Role Models
'There are lots of patronising attitudes from people, they still think we are quite dumb, but it's a defence mechanism for the fact that we are actually talented and intelligent. there are a lot of entrepreneurial ideas in the Hip Hop scene.1
There are two distinct groups of thought about the kinds of role models Hip Hop provides for young people. Those outside the scene are more likely to label Hip Hop as showing 'negative' role models, while those within see many benefits and 'positive' role models.
So just what is a role model? A 'role' can be thought of as something a person is expected to do - a way of behaving. A 'model' gives a style or 'structure' to something that can be copied by others. Put together, a 'role model' is something or someone who shows others a particular way of behaving, which can be copied or learnt- a kind of blueprint for how to act. Whether this way of behaving is viewed as good or bad, positive or negative, often depends on who is doing the analysis!
We'll look at some of the positive messages and actions found in Hip Hop, which are sometimes overlooked in the media attention placed on 'negative' role models - negatives mainly related to sexist and violent references and behaviour.
1 Askew quoted in Tamati, S. 2004 ‘A window to our world’ Chap. 9. ‘The Next – An Impression of Hip Hop Expression’.
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