Tag Archives: serious post time

08/2/14

We Are Not A Monolith

Music is something that I’ve always found comfort in. I find it the easiest way to swing my emotions and uplift my mood. Almost always am I listening to something; even in the shower or while I’m sleeping. My tastes used to vary more, and I’ll still give most things a listen at least once but I’m pretty much all about the hip hop.

I know the bad rap (pun totally intended 🙂 the genre gets. I hear the criticisms of the vulgarity, ostentatious displays of wealth, misogyny, homophobia and colourism perpetuated by mainstream rap music and hip hop culture. All deserved. But when people dismiss rap as a whole, they dismiss the work of those emcees quietly looking to change the game. And I’m not talking about Macklemore and “Same Love”. There are queer artists, female artists, straight black male artists who are picking up fans while spitting counter culture to the mantra of money, violence, women & drugs. Conscious rap exists and has existed for a while, yet every discussion of “what’s wrong with hip hop” seems to forget that. I think some young fans know about and sometimes choose to ignore any side of rap that isn’t as popular as the Rick Ross-style braggadocio or needless glorification of ganglife. Current reflection upon my musical tastes has revealed a slippery slope towards the likes of French Montana and Waka Flocka. But I think people outside of hip hop legitimately don’t realize that a whole other beautiful side to the culture and genre of music exists.

Music-makers and game-changers A$AP Rocky, Angel Haze and Childish Gambino

That isn’t to say that what’s dominating the airwaves right now has no value. The experiences of disenfranchised, urban, Black American youth is what hip hop was founded on. And some of those disenfranchised youth grew up on a culture of money, violence, women and drugs where hip hop has been and still is a much-needed outlet and reflection of that environment. However, that is no excuse for further oppression of transfolk, women and other minorities. So while I think that everyone’s voice should be heard, positive voices aren’t being heard enough in mainstream media. Black and hip hip hop culture are inextricably tied; it is inevitable then that we see the politically-charged and economically-motivated negative characterization of Black people seep into media portrayal of hip hop – a lucrative industry that refuses to play nice politically. There is nothing inherently wrong with people who happen to fit certain stereotypes of what “Black music” looks like but it is important that differing messages get out there. We, Black people, are not a monolith. Hip hop is not a monolith.

07/14/14

I Do Nothing

Get ready for some whining y’all.

— A part of me is sad that I feel the need to qualify a post about  feelings with that first line, but I want to look back in a couple years and know that I knew now that this is a straight up #middleclassproblemswhinefest. —

A few days ago, someone asked me what do you besides work? I am still unable to answer that question.

I totally identify with Megan in her post, because it feels like all I do is work and sleep. This summer I’ve been holding down two restaurant jobs and man, does that take up a lot of time. Having to deal with two managers means I’ve worked 7 days a week for the last three weeks. Today’s my first real day off, hence why I’m actually blogging. When I’m not at work, I’m generally being a vegetable in bed watching back episodes of Reign and eating all the breakfast I missed while at school. (Ain’t nobody got time for toast or fresh coffee with 9AM classes). I want to say this is a whole lot less depressing than it sounds. Summer’s made for relaxing, right?

But it’s really hard to relax when you’re looking at nine grand in tuition (I know int’l students have it much worse) and almost 700 bucks for rent every month plus groceries next year. Living the UBC dream is expensive. And I’m trying not to bury myself in student loans, thus the working constantly thing. The amount of money I already owe for last year is hard to picture. We students pay for everything online and you don’t actually know what that tuition, housing fees and meal plan look like till you’re sweating for it. And still, I’m lucky. I have 2 parents who work full-time and had the forethought to save up money for my siblings and I. I don’t regret choosing a school out-of-province but it is rough sometimes.

There are things that I’m passionate about and that I’d love to do more of. I want more time for soccer-playing, memory-making, poem-scribbling good times. I want to be a more interesting person and say that I’m having all these fun adventures over my summer break, but I’m not. I had the whole day off today and I didn’t even know what to do with myself. I went to the library, got a good book and spent some time reading it in a café. I started my 2014 student loan application and prepared to apply for a liquor-serving certification so I can serve tables and make more money for school. Sigh.

Even though school is more hectic, the closeness of residence and living on campus means your friends and favorite activities are more accessible. Nothing takes longer than a 30-minute walk or a bus ride. I miss that.

The question still bugs me because not-very-deep-down I know the answer is practically nothing.

Now that my pity party is over, maybe I should try and think of some things I love doing/want to try that are appropriate for the time-challenged. I can be interesting, I swear.