What does hip-hop mean and who is it for? Characters from Paradox Live the Animation share their perspectives.
Paradox Live the Animation is an ongoing project that follows several hip-hop bands participating in a competition for a huge prize, which takes place in a mysteriously rebuilt CLUB PARADOX.
We will spoil some characters' perspectives, so it might be worth it to watch the anime before coming back here for this conversation.
In episode two, Allen and Kanata, two hip-hop artists who are invited to CLUB PARADOX, get into an argument over who hip-hop belongs to. Kanata has lived his life in poverty, and he believes that hip-hop is for the people who have similar experiences. Allen, who is well-off, and whose friend is extremely rich, points out that poverty does not have a monopoly on pain. He suggests that hip-hop does not discriminate, and Kanata seems moved by his words.
Kanata is not wrong, though.
Hip-hop, according to Wikipedia, was first created in the 60s and 70s in the US by black people in poor boroughs of New York City, and it also incorporated Jamaican influences, with Jamaica being a very poor country at the time. Availability of hip-hop music and culture to the poor was, therefore, important.
Indeed, as Kanata points out, hip-hop music was originally used by poor people to express themselves and show others that they are alive and not broken down from all their hardships. Kanata does not seem to appreciate that hip-hop is appropriated by richer people.
But Wait, Allen Has a Point: Hip-Hop Message is Universal
Allen is not too wrong either; any cultural phenomenon, especially popular ones, does not have to discriminate. Especially since hip-hop has long left the US (and the events of the anime take place in Japan), which means that hip-hop migrating between countries and people is actually crucial for the anime.
It does not mean that the origins of hip-hop should be forgotten; it simply means that hip-hop has grown out of its original form and evolved into numerous forms, with people of different races and backgrounds being able to play it.
Kanata and Allen are both parts of different hip-hop groups, and while Allen's music is upbeat and light, Kanata sings of human hardships. It seems like a great decision on the part of Paradox Live the Animation to show how their experiences affect their art.
In the end, Kanata has more of a leg to stand on, seeing how historically, hip-hop was, just as he describes, the music and culture of the poor. However, Allen also has a point. If hip-hop is about expressing emotion, especially pain, then it cannot be restricted to a specific group of people. Even people who had never known poverty experience pain, after all.
What does hip-hop mean and who is it for? Characters from Paradox Live the Animation share their perspectives.
Paradox Live the Animation is an ongoing project that follows several hip-hop bands participating in a competition for a huge prize, which takes place in a mysteriously rebuilt CLUB PARADOX.
We will spoil some characters' perspectives, so it might be worth it to watch the anime before coming back here for this conversation.
In episode two, Allen and Kanata, two hip-hop artists who are invited to CLUB PARADOX, get into an argument over who hip-hop belongs to. Kanata has lived his life in poverty, and he believes that hip-hop is for the people who have similar experiences. Allen, who is well-off, and whose friend is extremely rich, points out that poverty does not have a monopoly on pain. He suggests that hip-hop does not discriminate, and Kanata seems moved by his words.
Kanata is not wrong, though.
Hip-hop, according to Wikipedia, was first created in the 60s and 70s in the US by black people in poor boroughs of New York City, and it also incorporated Jamaican influences, with Jamaica being a very poor country at the time. Availability of hip-hop music and culture to the poor was, therefore, important.
Indeed, as Kanata points out, hip-hop music was originally used by poor people to express themselves and show others that they are alive and not broken down from all their hardships. Kanata does not seem to appreciate that hip-hop is appropriated by richer people.
But Wait, Allen Has a Point: Hip-Hop Message is Universal
Allen is not too wrong either; any cultural phenomenon, especially popular ones, does not have to discriminate. Especially since hip-hop has long left the US (and the events of the anime take place in Japan), which means that hip-hop migrating between countries and people is actually crucial for the anime.
It does not mean that the origins of hip-hop should be forgotten; it simply means that hip-hop has grown out of its original form and evolved into numerous forms, with people of different races and backgrounds being able to play it.
Kanata and Allen are both parts of different hip-hop groups, and while Allen's music is upbeat and light, Kanata sings of human hardships. It seems like a great decision on the part of Paradox Live the Animation to show how their experiences affect their art.
In the end, Kanata has more of a leg to stand on, seeing how historically, hip-hop was, just as he describes, the music and culture of the poor. However, Allen also has a point. If hip-hop is about expressing emotion, especially pain, then it cannot be restricted to a specific group of people. Even people who had never known poverty experience pain, after all.
