Culture
Culture can be defined many ways; your definition of culture may be different from what I think culture is. Culture to me is a group of people who express the same values, attitudes, beliefs, and common knowledge.
I know you’re probably wondering how in the world culture is related to R&B music, well culture has everything to do with R&B. Once R&B first developed, it told stories about the "black America" struggle. R&B music is another way to keep the African culture intertwined with black America. When I think of R&B culture, I think about a big cookout surrounded by the best music, food, laughter, and love. Even though that’s not exactly what R&B culture is, it does play a part of bringing the African American culture together. The culture of R&B is so much more than music, food, and laughter, it tells stories about love, hard times, empowering women, uplifting individuality, embracing who you are as an African American.
There
are a couple of artist who speaks on and demonstrates through their music on
what the R&B culture is. There are two major artists I feel that displays
what R&B culture stands for, the godmother of soul, Mrs. Erykah Badu, and
the granddaughter of R&B, Mrs. Lauryn Hill. These two women representents
the R&B culture by style and through their music. Badu was not named the
godmother of soul for no reason, he strong but soft melodies about her African
decent heritage is what made her stand out from so many artists. She didn't
just talk about love and sex, but she educated all generations about who they
were as African Americans, and to be proud to be black. She stepped out from
her music and became a speaker to advocate for the wellbeing of all people.
Badu expressed that "following your heart also means eliminating the
things that no longer evolve you." Her statements do not only speak to the
African American culture but to all other cultures as well. Badu has a since of
appealing to the older generation, not only that but she also captures the
younger generation by stating the following statement above. Erykah Badu will
always have the younger generation respect every time her presence enter a
room. Now why is Lauryn Hill named the granddaughter of R&B? Well that's
very simple, she is the creator of neo-soul. while Badu appealed to the older generation,
Hill is for the much younger generation. I still find myself and majority
of people around my ago group who still plays her album today. Hill represented
the younger side of the R&B culture, things we were afraid to say to
society and to our community hill unapologetically said it; Such as
"Hip-Hop isn't just music, it is also a spiritual movement of the blacks!
You can't just call Hip-Hop a trend!" Hill had this burning passion to
enlighten our culture on what this life was about and how as a whole
African American are fed bullshit everyday, and all we do is sit back
and consume it. She actually had stopped doing music and started to
go around and speak the truth that many didn't want to acknowledge but needed
to be heard. Lauryn Hill became so vocal for everyone to be culturally aware
that many labeled her as crazy because she did not want to pursue music
anymore, but that's another story on a different blog. That is why feel that
Lauryn hill did and still does represent the R&B culture, not only through
her music, but she also used her voice in a different setting to bring light on
the blind. One last quote that I certainly have hung up in my room by Mrs. Hill
is " we can't plan life. All we can do is be available for it."
Anytime
you feel as though you may not know exactly what R&B culture stands for or
mean, I would say research those two artists and listen to and embrace what
they should say. It takes an intellectual mind to comprehend some of the depth
of wisdom that they regurgitate. Both powerful women and many more advocate on
the behalf of many of our ancestors to keep the African heritage much alive. I
can admit that I wasn't that aware of what culture meant to me, I knew what it
symbolizes and how it pertained to my ancestors, but not how I'm surrounded by
culture everyday. That the music that I insist on listening to everyday speaks
on culture, anything that's speaks about life and how we go through it. Like I
stated in the very first paragraph culture is a form of attitudes and common
knowledge a group share. R&B culture share a common understanding to not be
ashamed of who you are, and to keep the African heritage intact. R&B music
has developed a sense of a new Devine culture than it has ever before. More of
the younger generation are becoming more culturally aware about who they are
and where they come from, and what it means to be African American. Being
Culturally aware has became so much more than just than just the music, it has become
a movement. Music in general is powerful because it speaks to our mind, body,
and soul, but once the music is initiated people are more prone to speak
out about their culture and let others to wake up and see the truth about their
own society. Those two women who introduce a new sound into R&B music
captured all audiences to look at yourself and love yourself and everyone else
around you. Once they felt their music touching the souls of not only just
their community but the souls of everyone, stepped out and became speakers for
every generation. So for me, these women are legends musically, but they are
also inspirations to the future generations to come. I will make sure that I am
culturally and socially aware of who I am as an African American, and I hope
you do as well.