[Music] [Applause]
it’s about time I was on some ol hurry
it’s about time I was on some ol hurry up and waited trying to bust out the
up and waited trying to bust out the
up and waited trying to bust out the gate and beat fate but lately I’m movin
gate and beat fate but lately I’m movin
gate and beat fate but lately I’m movin in my time not your time cuz it’s not
in my time not your time cuz it’s not
in my time not your time cuz it’s not your cheese it’s mine yo when I ride my
your cheese it’s mine yo when I ride my
your cheese it’s mine yo when I ride my intertwine my mind with the divine the
intertwine my mind with the divine the
intertwine my mind with the divine the moment when the divine exponent is
moment when the divine exponent is
moment when the divine exponent is trying its atonement kind of like CP
trying its atonement kind of like CP
trying its atonement kind of like CP time when you would sink unbeknownst to
time when you would sink unbeknownst to
time when you would sink unbeknownst to the conscious mind
the conscious mind
the conscious mind it’s an ill mind still time Bill Denver
it’s an ill mind still time Bill Denver
it’s an ill mind still time Bill Denver fine still get in mind in the nine
fine still get in mind in the nine
fine still get in mind in the nine divine I hang a shingle and mingle with
divine I hang a shingle and mingle with
divine I hang a shingle and mingle with the masterminds because for me and mine
the masterminds because for me and mine
the masterminds because for me and mine it’s about time thank you
so my name is Rob Jackson I got
so my name is Rob Jackson I got introduced but I’m also known as blue
introduced but I’m also known as blue
introduced but I’m also known as blue black of the unspoken hurt on November
black of the unspoken hurt on November
black of the unspoken hurt on November 3rd 1997 me and my partner in rhyme
3rd 1997 me and my partner in rhyme
3rd 1997 me and my partner in rhyme the Honorable Asha rule released an EP
the Honorable Asha rule released an EP
the Honorable Asha rule released an EP on seven heads records entitled
on seven heads records entitled
on seven heads records entitled cosmology now the the EP or the rhyme
cosmology now the the EP or the rhyme
cosmology now the the EP or the rhyme that I just said was on that EPS music
that I just said was on that EPS music
that I just said was on that EPS music in a song called it’s about time and
in a song called it’s about time and
in a song called it’s about time and oddly enough I was living in
oddly enough I was living in
oddly enough I was living in Charlottesville in 1997 when it’s about
Charlottesville in 1997 when it’s about
Charlottesville in 1997 when it’s about time came out now when I was asked to
time came out now when I was asked to
time came out now when I was asked to give a title for this talk I didn’t know
give a title for this talk I didn’t know
give a title for this talk I didn’t know check-check thank you when when I was
check-check thank you when when I was
check-check thank you when when I was asked to give a title for this talk I
asked to give a title for this talk I
asked to give a title for this talk I didn’t know what day this talk was going
didn’t know what day this talk was going
didn’t know what day this talk was going to be but today I’m here in Charleston
to be but today I’m here in Charleston
to be but today I’m here in Charleston Virginia on November 3rd 2017 the 20th
Virginia on November 3rd 2017 the 20th
Virginia on November 3rd 2017 the 20th anniversary of that rhymes release
anniversary of that rhymes release
anniversary of that rhymes release giving a talk entitled it’s about time
so I usually bug out on stuff like that
so I usually bug out on stuff like that but I’m starting to get a little
but I’m starting to get a little
but I’m starting to get a little familiar with these occurrences and I’m
familiar with these occurrences and I’m
familiar with these occurrences and I’m starting to refer to them as hip-hop
starting to refer to them as hip-hop
starting to refer to them as hip-hop moments
moments
moments they’re like little reminders for me
they’re like little reminders for me
they’re like little reminders for me that no matter where you go there you
that no matter where you go there you
that no matter where you go there you are but I’m here today to talk about the
are but I’m here today to talk about the
are but I’m here today to talk about the meaning and value of hip-hop and even
meaning and value of hip-hop and even
meaning and value of hip-hop and even though hip-hop has changed a lot since
though hip-hop has changed a lot since
though hip-hop has changed a lot since it was born in 1973 the meaning and
it was born in 1973 the meaning and
it was born in 1973 the meaning and value of hip-hop has remained the same
value of hip-hop has remained the same
value of hip-hop has remained the same over time so by a short hands how many
over time so by a short hands how many
over time so by a short hands how many people in the audience know what hip-hop
people in the audience know what hip-hop
people in the audience know what hip-hop is okay all right by show of hands how
is okay all right by show of hands how
is okay all right by show of hands how many people would say I am hip-hop okay
many people would say I am hip-hop okay
many people would say I am hip-hop okay so most people have no idea what hip-hop
so most people have no idea what hip-hop
so most people have no idea what hip-hop is and I completely understand why the
is and I completely understand why the
is and I completely understand why the companies and organizations that are
companies and organizations that are
companies and organizations that are currently investing in hip-hop are not
currently investing in hip-hop are not
currently investing in hip-hop are not really investing in hip-hop
really investing in hip-hop
really investing in hip-hop they’re either using hip-hop to make
they’re either using hip-hop to make
they’re either using hip-hop to make money or they’re using hip-hop to market
money or they’re using hip-hop to market
money or they’re using hip-hop to market a product or service or brand but
a product or service or brand but
a product or service or brand but hip-hop is a uniquely American 21st
hip-hop is a uniquely American 21st
hip-hop is a uniquely American 21st century institution that we don’t fully
century institution that we don’t fully
century institution that we don’t fully appreciate because of the frames we use
appreciate because of the frames we use
appreciate because of the frames we use to talk about it it’s time to have a
to talk about it it’s time to have a
to talk about it it’s time to have a sustained dialogue about what hip-hop is
sustained dialogue about what hip-hop is
sustained dialogue about what hip-hop is and what it is not where we can change
and what it is not where we can change
and what it is not where we can change the frame and decouple it from the
the frame and decouple it from the
the frame and decouple it from the things that we normally associate with
things that we normally associate with
things that we normally associate with it hip-hop needs a space or a place
it hip-hop needs a space or a place
it hip-hop needs a space or a place where people can go explore experiment
where people can go explore experiment
where people can go explore experiment and reflect on hip hop’s cultural
and reflect on hip hop’s cultural
and reflect on hip hop’s cultural production process from meaning to
production process from meaning to
production process from meaning to production to consumption we’re national
production to consumption we’re national
production to consumption we’re national and international partners can come
and international partners can come
and international partners can come together and from media from academia
together and from media from academia
together and from media from academia from advertising and talk about hip-hop
from advertising and talk about hip-hop
from advertising and talk about hip-hop as a 21st century institution now before
as a 21st century institution now before
as a 21st century institution now before I go too deep and start losing people in
I go too deep and start losing people in
I go too deep and start losing people in the audience hip-hop is not rap music
the audience hip-hop is not rap music
the audience hip-hop is not rap music okay so many people in audience way
okay so many people in audience way
okay so many people in audience way and some people like thank you for
and some people like thank you for
and some people like thank you for saying that so let me explain wrapping
saying that so let me explain wrapping
saying that so let me explain wrapping is something you do and in 2017 a rapper
is something you do and in 2017 a rapper
is something you do and in 2017 a rapper there’s a profession or an occupation in
there’s a profession or an occupation in
there’s a profession or an occupation in the music industry which is all about
the music industry which is all about
the music industry which is all about making hits selling records and touring
making hits selling records and touring
making hits selling records and touring and thanks to technology anybody can say
and thanks to technology anybody can say
and thanks to technology anybody can say anything and put it to a beat to make
anything and put it to a beat to make
anything and put it to a beat to make rap music but that’s not necessarily
rap music but that’s not necessarily
rap music but that’s not necessarily hip-hop see historically hip-hop has
hip-hop see historically hip-hop has
hip-hop see historically hip-hop has been talked about as a fad a style a
been talked about as a fad a style a
been talked about as a fad a style a culture a movement an industry and even
culture a movement an industry and even
culture a movement an industry and even a nation but for me hip-hop is a way of
a nation but for me hip-hop is a way of
a nation but for me hip-hop is a way of life and hip-hop wouldn’t exist unless
life and hip-hop wouldn’t exist unless
life and hip-hop wouldn’t exist unless people like me assigned a meaning and a
people like me assigned a meaning and a
people like me assigned a meaning and a value to it and then shared that meaning
value to it and then shared that meaning
value to it and then shared that meaning and value at other people who would then
and value at other people who would then
and value at other people who would then share that meaning and value with
share that meaning and value with
share that meaning and value with someone else so that’s how hip-hop works
someone else so that’s how hip-hop works
someone else so that’s how hip-hop works and that’s how hip-hop has traveled all
and that’s how hip-hop has traveled all
and that’s how hip-hop has traveled all over the world I teach an online history
over the world I teach an online history
over the world I teach an online history class called hip-hop America where I
class called hip-hop America where I
class called hip-hop America where I begin talking about the history of
begin talking about the history of
begin talking about the history of hip-hop from the pioneers perspective I
hip-hop from the pioneers perspective I
hip-hop from the pioneers perspective I asked the students to use their
asked the students to use their
asked the students to use their historical imagination to see what the
historical imagination to see what the
historical imagination to see what the Pioneers saw and then I changed the
Pioneers saw and then I changed the
Pioneers saw and then I changed the frame and I say hip-hop is a socially
frame and I say hip-hop is a socially
frame and I say hip-hop is a socially constructed identity or a personal
constructed identity or a personal
constructed identity or a personal identity that we embody or personify and
identity that we embody or personify and
identity that we embody or personify and then we project onto the world until it
then we project onto the world until it
then we project onto the world until it becomes who we are in the world and then
becomes who we are in the world and then
becomes who we are in the world and then what we’re known for then I changed the
what we’re known for then I changed the
what we’re known for then I changed the frame again and I say hip-hop is a
frame again and I say hip-hop is a
frame again and I say hip-hop is a social identity that we share and
social identity that we share and
social identity that we share and co-create with other people but this
co-create with other people but this
co-create with other people but this social identity predates our involvement
social identity predates our involvement
social identity predates our involvement in the music industry see hip-hop is and
in the music industry see hip-hop is and
in the music industry see hip-hop is and hip-hop operates under its own authority
hip-hop operates under its own authority
hip-hop operates under its own authority so hip-hop determines what decides what
so hip-hop determines what decides what
so hip-hop determines what decides what is and is not hip-hop
is and is not hip-hop
is and is not hip-hop so in a way you could say hip-hop is
so in a way you could say hip-hop is
so in a way you could say hip-hop is socially conservative in that it seeks
socially conservative in that it seeks
socially conservative in that it seeks to retain its meaning and value over
to retain its meaning and value over
to retain its meaning and value over time for example hip-hop is nostalgic
time for example hip-hop is nostalgic
time for example hip-hop is nostalgic like when people talk about back in the
like when people talk about back in the
like when people talk about back in the day or when they talk about the Golden
day or when they talk about the Golden
day or when they talk about the Golden Age of hip-hop but at the same time
Age of hip-hop but at the same time
Age of hip-hop but at the same time hip-hop is extremely progressive because
hip-hop is extremely progressive because
hip-hop is extremely progressive because it’s constantly changing and adapting to
it’s constantly changing and adapting to
it’s constantly changing and adapting to new circumstances and giving new meaning
new circumstances and giving new meaning
new circumstances and giving new meaning and value to the anecdotes the
and value to the anecdotes the
and value to the anecdotes the archetypes and stereotypes that already
archetypes and stereotypes that already
archetypes and stereotypes that already give meaning and value to our lives so
give meaning and value to our lives so
give meaning and value to our lives so when I talk about hip-hop in this frame
when I talk about hip-hop in this frame
when I talk about hip-hop in this frame I often refer to it as the changing same
I often refer to it as the changing same
I often refer to it as the changing same but what most people don’t know about
but what most people don’t know about
but what most people don’t know about hip-hop is that it has ethics not morals
hip-hop is that it has ethics not morals
hip-hop is that it has ethics not morals like right or wrong but ethics or
like right or wrong but ethics or
like right or wrong but ethics or personal standards of conduct that
personal standards of conduct that
personal standards of conduct that govern our collective behavior see these
govern our collective behavior see these
govern our collective behavior see these ethics help us keep the alignment
ethics help us keep the alignment
ethics help us keep the alignment between our personal identity and our
between our personal identity and our
between our personal identity and our social identity to create a timeless
social identity to create a timeless
social identity to create a timeless authentic brand that we manifest as
authentic brand that we manifest as
authentic brand that we manifest as individuals or collectively as hip-hop I
individuals or collectively as hip-hop I
individuals or collectively as hip-hop I describe these ethics as don’t bite keep
describe these ethics as don’t bite keep
describe these ethics as don’t bite keep it fresh and don’t fall off okay
it fresh and don’t fall off okay
it fresh and don’t fall off okay don’t bite means don’t copy make up your
don’t bite means don’t copy make up your
don’t bite means don’t copy make up your own moves make up your own rhymes the
own moves make up your own rhymes the
own moves make up your own rhymes the original be unique but that’s not enough
original be unique but that’s not enough
original be unique but that’s not enough you have to be prolific or at the very
you have to be prolific or at the very
you have to be prolific or at the very least you have to make more because what
least you have to make more because what
least you have to make more because what you did before is not good enough
you did before is not good enough
you did before is not good enough anymore therefore you have to keep it
anymore therefore you have to keep it
anymore therefore you have to keep it fresh and new and finally don’t fall off
fresh and new and finally don’t fall off
fresh and new and finally don’t fall off means don’t stop kind of think of it
means don’t stop kind of think of it
means don’t stop kind of think of it like riding a bike don’t stop keep on
like riding a bike don’t stop keep on
like riding a bike don’t stop keep on and in in hips high hip hop’s wisdom
and in in hips high hip hop’s wisdom
and in in hips high hip hop’s wisdom they left us some jewels that we can use
they left us some jewels that we can use
they left us some jewels that we can use in the 21st century especially in this
in the 21st century especially in this
in the 21st century especially in this information economy that we’re in
information economy that we’re in
information economy that we’re in keep looking searching seeking finding
keep looking searching seeking finding
keep looking searching seeking finding and that comes from the hook in a song
and that comes from the hook in a song
and that comes from the hook in a song called planet rock
called planet rock
called planet rock so together all of these efforts help
so together all of these efforts help
so together all of these efforts help one rise above their circumstances to be
one rise above their circumstances to be
one rise above their circumstances to be ascendant or emerging in character hip
ascendant or emerging in character hip
ascendant or emerging in character hip hop would say to be fly or to come up
hop would say to be fly or to come up
hop would say to be fly or to come up and you can do this all by staying up on
and you can do this all by staying up on
and you can do this all by staying up on the new next thing see the people who
the new next thing see the people who
the new next thing see the people who identify themselves as hip hop are
identify themselves as hip hop are
identify themselves as hip hop are engaged in the vigorous pursuit of an
engaged in the vigorous pursuit of an
engaged in the vigorous pursuit of an idealized self where we are constantly
idealized self where we are constantly
idealized self where we are constantly investing ourselves applying ourselves
investing ourselves applying ourselves
investing ourselves applying ourselves and enriching ourselves in an ongoing
and enriching ourselves in an ongoing
and enriching ourselves in an ongoing process of original self creation where
process of original self creation where
process of original self creation where one is consistently being who we are and
one is consistently being who we are and
one is consistently being who we are and always have been but continuously
always have been but continuously
always have been but continuously reinventing ourselves to become who we
reinventing ourselves to become who we
reinventing ourselves to become who we would like to be and in this way hip-hop
would like to be and in this way hip-hop
would like to be and in this way hip-hop has learned to recreate itself into
has learned to recreate itself into
has learned to recreate itself into personalized works of art now art is
personalized works of art now art is
personalized works of art now art is traditionally talked about in terms of
traditionally talked about in terms of
traditionally talked about in terms of materials and techniques and art history
materials and techniques and art history
materials and techniques and art history is all about identifying the value in
is all about identifying the value in
is all about identifying the value in cultural objects but in hip-hop
cultural objects but in hip-hop
cultural objects but in hip-hop we are the cultural object the primary
we are the cultural object the primary
we are the cultural object the primary material is identity and I am is the
material is identity and I am is the
material is identity and I am is the artistic material of life the subject of
artistic material of life the subject of
artistic material of life the subject of our art is the individual but the object
our art is the individual but the object
our art is the individual but the object of our art is the idealized self that is
of our art is the idealized self that is
of our art is the idealized self that is being created so let’s say it another
being created so let’s say it another
being created so let’s say it another way hip-hop is artistic self fashioning
way hip-hop is artistic self fashioning
way hip-hop is artistic self fashioning with the private goal of self creation
with the private goal of self creation
with the private goal of self creation but the public goal of social solidarity
but the public goal of social solidarity
but the public goal of social solidarity so listening let’s think about it like
so listening let’s think about it like
so listening let’s think about it like romantic individualism meets the
romantic individualism meets the
romantic individualism meets the modernist avant-garde always out front
modernist avant-garde always out front
modernist avant-garde always out front always moving forward just a little bit
always moving forward just a little bit
always moving forward just a little bit ahead of the curve
ahead of the curve
ahead of the curve so maybe we should talk about hip-hop
so maybe we should talk about hip-hop
so maybe we should talk about hip-hop the way historians talk about art from
the way historians talk about art from
the way historians talk about art from 30,000 feet up and then we could have
30,000 feet up and then we could have
30,000 feet up and then we could have conversations about hip-hop that are
conversations about hip-hop that are
conversations about hip-hop that are classic romantic modern and postmodern
classic romantic modern and postmodern
classic romantic modern and postmodern and then we could have parallel
and then we could have parallel
and then we could have parallel conversations about the consumer
conversations about the consumer
conversations about the consumer technologies that have enabled or an
technologies that have enabled or an
technologies that have enabled or an empowered hip-hop to broadcast and
empowered hip-hop to broadcast and
empowered hip-hop to broadcast and distribute my ethics in our brands all
distribute my ethics in our brands all
distribute my ethics in our brands all over the world see hip-hop has been
over the world see hip-hop has been
over the world see hip-hop has been constructing authentic brands from
constructing authentic brands from
constructing authentic brands from identities and broadcasting them all
identities and broadcasting them all
identities and broadcasting them all over the world for 44 years and we are
over the world for 44 years and we are
over the world for 44 years and we are very comfortable with social media
very comfortable with social media
very comfortable with social media because like hip hop social media
because like hip hop social media
because like hip hop social media exposes us to a wide array of self
exposes us to a wide array of self
exposes us to a wide array of self representations where we are free to
representations where we are free to
representations where we are free to render depict or construct ourselves in
render depict or construct ourselves in
render depict or construct ourselves in the world as desired we’re constantly
the world as desired we’re constantly
the world as desired we’re constantly borrowing bits and pieces of identity
borrowing bits and pieces of identity
borrowing bits and pieces of identity and assembling them as necessary or as
and assembling them as necessary or as
and assembling them as necessary or as needed to be anything at any given time
needed to be anything at any given time
needed to be anything at any given time as long as it’s consistent with our
as long as it’s consistent with our
as long as it’s consistent with our personal brand so let me recap it’s time
personal brand so let me recap it’s time
personal brand so let me recap it’s time to have a sustained dialogue about what
to have a sustained dialogue about what
to have a sustained dialogue about what hip-hop is and what it is not
hip-hop is and what it is not
hip-hop is and what it is not hip-hop needs a place or space where
hip-hop needs a place or space where
hip-hop needs a place or space where people can go to explore experiment and
people can go to explore experiment and
people can go to explore experiment and reflect on hip hop’s cultural production
reflect on hip hop’s cultural production
reflect on hip hop’s cultural production process and we need to bring together
process and we need to bring together
process and we need to bring together partners from media academia and
partners from media academia and
partners from media academia and advertising to talk about hip-hop as a
advertising to talk about hip-hop as a
advertising to talk about hip-hop as a 21st century institution so let me close
21st century institution so let me close
21st century institution so let me close with another one of those hip-hop
with another one of those hip-hop
with another one of those hip-hop moments on August 11th 2017 Google
moments on August 11th 2017 Google
moments on August 11th 2017 Google commemorated the 44th birthday of
commemorated the 44th birthday of
commemorated the 44th birthday of hip-hop with the doodle that explained
hip-hop with the doodle that explained
hip-hop with the doodle that explained how when and where hip-hop was born it
how when and where hip-hop was born it
how when and where hip-hop was born it was fantastic it was animated it was
was fantastic it was animated it was
was fantastic it was animated it was interactive and it was hip hop on the
interactive and it was hip hop on the
interactive and it was hip hop on the big digital stage
big digital stage
big digital stage but that night here in Charlottesville
but that night here in Charlottesville
but that night here in Charlottesville there were some protesters with torches
there were some protesters with torches
there were some protesters with torches that made their way to the lawn and the
that made their way to the lawn and the
that made their way to the lawn and the next day violence broke out about a
next day violence broke out about a
next day violence broke out about a block away from where I’m standing and
block away from where I’m standing and
block away from where I’m standing and it made me feel the kind of way about
it made me feel the kind of way about
it made me feel the kind of way about giving his talk
but on August 13th 2017
but on August 13th 2017 President Barack Obama responded to the
President Barack Obama responded to the
President Barack Obama responded to the events in Charlottesville with a tweet
events in Charlottesville with a tweet
events in Charlottesville with a tweet that became the most liked tweet in the
that became the most liked tweet in the
that became the most liked tweet in the history of Twitter so here we have the
history of Twitter so here we have the
history of Twitter so here we have the 44th President of the United States
44th President of the United States
44th President of the United States using social media to respond to the
using social media to respond to the
using social media to respond to the events in Charlottesville just two days
events in Charlottesville just two days
events in Charlottesville just two days after hip hop turn 44 so I don’t know if
after hip hop turn 44 so I don’t know if
after hip hop turn 44 so I don’t know if President Obama considers himself to be
President Obama considers himself to be
President Obama considers himself to be hip hop but he used his authentic
hip hop but he used his authentic
hip hop but he used his authentic personal brand to reframe the events in
personal brand to reframe the events in
personal brand to reframe the events in Charlottesville and give them new
Charlottesville and give them new
Charlottesville and give them new meaning and value so if he’s not hip hop
meaning and value so if he’s not hip hop
meaning and value so if he’s not hip hop he’s the closest to being hip hop we
he’s the closest to being hip hop we
he’s the closest to being hip hop we have ever seen in an American president
and I know that if we don’t have this
and I know that if we don’t have this sustained dialogue about what hip-hop is
sustained dialogue about what hip-hop is
sustained dialogue about what hip-hop is and what it is not
and what it is not
and what it is not then hip-hop has the potential to become
then hip-hop has the potential to become
then hip-hop has the potential to become even more like the president we have now
even more like the president we have now
even more like the president we have now thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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