During this time of hip hop in the late 80s/ early 90s hip hop was at one of its most balanced points in its history. Many MCs during that time were able to talk about a range of different topics and still keep the crowd moving. The posse track was developed around this time. This is where one would get a range of different MCs together on a song. For example De La Soul’s “Buddy”, Marley Marl’s “The Symphony”, and Jermaine Dupri’s “Welcome to Atlanta Remix” would be a perfect examples of the a posse track.
During this time the crack epidemic had hit urban communities with ferocity. The problem of gangs and drug dealing was intensified by the introduction of crack to urban communities. Families were being torn apart by addictions to crack cocaine and the territorial pursuits of those trafficking the product. The violence across the country was getting out of hand from New York to Chicago to L.A to Washington D.C. to New Orleans people were living in the middle of turf wars that would rival Beirut.
In 1989 KRS-One‘s crew Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy were having a concert and someone was killed in a fight. Between this incident and the murder of fellow BDP member Scott La Rock KRS-One felt he had to do something about it. He got together a collection of some of the best East Coast Hip-Hop artists at the time and produced the classic track “Self-Destruction”. The track featured Boogie Down Productions, Stetsasonic, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Just Ice, Heavy D, and Public Enemy with all the proceeds going to the National Urban League. The song and music video stayed in heavy rotation and showed that hip hop could come together and make great music with a message for a worthy cause.
The West Coast during the beginning of hip hop was viewed in more of TV viewpoint. People looked at the West coast as beaches, movie stars, Hollywood, and fun. It wasn’t until movies such as Colors and Boyz N the Hood and artists such as NWA, Ice Cube, and Ice-T that people started to see that the West Coast wasn’t about all about the glamorous life and fun in the sun but a place where the gang problem and crack epidemic were big concerns. The West Coast particularly the Los Angeles area had (and still has somewhat) a very bad gang problem. The Crips and Bloods ravaged much of Southern and some parts of Northern California. These gangs in the 
pursuit of dominating drug territory were not only killing rival gang members but the innocent people of the community as well. In response to this a large collection of West Coast artists came together to make the classic “We All in the Same Gang”. Produced by the Dr. Dre the song featured King Tee, Body & Soul, Def Jef, Michel’le, Tone-Loc, Above the Law, Ice-T, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, Eazy-E, JJ Fad, Young MC, Digital Underground, Oaktown 357, and MC Hammer.
These two songs and videos showed unity among hip hop artists from both coasts. They took out time to speak to their fans and audiences through their music. We would rush home wanting to see these music videos on Rap City and Yo! MTV Raps just like it was like any of our favorite hip hop videos. Will we get a positive posse track anytime now from today’s current artists? There have been a few attempts since these two songs to recreate that feeling but not with much fan fare or promotion behind it.
Has Hip hop out grown its ability to have some form of consciousness and balance?
This is one of the many deep questions that hip hop has to answer as it continues to mature and evolve. Can artists all come together for a track to speak to the youth that they influence through their music? Or has hip hop totally sold out to capitalism and consumerism to its highest degree? Or do the people who consume the music not even have an interest in hearing anything on the positive tip? If people were looking for artists to be more balanced or conscious in their music wouldn’t they be? Damn its one of those deep philosophical questions like which one came first the chicken or the egg? But, in this case the money or the people…
What do you think about the Hip Hop Positive Song? Do You Think Hip Hop is due for another one?
Related articles
- Dear Hip Hop,…Will You Speak Out for Trayvon? (ashy2classy.net)
- Damn Biggie, Who Shot Ya?? (ashy2classy.net)
- On Eazy E And Hip-Hop’s Masculinity (dayandadream.com)
- Hip Hop Influence Through the Years (altavozdistroco.com)
- 6 Reasons Why I Think Drake Is The Best Rapper In The Game (Right Now) (brotherswithnogame.com)
Do you really think these rappers give two shits about the community they proliferate with their music?? I don’t think they really even care to explore what you are proposing and showing the history of….
I would hope they would to save some face. It has to be someone out there who can step to the challenge. As consumers and listeners, we can ask the the same question- do we really want to hear something positive?
Good post!
I agree, Drew! It seems to me if there was a great demand for positivity in the art form, then more artists would be rushing to produce more positive art.
You are right!! Just like I said the thing is do us as a people even want a positive posse track and some balance in hip hop? Or are we cool with the same ole thing we are getting now?
Hip hop in those days had a sense of community, they cared about their people and the streets they grew up in moreso than trying to make a dollar. Even if there were a posse cut made it would ring hollow because of the knuckleheads on the other end of the microphone…and, if there were a meaningful posse cut made it wouldn’t get any rotation because the audience is so dumbed down at this point. Remember, it was just 2005 that BET execs said that Little Brother was “too intelligent” for BET’s audience so they wouldn’t play it. So imagine that same audience if you give them a posse cut with eMCees like Common, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, Phontae, and Black Thought…their heads would likely explode.
You took it back with this post! At thise time artists felt it was there duty to make a stand as well. All we want to talk about now is how much black men aint shit, bitches, money, cars, and skinny jeans!!
Very good post! These artists are simply creating products that are market-driven. When the dominant market begins to demand that they produce more positive things, then they will follow the market fundamentals. Consumers must rise up and demand more positive art if that’s what they want. In a capitalist system, artists will continue to produce what the market wants because the profit-motive drives them to do this. Content, art, and message in the for-profit industry are heavily depended on what can sell, unfortunately.
Great post!! I didn’t know much about these songs but they seemed to have the hip hop artists all together a lot more! Very informative post!!
I’m with you hip hop will never take the steps to do things like the people in the 6os did. I hate to see people say that some of thise hip hop artists are political leaders
This is a great post, and for many this historical background is new information. As far as consumers wanting some more positive rap – unfortunately negativity feeds on itself. The masses and the media in general like to see, hear and report on brothers tearing each other and our sisters down. They know that those records will sell so those are the ones promoted, and ultimately too many of those are made. Its unfortunate because we so desperately need more positive and/or political rap to balance our 21st century hip hop experience. Until we find a way to fix the media machine we will continue to hear way too much negative, misogynistic crap on the airwaves.
Again great post and keep em coming!
I think there could be another positive posse cut in hip hop. I guess the problem with me is would I want to hear it? Me personally probably not. Only because it will most likely feature all of the popular radio artists whose music usually spews the same violence and crap that they’d be speaking against. I could see the line up now. Lil’ Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Etc. Definitely not something I’d wanna hear. But it could happen if someone influential makes it happen. Like a Russell Simmons or someone.
On a side note I heard a positive posse cut that had all Chicago Artists speaking about the violence in Chicago last year. It was pretty good.
Good Post fam.
What’s the name of the track you are talking about?
I’ll try to find the link some where and get it to you. I saw it posted on someone’s facebook last year and listened, but didn’t take note of the name of the song.
Pingback: Dear Hip Hop,…Will You Speak Out for Trayvon? « From Ashy to Classy·