Fear Of A Black Planet Summary

Hip-hop music first gained popularity in the 1980s and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. It originated in the Bronx, New York City, and was a genre created by African Americans to express their experiences and struggles. At this time white people were migrating to the suburbs which made city life even harder for African Americans. Most of the funding was steered toward the new white neighborhoods decreasing the job opportunities in cities. Hip-hop music was used by young African Americans to express and cope with their feelings. Hip-hop started its major rise in popularity along with the inventions of aiding technology. The advancement of electronic instruments allowed artists to express their own unique styles and experiment with new sounds.

In her article “Fear of a Black Planet”, Tricia Rose notes that hip-hop music allowed African Americans to assert their identity and agency in a society that had historically sought to oppress and control them. She writes, “Public Enemy’s success opened the door to more politically and racially explicit material”. Rose accredits the transformation in hip-hop music from just words to meaningful lyrics all to Public Enemy. They paved the way for hip-hop music to be used as an informational platform. They created a voice for black

With their voice, hip-hop artists used music as an outlet for social change. Hip-hop’s ability to communicate with a large audience allowed for a significant influence on society's views of African Americans. It provided a means of economic mobility for those who were facing oppression. As stated by Austin McCoy, “Rap was featured prominently in movies and documentaries throughout the 1980s”. This expanded the network of hip-hop music and initiated the opportunity for more artists to become mainstream. By the 1990s hip-hop had reached into political spaces. McCoy mentions that “For a politician such as Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton, confronting hip hop culture represented an opportunity to demonstrate that he would not back down in the face of racial politics”. Hip-hop music was starting to be recognized throughout the nation.
Many hip-hop artists used their success to give back to their communities through philanthropic endeavors and advocacy work. For example, Jay-Z, a successful hip-hop artist, established the Shawn Carter Foundation to provide educational opportunities for low-income students. Similarly, Chance the Rapper founded Social Works, a charity to support Chicago youth. Hip-hop music had become a legitimate path toward African American