Dipset is for Diplomats

While the Civil, Women’s, and Gay Rights Movements, along with their aesthetics and strategies, seem like they burned out a long time ago, the enduring action on Prop 8 has proven that the end of that era was not the end of the issues.

An Exclusive from Funny or Die*

Prop 8 has refocused the country’s attention on homophobia. And while for many, the fight against homophobia is a daily struggle, there are some out there claiming it is returning to the United States and implying that for some period of time it had left. But recently I have been thinking of what it is about the way this fight has been presented that could have given that impression. The impression that the period between the first Gay Rights Movement and now was a sort of gender paradise.

Without sounding like an anarchist, I think it has to do with the weight we put on the law as the source and goal for political and social power – ignoring the potential for our popular culture to proliferate and normalize biased attitudes.

I recently saw a video by hip hop vlogger, Jay Smooth,* where he gives a brief explanation of the phrase “No Homo,” and his own feelings on its use.



That homophobia runs rampant in hip hop is no secret. Cam'ron’s explanation of the phrase “No Homo” and why he uses it, exposes its ridiculous nature and gives a sense of how ideas promoted by popular culture are often absorbed into everyday actions. To be clear, this is not an argument for the Hip Hop Created Homophobia camp. Just like hip hop didn’t invent sexism, black-on-black crime or either of those terms, hip hop did not create homophobia. Brad Paisley’s “I’m Still A Guy,” is a close country parallel to all of the “No Homo” catchphrases. But whether you watch CMT or BET, it is important to notice the ways popular culture hides and normalizes homophobia in jokes, music, cartoons, etc…

Like Jay Smooth touched on, the times when satire and rejection are confused with endorsement are important to think about as well. YouTube has hundreds of “No Homo” home-video spoofs. But for many of them, it’s hard to tell which way they go. And the time wondering if the authors think saying “No Homo” is okay or not okay is the exact space where popular culture blindfolds us to the fact that if we heard the things they are saying without any knowledge of their intentions, we would find them to be offensive.

It is hard to say what would have happened had Prop 8 failed. The absence of homophobia is not equal to the force of anti-homophobic action. In the same way that the ignorance to homophobia does not guarantee its absence. But it is interesting to think of how much credit the law could take for the homophobia expressed in our pop culture, and how much credit pop culture could take for the homophobia in our politics.



*NOTE: In case anyone is interested in citing sources…

Jay Smooth’s blog (illdoctrine.com) is dope and you should check it out. He also has a program on WBAI, called the Underground Railroad – a show on Underground Hip Hop and culture. WBAI (99.5 FM) is “Your Peace and Justice Community Radio Station” and definitely worth listening to.

I found “Prop 8: The Musical” on Kanye West’s blog. He posts photos and videos and some articles of things he likes and that peak his interest in just about all areas, from fashion to architecture to political satire things like Prop 8: The Musical.
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'Bama what?

If there is one thing that Jim Jones ("Ballin'" not Mass-Murderin') is good for, it's coining a catchy phrase or ad lib and repeating it ad nauseam, until eventually the fad dies (concurrently, interestingly enough, with the increase in its use in the 40+ demo). For reference, please see "Ballin'!" or "What else?!" or "Twinkle Twinkle!" or "Flossin'!". In my opinion, Jim Jones is the best ad lib architect since Young Jeezy ("yeeeeaaaahhhhhh"), Jadakiss ("aha!"), Baby ("(pigeon sound)") and, of course, Mad Libs.


Jones's newest endeavor is an off-off-off Broadway play in which he almost gets murdered in a dice game. It's real out there in the streets, supposedly. Writer Toure sat down with the man for The Daily Beast and something very strange took place. Ready?

Jim Jones is not longer going to use the n-word in any of his songs. Kudos, Jimmy.

What is he going to do to fill the void? Replace it with Obama.

Check the article out and tell me what you think. Personally, I think Jim Jones sit in a corner and think about what he's saying. Fifteen minutes Jimmy! And no dessert! And no BAWLIN'!

heh.
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Culture of the Week: Q-Tip

breathe and stop.

Hey guys. I'm back from my trip and here with the culture of the week. This is my "weekly" installment of things that I like that I think you should at least give a chance. Like Obama, for example. We all see how that one worked out :)

Anyway, I just got Q-Tip's new album The Renaissance. I hope you remember Q-Tip from the 90s hip-hop establishment A Tribe Called Quest, and from his solo endeavors "Breathe and Stop" and "Vivrant Thing". I just had a very deep spell of listening to Midnight Marauders on repeat, and I wanted to see what his new stuff was like. One of my friends once told me that Q-Tip's voice meshed so well with hip-hop instrumentals because it was like an instrument itself. The way his sing-song nasal tone flows over the tracks is really soothing, and definitely one of the best combinations to vibe to.

The difference between Tip and other rappers is that he sticks to the fundamentals of music; he succeeds at telling a story (no matter how ridiculous), and doesn't get caught up in anything else. That's what I liked about that era of hip hop, and that's why I've always respected rappers like Q-Tip. Check out this clip and buy the album if you like it. I did. And I liked Obama, if that's any sense of my judgment.

boom bip, bip-boom bip.

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First Links!

This is just the beginning.

This article is about the "emerging" homelessness crisis in the US. My take: duh. People have been too preoccupied with other issues (like BO "palling around with terrorists") to care about stuff like this. As this economic crisis gets worse and worse, I think you will start seeing more articles like this, and many more statistics. Get the comments going.

Issue two.

What do you think? Will rappers cost Obama the election?

Shouts to my cousin.

She's smart, and writes about pop culture. Everyone's guilty pleasure. Read more!