The World Still Doesn’t Care About Hip-Hop Posted by Alex Siber on 11/21/13 | Filed under Opinion

Say what you will about college (and college specifically in the United States), but the resources are unparalleled, and the classes are crucial for your growth and success in the mainstream world.
    
That’s what they tell you, anyway. While an education is invaluable, I’ve found myself appreciating what I experience in the dorm room more than what I learn in the classroom. The backgrounds, heritages and stories you hear walking through the halls trace back to nearly every continent. It’s here where the true treasure trove of information exists. To be more specific, where else could you so closely gauge the impact and reach of hip-hop overseas, from the far corners of the globe in China and India? 
    
Unfortunately, the spread of hip-hop appears to be very limited. Many of my international floor-mates either listen to rap very rarely, or look down on the art form as a whole. Occasionally, tales of anti-rap exposure surpass a level of absurdity. At some point during the first week of September, an English-speaking kid from Hong Kong walked into my room to discuss music. Within several moments, he told me that he had seen Kendrick Lamar perform at a club. A thrilled smile struck my face, and grew wider when he shared that he met Lamar. The happiness vanished soon thereafter, as he recalled telling a shocked Kendrick that he “hated rap.” He’d even parade into my room over the course of the next month, urging me to admit that I “hated rap” too.

My roommate, from the Chinese city of Macau, expressed similar sentiments. Occasionally, I’d play a track and he’d nod in approval (Chance the Rapper boasts this cosign), but more often that not I would receive laughs. I played everything, ranging from Nas’ “New York State of Mind” to Drake’s “Hold On, Were Going Home” (not really rap, I know, but it emphasizes the variety). Still, his distaste has hardly wavered. Yet another friend, from India, also laughs whenever I talk about hip-hop. Of course, these reactions are not all-encompassing. They do, though, serve as a glimpse into the global perception of hip-hop. 
    
Interestingly though, the act of rapping garners wonderment from many of the same foreign students who either dislike or disregard the genre itself. They consider it a real talent and respect it, yet they feel no need to say, “Hey, I can do this too!” and begin writing punchlines or attempting freestyles. Nothing could be further from the current culture that now exists in America. “Oh, you rap too?” has transformed into a cringe-inducing statement of mockery, and the appreciation of rap here has diminished in many ways. The pool is more diluted than ever, and the waters are muddy. 

Here in American hip-hop can feel like an overwhelming cultural force, but the truth is an entire global market exists for hip-hop, and it’s largely untapped. Yes, the genre boasts a strong following around the world, but the potential for further expansion is limitless. Maybe hip-hop's global influence is just beginning....or already ending. 

(By @Alex_Siber)