Somthing From Nothing

Something From Nothing depicted the history of rap through most of the major innovators from its conception. All of this was done with the heavy influence of Ice T. Ice T is the one who conducts the interviews with the respective artists. This I believe was done because most of the rappers and MC's are Ice T's friends and rather than a journalist with moderate knowledge of Hip Hop; Ice T is seen by many as a legitimate representative of the culture. Ice T made it possible with his connections and input to get the performers taking about what they do deep down to poetically express and create the raps that they do. It seems that in this film, that rap is a black male dominated industry. Eminem and Salt being the only exceptions to this profile to be interviewed. Still it is an accurate depiction of how rap started with the youngsters of the funk generation revamping the old soul and funk beats with new vigor. A reinvention of past tunes to mix, cut, and replay. Rap has equally been changed by the concept of "Gangster Rap"; a type emanating from the hoods, ghettos, and streets of America's metropolitan cities. The idea of gangster rap being a lifestyle scares many because it focuses on the dark reality of people growing up underprivileged and somewhat forced into the circumstance that requires them to perform the way they "were brought up". With mixed priorities, many young kids turn to drugs, gangs, and violence as a way to accomplish there goals. This they say is not their fault with prison and retribution around the corner. Gangster rap has become in many ways a parallel to the inequality that has existed since blacks were slaves in America's early history. A form of tribal expression that can be dark, ruthless, offensive, and purely poetic. A verbal painting of day to day life for one individual, but instead of focusing on how bad things are, the focus is on how bad the individual is. An over-your-head and sometimes incomprehensible form of delivering a message that is in essence just a rhyme. Who can rhyme the best? Who can spit the quickest? Who can verbally scare or abuse with perfect rhythm and tempo? Who can do this on the spot with no prior preparation? A freestyle art that determines credibility in the mean streets of any town. In the film a distinction was made between Rappers as a group and true MC's. This is something that I still do not quite understand. I rapper is someone who raps, yet an MC is an individual that controls everything including the crowd with a microphone? It seems that everyone must start somewhere with their brand of flow, whether it be the school yard or prison yard. Rap has leveled the playing field for many but has become an increasingly competitive industry. Underground artists show newcomers what they must do to be heard and perhaps someday rise to the top.