And i wonder if rappers make this connection. Like you said, it’s a well-worn tale now. They get in a 360-deal, rap about pimpin, being the boss, and their sexual prowess, push their bodies to the limit on tour and in photo op lines with fans, only for someone who is doing a fraction of the work to take the majority of their money. They need a union. Hell, authors need one too. We’re in the same situation just less glamorous lol
oh no, honey. we aint been on x in years. threads is cool. i posted a photo of what she said, but i guess you can't do that in comments. i'll make a post.
This reminded me of NWA and their manager, who was Jewish, was stealing from them and the fallout resulted in the group breaking up. It's a connection worth looking deeper into, I think. It's clear Black people don't own Black music. I'm not sure we ever did. This pattern would seem to go farther back and broader than Hip Hop and Rap. I believe you alluded to it before, but it's just another face of chattle slavery.
It made me angry. I grew up listening to West Coast Hip Hop. And it's a pattern I noticed that goes further back in history with all the late-greats. I think Etta James held a pew pew to her manage's head for not paying up. There's a deep pattern of white Jewish people with money "investing" in Black businesses and skimming off the top, bottom, and sides. Let's not even get started on Hollywood. The Power Rangers are the reasons actors have a union. Oh, and the Beauty industry, too. I don't want to trail off, but this is so much bigger and deeper than Hip Hop culture alone. That's why the chattle slavery references hit so hard. That's all pimpin is at it's core after all.
No, I agree for sure for sure! It’s what makes me interested in unions and co-ops, they seem to offer the beginnings of more equitable structures for economic relations.
Aaron, your thoughtful writing and perspective never ceases to make me think critically about the topic of discussion. I thoroughly agree with you. Black capitalism, is a myth and a front to reinforce the real capitalism. It could never free our people because the notion of "capitalism" is an individualist construct within its core values and principles. Looking forward to your next piece.
Story of every American who works in this country. Wish that rappers would see that they are also victims of the lies that capitalism tells instead of perpetuating them to the next generation. System can never be fixed if niggas keep proclaiming that its not broken.
Yeah ARC, I’m messing with you on this one! Too Black had a great write up that helped me better understand the pitfalls of BC. At this point, I think the artists know what time it is. The pull of the narrative being boss or being the pimp vs. the fear/acknowledgement of being the worker is stronger than say, @Katie Mitchell’s comment of organizing a union. Beanie Sigel had a line “with no union, no benefits, no dental plan, I can’t eat off no 100 grand” so as you say it’s an open secret, every artist is getting screwed. But 1) my deal is better than the next guy (I’m not getting pimped as bad), 2) I’m still balling out, 3) I can hustle my way out of my situation which can enable 4) me to pimp out others.
Kids' corner economics: What tariffs teach us about Black capitalism
Yup. Their WHOLE system is exploitation... Not only do we hafta get off of hamster wheel & but we gotta keep getting outside of their values & way of thinking.
Thanks for reading! Yeah, I agree. You know it’s funny because most of the time people critique Black culture they say that we haven’t done a good enough job of assimilating to American values, but I think the real cultural critique is that we’ve assimilated too much into American capitalism.
And i wonder if rappers make this connection. Like you said, it’s a well-worn tale now. They get in a 360-deal, rap about pimpin, being the boss, and their sexual prowess, push their bodies to the limit on tour and in photo op lines with fans, only for someone who is doing a fraction of the work to take the majority of their money. They need a union. Hell, authors need one too. We’re in the same situation just less glamorous lol
Yeah that’s a good question. I think they get it systemically, I think they just feel like it doesn’t apply to them individually unfortunately
Chanda Prescod Weinstein said this on threads
Word?? I need to get on threads. I feel like Twitter/X so dead!
oh no, honey. we aint been on x in years. threads is cool. i posted a photo of what she said, but i guess you can't do that in comments. i'll make a post.
💯
Thanks for sharing
Late stage capitalism has only exacerbated the problem.
Artist don’t sell records, get pennies on the dollar in stream, and have to overcharge for concert tickets and festivals.
Mos Def wrote about it years ago in The Rape Over.
“We just poke out our ass, for a chance to cash in”
😭😭😭 — yeah, I know he’s also talked about how he loathes the “Bugs Bunny” mathematics of the rap industry and how exploitative it is
This reminded me of NWA and their manager, who was Jewish, was stealing from them and the fallout resulted in the group breaking up. It's a connection worth looking deeper into, I think. It's clear Black people don't own Black music. I'm not sure we ever did. This pattern would seem to go farther back and broader than Hip Hop and Rap. I believe you alluded to it before, but it's just another face of chattle slavery.
Thanks for reading! Yeah its crazy! I didnt learn about that until I watched Straight Out of Compton, it was so sad :/
It made me angry. I grew up listening to West Coast Hip Hop. And it's a pattern I noticed that goes further back in history with all the late-greats. I think Etta James held a pew pew to her manage's head for not paying up. There's a deep pattern of white Jewish people with money "investing" in Black businesses and skimming off the top, bottom, and sides. Let's not even get started on Hollywood. The Power Rangers are the reasons actors have a union. Oh, and the Beauty industry, too. I don't want to trail off, but this is so much bigger and deeper than Hip Hop culture alone. That's why the chattle slavery references hit so hard. That's all pimpin is at it's core after all.
No, I agree for sure for sure! It’s what makes me interested in unions and co-ops, they seem to offer the beginnings of more equitable structures for economic relations.
Aaron, your thoughtful writing and perspective never ceases to make me think critically about the topic of discussion. I thoroughly agree with you. Black capitalism, is a myth and a front to reinforce the real capitalism. It could never free our people because the notion of "capitalism" is an individualist construct within its core values and principles. Looking forward to your next piece.
Thanks again for reading! Next one drops on Monday! 📚🤓
✊🏾🤓
Story of every American who works in this country. Wish that rappers would see that they are also victims of the lies that capitalism tells instead of perpetuating them to the next generation. System can never be fixed if niggas keep proclaiming that its not broken.
Exaaaaaactly!!
Love the title. I look forward to reading it Aaron!
Thanks man! 🤓📚
Yeah ARC, I’m messing with you on this one! Too Black had a great write up that helped me better understand the pitfalls of BC. At this point, I think the artists know what time it is. The pull of the narrative being boss or being the pimp vs. the fear/acknowledgement of being the worker is stronger than say, @Katie Mitchell’s comment of organizing a union. Beanie Sigel had a line “with no union, no benefits, no dental plan, I can’t eat off no 100 grand” so as you say it’s an open secret, every artist is getting screwed. But 1) my deal is better than the next guy (I’m not getting pimped as bad), 2) I’m still balling out, 3) I can hustle my way out of my situation which can enable 4) me to pimp out others.
Kids' corner economics: What tariffs teach us about Black capitalism
Kevin, I don’t think I can say it any better than you put it here!
Yup. Their WHOLE system is exploitation... Not only do we hafta get off of hamster wheel & but we gotta keep getting outside of their values & way of thinking.
Thanks for reading! Yeah, I agree. You know it’s funny because most of the time people critique Black culture they say that we haven’t done a good enough job of assimilating to American values, but I think the real cultural critique is that we’ve assimilated too much into American capitalism.