Tuesday, March 21, 2017



 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.