I met this girl, when I was ten years old
And what I loved most she had so much soul
She was old school, when I was just a shorty
Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me
On the regular, not a church girl she was secular
Not about the money, no studs was mic checkin her
But I respected her, she hit me in the heart
A few new york niggaz, had did her in the park
But she was there for me, and I was there for her
Pull out a chair for her, turn on the air for her
And just cool out, cool out and listen to her
Sittin on a bone, wishin that I could do her
Eventually if it was meant to be, then it would be
Because we related, physically and mentally
And she was fun then, I’d be geeked when she’d come around
Slim was fresh yo, when she was underground…

-partial lyrics to “I used to love H.E.R.” by Common

In the lyrics above from one of my favorite songs, Common laments about the debasement suffered by his true love, real hip-hop music. The BBC reports on a recent international hip-hop conference in Connecticut where it was evident that the love is being kept alive in other countries around the world, countries where artists treat hip-hop music how she was meant to be treated:

A recent international hip-hop festival which brought together rap artists from around the world has raised the question of why non-US rap is so political - whereas mainstream American rap appears frivolous…

Rolando Brown, of event sponsors the Hip-hop Association, said the festival highlighted there was “more of a focus on positive community development” outside the US…

We have been able to filter out the elements of sex, money and drugs - you don’t get that in Tanzania,” he explained.

“You don’t get airplay if you talk about these things in your music. Over 99% of the rap in Tanzania is in Swahili - and it actually has a political message to it.”

“They are the records that sell and appeal to a wider demographic of people than any type of music…” [Link]

Especially in Africa, hip-hop music is being used as a positive tool to advocate AIDS prevention, political participation, urban youth issues etc. Although I don’t think homegrown, socially conscious hip-hop has penetrated the culture in South Asia too deeply yet, it seems like only a matter of time before popular homegrown artists will emerge. If readers know of any such emerging hip-hop artists living in South Asian countries that rhyme about political/social issues we’d love to see some links in the comments section.

However, many artists in Hartford blamed the current preoccupations of US hip-hop on the music industry, and stressed they believe record labels and radio conglomerates are actively promoting negative stereotypes to bury rap with a positive or political message.

“Being sensational about violence or sex or drugs is a huge part of it,” said Chee Malabar, a rapper with Asian-American act The Himalayan Project. “It’s easier for Americans to buy into that than it is to look in the mirror and say, ‘some of the social policies and institutional hierarchies are messed up’.

“That’s hard to sell, and ultimately it’s about selling…” [Link]
The BBC article ends with a zinger that perfectly captures the current problem with the crap that passes for music on the radio:
“They don’t really want to hear about your opposition to George Bush - they’d much rather hear about what you want to do with George Bush’s wife,” she said.

“They don’t want too much politics or too much sociological content rammed down their throats, because they’re looking at rap as a fantasy - ‘if I can famous, I can get iced-out teeth as well’…” [Link]