Hip-hop and neoliberalism
MARK FISHER
Both rap and neoliberalism are 30 years old: 1979, the year that Margaret Thatcher was elected, was also the year when the Sugarhill Gang had the first bona fide hip-hop hit with “Rapper’s Delight”. At the time, few anticipated either the impact that neoliberalism and hip-hop would have, or the way in which they would come to echo one another. “Rapper’s Delight”, with its steal from Chic’s “Good Times” providing a backdrop to freestyling rhymes, was treated as little more than a post-disco novelty record. But within a decade hip-hop would be the globally dominant pop music and neoliberalism would have changed the political/economic climate.
neoliberalism got underway seriously with j. carter, not thatcher
JP — Fisher is British, as is the New Statesman, so it’s understandable that he’d mention Thatcher rather than Carter.
Oooh I love Hip hop! Hip hop n’ whiskey! Great story but what’s a neoliberist? Is that like Matrix with no guns, cuz they can’t afford them because they’re on welfare?? I love Keanu!
Whateves… Hip Hop rules and dat song is da bomb!
I’m not sure if I should take that as a failed attempt at satire or a failed attempt at racially-twinged humor.
Though I am a fan of whiskey as well!
That comment is hilarious on so many levels.
Oh gosh, no racially-twinged anything there my friend!
my mind was in the Matrix!
I just wasn’t familiar with neoliberalism but I know it’s good for peeps like me with bad jobs … and since this movement is for the poor and reforming welfare well .. and being a Keanu Reeves fan I was just a lil confused.
Basically the article is art, I just didn’t interpret it the way you did.
But here’s the thing… the deal, I now know what NEO liberalism is .. and Y’all taught it to me
My vision was a bit sexier though!
This might be one of the greatest comments of any and all times. Just in case this wasn’t a brilliant joke — neoliberalism is absolutely terrible for people with bad jobs.
I would very, very, very, hypocritically recommend Naomi Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine.”
Thank you Sir, I shall get on that right away… well as soon as I learn to read!
P.S Rap is okay for me isn’t it?
“Rap is something you do, Hip-Hop is something you live” – KRS-ONE.