In his documentary, Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes, Filmmaker and self-described “Hip Hop Head,” Byron Hurt, takes an in-depth look at masculinity and manhood in the world of rap and hip-hop. I’m a bit late coming onto this, since it was released back in 06, but we just watched a clip from it last night in my Dialogues on Race group. In the film, Hurt explores the industry of hip hop, where creative genius collides with misogyny, violence and homophobia, exposing the complex intersections of culture and commerce. Are the media and music industries really to blame for this? Where do we place the responsibility… on the artists, the listeners, society as a whole? I think it’s a little bit of everyone really. I think, though I may be generalizing, that this is an issue many hip-hop fans struggle with. At least, I know I do.

Hurt says…

“The more I grew and the more I learned about sexism and violence and homophobia, the more those lyrics became unacceptable to me,” he says. “And I began to become more conflicted about the music that I loved.”

The film comes in 6 parts. I highly suggest you watch the whole thing…

Also, if you want a rough brush up on your hip-hop history, take a look at this Timeline of Hip-Hop.

The one hour documentary dives into the personal, cultural, and political impact of gay men raising children themselves. Conservatives regard them the very antithesis of family, and many believe having a mother is an essential part of a child’s development. The list of countries restricting international adoption by single men or gay couples is rapidly expanding, and many states are outlawing gay adoption altogether. Just last year, Utah and Mississippi joined Florida in banning gay adoption. DADDY & PAPA explores the value of alternative households, and the changing face of the American family.
link it.