Russell Simmons and the Hip Hop Scene

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Russell saw the reality of black, urban hip hop music as a style with a message and unique delivery that would reach beyond the inner city and built an empire to reach that worldwide marketplace. The paper discusses the early history of the minstrel shows. The author believes that, at the time the music business had stagnated, Simmons' vision was to take everything that was inner city black culture and identity and present it to the mass market as acceptable, unique and valuable on its own merits.

Table of Contents
What is American Culture?
What is Black American Culture?
Definition of Success
Russell Simmons Success
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Others, such as Bakari Kitwana, former editor of the hip-hop magazine the Source, give a sobering read on his generation and its cultural byproduct. Acting as tour guide and, in some instances, spokesperson, Kitwana examines the crisis facing African-American culture, especially involving those "African Americans born between 1965 and 1984." Kitwana presents the socio-political dilemmas of his generation as they relate to the achievements -- and failures -- of their parents' struggles.
Although a slightly dry read, with text weighed down by statistics and preachiness, The Hip Hop Generation is most engaging when discussing the extraneous variables that shape the lives of young African Americans. "More and more Black youth are turning to rap music, music videos . . . popular black films, and television programs for values and identity," Kitwana writes before demonstrating how the global corporate structure, which provided the financial and mass media platform for hip-hop's growth, has been "the driving force" behind his generation's plight. Kitwana passionately presents his case on how globalization has contributed to such critical problems as the lack of employment opportunity, unequal policing and imprisonment, the growing, hostile divide between the sexes, and the loss of leverage within the political mainstream."

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