Campus group leads discussion on evolution of hip hop

Hip hop is not what it was 15 or 20 years ago, a Southeast Missouri State University track coach suggested to a group of college students and staff who engaged in a discussion Thursday about feminism and messages tied to the genre of music.

Tara Myriek, 41, who grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., said she hasn't seen hip hop and the music industry grow positively.

"What I hear now, a lot of it, is not hip hop," she said. "I don't understand how the younger generation ... I don't know how you're able to embrace what you hear."

Myriek, joined by about 30 others, discussed hip hop, what it means to them and how to perceive many of the messages conveyed in the culture. The discussion was moderated by members of the campus organization Sisterhood, Empowerment, Leadership and Femininity as part of a Black History Month celebration.

Anna Burton, a second-year master's program student, said she's been researching -- mostly polling her friends -- the difference between rap music and hip hop to find out what hip hop really means to her. A lot of people, she said, may not even recognized there's a difference.

"The whole basis of hip hop is more lyrical," said Burton, giving credit to women like Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah and MC Lyte. "It's a culture that rap has an influence from."

Several other students agreed that when they think about hip hop and what it means to them, they think of the lyrics and appreciate the stories, the struggle, behind the music. Hip hop music is more than the "bling," the sex, alcohol or other material things that make the genre commercial, or more likable, they said.

One student said a lot of female artists start out positive, but their record label often turns them into something more marketable and makes it about their body image instead of the music. When artists choose to make their careers about an image and the money over their music, they're "selling out," a lot of the students agreed.

"They don't have control like they did before," Myriek said. "Maybe labels have more power now."

Students also shared their musical preferences during the discussion, citing the powerful lyrics by Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott as women who represent hip hop music.

"I think it's a movement of self-expression," said Tara Beverly, a residence life hall director. "When I think about hip hop, I think about artists like Common."

Looking to the future of the culture, Beverly added that she would like to see a change in how women in hip hop portray themselves in music videos. She'd like them to tell a story in their songs and be more natural.

"I'd like to see the full spectrum of black beauty, and white beauty, too," Beverly said. "I want to see true authenticity in the videos."

ehevern@semissourian.com

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