HIP-HOP ARCHITECTURE

i have been listening I’ve been listening to hip-hop for years, especially the older lyrical rap. Those speak a lot to me. The raw emotion within each rhyme and the story telling which explains the struggles and successes of each artist help me relate to their ups and downs. I tried to understand why is hip-hop so relatable and came across an interview by TI where he says “Hip-hop traditionally has always been a reflection of the environment that the artist had to endure before he made it to where he was. So, if you want to change the content of the music, change the environment of the artist and he won't have such negative things to say.”

From its birth in the Bronx to its current status as a worldwide cultural movement, hip-hop has never lost its street-level sensibility. Rap songs are a means for rappers and lyricists trade in the currency of credibility, constantly dropping the names of street corners, city neighborhoods, even specific buildings and housing projects to connect listeners with the urban environment. Hip-hop is a critique of the environments that birth culture. It’s a reflection of the living conditions of multiple narratives which show the how urban realities and social discrepancies. It’s a direct critique to the housing policy and the mass produced vertical ghettos created in the name of modernism.

For example, Run DMC in his song ‘You’re blind’ highlighting the effects and problems of capitalism and a poor planning policy.

“Tenement buildings, and skyscrapers

Are polluted and often invaded
With troubled hearts, and weakened minds
Living their lives and hoping to find
The golden key, to prosperity”

Or NWA’s song ‘Boyz-n-the hood’ highlighting street culture within the gangs of Compton.

“Cruisin' down the street in my 6-fo'
Jackin' the bitches, slappin' the ho's
Went to the park to get the scoop
Knuckle-heads out there cold shootin' some hoo's
A car pulls up, who can it be?
A fresh el-camino rolly kilo g
He rolls down his window and he started to say
It's all about makin' that gta”

These vertical ghettos have found a to establish roots all over the world - Brazil, Mumbai, Hong Kong and any city where high densities are an issue. Where these vertical ghettos built as low income housing help create varying environments which aren’t always the best but they thrive in creating cultures.