Hip hop identity in a township reality. - Poppunt

and restricted, most of the (taxi)buses stop driving after five o’clock in the
afternoon. Owning a car is very rare given the high poverty in the townships. So the
only things they can talk about, are the social issues that arise in their own
environment, the townships.
Topics relating to this are poverty and living in bad social circumstances, drugs
abuse, the temptations of crime and gangsterism, AIDS, etc. The fact that people
who come from the townships are automatically stigmatised in daily life is
discussed in several song lyrics. Chances of being ‘successful’ on any level are
dramatically reduced when you originate from a deprived area.
Concerning the topics, we can conclude that the rappers do not have a wide
spectrum of themes to discuss in their songs. This can be explained by the fact that
their inspiration has mostly come from experiences from their own life. Since they
are limited in many ways, that life consists of few different things and places. As a
consequence, the source of inspiration they have at their disposal is rather
confined.
2.2. Messages and goals
Although the majority of the topics have negative connotations, the messages that
come out are all positive. This shows that they do not reconcile themselves with the
situation they are living in, because they do not want to be stuck in the same place
for the rest of their lives. Trying to be successful in the music business can be one
way of getting away from the townships. If they are able to make money from of the
songs they produce by performing or selling CDs, they have more possibilities to
find a more comfortable place to live for their family. Being financially independent
through making music is not the main goal for all though. It would be a bonus, but
the rappers seek higher and less materialistic achievements than that.
Since the interviewees are telling their audience about the conditions they live in,
they want to make sure that everybody realises how hard it is to grow up in
townships. They use this fact to give people strength so they can personally change
the situation. The rappers who live in the townships and have already gained some
status through their musical careers are living evidence that one can be successful
no matter where one comes from. Because of the standing they have in the
community, the rappers can be a role-model for the younger generations, making it
easier to pass on their positive points of view.