By Deepa Shah

The emcee has always been the trend starter. From the delivery of rhymes to the unique expressions that keep the party going, emcees have kept Hip-Hop in the forefront of the public consciousness. As American society has accepted Hip-Hop and its many peripheral art forms, it’s the male rapper that has risen to a larger fame, and with that fame they’ve set the black male standard.

 When rappers spit lyrics about swagger, thug status and tales from a hood upbringing, it bears a striking resemblance to way urban black men mold their lives. So who is copying whom? The influence goes back and forth. Artists rise from the ashes of harsh childhoods live to tell the stories which subsequently influence the youth into believing that it’s the way of the ghetto. It’s a never-ending cycle that has produced mutations of the same reckless urban male image.

In an attempt to break away from that often fatherless image, today’s rappers are willing to go “half on the baby;” a novel idea to the current generation. Upon first inspection, it sounds peculiar for a man to need to think twice about whether they should support their child and baby’s mama. That should be an accepted norm, rather than a laudable exception. However, when looking at the urban communities these rappers generally come from, single mothers and deadbeat dads are the paradigm. 

When emcees start respecting women and altering their values towards life, it’s a sign of change in the rapper’s moral structure. Tupac preached to a society swollen with single mothers to keep their heads up and have faith that things will get better. Even as rappers like T.I. complain about “baby mama drama” and having to write those child support checks, rappers are beginning, it seems to accept their responsibility as men and as fathers. 

Slowly but surely, rappers of stature are using their public platforms to accept the game has changed and it’s time to support the women in their lives, even when the relationships break.

There’s an intelligence factor that has now become important to a rapper’s lyrics. It’s not just about a great beat and a talented delivery, the people who are listening are looking for enlightenment.  For many who have grown up under Hip-Hop’s umbrella, it’s not just about entertainment but about information. As America demands more from Hip-Hop and as emcees deliver, the perception of urban culture is being redefined before our eyes.

Statistics won’t prove this change yet, and single mothers are still prevalent in urban communities, but a rapper’s projection of change is change society can vibe to. Just as rappers defined what it meant to be cool, from the kicks you wear to the colors you rock, these subtle expressions will summarily influences those who are willing to live the Hip-Hop way. The black male is on the verge of reforming and the parallels will be similar to the larger changes seen within the Hip-Hop community. The real question is, will emcees continue to take that challenge and be the men and fathers that our community and society as a whole, demand? Only time will tell, but I believe that on a Hip-Hop level, we are heading in that direction.

Happy Father’s day to all men who are a presence in the lives of our youth, whether they be mentors, big brothers, male influences, baby daddies who participate in their children’s lives outside of that court mandate, husbands, uncles and role models.  It does indeed take a village and your influence in the lives of our youth help stem the tide of ignorance and misinformation that imperil our children.  Thank you.

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