Hip hop identity in a township reality. - Poppunt

The reason why we discuss the topics, is because this is a perfect manner to
explore the way rappers in Cape Town see the environment they live in, and how
they want to make an impact on it with the music they produce. It was astounding
that almost every one of the interviewees gave similar replies to the questions we
asked about the content of their lyrics. To make this clear, we will start by taking a
look at the answers the interviewees gave us concerning this topic. Everybody will
be considered and quoted separately, while in the next part we are going to discuss
the findings that result from the responses they gave us.
It is significant to explain which type of questions we asked them during the
interviews. They were short, neutral and open questions so the respondents could
still answer them in any way they wanted. Some examples are: ‘What are your lyrics
about’, ‘Do you want to spread a message with your music’, and ‘How far do you
want your music to reach / do you have a goal you want to achieve’.
This chapter ends with a general conclusion about what function rap music has for
our interviewees. It can be divided into two parts: the function it has for them
personally, and the function it can have for the community they live in.
1. Overview
Crosby found in hip hop a way to express his feelings and a medium to spread his
messages across to people. For him it is important to have an outlet for all the
things that he experiences around him; past and present. The most important
recurrent topics in his lyrics are the social issues people in townships need to deal
with, and general daily life. These two topics interconnect; since Crosby is an
inhabitant of Gugulethu, he is face to face with the difficult social circumstances.
So, for him it is easier to reflect on the problems in the townships because he is not
an outsider who sees things from a (safe) distance. Through his lyrics, he criticises
the government’s approach towards people living in the townships. For example
they do not get enough financial help to keep the youths occupied and off the
streets.
“There can be a solution to the crime to the cause of the pain / the only thing
that can decrease crime is the government to invest more money in getting the
youth to be active / giving the youth resources computers parks studio’s.”
Crosby urges people who live in bad conditions not to give up hope. He is convinced
that, in the future, everything will get better. There is just a need for change to