Hip hop and insecurity

[JonathanYoung]

I was washing my car today and these teenagers down the street were blasting their rap music so that the entire block could hear it. This got me thinking about hip hop culture as manifested in rap music videos, senseless violence, and garish displays of wealth. It seems like a lot of hip hop behavior is insecure behavior. For example:

1) Insecure people need constant external validation. By playing music loudly so that others can hear it too, is that some sort of subconscious need to have others validate that music? I have never seen a classical music lover blast Beethoven in their car for all to hear.

2) In the news (especially around here in Oakland) there are often cases of "he dissed me, so I had to pop a cap in his ass." If I were a secure person, I would not need other people to respect me, because I'd have plenty of respect for myself. I would only care if someone important to me did not respect me, not some stranger. Insecure behavior?

3) Was reading ESPN.com about how Allen Iverson is going to play ball in Turkey. The line in the article that caught my attention was "Wearing a black New York Yankees cap and decked out in diamonds Thursday..." I know AI has played in the NBA for years and that he's a multi-millionaire. Does he really need to be decked out in diamonds to take a photo with his new Turkish boss?

4) I grew up listening to mostly rap and hip hop music. I will still listen to it at times, but most of the time nowadays I find it repulsive. Is it coincidence that during my most insecure years (as a teenager) I was really into hip hop? (i.e. having to announce "I don't give a fuck what no one says, I'm gonna do [blank]" instead of just doing it)

As I admitted in #4, I am biased against hip hop. Also, by making this post I am seeking validation for the judgment that I made about hip hop and therefore exposing my own insecurities. Still, I am curious what other people think. Do you agree with what I wrote? Do you disagree?

 

[techie81]

I think you make some very valid arguments and agree with what you are saying.

 

[TecHNooB]

what is kpop a sign of?

 

[destrekor]

I was washing my car today and these teenagers down the street were blasting their rap music so that the entire block could hear it. This got me thinking about hip hop culture as manifested in rap music videos, senseless violence, and garish displays of wealth. It seems like a lot of hip hop behavior is insecure behavior. For example:

1) Insecure people need constant external validation. By playing music loudly so that others can hear it too, is that some sort of subconscious need to have others validate that music? I have never seen a classical music lover blast Beethoven in their car for all to hear.

2) In the news (especially around here in Oakland) there are often cases of "he dissed me, so I had to pop a cap in his ass." If I were a secure person, I would not need other people to respect me, because I'd have plenty of respect for myself. I would only care if someone important to me did not respect me, not some stranger. Insecure behavior?

3) Was reading ESPN.com about how Allen Iverson is going to play ball in Turkey. The line in the article that caught my attention was "Wearing a black New York Yankees cap and decked out in diamonds Thursday..." I know AI has played in the NBA for years and that he's a multi-millionaire. Does he really need to be decked out in diamonds to take a photo with his new Turkish boss?

4) I grew up listening to mostly rap and hip hop music. I will still listen to it at times, but most of the time nowadays I find it repulsive. Is it coincidence that during my most insecure years (as a teenager) I was really into hip hop? (i.e. having to announce "I don't give a fuck what no one says, I'm gonna do [blank]" instead of just doing it)

As I admitted in #4, I am biased against hip hop. Also, by making this post I am seeking validation for the judgment that I made about hip hop and therefore exposing my own insecurities. Still, I am curious what other people think. Do you agree with what I wrote? Do you disagree?

Every sub-culture seems to display similar traits, but the resulting behavior is quite lacking in true violence. But sometimes the messed-in-the-head types fall into violence of the same style.

I mean, look at a techie place like this one: people, both in their signatures online, or in person, feel the need to describe their possessions and list what they have, be it gadgets or PC specs.

All the sub-groups have their things, and some in those groups do take it too far. Some are more prone to going great distances.

I like to blast my music in my car, invest in good sound quality, and stick to almost everything rock or hip-hop mixed with rock (ska, for instance), but do sometimes listen to hip-hop.

To put it shortly, I agree with what you wrote. But that sub-culture isn't exclusive of those traits, in case anyone actually thought that.

 

[zerocool84]

This got me thinking about hip hop culture as manifested in rap music videos, senseless violence, and garish displays of wealth.

FYI, rock music was doing that WAAAAY before hip-hop music was. You're really going to say you've never heard someone blasting their rock music? You do know most rock-music has been about f-ing this person and f-ing that person as well? Rock music was doing all of that before, it's just shifted to hop-hop. You're anti-rap bias is clearly showing.

 

[QueBert]

Black Ice sumed it up perfectly

External blingers is all we can be, because on the inside we've been given nothing to shine on

 

[Narmer]

rap music is mostly about insecurity. Black people have little to be proud of.

 

[Wordplay]

1) Insecure people need constant external validation. By playing music loudly so that others can hear it too, is that some sort of subconscious need to have others validate that music? I have never seen a classical music lover blast Beethoven in their car for all to hear.

I should ride into Detroit blasting Ride Of The Valkyries. I wonder how that would go?

 

[mwtgg]

rap music is mostly about insecurity. Black people have little to be proud of.

Tool.

 

[Narmer]

Tool.

Am I a tool because I said somethin hurtful or because what I said isn't true?

 

[Tristicus]

FYI, rock music was doing that WAAAAY before hip-hop music was. You're really going to say you've never heard someone blasting their rock music? You do know most rock-music has been about f-ing this person and f-ing that person as well? Rock music was doing all of that before, it's just shifted to hop-hop. You're anti-rap bias is clearly showing.

Yesh yesh.


Personally, I'll blast anything if I like it. Gospel to Rap. That is, if I like the thing (as in, I don't like Gospel). But I love blasting some Yelawolf or something with good bass just for the hell of it because it makes for a good jam while I drive.

 

[purbeast0]

Am I a tool because I said somethin hurtful or because what I said isn't true?

you are a tool because of your ignorant response.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

you are a tool because of your ignorant response.

This is a better tool

 

[mwtgg]

you are a tool because of your ignorant response.

This.

 

[Narmer]

you are a tool because of your ignorant response.

Explain yourself. How is it ignorant? Have you seen Africa lately? How about the Carribberan (sic?)? or Detroit? Or New Orleans or the South Bronx?

 

[zerocool84]

Explain yourself. How is it ignorant?

If you don't know why then it's sad really. Do you live in the south? Member of the KKK?

 

[mwtgg]

Explain yourself. How is it ignorant?

You paint an entire race with a broad brush based upon what?

 

[Narmer]

If you don't know why then it's sad really. Do you live in the south? Member of the KKK?

I'm sure I know more about African history than you. just because I'm honest and not PC doesn't mean I'm a member of the KKK. Why do you think I use this name on this forum? Google it if you don't know what it means.

 

[zerocool84]

I'm sure I know more about African history than you.

Your statement shows you obviously don't.

 

[Narmer]

You paint an entire race with a broad brush based upon what?

Most prejudices are based on fact.

 

[BD231]

1.) So what I gotta be a square and listen to steely dan or elton john in order to enjoy my music at high volume now??? All of the sudden someone's insecure because they like loud muisic??? Did you ever think that maybe some of these people can't afford a house so they blast their music when and where they can????

No, you didn't. You'd rather assume the worst of a culture and degrade them with irrational assumptions consisting solely of your own confusion.

I can only imagine the kind of conclusions you come to watching Africans or Indians pound on tribal drums while chanting. You act like your doing a case study on apes. You'd just be that weird outsider writing notes of speculation about situations you have no real insight into because I guarantee you any real black dude from Oakland is not going to fuck with someone who thinks like you.

Simply put, if I blast Snoop Dogg for an old lady, she'll hate it. If I blast Sinatra she'll love it. Grow up and learn that people are haters, including yourself, it's not that complicated.

2.) Since when has being secure with yourself had anything to do with crime?? Kids in oakland grow up wanting to be hustlers, pimps, mobbers and robbers. When you have criminals raising criminals you get crime. For instance, if you started talking like you did in your post around a group of black people born and raised in oakland who like loud music, you'll probably get shot.

It's called respect, if you don't show it, you don't get it. Do I think it's right?? No, but judging by the fact that every recorded civilization on earth has entered into war with other countries or even themselves I'd have to go with the already well known fact that humans, no matter the race, can be violent.

3.) You're broke, Iverson is not. Again you're talking about a subject you've never experienced or been a true part of. People with money buy nice things and its been that way since money was money, get used to it.

4.) Exactly, you grew up listening to a culture that doesn't even accept you. Now you're just mad you can't get us to like you so you're trying to find faults in ghetto culture.

Next time you decide to post about the lives of people you have zero affiliation with, please don't for your own good. You really don't know what you're talking about and a lot of what you said is juvenile.

I don't go around posting about how white people are the largest group of mass murders known to man.

 

[Narmer]

Your statement shows you obviously don't.

But I do. Please return to your regular business if you have nothing to add here. Like I said, Black people don't have much to be proud of. Look at their history within the past 600 years and it has been downright shameful and embarrasing when you compare it to the rest of the human race. Look at it from the pas 60 years and it has been a catastrophe that is holding back the rest of the human race.

 

[Narmer]

1.) So what I gotta be a square and listen to steely dan or elton john in order to enjoy my music at high volume now??? All of the sudden someone's insecure because they like loud muisic??? Did you ever think that maybe some of these people can't afford a house so they blast their music when and where they can????

No, you didn't. You'd rather assume the worst of a culture and degrade them with irrational assumptions consisting solely of your own confusion.

I can only imagine the kind of conclusions you come to watching Africans or Indians pound on tribal drums while chanting. You act like your doing a case study on apes. You'd just be that weird outsider writing notes of speculation about situations you have no real insight into because I guarantee you any real black dude from Oakland is not going to fuck with someone who thinks like you.

Simply put, if I blast Snoop Dogg for an old lady, she'll hate it. If I blast Sinatra she'll love it. Grow up and learn that people are haters, including yourself, it's not that complicated.

2.) Since when has being secure with yourself had anything to do with crime?? Kids in oakland grow up wanting to be hustlers, pimps, mobbers and robbers. When you have criminals raising criminals you get crime. For instance, if you started talking like you did in your post around a group of black people born and raised in oakland who like loud music, you'll probably get shot.

It's called respect, if you don't show it, you don't get it. Do I think it's right?? No, but judging by the fact that every recorded civilization on earth has entered into war with other countries or even themselves I'd have to go with the already well known fact that humans, no matter the race, can be violent.

3.) You're broke, Iverson is not. Again you're talking about a subject you've never experienced or been a true part of. People with money buy nice things and its been that way since money was money, get used to it.

4.) Exactly, you grew up listening to a culture that doesn't even accept you. Now you're just mad you can't get us to like you so you're trying to find faults in ghetto culture.

Next time you decide to post about the lives of people you have zero affiliation with, please don't for your own good. You really don't know what you're talking about and a lot of what you said is juvenile.

I don't go around posting about how white people are the largest group of mass murders known to man.

Idiot, you don't know anything about me.

 

[JS80]

what is kpop a sign of?

Superficiality and narcissism.

 

[TecHNooB]

Idiot, you don't know anything about me.

he's addressing the op, lmao.