Dr. Cornel West Enters the Rap Game
Black music played an essential role during the civil rights era, which Dr. West was an active participant of. Dr. West's goal is to bridge the gap between cultures, in the same fashion that jazz has done years ago.
"It is a significant awakening with a number of Black voices across the generations coming together and saying that Black music is too important for us to allow it to be bastardized in this way. I hope that awakening will then generate a whole host of CDs. What I would like to see is like 50 CDs coming out in the next year that are wrestling with these same issues. Taking it to higher levels in their own way. I think this music has a chance of being quite historic." He tells eurweb.com.
"While West is no newcomer to the recording booth-having released two spoken word CD's, "Sketches" in 2001 and "Street Knowledge" in 2003-this time the Harvard educated, Princeton professor of religion, whose books include the 1993 New York Times bestseller "Race Matters" and 2004's "Democracy Matters," has joined forces with some of hip-hop's most progressive artists. This list includes Talib Kweli, KRS-1, and Rhymefest, along with Prince, R&B crooner David Hollister, and the late, great Gerald LeVert." reports Blackenterprise.com Hollywood columnist, George Alexander.
Can this CD make it in a sea of violence driven, rump shaking and sexually explicit rap music? Would the younger generation rather listen to a grown man in pig tails- Snoop Dog ramble on about a bunch of nothing or will they want to hear music that speaks about topics that go on outside of their "hoods" that effect society as a whole?
Along with his very impressive academia record, people may remember Dr. West serving as one of the elders of Zion in the movies The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.
Tracks from "Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations." Can be heard on Dr. Cornel West Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/drcornelwest4bmwmb
Sources:
Blackenterprise.com
EURweb.com
Published by Lorraine Hayden
I'm a freelance writer, wife and mother. View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentGrowing up I always felt that true quality music came from 2 sources: dead pre-20th century European white guys and black American musicians. Then the black music scene turned to trash and those dead white guys ain't writing any more! Black music always seemed so inspiring and true until recently. Today's rappers are just degrading society. Bravo, Dr. West.
This is very unique. I'm not too fond of the rap sound, but am not one of those who consider it just filled with low morals, etc.
I actually like some rap music, but the lyrics have become so miscogynist and vulgar (to my ears)it would be nice to hear something more uplifting and positive within this genre. It would be refreshing if the young, record buying public would listen to it and buy it. The recording industry has been losing money due to the file-sharing web activities. The bottom line is what rules companies and they will only promote what sells.
I would interested to see what this sound like. I'm not certain that it would make it that far because, record companies are not interested in promoting the positive aspects of the African-American community. It's more profitable to focus on the whoes. Nice Article!