Third Coast

Okay, I finished Third Coast by Roni Sarig, its subtitle: Outkast, Timabland and How Hip Hop became a Southern Thing, and I loved it! I picked this book up at the public library and kind of doubted if I'd read the whole thing, it is 364 pages and I just didn't know if my interest would continue after the first few pages. Remember the adage, "never judge a book by its cover"? Well, that should be taken literally with this title. Sarig gives readers a comphrensive view of rap and hip hop. He has done a lot of research and explains how rap and hip hop have evolved from the spoken word and disc jockeys. Sarig does use rap and hip hop interchangeably as most people do, but had he not, it would probably read "how rap became a southen thing." He only devotes a few paragraphs in the entire book to groups like Public Enemy, and artists like Common and Kanye West. Although they don't hail from the south, he gives hardcare rappers like Snoop, Tupac, and Biggie a lot of pen time.

Because I came of age during the evolution of rap and hip hop, I was so engrossed in this book. I took a trip down memory lane as he talked about the formation of The Geto Boys, UGK, Outkast, TLC, etc. (For another great book about Outkast, I suggest Hey Ya: The Unauthorized Biography of Outkast by Chris Nickson.) I always knew that the entertainment business was about perception, but he reiterated that as he gave the history of these groups. Many don't live the lifestyle they rap about, they just know that it sells and the more "shock value" the better. Many use that as a gateway and once established they start rapping about values and responsibilities, many times on deaf ears. Sarig points out that the largest consumers of rap music are white surburban teens. They want to escape their world and fantasize about the "hard life."

I learned a lot about the hustle and hard work of getting your voice heard. I didn't realize how much of rap is started in the underground world. I know there isn't much money in it until an artist reaches the status of Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Dr. Dre. I think because everything is constantly evolving, we are seeing a change in the lyrics. I know I'm sick of the gangster stuff, the bling, the women. I'm starting to notice that instead of sampling, many are coming up with their unique sound and Sarig discusses the different types like snap, bass and 808 beats.

It bothers me that people say they hate rap music without really giving it a chance. There are so many subgenres...gangstar, blues, country (Cowboy Troy), jazz, political, etc. The market is saturated with a lot of artists, most of them for the money, but there are some that need to be heard. Instead of focusing on the negative, look at the many foundations and charities these artist promote.

I've said it once and I'll say it again, hip hop is a movement. Let's move!