Hip Hop & Racial Politics 2012

Spectrum of Black Masculinity

At one point in the video we watched today, Byron Hurt was interviewing a group of aspiring rap artists, and asked them the same question he had been asking throughout the entire film. For the most part this was his question, "Why do young black rappers insist on rapping about black on black violence, killing people, selling drugs, and demeaning other black men as well as women". The answer that the artists gave was that they portray a violent image coupled with violent lyrics on purpose, and because that's what record companies want, that is how you get a deal and that is what is being sold. Essentially, the point being made by both Byron Hurt and the artists in this section of the film was that you have to be one dimensional if you want to make it in the rap game. I believe it was said, "They don't want that conscious rap shit". This is problematic because rap artists only portray one image of blackness, and the record labels that sign the artists push that image into society to be consumed by the masses. Unfortunately for black men, the hip hop/rap image is the only image a lot of people see, and the only image that a lot of people believe. The following clip is from a documentary on black masculinity, and addresses black masculinity by comparing Barack Obama with 50 Cent. Additionally I have posted all of 50 Cent's album covers from 2003 until now to show how much his image has changed. 

The main points that were made about 50 Cent’s first album cover were that he was portrayed as a hyper masculine black male, who was invulnerable, and capable of having control in any situation. Additionally we learned in class about homo eroticism, and how it operates in hip hop. Even though his second album cover is less realistic than the first one, I would say his first two album covers are prime examples of it. On both covers you see a greased up, shirtless black man who is powerful at the same time that he is exposed. Both of these covers show a 50 Cent that is a tough-guy from the streets.This is the exact image that record labels want to sell and the exact image that is consumed by those that listen to hip hop. 

Get Rich or Die Tryin', 2003

The Massacre, 2005

Beginning with The Massacre and ending with Curtis, you see the biggest shift in the image and identity that 50 Cent portrays. He is no longer presenting himself as a one dimensional man and rap artist and he is no longer presenting himself as solely dangerous and invulnerable. 50 is instead presenting a different side of himself, toning down his masculinity and being more intentional with the lyrics he uses in his songs. On this specific album the lyrics of his songs and his songs in general switch back and forth between a hard street sound that is more traditional to his career, and a softer deeper sound that he has not expressed before. This is perhaps caused by the fact that he is more of an established artist at this point and has become more successful than average rappers. 

Curtis, 2007

Finally there is his most recent album to date Before I Self Destruct. On this album cover you see a 50 Cent that is in the process of self destructing and exploding. Perhaps he is referring to KRS-One and his song Self Destruction, which is an upbeat hip hop song aimed at stopping violence in poor communities. Or perhaps 50 Cent is feeling the pressure of maintaining a certain image, and this pressure is causing him to have identity problems. Either way the image he presents a vulnerable image on this cover which he did not do with his first two covers.  

Before I Self Destruct, 2009

Images of black men who have more in common with Obama than they do with 50 Cent are not produced and seen. Street is the only image seen in the media, it is the only image we see of 50 Cent, and for those with no relationships with black people it is the only image they know. There is no mass media produced image that is either the complete opposite of what 50 Cent represents or close to the opposite of his image. The media does not produce images of black men with professional jobs, wearing suits and ties; the CEOs, lawyers, doctors and lawyers are not seen. This is harmful to the black community. 

Questions:
*Is there a little bit of 50 and a little bit of Barack in every black male?
*How do the limited images of black men affect the development of their identity?
*How does their identity development affect black women?