Consequence…

Two things have been consistent in Hip-Hop nearly since its inception, change and controversy. Hip-Hop has been credited to be on of the most innovative truly American art forms since Jazz due to the word play, use of the old infused with the experiences to create a sound and aesthetic that has never been scene previously. This creativity has and does change as to what the artist has to say. In other words Hip-Hop has been an art form that does not have any specific form. Due to this lack of uniformity there has also been controversy, artists have been accused of exploiting urban plight for personal gain, misogyny, promoting gang violence, and most recently somehow linked to the Don Imus “nappy headed hoes” comment. In the media there seems to be a link, no matter how casual, that the word choices and the imagery seen and heard in Hip-Hop are just as destructive as what Don Imus said. This brings up a bigger issue, since Hip-Hop is one of the most profitable worldwide industries with an undeniable Black male face, are the images and words said by these Black male faces now defining for not only Black male but the world the idea of what Black male masculinity is about?

While getting ready for the Brooklyn Hip-Hop festival Consequence whose debut project on the Good Music label “Don’t Quit your Day job”. I had the opportunity to pose this question and others to him. Consequence was hesitant, after explaining to him the rationale that for many Hip-Hop is there only persistent exposure to African-American males, and then he had a lot to say on the subject. Consequence disagreed that images and notions of Black male masculinity should be taken from Hip-Hop because Hip-Hop artists are fundamentally artists, “whoever chooses to express themselves from their experiences due to the environment that they came up in. At the end of the day you should take an entertainer of how a group of male should actually behave.”

Consequence goes further to explain that what the images pervasive in videos that would show a world where women are objectified, and Black males interested in little but consumer products and the process of acquisition, “TV is an abnormal experience as to how people interact with each other. Its not representative of how people actually behave, if you really want to see how Black Masculinity come to the Brooklyn Hip-Hop festival you will see Black men playing with their children and walking with their families.” The club and the household are two different experiences for everyone, and mainly the images that are pervasive in Hip-Hop now take place in the club and show that side of life. Consequence went on to give his take on Black male masculinity, when I think of masculinity I think of a man in a household, when you get into not seeing home life when you see Black Masculinity. People take TV and do not think in-depth, that’s why you have situations like Don Imus.”

What the Don Imus controversy has done has put the media spotlight on Hip-Hop again asking is Hip-Hop to blame for the use of demeaning terminology. This thinking and casual relationship falsely assumes that most rappers are demeaning and use demeaning language, while there are many who do there is a significant number of artists who chose not to do so. Consequence who has a DVD coming out “No Matter what the Consequence is” and a mixtape coming out Memorial Day weekend, is one of the artists who chooses not to do so. What many critics of Hip-Hop fail to realize is that Hip-Hop is multi faceted and a reflection of the artist not of all artists, artists like Consequence provides a different perspective than what is currently thought that all or most hip-Hop artists promote.

For more information on Consequence go to his myspace page www.myspace.com/cons his solo debut “Don’t Quit your Day Job” is in stores now.