If you follow my blog posts at all, you probably know that #ilovewhen hip hop has any sort of major impact on the nation (or world for that matter). Some people may not even recognize it when the impact is first made, but hip hop has made so many contributions to the progression of this country and has helped to re-shape the thoughts and perspectives of so many.

Hip Hop has been involved in everything from exposing people to the injustices in the inner-city to helping get the first black President elected, to helping to raise money and awareness when disaster strikes (think Hurricane Katrina and Haiti). The way in which people wear their clothes, talk, and interact with people have all been influenced by hip hop. Certain artists have transcended the music and have gone on to do a variation of business ventures that before weren't thought possible. Just a few posts ago, I talked about Ludacris getting involved with MLB to show support for their Civil Rights Week (view that post here).

Many times in its history, hip hop has been criticized for the awareness of impact it was having on its audience. However, time and time again, it has proved to be a positive outcome. Who would have thought that Snoop Dogg would have so many endorsement deals when "Murder Was The Case" came out? Nobody expected Ice Cube to be able to go from "No Vaseline" to Are We There Yet. Dr. Dre and Eminem combining forces allowed for a completely new racial/cultural interaction among not just artists, but fans. And of course there are some of the even more prominent figures (i.e. Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Diddy, Russell Simmons, etc.) that are not only listed in Forbes time and time again, but also continue to find other avenues in which to extend their influence.

This world without hip hop would look completely different, and more than likely for the worse. We have pushed the boundaries far beyond anybody's expectations and we continue to do so. Although met with opposition on a constant basis, we have seen some of our figure-heads even go to war against congress (i.e. David Banner, Master P, 2 Live Crew) because what we have goes much deeper than just the music. It is my hope and expectation that hip hop continues to make these contributions to the world and that we continue to display all sides of who we are.

What are some significant contributions you can think of that hip hop has made? What would our country or world look like without hip hop? Leave all of your thoughts and comments below. You can always send an e-mail to straightouttahiphop@gmail.com, as well.

Peace.

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