Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes provides a riveting examination of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture. Director Byron Hurt, former star college quarterback, longtime hip-hop fan, and gender violence prevention educator, conceived the documentary as a "loving critique" of a number of disturbing trends in the world of rap music. He pays tribute to hip-hop while challenging the rap music industry to take responsibility for glamorizing destructive, deeply conservative stereotypes of manhood. The documentary features revealing interviews about masculinity and sexism with rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D, Jadakiss, and Busta Rhymes, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, and cultural commentators such as Michael Eric Dyson and Beverly Guy-Shetfall. Critically acclaimed for its fearless engagement with issues of race, gender violence, and the corporate exploitation of youth culture.
This an interesting look at black male identity in the United States. It's has some controversial viewpoints that you may or may not agree with. This short documentary poses some difficult questions effecting the black and the wider community both in the USA and in the U.K. The entertainment industry whether it is music, film or print does have an impact on how people view themselves and one another. We should be challenging these perceptions and stereotypes more strongly and be cautious of how we all contribute to this negative mindset. Please share your thoughts as I would love to hear them.
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I found it interesting but again these things tend to generalise, what I would argue to be a very niche and specific area of youth culture derived from working class black males, it doesn’t recognise, age, ethnic origin, class or education which excludes the majority of black people. What is scary is that the WC in the film thought it was interesting to watch to learn about other cultures and their behaviour. She probably thinks that is how all black people behave anyway, I’m very busy now but let’s discuss another time.
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OMG…well, first, the documentary is brilliant…I agree on certain levels, that movies, games e.t.c all glorify violence…I think the difference for me, is that it is easy to say games and movies are not real…and are certainly glamorised and exaggerated…but when you listen to rap music, there is a very real feeling that it is real life for the artists singing….I do have a big problem with the way the videos are derogatory for women….I do strongly believe a woman has the right to choose what they do with their body, but I can’t imagine how I would feel if my daughter/niece/sister had Nelly running a credit card down the crack of her arse…it hardly shows a high level of self worth/respect!
ReplyDeleteI think the young boy saying that calling women ‘bitches and ho’s’ was ‘just telling it like it is’ is proof alone that the younger generation are affected and have less respect for women as a result of what they listen to…
The white woman at the end was scary….if she thinks that rap music is learning about black people…again the music is damaging…and as for the white guy…well, the pink guy with yellow hair…you people??? coloured people??? Oh yeah, I’m sure he can 'get down' to the music as he claims…but I doubt he has a clue about black culture on the whole…
I do find it worrying, I don’t like to limit what the kids listen to…and I am very keen to instil morals and respect for women into them….but not all parents do that, not all kids have strong mums making sure that respect for self, women, life is paramount.
Lastly, if you won’t discuss your views on homosexuality…then you must know deep down that they are wrong…otherwise you’d proudly state your beliefs…no?
Okay, really lastly….while I do accept that hip hop artists may be talented, do provide entertainment to a certain level, they are certainly not among the people I respect most…while I can respect that they are committed and working hard at what they do (in some cases) I certainly think they do more harm than good for the younger generations!
More should be done to promote and iconise the black people that are building confidence in young people, there are thousands of black people for our kids to respect and look up to…can we not glamorise these strong figures more???
Woops…I got carried away lol!!!!