The Inspiration of "Nothing" has Become "Something" in Hip Hop

By: Catherine Keithley

There is a compelling correlation between blues and hip hop music today in popular culture in Charles Mingus' book, "Beneath the Underdog." This shift in today's blues and hip hop music compared to the early 1920's is that there suddenly is no reason to have something to sing about in particular in new blues and hip hop music. Mingus emphasizes that hip hop artists such as Gucci Mane or Ludacris no longer have a reason to sing about topics of the past such as gangster rap or lyrics that are degrading towards women. Hip hop has emerged to the mainstream air waves and no longer seeks out lyrics about degrading women or gangster rap.



In particular, blues music was originally about the struggles of African Americans who came to the United States as victims of slavery. However, today the mainstream world has embraced a much different side of blues and hip hop. Mingus explains that artists today do not need to sing about their struggles or harsh living situations in the hood. Hip hop artists rule the mainstream air waves, this is why artists like Gucci Mane can get away with writing songs about "Lemonade." Aside from the male artists in hip hop, females have also made the transition to singing about meaningless concepts. Artists like Lil Mama made her name in the pop music world with her single, "Lip Gloss." There is no doubt in my mind that I agree with Mingus when he speaks about the value of blues and hip hop music. In mainstream we are bombarded with meaningless songs. For example, on KIIS FM's 102.7 we hear anything that has a valid beat behind it and a couple of catchy chorus'. Then it brings up the other question of the value of pop music within itself... Is it possible to make millions off singing a catchy song about lemonade rather than singing a heavy yet meaningful song in mainstream?



The answer... yes. Mainstream has transformed blues and especially hip hop into being yet another product of capitalism.

Mingus, Charles, and Nel King. Beneath the underdog. Vintage, 1991. 89-96. Print.