Cuban Rap Legends Doble Fio (English: “Double Edged”)
Among many things currently wrong with Hip Hop is the lack of awareness for the global movement and following.  Like most Americans, the domestic rap culture has failed to study and recognize the exploding following abroad nor has it embraced it as part of the hip hop diaspora.

As a student of Hip Hop, I’ve seen and experienced the international community take to the culture.  Places like Japan and Amsterdam have developed a scene that rivals our former, more potent domestic brand of hip hop from the late 80′s and early 90′s let alone the watered down concoction currently on the shelves. But its perhaps the more war-torn, embattled and controversial nations that have incubated a series of more passionate, authentic Hip Hop offspring.

In an article by Mark Tutton, CNN.com examines the burgeoning Cuban Hip Hop scene.  Known for its revolutionary history and its communist regime, the young Cuban generations havea great deal of controversial venom to spit; a very dangerous proposition in an isolated country where free speech is so restricted.

Under the disguise of setting up “music promotion” the government established the Cuban Rap Agency (CRA) to provide oversight for the very outspoken artists and to publish a rap magazine called “Movimiento.” While the Government and CRA has helped Cuban hip hop emerge from the underground it has also hindered her progress.

Reminiscent of the early days of Hip Hop, the Cuban culture is characterized by political expression in its most creative element.  As one artist, Irak Saenz said, “The CRA has an agenda that goes with the government’s agenda. It doesn’t limit me but it does force me to be creative in how I express my ideas.”

The Cuban movement is just one more reminder of how much Hip Hop has taken for granted.  (Here in America) we’ve become spoiled by our ineliable rights to free speech.  While early lyrics fought to combat injustice censurship and racial inequality we’ve accepted our wooden thrown and have been content with the material bling bling bullsh*t.

The Cuban movement and the revolutionary hip hop movements across the globe should exist if for nothing else to remind us that sh*t aint sweet.  While we might rest on our laurels of costume jewlrey and tin foil rims, cats is out here dying for thier beliefs and rapping about it with passion like we used to.  In the face of all that adversity they still feel the need to put it down on wax and we can’t even respect Hip Hop, the game and ourselves enough to do the same.  We’re effing pitiful.  I encourage you all to not only read Tutton’s article on CNN.com but spend some time learing not just about the History of Hip Hop but also the influence it currently has on the world at large.