Rappin' for the Republicans:
How Hip Hop Helps the Conservatives
by Paul Scott
There's a famous scene from the cult classic movie "Scarface" where
inebriated gangster, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) disses a bunch of classy conservative
folks by telling them that they need people like him so they can point their fingers and say "that's the bad
guy.
"
Such is the strange relationship between the Right Wing and rap music.
While at first glance they may appear to be at polar opposites of the political spectrum, the ideologies of
gangsta-ism and conservatism are actually dependent upon each other for survival. Just like in the world of
Hollywood, every hero needs a villain and every villain needs a hero. Since the inception of
gangsta rap in the late 80's, the conservatives have used the music to embody everything that is socially and
morally reprehensible in this country and the gangsta's have been quick to label anyone who disapproves
of their violent and misogynistic lyrics as a wrinkled right wing ole fogey.
It must be noted that when the term "Hip Hop" is used here it is not meant to include the music of legendary political
artists such as Public Enemy whose legacy is seen today in the lyrics of noncommercial
groups such as Dead Prez but the majority of the commercial rap that has dominated the charts and radio
playlists for well over a decade.
While much of the criticism from the Right has centered around naughty words and suggestive lyrics, the
apolitical and anti intellectual nature of "gangsta rap" has, in many ways, fulfilled the wishes of
those who seek to conserve power by the dumbing down of the powerless. This may be the reason why the commercial
era of "political" Hip Hop lasted a mere four years but the reign of gangsta rap has been going strong
for 20 years.
Therefore, it is no surprise that the late gangsta rap pioneer Eric "Eazy E" Wright had
lunch with President George H Bush at a reception for the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle
in 1991.
That becomes even more strange in the context that the Right is not exactly known for breaking bread with the
enemy as current VP candidate Sara Palin points out ad nauseum.
It must be noted that while the protest against rappers Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dog
led by C.
Delores Tucker and William Bennett only helped to elevate their status as cult heroes
who were merely fighting, according to them, represent their community. Bennett went on a decade later
to issue what could be a considered a call for gangsta eugenics when he said that if you abort every black baby in
this country ,the crime rate would go down.
Also, during the mid 90's while aid to the poor was under attack, MTV showed a clip with the late rapper
Russel "Ol Dirty Bastard" Jones arriving at a welfare office via stretch limo to pick up food
stamps during an era when the Right Wing was holding up images of black women as "welfare queens.
"
Fast forward to 2008 and we see that Hip Hop has not changed much and neither has the Republican Party. Despite the many
rappers moonlighting as voter regis
How Hip Hop Helps
by Paul Scott
There'"
Such is the stran
While
It must be noted
While
There
That becom
It must be noted
Delor
Also,
"
Fast forwa