From Gucci Gucci to the Thrift Shop: white rappers & black culture
I was in the car this morning running some errands when (unsurprisingly) Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” came on the radio. Stuck in a bit of traffic, I actually listened to the lyrics this time. It had always been obvious to me…
Neoliberalism and Contemporary Pop Music: An Overview
I’ve been thinking and writing a lot about the logic of biopolitical neoliberalism as it manifests in contemporary pop music (and a little bit in 20th c avant-garde art music). In the same way that classical liberalism and tonal harmony…
Crunk Feminist Revlections on generations of female rappers
I encourage you to read crunkista’s post on Crunk Feminist Collective. It raises some important considerations/issues/questions in discussions about different generations–and competition among different generations–of female rappers. http://crunkfeministcollective.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/lil-kim-vs-nicki-minaj/ Most interesting–and important, IMHO–is crunkista’s claim that the underlying issue here is…
My first TV interview!(??!!)
So, the local cable news channel interviewed me today about the idea that listening to violent music can cause someone to murder cops: http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/630138/trial-brings-up-debate-over-music-s-influence-on-behavior The short version is: The idea that “the gangsta rap made me do it” rests on…
Taking women seriously as artists
So, it is often the case that women’s accomplishments (in art, research, business, politics, whatever) are often overlooked for, read in terms of, seen as dependent on, or otherwise secondary to their appearance. Adrian Piper has commented on the tendency…
Pac, Perry, and Jacques: California (Love/Gurls) and a bit of Ranciere
Apart from their titular references to California, Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg’s “California Gurls” and Dre and TuPac’s “California Love” might appear to have little at all in common. However, the compositional genius of the Perry/Snoop track is that it…
Liquid Liquid Live on Jimmy Fallon (ZOMGWTF!!!)
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2010/04/watch_liquid_li.php Liquid Liquid, with the Roots, play “Cavern” (i.e., the sample in Gradmaster Flash’s “White Lines”) on Jimmy Fallon’s show. Adding to the general awesomeness of mutant disco on national TV is the fact that LL’s lead singer has a…
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