I recently bought Common's book “One Day It’ll All Make Sense”. I’ve been reading it a little bit here and there the past couple weeks, but early on in the book, while I was reading the “Prologue”, one quote really stood out to me: “It speaks to the fact that when you try to tell your own story, you can’t help but tell someone else’s along the way”.
 

I think this line describes hip hop in a number of ways and is a great way of explaining some of the controversy that surrounds it. Hip Hop is often attacked for its graphic or vulgar language and violent imagery. The artists that come from these backgrounds of poverty, struggle, and hardship are exposed to things that many people aren’t comfortable with and so, in the name of “keeping it real” or simply expressing themselves (as we all have a right to do), they attempt to tell their story.

Not all stories are fairy tales. They are formed based around some emotion. It may be joy, anger, sadness, depression, excitement, pride, or any other number of emotions you can think of. Out of these emotions are poetic stories that resonate in the ear and heart of the listener. However, what it is important for critics and young children alike to understand is that when the artist is telling “their” story (regardless of what kind of story it is), they are never telling their story alone. This is the point that Common makes, so well.

While many of the songs MCs create are based around their life story, they also tell the stories of the people that raised them, mentored them, lived in their communities, and anybody else they were exposed to – whether it be during day-to-day life or during one significant impact. When telling these stories, they may tell it from the outside looking in, but often times they talk about it in the first person, replacing the main character with themselves. This is where things get tricky.

There is a fine balance between telling somebody’s story and simply fabricating your own reality. As part of the hip hop community, we need to do two things; one as artists and the other as fans. As artists, they need to find that line and make sure that they don’t veer into an alternate reality and take on a persona that is not their own. While hip hop needs to receive more credit for giving a voice to the voiceless, it also needs to make sure that it is telling the story and not participating in the activities it describes (not the negative ones at least). As fans, we need to be aware that not everything coming out of an artist mouth is a first-hand account. It’s also important to note that mentioning or explaining certain circumstances does not always mean that they are being glorified. This message is especially important for young children who look to imitate or idolize these artists. If need-be, sit down with your children and explain this to them, so that they have a better understanding of hip hop, the story it’s telling, and how it is being narrated.

What do you think? Does hip hop do a good job of telling all of our stories? Does it need to get more credit? Leave all comments and thoughts below. Send all e-mails to straightouttahiphop@gmail.com.

Peace.