What is Pop Culture?

To me, Pop culture is anything that entertains a mass amount of people. This includes TV, social media, music and much more. When I think about pop culture, the first thing that comes to mind is music. Specifically, Hip Hop. 

On one hand, Hip Hop has changed a lot since it first came about in the 1970’s. Back then, I feel like hip hop had more of a purpose and that rappers were making music to start movements and to talk about different things that were wrong in their communities. For example, N.W.A. made songs like “Fuck the Police” to illustrate their anger and frustration with police brutality. Their music really opened people’s eyes to police brutality and helped inspire people to fight against it. Today, we’re having some of the same issues in regards to police brutality as they had back then. While there are movements, like Black Lives Matter, that are fighting against police brutality, it is rare that you hear mainstream rappers talking about the issue in their music. 

On the other hand, what we do hear today, is songs about drugs, sex, and violence. In that context, Hip Hop hasn't changed so much. While I still believe rappers were more conscious in the past, it is impossible to ignore the fact that there were popular songs back then that were about violence, sex, and drugs. That part of Rap has not changed. But still, back then violence and drugs were a real part of rappers lives. They weren't rapping about it because it was cool or popular. They were rapping about it because it was real. Today however, more often than not, the context of most hip hop songs is made up and in no way reflects what really goes on in these rappers lives. For example, Drakes “Started from the bottom” song. Drake was a popular actor before he became famous for his music, so I think it is safe to say that he never truly started from the bottom. Unlike, rappers from back in the day, like Biggie Smalls, who literally started from nothing and worked their way to popularity.