The Official "Ask A Brotha" Thread

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

Deal. But it gets closed March 1st.

At least we get an extra day this year.

 

[BizarroAids]

Deal. But it gets closed March 1st.

What?
Why would you do something stupid like that?

 

[knowsbleed]

My brotha... I hate it when black women won't let me touch their hair. The end.

 

[terry78]

Well, you're not supposed to be down there in the first place.

 

[knowsbleed]

My brotha... I'm down there because she said you didn't want to go there.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

What?
Why would you do something stupid like that?

Because it's in honor of black history month!

 

[BizarroAids]

Because it's in honor of black history month!

Ohhh...so I guess black people can't be honored after March 1st?

 

[The Original Bamfer]

Ohhh...so I guess black people can't be honored after March 1st?

Dude, you're putting words in my mouth when "black history month" in the first post came out of your mouth. Or fingers...

 

[Patty]

Dear Brotha,

How come no matter what city you're in, MLK street/Blvd/drive is always so F**KED UP with crime? He was a peaceful man.

Your Friend
(And mine),
Patty C. in the place to be

 

[BizarroAids]

Dude, you're putting words in my mouth when "black history month" in the first post came out of your mouth. Or fingers...

I said, "with black history month coming up." I didn't say, "hey this is for black history month only and we should close this thread after. This thread could very well carry on, its not hurting anyone.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

I said, "with black history month coming up." I didn't say, "hey this is for black history month only and we should close this thread after. This thread could very well carry on, its not hurting anyone.

Oi, you're not so good at sensing the humor.

 

[BizarroAids]

Oi, you're not so good at sensing the humor.

Nice cover up sir.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

No cover up, anyone who knows me knows I wasn't serious. Ask a brotha how to relax.

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

Dear Brotha,

How come no matter what city you're in, MLK street/Blvd/drive is always so F**KED UP with crime? He was a peaceful man.

Your Friend
(And mine),
Patty C. in the place to be

It's "The Man" trying to keep us down!

 

[Nave 'Torment']

Dear Brotha,

I'm always confused by the blatant imitation of hip-hop music around the world. Now, I understand that since it's such a big genre in music today, it is surely to be imitated elsewhere as well. But when the genre is found in Bangladesh, with South-Asian kids pretending to be black (not just because of the music genre, but in terms of attitude as well) I get this idea that the whole "You're Cool if You're White" thing that pervades in post-colonial countries is being reshaped into "You're Cool if You're Black" and that it's still as racist as the first. I understand it in the United States, where the culture does exist, but that isn't so in Bangladesh, where these kids are soaking it up as just another influence of WESTERN culture instead of African Culture. What's the deal with that?

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

Dear Brotha,

I'm always confused by the blatant imitation of hip-hop music around the world. Now, I understand that since it's such a big genre in music today, it is surely to be imitated elsewhere as well. But when the genre is found in Bangladesh, with South-Asian kids pretending to be black (not just because of the music genre, but in terms of attitude as well) I get this idea that the whole "You're Cool if You're White" thing that pervades in post-colonial countries is being reshaped into "You're Cool if You're Black" and that it's still as racist as the first. I understand it in the United States, where the culture does exist, but that isn't so in Bangladesh, where these kids are soaking it up as just another influence of WESTERN culture instead of African Culture. What's the deal with that?

In this case I just think it's a fad that will fizzle out soon. Not in the US of course but in other countries around the world. In the US it's so much apart of the culture. In different countries it's just more of what's cool at the moment. IMO

 

[roach]

I don't think its a fad. I have travelled all over this world and found hip-hop all over it...the weirdest to me was the russian rappers.
I think this is a case of lets do like the Americans

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

I don't think its a fad. I have travelled all over this world and found hip-hop all over it...the weirdest to me was the russian rappers.
I think this is a case of lets do like the Americans

I pity russian rappers!

 

[terry78]

Basically rap has become a staple of American culture as apple pie and baseball, regardless of how much some may feel the opposite. How many non-hip hop types have you seen attempting to or attempting to integrate it into something that should have no business dealing with it?

 

[Pythenis]

I have 3 questions....

According to science and multiple religious believe systems man originated in north africa, wouldn't his make all humans of African decent and we can claim it as such?

Also I have never met or seen a truely "black" person or "White" person for that fact, shouldn't society including "black" people stop perpetuating this mentality already it's 2012 also your'e varied shades of brown for petes sake, even my 2 year old knows your not "black" the same he knows he's not "white".

To follow up on number 1 and 2 as a "black" man have you ever contemplated these questions or wanted this mentality chaged?

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

I have 3 questions....

According to science and multiple religious believe systems man originated in north africa, wouldn't his make all humans of African decent and we can claim it as such?

Also I have never met or seen a truely "black" person or "White" person for that fact, shouldn't society including "black" people stop perpetuating this mentality already it's 2012 also your'e varied shades of brown for petes sake, even my 2 year old knows your not "black" the same he knows he's not "white".

To follow up on number 1 and 2 as a "black" man have you ever contemplated these questions or wanted this mentality chaged?

1. This is true. And many have been saying this for years. That all like started in Africa. So embrace it! ALL OF YOU!!

2. In a perfect world this would change. In this crappy one we live in now, unfortunately it will never happen.

3. I have and I think my answer for #2 answers this question as well.

 

[chamber-music]

Basically rap has become a staple of American culture as apple pie and baseball, regardless of how much some may feel the opposite. How many non-hip hop types have you seen attempting to or attempting to integrate it into something that should have no business dealing with it?

As a non-American Terry is right.

Its nothing to do with pretending to be black people. People just like the music/culture in the way some people like Jazz, Blues, Country or Rockabilly even though those genres don't originate in their home countries.

I listen to some foreign rap and evey country has their own spin on it and own slang and references.

French rap is influnced by north african music, UK rap is influenced by club music, Japanese rap is influenced by more old school golden era American rap than the modern gangsta rap style. Nigerian rap can be more political than western rap.

I see Hip Hop/Rap culture a plus and a negative.

On the one hand different artistic cultures helps breakdown racial barriers. RnB, Blues, Soul and things like Motown of Micheal Jackson are loved the world over and the fact young white kids grew up listening to, being fans of and in some cases idolising black musicans helped bring the races together and fight racism.

The negative aspect I think is that Rap/Hip Hop has been so dominant of black culture and so global thats its become all some people see as black people and black culture in general. They think how rappers act/portrayed in particular gangster rappers is how all black people act. Its become all in compassing. The misconceptions I'm not sure exist because people are just willfully ignorant or because the negative sterotype is useful to control and hold black people back.

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

As a non-American Terry is right.

Its nothing to do with pretending to be black people. People just like the music/culture in the way some people like Jazz, Blues, Country or Rockabilly even though those genres don't originate in their home countries.

I listen to some foreign rap and evey country has their own spin on it and own slang and references.

French rap is influnced by north african music, UK rap is influenced by club music, Japanese rap is influenced by more old school golden era American rap than the modern gangsta rap style. Nigerian rap can be more political than western rap.

I see Hip Hop/Rap culture a plus and a negative.

On the one hand different artistic cultures helps breakdown racial barriers. RnB, Blues, Soul and things like Motown of Micheal Jackson are loved the world over and the fact young white kids grew up listening to, being fans of and in some cases idolising black musicans helped bring the races together and fight racism.

The negative aspect I think is that Rap/Hip Hop has been so dominant of black culture and so global thats its become all some people see as black people and black culture in general. They think how rappers act/portrayed in particular gangster rappers is how all black people act. Its become all in compassing. The misconceptions I'm not sure exist because people are just willfully ignorant or because the negative sterotype is useful to control and hold black people back.

This

 

[Nave 'Torment']

I don't think its a fad. I have travelled all over this world and found hip-hop all over it...the weirdest to me was the russian rappers.
I think this is a case of lets do like the Americans

I pity russian rappers!

I've done a fair bit of traveling as well, and the most zany one were the Saudi Arabian-Rappers. They do exist. in fact, i'll stress, the youth of Saudi Arabia (at least the part I hung out in) indulged ONLY on the hip-hop/rap angle when it came to embracing foreign cultures.

In Dhaka (Bangladesh) at the moment, most teens (and I'm glad I don't have to fall there again) are extremely divided to a violent level between "rappers" and "metal-heads", both groups bearing very little idea of their respective cultural identities. I understand and do look with pleasure when these groups try to integrate their favourite elements of the genre into their own music, but as the vast majority goes, most of it is sheer idolizing and dismissive of the word 'culture' when it comes to 'music'. To that end, yes, at least over here, it's less to do with appreciating multi-cultural aspects, and simply doing, as it's aptly said here: "do as the Americans do".

As a non-American Terry is right.

Its nothing to do with pretending to be black people. People just like the music/culture in the way some people like Jazz, Blues, Country or Rockabilly even though those genres don't originate in their home countries.

I listen to some foreign rap and evey country has their own spin on it and own slang and references.

French rap is influnced by north african music, UK rap is influenced by club music, Japanese rap is influenced by more old school golden era American rap than the modern gangsta rap style. Nigerian rap can be more political than western rap.

I see Hip Hop/Rap culture a plus and a negative.

On the one hand different artistic cultures helps breakdown racial barriers. RnB, Blues, Soul and things like Motown of Micheal Jackson are loved the world over and the fact young white kids grew up listening to, being fans of and in some cases idolising black musicans helped bring the races together and fight racism.

The negative aspect I think is that Rap/Hip Hop has been so dominant of black culture and so global thats its become all some people see as black people and black culture in general. They think how rappers act/portrayed in particular gangster rappers is how all black people act. Its become all in compassing. The misconceptions I'm not sure exist because people are just willfully ignorant or because the negative sterotype is useful to control and hold black people back.

Exactly! The entire impression goes back to the gangster-stereotype, a bit like how all RockNRoll and Heavy Metal enthusiasts are immediately labeled as junkies or white supremacists, what's worse is that misguided youths (even when they grow the hell up) perpetuate those stereotypes for the sheer glory of it. You don't see things like Blue and jazz, and while it may be because rap is really more popular now, I'm starting to wonder if that (or any other Western-influenced genre) has anything remotely to do with appreciating cultural variety; wondering if it's anything other than the effects of a dominant cultural flux? Nevertheless, it's there. And yes, variations such as the ones you've mentioned do justify them, but I hope it's more than simply embracing that which is exotic for the sake of exoticism. That's being untrue to your influences, isn't it?

 

[RockSP]

Dear Brotha,

I'm always confused by the blatant imitation of hip-hop music around the world. Now, I understand that since it's such a big genre in music today, it is surely to be imitated elsewhere as well. But when the genre is found in Bangladesh, with South-Asian kids pretending to be black (not just because of the music genre, but in terms of attitude as well) I get this idea that the whole "You're Cool if You're White" thing that pervades in post-colonial countries is being reshaped into "You're Cool if You're Black" and that it's still as racist as the first. I understand it in the United States, where the culture does exist, but that isn't so in Bangladesh, where these kids are soaking it up as just another influence of WESTERN culture instead of African Culture. What's the deal with that?

Not quite sure what you meant here. You think hip-hop is African culture?