Class Is In Session

By now most of you are familiar with the dual release dates of new albums by Kanye West and 50 Cent. Both are scheduled to release next Tuesday (why they both chose Sept 11th is strange in my opinion but that’s for another conversation) and the recording/entertainment/publishing industry (also to be described in this blog occasionally as the crazy ass industry TM) is all a buzz about it. In a year in which record sales are down substantial double-digits numbers any excitement over new releases is news. But for Hip-Hop, already gasping for breath both commercially and artistically, its cause for a celebration. The music has lost its relevance in many aspects but next week all that changes.

Most of the buzz revolves around which album is gonna be the hottest and which is gonna sale the most. 50 has gone as far as to say that if his album sales the 1st week are less then Kanye’s, he will stop making solo records. Now whether this is true or not is beside the point, it makes for great entertainment. And much debate as to whether you prefer 50’s brand of braggadocios neo-gangsterism or Kanye’s post-Black, outsiders are the new insiders brand of reinterpreted boom-bap. I’ve already heard both albums and it seems easy to say that Kanye is gonna win in a blowout. At least in quality it’s just a better album (wait until you hear “Champion”, Good Life”, “Good Morning” and “ The Glory”) and the debate for that, for me, is nil. Funny thing is happening on the way to soundscan though, that debate is more than just between two artists. It’s a debate between classes and what upward mobility really means.

It’s more complicated then saying it the projects kids against the Jack and Jill set, it’s a battle between ideals and values. The same battle Black folks have been having for generations. (Not to say that other races don’t have the same battles, because as has been stressed before this is not only a “Black people’s” blog.) People tend to side with those most similar to them. You relate to those who have gone through the same things you’ve gone through, been the same places you have been, speak the language you speak, etc. Regardless of the many advances Black people have made in this society there are still a lot of impoverished and lower middle-class families and the incarceration rate is still amazingly high. It’s still real out there Kenneth Chenault and Condoleeza Rice be damned and people definitely relate to 50’s by any means necessary story of self-preservation. There still needs to be a way to hope and dream of a life filled with prosperity for those who never rocked a cap and gown on warm Spring afternoon. But for those out there who know what it means to see girls decked out in crimson and cream means and understand that the term work-study is one of the greatest things in the world the allure of Kanye West is easily understood. His songs hint at certain buppie sensibilities and the optimism in many of his songs can serve as a de-facto soundtrack to career advancement. A mentality that says you can look past old accepted cliche's and stereotypes and create a new reality based upon what you feel are the important things in life. Either way a line in the sand has been drawn. The hood acts like Kanye’ music is soft and somehow irrelevant while 50’s stuff is harder, more muscular. Believer of Dubois’ talented tenth ideology say that much of 50’s music is borderline cooning, boring and ultimately adds nothing to the community while Kanye’s stuff is more honest and intelligent and just more interesting.

These debates often spill out in other forms. Forms such as gentrification, where clashes between the haves and have-nots are raging all across the country. As career-minded people move back into the cities to buy up condos and open businesses, the old guard, been here for years folks are getting pushed out or simply discarded. Jealousy, anger, miscommunication rise up and problems arise. Wanna know why? Because people don’t understand each other and all you hear are word like “bougie” and “ghetto”. I work for a publishing company that produces several important mags (SLAM, XXL, KING, etc) and I hear it at the office and at industry events as well. People choose sides without thinking twice. So I ask any readers out there, right now think twice. In your viewpoint what are some of the biggest class problems and misconceptions and what do you think can be done about them. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

peace