I was a teenage white boy.. living in dire poverty.. broken home.. daily beatings.. and violent neighborhood.. witnessed everything from stabbings to severe beatings and had attended a few friends funerals by age 16..
What did I get out of hip hop music???
Well for me and most of my friends it was the only music we could relate with.. it spoke of us and to us.. and as silly as it sounds in some cases educated us..
Because unlike your good self.. most of my homies grew up with nothing.. no loving home, no money.. no good job, no career waiting.. and often no self confidence the big killer..
hip hop with its battle beat gave all these boys a confidence kick.. and helped unite those type of people.. hence why you have so many hip hop type gangs.. the music and culture provides a bond.. in a social-class where love, kindness and luxury is rare.. and where most boys grow up fighting for themselves..
Hip hop nutures one thing inside us all.. the desire and ability to battle.. something we all possess.. and in modern society are told to avoid.. hip hop encourages battling.. from breakdance battles to rap battles and graffitti battles.. hip hop fostered competition and developed an entire genre mostly for the good of those who need it most.. the poor in the ghettos..
When I listen to rap.. I feel I am being spoken to.. I feel that when Tupac talks about Brenda's baby.. that he is telling me how it is.. not sugar coating to sell abums.. but telling the harsh reality.. when some rappers like KRS-1 preach about life.. I actually take notes.. KRS-1 has a PhD and is one of the worlds top rappers.. he wirtes about life and real stories and is considered hardcore though.. not a popular artist at all.. but that's what i consider rap.. not 50 cent..
So to me.. hip hop is like a documentary.. and pop music (which includes bling bling rap) is like watching the disney channel..