More Than ‘Money, Cash, Hoes’

Rap music gets a bad rap these days.:) Some of it is because of poorly constructed puns like that last sentence in the music, but it is more likely due, in large part, to the perceived “thug” or “gangsta” image. I’m not even going to attempt going into the social causes or origins of that. All I’m going to say is that image is something that repulses many from the entire genre. It is one that often portrays women in a degrading manner, can glorify violence, and has a very self-righteous, arrogant attitude on top of it.

And it’s unfortunate this surface image is what keeps some very good music out of the minds of many people. Truly good hip-hop can be deeply expressive, socially insightful, and enlightening as well as entertaining.

There is a poetic, immediate quality to the music where the cadence and rhythm of language and words are paired with the same cadence and rhythm of music. In many ways, hip-hop appeals to me a lot strictly because of the way it can utilize and explore language through music in a way that can’t be done elsewhere. Sure, there can be some great lyrics in rock or any other type of music but your focus isn’t on them. It’s much easier to enjoy a rock song for the melody without even paying attention to the lyrics. Only in (true) hip-hop are the lyrics front and center — a song is built around the lyrics.

And skilled, talented rappers can create some of the most musically powerful and poignant stuff through that structure. Now I’ll give some examples of what I believe is some quality hip-hop. These aren’t necessarily classic, “important,” or “essential” tracks. I’m not an expert by any means, but I do enjoy what I find, and these are just a few songs that prove hip-hop isn’t all about, in the words of Jay-Z, “money, cash, hoes”:

Common – “The Light”:

It’s important we communicate
and tune the fate of this union to the right pitch
I never call you “my bitch” or even “my boo”
There’s so much in a name and so much more in you

Blackalicious – “If I May”:

You got a purpose you was born to create
Destiny is waitin’ for you
Arms open, take with ya
Knowledge bestowed by the great giver
Lakes, rivers
Mountains and steams
Now reality’s the dream wraitha
No more searchin’ for truth that was always wit’ cha
It had to hit ya through the struggle and the turmoil

Talib Kweli – “Beautiful Struggle”:

Everybody pass away, the pastor pray, the family mournin’
Everybody act accordin’ to the season that they born in
You fight in the streets, start bleedin’ ’til the blood is pourin’
In the gutter, mothers cry to the Lord, be livin’ by the sword and
All that folks want is safety, they goin’ gun crazy
The same reason Reagan was playin’ war games in the ’80s
The same reason I’ve always rocked dog chains on my babies
The struggle is beautiful, I’m too strong for your slavery

Kanye West – “All Falls Down” (Kanye makes a bunch of hits, but he can also have substance when he wants to):

It seems we living the American Dream
But the people highest up got the lowest self esteem
The prettiest people do the ugliest things
For the road to riches and diamond rings
We shine because they hate us, floss cause they degrade us
We trying to buy back our 40 acres
And for that paper, look how low we a’stoop
Even if you in a Benz, you still a nigga in a coop/coupe

Jurassic 5 – “Freedom”:

Yo, Seldom traveled by the multitude
The devil’s gavel has a cup of food
My culture’s screwed cause this world is misconstrued
Small countries exempt from food ’cause leaders have different views
You choose

Plan B – “Missing Links (ft. Radiohead)”:

It’s ironic don’t you think, that five years back the same cats who are now on crack
Didn’t even used to drink, now they’re the missing links,
In a world of wasted talent.
They could have been great, now they’re just making up the balance.
Musicians, artists, writers, authors,
Gymnasts, athletes, footballers.
Bare peeps I used to know
Who could have turned pro,
Now the only game they play is the one on row.

Black Star (Mos Def and Talib Kweli) – “Thieves in the Night”:

Not strong, only aggressive, cause the power ain’t directed
That’s why we are subjected to the will of the oppressive
Not free, we only licensed
Not alive, we just excitin’
’cause the captors.. own the masters.. to what we writin’
Not compassionate, only polite, we well trained
Our sincerity’s rehearsed in stage, it’s just a game
Not good, but well behaved cause the ca-me-ra survey
most of the things that we think, do, or say

Lupe Fiasco – “Hurt Me Soul”:

Oil for food, water, and terrorist organization harborin’
Sand camouflage army men
CCF sponsorin’, world conquerin’, telephone monitorin’
Louis Vuitton modelin’, pornographic actress honorin’
String theory ponderin’, bulimic vomitin’
Catholic priest fondlin’, pre-emptive bombin’ and Osama and no bombin’ them
They breakin’ in my car again, deforestation and overloggin’ and
Hennessy and Hypnotic swallowin’, hydroponic coughin’ and
All the world’s ills, sittin’ on chrome 24-inch wheels, like that

Hi-Tek – “Keep It Moving”:

You never know, rain, sleet, hail, snow
See you gotta accept that’s how things go
Prepare for the rainy day or the sun’s glow
But there’s clouds movin in and the cloud’s gonna blow
But this too shall pass, hold on to your dreams