First Assignment

      1. What are the grounds (reasons) for Tate’s pessimism over the current condition and the future trajectory of Hip Hop culture?
          

                Tate believes that the Hip Hop culture will disappear from society and is not getting the recognition it should because of the way the public is using Hip Hop and the depiction of Hip Hop is only being seen in a negative aspect. He discusses how Hip Hop is being used to make money nowadays by using African Americans troubles and physical traits such as their hair. The struggles for African Americans lead people to believe that Hip Hop is only associated with drugs and violence. Tate tries to mention that African Americans are trying to let their voices be heard through the Hip Hop culture.  

2. What are the grounds (reasons) for Pough’s optimism over the future trajectory of Hip Hop culture?

                Pough’s believes that the Hip Hop culture will live on because of the voices of the African American community, history, and historical people. The people of the Bronx spoke up and allowed their voices to be heard through their music. They showed their frustrations and emotions to the world and demonstrated what is actually going on in society. Another example is the Black Panther Movement which gave people the opportunity to speak their minds. Then along came Tupac, Biggie, Martin Luther King Jr., and others who helped build communities and allowed them to think about what is going on in society. The combination of Hip Hop and social movements allows the culture of Hip Hop to live on.

3.  What are the common grounds between these two perspectives?

                 Both writers know that the evolution of Hip Hop has to do with the history of African Americans. What led African Americans to gain power and acknowledgement from the people was speaking their mind through Hip Hop and social movements. Tate and Pough tell the reader how much history has played a role in the Hip Hop culture.

4. What are the missing elements in these two opposite perspectives?
      

                Elements that Tate and Pough should have mention are how other ethnicities are involved with the Hip Hop culture and what Hip Hop is like in present day. Talking about other ethnicities can allow the reader to see how much Hip Hop has grew besides associating the Hip Hop culture with blacks only. Also bringing up present day of Hip Hop could show that people of all races are greatly affected by the Hip Hop culture as well. 

JKW