Marcyliena Morgan author of Real Hiphop: Battling for Knowledge, Power,
and Respect in the LA Underground (2009, p. 24) comments, “intense scrutiny
reveals that much of Los Angeles is literally a front – life as we imagine it
without substance and depth.”
While there are many
representations of LA and even more misrepresentations, hiphop and its
mainstream emergence in the 1990s carved a path to express the real LA for many
of its citizens.
Aside from the glorification of a
city or lifestyle the music and image being represented is far more real when
analysed then it seems at face value. While songs such as California Love by 2Pac
featuring Dr Dre and El Lay by Snoop Dogg featuring Marty James evoke a certain
euphoric image of LA and California, hiphop in the 1990s depicts the real LA for many of its
communities especially those in South Central.
N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton (Please note language advisory)
This song was one of the first for N.W.A and represents where they are from and the reality of life in LA for them.
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| South Central LA - Photo: Andrew Mitchell |
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| South Central LA - Photo: Andrew Mitchell |
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| South Central LA - Photo: Andrew Mitchell |
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| South Central LA - Photo: Andrew Mitchell |
With LA being on a knifes edge in
the 1990s with the Rodney King riots, crack cocaine epidemic, gang violence
escalation, police brutality and race relations music especially hiphop played
a vital role in spreading alternative views and depicted the real image of LA
for its citizens. While it has been criticised for promoting violent activity
and drug use it began as a way for people to express their views and represent
the real in LA.
Morgan (2009, p. 3) further comments,
the group N.W.A with its founding members Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, M C Ren
and Yella provided a thorough and unforgiving description of the LA landscape
in terms of police corruption, the deterioration of families, communities and
gang activity.
N.W.A – Fuk Da Police (Please note language advisory)
This song represents what I have talked about above and is described by Morgan (above) as the unforgiving description of LA.
N.W.A was just the start for
hiphop with the lyrical genius of 2Pac and the rivalry between the West and
East coast hiphop continued to grow and become apart of both the LA and NYC
makeup. Before the escalation and battle between East and West hiphop was
confronting the big issues and representing LA as more then a town with
sunshine, pretty women and driving down sunset. It was a way to present the
views of a community and in doing so created a collective community that
included all in LA and California.
California Love – 2Pac Feat. Dr Dre (Please note language advisory)
This song represents how hiphop as a collective community represents LA and California.
Hit em up – 2Pac (Please note language advisory)
This song came out at the height of battle between the West Coast and East Coast, between 2Pac and Biggie Smalls.
While hiphop started out as a way
to express ones view, as its popularity began to emerge and money was being
made the music sees a shift from the days of representing life on the streets
to living the high life and making it. While songs such as LA here’s 2 U by Snoop Dogg
can be seen as a misrepresentation of life in LA for many African Americans and
Hispanics it is rather the completion of a circle they had always wanted and
deserved.
Morgan (2009, p. 2) comments on
this desire by stating, “to chant Westsiiiiiide! – bobbing heads and hands
(with fingers formed in the letter W) to a real and imagined beat – is not
simply a claim to a coast, but a claim to a city that myopically refers to the
West Side as the rich and the white.”
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| Santa Monica - Photo: Andrew Mitchell (the idea of the west referring to the rich) |
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| Santa Monica - Photo: Andrew Mitchell (the idea of the west referring to the rich) |
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| Santa Monica - Photo: Andrew Mitchell (the idea of the west referring to the rich) |
El Lay – Snoop Dogg Feat. Marty James (Please note language advisory)
LA here’s 2 U – Snoop Dogg (Please note language advisory)
It is also important to point out
in correlation with the significance behind “Westside” and it’s meaning is the
use of geography in hiphop, a theme that is key to understanding the myth of
LA. Specifically in California Love we hear lyrics such as “In the city of LA,
In the city of good ol Watts, In the city of Compton” and later lyrics such as “Let
my serenade the streets of LA, from Oakland to Sac-town, The Bay Area and back
down.” Geographical locations are again evident in El Lay with the whole song
referencing iconic places and locations with its chorus being “LA, Sunset
boulevard, Pacific Highway, Out to the walk of stars now you in Cali.” The
reason for the use of geography is due to the connection it creates with the
city and its people. Every area represents a different culture or different
ethnicity just like pulling a Westside represents the desire to show where your
from and where you want to be, hiphop music referencing locations represents a
collective of people that make up LA. LA would not be LA without these many
different locations and people, hence the importance and clarification of
representing every part without which would not be a proper representation of
LA. Morgan (2009, p. 2) comments on the use of geography in LAs hiphop
community by stating, when heading back to the hood the answer to the question
‘Where you from’ includes streets and neighborhoods such as: Crenshaw, Pico
Union, Koreatown, Inglewood, Carson, Compton, Venice and Watts. Morgan’s (2009,
p. 2) final comment connects how the real LA is represented through hiphop as
it creates and represents a community. Morgan (2009, p.2) comments, one cannot
ignore the cars on a Sunday evening down Crenshaw crying out as a collective
community – Westside!
Through hiphop a connection is
created and a reality of LA is represented. Hiphop for many during the 1990s
was a voice for the oppressed, unrepresented and expressed the real reality of
LA. While hiphop music has received criticism for glorifying the criminal or
gangster life it is still a true representation of LA. This idea of rap music
producing a negative influence is expressed by Travis and Bowman (2012, p. 456)
who state, “rap music specifically has garnered significant attention as a
potential influence on youth development and health outcomes.” While this view
on rap music is evident Dixon et al. (2009)
states in Travis and Bowman (2012, p. 456) research also found that exposure alone may not be significantly
influential.” While hiphop has received criticism is does not shy away from the
fact a real representation of LA is evident in the music.
Like most representations of LA a
key part of the reality is the connection to communities and geographical positioning
from streets and neighborhoods. The music and the significance behind the word Westside
represents the reality and desire to not just show where you are from but shows
the deeper reality for the want and desire to be apart of the wealthy populous.
I think it is evident hiphop does
represent the real LA for many of its citizens and is a window into many people’s
lives that make up the LA and make up the Californian population. It is through
hiphop that a part of LA is communicated to the world.
Bibliography:
-Morgan, M 2009, Real Hiphop: Battling for Knowledge, Power, and Respect in the LA
Underground, Duke University Press, United States of America.
-NEW MUSIC VIDEO: Snoop Dogg – EL LAY f.
Marty James (prod. Scoop DeVille), YouTube clip, westfesttv, 18 January 2011,
retrieved 12 January 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMVR3RRDF6Y
-N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton, YouTube
clip, Sohail7654321, 3 January 2009, retrieved 12 January 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZqZschnrxM
-NWA – Fuk Da Police, YouTube clip, ROSCOH14,
14 March 2011, retrieved 12 January 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51t1OsPSdBc
-Tha Dogg Pound & Snoop Dogg – “L.A.
Here’s 2 U” (Music Video), YouTube clip, 1 April 2013, retrieved 12 January
2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veOWPyHYRMU
-Travis, R & Bowman, S 2012, ‘Ethnic identity,
self-esteem and variability in perceptions of rap music’s empowering and risky
influences’, Journal of Youth Studies, vol.
15, no. 5, P. 456.
-2pac feat Dr.Dre – California Love HD,
YouTube clip, RedDome1995, 30 December 2010, retrieved 12 January 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wBTdfAkqGU
-2Pac – Hit ‘Em Up (Dirty) (Official Video)
HD, YouTube clip HD, seven3095, 28 March 2013, retrieved 12 January 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41qC3w3UUkU
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