The Problematic Material Within Left Wing Rap

Rap, as a genre, is easy to criticise for its materialistic and problematic lyricism. The mainstream, big-name, artists seemingly focusing most of their efforts on promoting a materialistic existence, free from critical analysis of the conditions their race, culture, or social class are faced with on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, much of the rap you encounter when you switch the radio station to BBC 1Xtra, Capital Xtra, or Kiss actively appears to be promoting the destructive and hedonistic lifestyle that is doing nothing more than maintaining the status quo.

Often these mainstream rappers afflict upon their audiences notions of abnormality in groups who are also marginalised in society. Where females and LGBT groups, who should be allies in the struggles facing the communities from which most of these rappers emerge, are marginalised by the attitudes towards them expressed in the lyrics.

There is, however, plenty of artists within the genre that critically analyse the conditions of the disaffected within society. Among my favourite artists are Lowkey, Blue Scholars, Looptroop Rockers, Lupe Fiasco, KRS-One, Logic, and countless others worthy of mention if I was interested in simply writing a list rather than a blog post. They are artists that devote their music to facing the real issues within society. Rarely, if ever, would you hear one of these artists name check a brand or boast about the amount of money they earn and how this allows them to exert power of females. 

As a Marxist these artists are a blessing. I can listen to a genre of music I enjoy with a core message which I can identify with. They are, whether they identify with it or not, undeniably aligned more towards the socialist end of the spectrum than free-market liberalists. 

There is a glaring issue with much of the music produced by artists within this rap sub-genre however. That is because many of the more famous artists promote conspiracy theories as a source of the problems facing their communities. 

Immortal Technique, as an example, is one of the more problematic rappers within the genre due to his frequent usage of divisive terminologies and a prime example of this conspiratorial scapegoating. As a rapper he does tackle problems blighting communities within the third world, such as Neo-Imperialism, but whilst doing so will make references to the Illuminati, Stonemasons, 9/11 as an inside job, and even the biblical rising of the seven headed dragon, a popular conspirituality which believes that the seven heads are represented by living people on earth (represented by your Bushes and Bin-Ladens in Techniques lyrics).

Whilst this could be dismissed as lyric craft, whereby a picture is painted for the audience to enhance the song, it is the frequency in which these references are made which causes the issue. Along with many other rappers of the sub-genre, too much time is devoted to encouraging the audience that there are powerful secret societies working behind the scenes to perpetuate the inequality blighting the communities they inhabit. These rappers, while maintaining a useful core message, are watering down the power of their words with nonsense about nefarious, hidden, groups.

Rather than being a force for social change it actually reinforces the position of the hegemonic class within society. Whilst the oppressed and disaffected are concentrating on non-existent forces as the root cause of societal problems they are not focusing on the people within society truly profiting from their oppression. The capitalist class. Rap can be a powerful tool of expression for the working class, for black and minority ethnic groups, for women, and if the genre got its act together and stopped marginalising the LGBT groups it can becoming a powerful tool for them too. It is a problem that blights too much of the conversation of people who otherwise would identify exclusively as left-wing in their political alignment. And, in rap, one song is capable influencing an audience far greater than my pokey little blog, or the countless others like mine, could manage in a lifetime of articles.

Rap is musical poetry. It encourages, or should do, critical expression and reflection. But too often the gun is pointed in the wrong direction. Towards things that do not matter, things that promote the capitalist ideal, towards potential allies, or things that do not exist. 

It can be a rallying point for communities. A way to share experiences with other people from similar or differing backgrounds. It can highlight and bring understanding of the conditions of life an oppressed group faces on a daily basis. But only if used correctly.

I'll leave this post with a song from Akala, who for me is the exemplar of this particular genre and what it could be once free from the distractions of conspiracy theories.