Cultural Appropriation, Hip Hop, and Change

In Part II of the lecture, The Intersection of Intellectual Property, Music, and Culture, several examples of financial cultural appropriation in popular music are offered:

• Paul Simon’s Graceland album
• The music of prominent rock and roll artists (e.g., the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, etc.)
• The music of Eminem

Regarding Eminem, his standing as the best-selling hip hop artist of all time is cited as a potential example of financial cultural appropriation in popular music. However, there is also refuting evidence offered that suggests this may not be a good example — specifically: most other best-selling hip hop artists of all time are Black.

Reflect on these matters, specifically considering the following questions:

1. Does hip hop represent a change, where financial cultural appropriation is now occurring less often in popular music than it has in the past (e.g., with rock and roll)?
2. If so, why has this change occurred? Why is there less financial cultural appropriation in hip hop than there has been in popular music historically?

Compose a statement on this topic that is one paragraph in length. Your statement can encompass any perspective or thoughts you have regarding this matter. You may respond to the questions listed, introduce new angles you find pertinent, or even challenge the framing of the lecture or the questions given. Your evaluation will not be based on the substance of your views; this assignment is about engagement, introspection, and articulating your thoughts.

Reflection: Why Is Hip Hop Ascendant?

Instructions

The lecture Current Streams — Part II: The Intersection of Music and Demographics discusses a potential cause of the ascendancy of hip hop relating to youth culture demographics, and suggests that there could be a variety of other reasons for hip hop’s ascendancy as well. In this reflection, you are to consider potential reasons for this: Why do you believe hip hop has ascended to its position as the most popular sub-genre of popular music?

Compose a statement on this topic that is one paragraph in length. Your statement can encompass any perspective or thoughts you have regarding this matter. Your evaluation will not be based on the substance of your views; this assignment is about cultural engagement and the articulation of ideas.