APATURE!

Space 180. Where Apature was being held.


Speakers of the Workshop

Some of the sweet art work

Define Asian American Hip-Hop. Define American. Define Hip-Hop. Before I went to this workshop I never thought to question what is Asian American Hip-Hop, more so, what it takes to be American and what is Hip-Hop. What the speakers did was break down the words into categories : Asian ,American ,and Hip-Hop. So first he wrote down Asian. When everyone was asked what we thought when we heard Asian, the first things that we’re shouted out were things location wise. What countries where considered Asian and who determined the countries boundaries. Next was the thought of American, what does it mean to be American? What was most shouted out was the things that people had to do to become American. For instance getting a green card, marrying a citizen, being native born, or just leaving here for five years; which is approximately enough to acquire American culture. Then last, what is Hip-Hop. Music, Art, Lyrics, Youth, Rap were shouted out. Then the speaker asked us to question Hip-Hop versus Rap. Everyone was a bit stumped on how to answer. Then he played a sample of an artist, of what some people consider is rap and others think as Hip-Hop, M.I.A. - Paper Planes and another one of her songs - Bamboo Banga ( where she raps more). After we listened to two of M.I.A.’s songs, most of us thought, no… she is no where near Hip-Hop. To me she did sound more electronica/alternative genre. Although her song Paper Planes is played throughout our Bay Area’s Rap and Hip-Hop stations, like106 KMEL and WILD949. The speaker also mentioned that she is featured on some of our mainstream artist’s songs like Jay-Z and Kanye West. Is she considered Hip-Hop now? I still do not think so.

Hip-Hop, to me is derived from urban, middle class city life. Hip-Hop, lingo wise, is from the struggle and accomplishments of the people in the city, whether it be the living situations, politically, socially, or love. Music wise, its followed by beats of bass and rhythm, that I think are usually andante to moderato ( not too slow and moderate tempo), although definitely music that people can bob there head to and even dance too. Break-dancing is another fundamental for Hip-Hop. Also the Fashion of Hip-Hop, which I think are usually low earthly toned colors like brown, yellow, green. I am not sure how to describe what colors I’m trying to think about but urban fashion to me is not really anything that has intense bright colors. I can agree with what the people in the workshop were saying about what it means to be American. I can see how people do not see another as being American unless they have assimilated to society, in the means of also becoming an official citizen. It was also brought up in the workshop how Americans who are not of European background, but are citizens would not consider or name themselves American. For instance, this young lady at the workshop was saying how when her mom would talk about Caucasian folks she would refer to them as “the Americans” , and then the lady would say “but aren’t we Americans too why are you saying that?”. I am not sure if her mother was born here but I can agree with that because my mom says the same thing! And my mom is a native born San Franciscan. Being Asian American is something that is tough for me to define. It doesn’t mean that you have to be born in America or you married an American and in a couple of years you become a citizen or how ever that works, but I see it as if you’re an Asian decent and you live in America you are an Asian American. However because of all the racism that still exists today, its hard to think, being Asian we are Americans but it doesn’t feel like we get the same treatment as “Americans”. Having this Hip Hop culture is a way that we can express ourselves as being Asian and in living in the cities of America, that’s what I think of Asian American Hip-Hop.