Rap Is All the Rage, in Both Its Meanings

I have seen a lot of material written about hip-hop since the death of Tupac Shakur. Most of it has been empty rhetoric denouncing the art form vicariously through Shakur. Robert Hilburn’s commentary (“Rage of the Age,” Calendar, Nov. 12) was a more insightful piece that demonstrated his respect for the art form and some knowledge as well.

I appreciate his comparison of the sons of hip-hop to the sons of folk and early rock and blues. Those art forms, like hip-hop, told our society “something about the times and the society in which we live.” Not everyone likes any art form that forces us to hear about things we try hard to ignore.

I also appreciate that he highlighted the contributions of Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Ice Cube. He chose two diverse personalities to point out to the unknowing that there are some voices in hip-hop that really do urge the masses to move forward mentally. As diverse as the voices of Chuck D and Ice Cube seem to be, there is a mutual mission to hold a mirror to the nation so that everyone--black and white--can see his or her own particular part in the creation and promotion of the historic urban blight.

DARRYL JAMES

Editor in Chief

Rap Sheet

Santa Monica

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The difference between the likes of Robert Johnson and Chuck Berry as opposed to Snoop Doggy Dogg and Tupac Shakur is the former were wholeheartedly devoted to their craft carving out new musical history, while the latter merely dabble in rap as a means to a big cash payoff. The issue is not black and white, but green. Hilburn’s assertion that these idols--whom I’ve imitated in my own professional musical career--would today be rappers is an absurd insult to them and me.

DAN MARFISI

Los Angeles

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