As part of the series of Manning Marable Conferences organized last week by the Institute for research in African American studies of Columbia (IRAAS), a panel on the Global Hip Hop culture was held on Thursday April 26 at the Shomberg Center.
Panelists included New York Grafiti artist, George Morillo; Harlem rapper and activist,Immortal; pittsburg rapper, Jasiri X; Invisible rapper from Detroit; and Sujatha Fernandes, an Associate professor of Sociology at Queens College as moderator. The group discussed the evolution of Hip Hop and how it has contributed (past and present) in global social changes.
George Morillo defines Hip Hop as “a way for people to raise the issues that they are facing By doing so, Hip hop creates a link with people world-wide who go through the same problems.”
“The difference between a slave and a free man, is the fact that a slave is afraid to ask questions and to speak up for his rights, and a free man is not,” Said Immortal X to describe the role of Hip Hop.
“Hip Hop is the culture that enables people who suffer to ask questions about things that impact them.”
Panelists explained that the use of new technologies is also playing a key role in the social changes that hip Hop evokes. “Technology binds communities together not only to have fun but also to speak of issues. It has enabled people to identify themselves to a struggle that is happening in another place in the world. That is the reason why the social changes that come with Hip Hop are now global,” said Jasiri X
While demonstrating that Hip Hop is not only a cultural movement but also a real tool for activists to express themselves, panelists also denounced its monopolization by corporations.
“What we are using as a way to dialogue with each other and to speak up for our communities is now used by the corporations as a business,” said Immortal Technique.
But Georges Morillo explained that there are still some artist who resists to corporation and “use their art to fix what is wrong and to continue the legacy of those who have given their lives for the Hip Hop Culture.”
