence, AND ALL cultures), all people are left with are the MTV-mediated examples.
Stand up for what is right.
Remember, language IS action.
“The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge” – Daniel J. Boorstin.
For more info, look up Dorothy Smith, Noam Chomskey, Michelle Foucault, George Orwell.. etc.
Peace
DBlais
St. Thomas University
Fredericton, NB, Canada
(hbgpy@stu.ca)
COSIGN
ps George Orwell is my favorite author
MAN! Shut up to all you idiots who have a problem with Hip-hop! If you think MUSIC is the root of a persons stupidity then you’re just as dumb as they are. Rappers ARE NOT babysitters or teachers or parents to your kids. All this adds up to is more white folks (NOT ALL) invading another culture they have very little understanding of and trying to stamp it out. Ask Eminem he knows. Hip-hop is world-wide it doesn’t even need America, especially wish they could secede, Texas.
Hip-hop a culture? More like an aftershock to:
400 yrs of slavery, Jim Crow, rape, pillage, hangings, no right to read or attend school. What rapper did this to you?
Now they want to package all of that and sell you McDonalds and Taco-Bell. Bah da da da daaah I’m lovin it!
FuckOutta’ here.
They ain’t talkin about teachin em how to rap you jackass they talkin about teaching the impact it has had on our country and on the black community. If it was takin out it is as easy as saying that because it helped blacks rise up out of povertey it is not an important in white america.
Fuck you. Fuck ery one of yall who think anything ill of hip-hop. It lives in breathes in the hearts of your kids and shows the poor there is a way out through creativity and hard work!
1ST..HIP-HOP IS A CULTURE..
2ND..FUKK TEXAS BOARD OF ED..IT DOES’NT NEED TO BE TAUGHT IN COLLEGE..THO..THAT’S CAPITALIZATION..
I’m Canadian and I know a lot of ppl clown my country for a variety of reasons but for real, this would be considered racism in Canada. Hip Hop would be umbrellaed under art and to openly take out historic figures due to race would not be tolerated!
Crazy
REDICULOUS:
apparently behtoven and shit are immportant but when it comes to rap and hip-hop OHH NOO!!
THE CONSTITUTION MIGHT AS WELL BE WYPING MY ASS CUZ PRETTY SOON ITS GONNA BE USELESS….
its more than a movement
its a multicultural experience shred through song dance and art
u could create a whole course on urban art and people needs to express them selves with what ever they have around them
What niggas acting all surprised about this 4? Hell if it it was up to dem crakas they would ban hip hop period!! Alot of em dont want their kids to have any type of intersest in the hip hop period.. like the school tryn to teach them how to rap or somethn..
Wow so texas can emphisize country and western music but disregard hip-hop as a cultural movement. Also they want to reduce the knowledge of latino history in the schools. They also de-emphisizing Thomas Jefferson because he was a diest?? seriously im not a republican or democrat but i hate conservatives. they are the most ignorant people in this world
if you guys want to stop these Bible thumpers…then you need too: VOTE and CALL CONGRESS
Its that simple, the old, white-haired, square, rich white guys are doing it and its working.
YOU GUYS NEED TO VOTE!
“Texas anything of anything states:” – You know it’s going to be some stupid ignorant morally thousand years outdated shit.