If Hip Hop has the ability to corrupt young minds, it also has the ability to Uplift them.
Krs-OneRead
When my time is up in hip-hop, it's going to remain what Afrika Bambaataa thought it was supposed to be. It's going to remain what Kool Herc thought it was supposed to be; what Wu-Tang Clan sees it as; what Outkast sees it as; what Snoop Dogg sees it as. People are trying to forget that brand of hip-hop.
Interpretation
KRS-One emphasizes the importance of preserving the original values and essence of hip-hop culture.
In this quote, KRS-One reflects on the significance of maintaining the true spirit of hip-hop as envisioned by its pioneers, such as Afrika Bambaataa and Kool Herc. He highlights the challenge posed by modern influences that risk overshadowing the foundational principles and diverse perspectives that iconic groups like Wu-Tang Clan and Outkast embody, urging listeners to remember and honor the genre's rich heritage.
In practice
In a speech about the evolution of music genres, this quote can highlight the importance of respecting musical roots.
If Hip Hop has the ability to corrupt young minds, it also has the ability to Uplift them.
Hip Hop is an idea. It is the pursuit of one's authentic being through the arts. It is not a physical thing; it is an attitude - even an aptitude.
Hate is indeed self-destructive, and this is what real Hip Hop must avoid at all cost.
I honestly now know that I'm the physical embodiment of hip-hop on earth. That's my only purpose here on earth is to keep the culture together long enough for it to remain everything that we thought it could be when I was coming up.
I think one of the great things about being a musician is that you never stop learning.
There's something beautifully friendly and elevating about a bunch of guys playing music together. This wonderful little world that is unassailable. It's really teamwork, one guy supporting the others, and it's all for one purpose, and there's no flies in the ointment, for a while. And nobody conducting, it's all up to you. It's really jazz__that's the big secret. Rock and roll ain't nothing but jazz with a hard backbeat.
Jazz is about being in the moment.
There's a reason why the Foo Fighters don't blast out Nirvana songs every night: because we have a lot of respect for them. You know, that's hallowed ground. We have to be careful. We have to tread lightly. We have talked about it before, but the opportunity hasn't really come up, or it just hasn't felt right.
My older sister encouraged me from early on and bought me one of the first guitars I had. She listened to all of the crappy songs that I wrote when I was 8 years old and encouraged me to keep doing it.
I'm going to be singing Dreams and Rhiannon when I'm 75 - and that's just fine with me. I just hope my chiffon doesn't get tangled in my rocking chair.
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