Black Music VS. White Music

Written: 11/29/2018. Partially revised: 2/10/22

One day in my Christian Foundations class, our teacher told us that he listened to and enjoyed, favorited, Kendrick Lamar’s album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City; he explained how some things in the album relate to the lesson: how God puts an eternal desire for Him in all human beings. After he was finished talking, I asked him, “did you Google this stuff yesterday or something, or did you actually listen to the album?”

I was a very snarky and skeptical kid. I saw problems that my class didn't.

So, of course, I got eyes rolls and protests from the class. Still, he answered, “No, I did. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is actually one of my top 10 favorite hip-hop albums.”

Naturally, for me:

“I don’t believe that.”

Was my basic answer.

---

It was 1:44 pm, nine minutes before class ended when he took us outside. I was standing on one of the higher points of the playground, facing towards the parking lot, where the other kids played tag football. The teacher stood at the door, watching the same thing I was. I looked at him briefly and I knew, in the front of my head, I just knew he was going to ask me the question.

He made a comment (or pun, so to say) about me having a “higher view on things” (or something like that). I gave a small chuckle. Then he asked me the question I knew he was destined to ask,

“Why didn’t you believe I would like Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City?” I lightly shrugged my shoulders and, due to the volume of the majority of the class playing, I yelled back, “I just don’t see it!”

Because you’re white. Was the thought I kept hidden in my mind.

He ran over to the playground and peaked around the beam.

He was playful liked that.

He asked, “Is it because I’m white?” I laughed, hiding my shock (like how the hell did he know that?), and said, “no”, then I laughed some more and said, “yes.”

The rest of this memory gets split two ways.

On one side, I don’t think he said anymore after that, but I think he still held a small smile on his face. (Or an insulted one at most). Feeling the need to explain myself, I tried thinking of an explanation, but before I could speak, he was already yelling that class was over.

On the other side, we started to talk. He checked his watch and called everyone in.

---

I was finally settling into a window seat on our final bus home, when that instance, that one moment I was trying not to think about since I left his class, resurfaced in my brain:

“Is it because I’m white?”

At the time, I scolded myself:

Yes! I just had to say yes! I could’ve stuck with no and been fine, but no, I just had to be honest and say “yes.”

Dammit, I didn’t mean--nor do I hope I did-- sound offensive.

For me, at the time, it was not likely for white people to like any form of hip-hop besides Drake or, to the maximum, Cardi B.

The only white person I knew who liked Kendrick Lamar was my vocabulary teacher.

It’s odd.

One in a million.

Taboo even.

Or is it?

I’m black. I like hip-hop, but it’s not my favorite genre, better yet, I barely even listen to it.

My favorite genre started to lean towards rock, rock-alternative, and pop. Don’t get me wrong, I used to enjoy hip-hop.

Once Hip-Hop faded into Trap, I fell off.

Trap, in my opinion, is nothing but rappers talking shit about guns they don’t have, trapping that they don’t do anymore, sex they don’t get, girls they’re still trying to find.

However, Hip-Hop has those elements as well, but when mash that with drugs, partying, autotune, and slurred speech--- it’s just isn’t the same.

The beat outrides the lyrics.

I got tired of lyrics that I can’t understand!

I already knew about certain bands such as Fall Out Boy and Imagine Dragons. I even remember the Linkin Park and Korn songs my dad use to play late at night when he thought everyone was asleep.

Yet, it wasn’t till I decided to explore more of it (Twenty One Pilots, Panic! At The Disco, Green Day, etc.) is when I found a deep love for the genre.

But I’m black. I’m not sure if that’s expected from me.

I’m black, in an urban environment, and happened to prefer--- and enjoy, Fall Out Boy over Lil Baby.

Even as I’m typing this I recall all the times I had to tell students in my class that I listen to “white people” because I knew they wouldn’t know who I would be naming, not to mention, that would probably be the first to second question they’ll ask anyway.

I remember a classmate asked me who Fall Out Boy was, another kid, who happened to recognize the name, told her that it was a rock band, basically blowing it off. She asked, “are they white?” I answered truthfully and said yes.

“Hmm, sounds gay,” I didn’t know how to respond.

I already knew that black people knowing much of “white music” was odd (or they knew of it and didn’t show or care for it), but damn.

That kind of hurt.

When I talk to my teachers, who are white, about these bands, they know about them and enjoy them.

This is an interesting topic to think about now that I'm older, but since I am:

What do you guys think about this? Is there a line to draw to when it comes to music, especially historically exclusive genres such as Hip-Hop?

--- Stein