- Home
- Business & Marketing (839)
- Editorials (696)
- Entertainment (2037)
- Fashion (1035)
- Highbrid (189)
- Honeys (2883)
- Humor (955)
- Music (5234)
- Need to Know (2265)
- News (2133)
- Podcasts (4)
- Politics (15)
- ARCHIVE
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 | 7:54am
SOUND OFF: Is Beyonce Still Hip Hop?
THE CULTURE…not the music.
@Beyonce @Complexmag
WAIT! DISCLAIMER: Before you read on any further, please know that I REALIZE her music isn’t nor has it ever been Hip Hop. I am instead referring to the culture of Hip Hop and whether she appeals to that audience, or in fact ever has.
This morning I saw the new cover of Complex Magazine featuring the gold standard of Diva 2.0, Ms. Beyonce Knowles Carter. For some reason I thought it an odd selection. Sure Complex is a magazine that has reported on and featured her before and is heavily involved in the urban fashion space which is Bey’s sweet spot but in the end Marc Ecko created it to be an Urban, Hip Hop book . It got me to wondering… Is Beyonce still Hip Hop.
Sure she’s married to the prince of the culture and is the “hottest chick in the game wearing his chain” but what game? You’d be hard pressed to find a straight member of the Nation with a Beyonce album on his iPod or going to a concert without a shorty. I think however there was a time, especially when with Destiny’s Child that Beyonce appealed to a more urban audience. If you think about it Kelly Rowland does. She’s all over the Rap remixes, singing hooks. She’s sexy, she’s urban, she’s hip hop.
The truth is with Bey, while we might have always have been conditioned to believe that she appeals to us, only does so in a sexual nature not as a brand. She’s reaching the “Single Ladies” who should had “a ring [put] on it.” and the gay community that emulates her divadom.
Then again, on the flip side I think about the changes of the culture as I write this and wonder….Maybe Hip Hop IS more feminine today, appealing to a more Homosexual culture. Its certainly more welcoming to the gay community in fashion and in lifestyle. But wanted to gather your thoughts. SOUND OFF: Is Beyonce Still Hip Hop.
FILED IN Editorials, Fashion, Honeys, Music
I never thought she was hip hop. If you mean that hip hop is the culture of Generation X and Y, then she does appeal to the females in that demographic. Her music has always featured rappers here and there but her music is not even considered urban because it’s played on all stations. (you remember that little white baby dancing to single ladies)
Generation Y is decidedly more free and open about embracing homosexuality than any other before it and as a result, hip hop is no longer a culture for gangsta or philosophical rappers. As with Generation Y’s new morays: the music now does not have clear defined lines, “rappers” are now singing and singers are rapping.
Beyonce has always presented to us in a sexual manner. Half naked and constant sexual innuedos is ingrained in her MO…she wouldn’t be Bey without it. Personally, I think “4″ is a piece of shit album and she’s accepting all offers of publicity because she wants record sales. It should have been a mixtape. That would be hiphop-ish.
So essentially you’re saying that the “Freedom” characteristic of Generation Y makes those that identify with Hip Hop more able to embrace Beyonce than lets say a Golden Era cat?
right. A Golden Era cat can’t fully embrace Beyonce because it would look soft or feminine. Generation Y boys don’t have those qualms or boundaries.
WHEN SHE FIRST STARTED W/BEYONCE’S CHILD, I MEAN, DESTINY’S CHILD W/HER COUSIN KELLY ROWAND, HER AUDIENCE WAS MORE “URBAN”, AS YEARS WENT BY AND HER FAME GREW, WHITE AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES STARTED SEEING BEYONCE AS THE SEXY BAD TALENTED MAMI WE ALL KNEW SHE WAS, THE ACTING CAME AND SHE BECAME A MULTI TALENTED ENTREPRENUER, WE ALL KNOW HER MUSIC AINT HIP HOP, HER SWAG WILL ALWAYS BE HIP HOP, SHE’S JUST DOING IT BIG ON A WORLD WIDE LEVEL THAT EXCEEDS RACE, RELIGION AND SEXUAL PREFERENCE, TRU, NO STRIAGHT DUDE WILL PLAY HER MUSIC, BUT WE’LL WATCH HER VIDEOS WHILE ON MUTE AND ENJOY THE SEXY BEAUTIFUL BAD THICKNESS THAT IS BEYONCE
Let the Chuch say…A fine Dime.
I agree w/ Champ & Diva. She has exploded into a place that blurs the lines of genre/sexuality/etc, and the younger generation is more welcoming of that concept.
I think the older generations tend to view this huge amount of cross-over success as not being authentic or ignoring the true essence of where/what it came from. Although I feel like generation Y’s quick to call something “hot” way of critque is sad and a testament to the type of music they unfortunaetly MISSED OUT ON, we can probably take a cue or two from these younger folks and just ENJOY the music/artistry instead of disecting it and placing judgemnet on it’s intention and impact.
To me, Bey will always be Hip Hop in a sense that she emobdies the confidence and newness that Hip Hop represents. She has always shown urban/hiphop platforms her support, even if it may be only ONE appearance/performance here and there. Cause let’s face it, she is waaaaaaaaaaay beyond performing at the BET Awards or whatever the crap is that they show every year, but your girl makes sure she is there EVERY YEAR and not half-assing anything. Gotta respect that.
Hip Hop , Who Ms.Pay My Bills,Bills,Bills,Ms.Bugga Boo,Ms.Put a Ring on It? Tramps now walking around …notice I said walking around want’n their blls paid cant make a pitcher of Kool-Aid.I never considered her Hip Hop in any form or fashion. Jill Scott might be closer 2 Hip Hip than her .When she was with Destiny’s kids aka Beyonce&dem other 2 she had some flava and the ass was phatter now they r trying 2 make her “Hollyweird thick”.She is still a Dolla Piece tho real talk.How did Jay-Z cop that piece? It wasnt bout his money bcuz like Heavy D…she got her “own thang”.It just goes 2 show that their r some women who actually love the man 4 himself . Peep Game single ladeez and maybe u 2 can get a ring on it.Learn how 2 make some Kool Aid instead of reservations tho.
I find it interesting that a lot of ppl feel that she had more “flava” back when Destiny’s Child was on the come-up. I disagree with the notion that Hip Hop can only be associated with struggle or being considered the under dog, or below the radar/underated. Why should it? Hip Hop has been around long enough to make a lot of ppl thilthy rich and has allowed the genre to reach a level no one would’ve gussed in the 80s. It’s only natural for that money and success trickle into the artform. More $$$ means better glam squds, designer threads, bigger budget tours, etc. In no way does that take away from the culture. if anything, it uplifts the culture to a place where we can have the grit and grime of the struggle as well as the glamorous life of success. Hip Hop is multifaceted, so why can’t the music and images reflect that?
U make some valid point Deeny, yes Hip Hop music and the Culture it self if more than the 1 dimensional idea or image that has been stuck in our minds 4 so long.Yes Hip Hop music and image r making money but not within the actual foundation,culture,etc there are no Major Hip Hop Tours anymore the last 1 I can remember that was a major success was Jay-Z/DMX/Redman Method Man and of course the Up In Smoke Tour Ft Dr.Dre and Snoop.Yes hip hop is now a brand 4 KKKorporate KKKompanies,selling their brands 2 kids and so on , as 4 Beyonce being Hip Hop I just don’t see it , she married 1 of the best that ever grabbed the mic but her personally never.She is Hollyweird now Global nothing wrong with being Global but we all know how that story ends,just like how the Art Form called Hip Hop is now….. lost in KKKorporate AmeriKKKa.
I see ur points. But I truly feel that Bey is in complete control of her image and has a specific vision that she makes sure her team follows through on (I dunno, she seems like she plays NO GAMES since she’s reached this Boss status). Of course there are industry politics and corporate influence, but I think that these people trust her vision because it has not failed her so far. Money speaks a lot louder than whatever hidden agenda that they may have. Besides, I think ANY AUTHENTIC form of art/culture is watered down by the power of $$$ and the corporate monster. Once it becomes a billion dollar indusrty, the product loses intergrity and becomes a branding/lifestyle cash cow. Movies, TV Shows…. I mean look at things like the Saw movie or Chappelles Show. once the money is crazy, things are never the same.
my bad on the typos… lol
Cosign 100%, everything eventually gets watered down and becomes commercial, Beyonce’s livin the American dream and people should’nt knock her hustle for being multi dimensional.
I know that Bey is in Control like Janet, and u r right in the end it’s all about the CREAM so like anything else it will be watered down,that’s Y u will never see or hear groups like PE or NWA ever again.Since the KKKorporate take-over all things authentic r lame. As 4 Bey still not seeing the Hip Hop aspect she has some flava don’t get it twisted like Keith Sweat but she is just more Diva/Pop 2 me. Do ya thang Bey …in Chris Tucker aka Smokey from Friday voice…”Her mama got ass 2″.
I don’t care if she starts singing opera, I’m hittin’ it all day every day.
I think that like you said Juan, Beyonce was hip hop earlier in her career(Destiny’s Child, Bonnie & Clyde ’03), now I think that she’s not as “hip hop” as she used to be, but she appeals to a wider audience. It’s bad that you can’t be consider hip hop & crossover at the same time. The minute that a black artist crosses over, most say that they’ve “sold out”. PEACE!!!
U r so right gphi, hell u have seen it all through Hip Hop and R&B .I remember when they were talking about M.C.Hammer being a sellout 4 going 2 the Pop-Tart charts,when u start get’n cartoons and lunch boxes,dolls and shit it’s a rap on the Hip Hop side of the house,which is sad because u want as many ppl as possible 2 feel what u trying 2 do and spread this music and culture called Hip Hop.Then there is Michael Jackson RIP who was R&B then u know what happend after Off The Wall.Lionel Ritchie when he quit the Commodors etc.That Cream will make u do some crazy ish .
2NA$$TEE…Yeah, when I thought of the “sellout” term, I was thinking of M.C. Hammer, I even remember a guy at my middle school actually calling M.C. Hammer a sellout for using a live band & making his stage show bigger. PEACE!!!
WHERE DA FATBACK @ JUAN????? KILLIN ME
Losing fans by the minute…^…^…^..flat line!
Who cares about Beyonce? Bring on the fatbacks of just pull the site.
J’mo. I can certainly understand your frustration. I apologize you weren’t interested in the Beyonce story. Chef has been unable to contribute lately as he has been busy with several work and school projects. I’m hoping to have him back shortly. Highbrid Nation is all about you, the contributors. In addition to the Fat Back Awards what other content would you like for us to spend more time on? We want to discuss topics that appeal to us all. This is not my Nation but yours.
Juan I know you weren’t asking me but I’d like to see a little bit more of everything. More music, movies, fashion (new kicks), rap beefs (like the rap beef of the week….hmmm I think I just gave you a great idea for the nation Juan! That would be a dope weekly topic). I’d also like to see more news from around the world. There’s alot of crazy things that happen in America but there’s even crazier shit in other countries. How about food for thought? Topics that no one really knows the answers to. Like is there really a heaven and hell? Do aliens exist? How many secrets does the government have? Those things interest me. And of course the Fat Backs lol. Chef, stay positive my friend. Your education and personal life comes first. Peace
Good suggestions. I’ll admit I haven’t had the same time to contribute as I used to spend scouring all the days news and handpicking the posts I wanted to publish but I’ll be sure to exhibit more diversity. I think the Politics, Beefs and also Police Brutality discussions are some of my favorites. Thanks for the input.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate the Beyonce story, but this ain’t the place for that. This is the “HONEYS” section. Put Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Wiz & Amber and Foxy Brown under the “Entertainment” section. Unless they are showing or shaking their fatbacks, I’m not interested in finding stories about them under the “HONEYS” section. That’s all I’m saying.
*or just pull the site
Lmao..
She’s Pop. Plain & simple. No sugar coating that. Not Hip Hop whatsoever…..
F**k no..Booo like sh*t..n her money dont pay my rent n bills, so I can care less about how money she makes or has..but yeah I’d still smash..lol!
I SERIOUSLY agree she AINT NEVA hip-HOP, NOR knee-hop wit or w/o a rapper on da track. She aint SHIT to look @ ANYMORE, NOR is she da baddest female in da game I SEE WAY MO BADDER FEMALES dan her on a daily basis W/O fake-up n DA DIRTY SOUF( no north carolina yall AINT INCLUDED) Alabama( my home) ROLL TIDE(words to LIVE by) FUCK auburn, Georgia, Flawda, certain cities n Ten-a-key, Lilweeziana, & da ‘Sip, SCREWston, Dallas FUCK the HOEboys and jerry “Bush” jones & the marc cuban team. I’m not hatin its jus dat she jus aint wut catches the eye like damn she fine, she’s NOT THE “IT GIRL” she has basically belittled all black men wit some1 else’s lyrics and basically taught ALOT OF girls to be GOLDIGGIN, CONNIEVIN ASS SKEEZAHS. It was a time wen dudes used to b mesmerised by her videos, but now its like ” das be? yea. definitely change dat shit! she AINT #1 eye candy NO MO, NOR in Top 10 fat back. She like a toy to a kid after CHRISTMAS DAY borin & soon to b forgotten about.