When most think of whites in hip-hop, they think of Eminem or caucasians trying to be like blacks. I think of niether. Hip-hop is a full blown culture appealing to black, hispanic, and white communities all over the world. I feel it’s a time to empty our bag of racism and celebrate this culture.
Any hip-hop head can firmly agree that rap is dominated by african-americans. I am using the word “dominant” in regards to the population of MC’s. However, that doesn’t determine the skill level in this game. Everyone can confirm that there are more black MC’s than white MC’s. In my opinion, this is even a better reason for whites to step up and crush the country music, preppy white boy image they are branded with.
Eminem doesn’t even cross my mind anymore. He was definitely not the greatest white MC, and more certainly not the first. Since I started on the Net in ’98, I’ve seen hip-hop in a whole light. Just when I thought rap has crashed and we were doomed for the future, I was tuned into pure lyricism, the greatest artform in history. I would sit back and watch these “netcees” type the dopest lyrics with cunning edge wordplay. I’ll even admit at times I would read a ill ass punchline in a battle and feel a sharp pain in the head. To my surprise, a majority of these MC’s who I thought were great were white.
It’s more than just text battles in rap. There are white MC’s and they do spit live. They do make audio tracks in the studio. I feel that whites bring in the cutting edge lyrics that create a balance in hip-hop. You got cats like Jay-Z who make some club hits. There’s Juvenile and Cash Money shaking ass in videos. Aside from the big booties and fancy cars, we have an actual artform.
My favorite MC is white. The winner of 2000’s Napster/Rapstation’s “Power To The People And The Beats” contest, Benefit, strikes the mic with the dopest lyrics ever spit on a track. While many netcees receive two strikes against them just coming from the Net, he gets the props he deserves as one of the pioneers whose CD is recorded on a store-bought CD-R disc with a snazzy computer printed cover. Am I riding on the dick of white men? Hell no I’m not. Would I still like him if he was black? Of course I would. If you’re dope, you’re dope. No denying it.
Lyricism isn’t a white or black thing, and niether is hip-hop. I get upset when hip-hop is segregated online and off the computer. Skin color doesn’t make a good MC. A great MC and great music is made from the love. Hip-hop is love, and will always be that way. A white and a black MC can battle. In the end, they’re both MC’s and they’re doing it for the same reason: Culture.
By RhymeLife.Com for Hip Hop Hot Spot.Com
