Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes

What controversial cultural norms are manifested and accepted while we listen to contemporary hip-hop music? 

This is a question I thought about even before exploring the hot topic in an educational setting. As a child of the 90’s and 00’s, music from rappers like Snoop Dog and 50 Cent was  prevalent and the controversial subject matter coursed through the speakers. I remember watching music videos on MTV for hours at a time, when the “M” actually stood for music. I loved the beat of the songs and how the mood of the whole room would change when a bass-ridden Nelly song started playing at a middle school dance. However, I knew deep down that the potential for serious cultural damage was always there. Lyrics centered on violence, misogyny, and homophobia existed in almost every popular hip-hop song. Why was everyone okay with this?

Rather than simply accepting these lyrics and images as “the way it is,” “Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” delves into the heart of the issues of hip-hop music today. Byron Hurt does a great job pinpointing the major cultural issues of the musical genre, from blatant gun violence to more subtle tones of homo-erotica. 

The high point of the film is its authenticity. 

Because Hurt is a self-proclaimed lover of hip-hop, his criticisms come from a place of genuine concern. When he interviews rappers like Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss, he does not attack them or back them up against the wall. Part of the quest for ratification in the hip-hop world comes from examining the major players in it. Hurt knows this better than anyone, so he asks the tough questions and the resulting interviews come across brilliantly to the viewer. The rappers are candid in their answers because they relate to Hurt and see him as their equal. Would their answers alter if the interviewer were white or female? Absolutely.

One critique I have of the film is its lack of suggestion for viewer activism. Chuck D talks about the importance of accountability in terms of being a man in the music industry, but what about the masses of white suburban kids buying all these hip-hop albums? Where do they fit in to the equation? More exploration into this element would have strengthened the film's message even more.