Tricia Rose Interviews on Hip Hop

Time Magazine Interview & Radio Station Interview

I really enjoyed reading this interview because the topic of hip hop being is very interesting to me. I think that Tricia Rose offered a very different perspective she was not defending the artist nor the critics but rather hip hop itself. She seems to have a vast understand of the history of hip hop and the current ill state of the music.

What I understood from this Interview was that Tricia Rose thinks that hip hop is not "dead" but rather hip hop is dying. She explains in this interview what hip hop use to be and what it use to mean to people versus what it is today. Hip Hop use to be fun and about people expressing what was important to them and now it is driven by money. Record labels perpetuate the excessive idea and stereotypes of ghettos, violence, racism, and sexism in the black community and the money driven artist that buy into it. That is why artist like 50 cent, T-Pain, Lil wayne, ect. easily outsell artist like Taleb Kwali, Common, and Mos Def. Tricia Rose puts fault on all sides from record labels, to artist, to radio stations, to listeners alike. Some how in the mix of all that hip hop has become ill and lost the sense of fun block parties and community bonding.

In the radio interview Tricia Rose talked about female hip hop artist. She talked female MC's and Lyricists having to prove themselves in a male dominated field. In trying to prove themselves they often struggle with sexuality. Rappers like Lil Kim or Foxy Brown choose the hyper sexual route and Tricia rose described Kim as almost a rhyming stripper. Then you also have women like Eve who embrace masculinity and toughness to make it in a male dominated field like hip hop. Eve's career as taken off and she is now not only a rapper but an actress and model as well.

One of the things I am curious about is if so many people recognize that hip hop is dying and long for the old school love of hip hop then why is it that none of the underground hip hop gets play? I understand that money plays a role in that but if the demand is their why is no response from record labels and radio stations?

Something I think would make for good class discussion is the point of "If you don't like it don't listen and turn it off." Tricia Rose made a very good point and I'm interested to see how other people feel and if they agree.