But You're Canadian!

Here's an equation for you:
You listen to hip hop? + But you're Canadian = You're Jamaican + But You're Canadian!
Both statements = ridiculous responses
Therefore, You are ridiculous.

I realize that I'm getting caught up in American-related hip hop issues. While valid, I think that the job of reporting on hip hop is well taken care of by Jay Smooth, Hashim, Funkdigi, Clyde, Trickology, AllHipHop.com and a host of other dope sites. This doesn't mean that I won't post about American-related hip hop issues, but that I will make an effort to report on Canada's hip hop scene as I experience it.

Don't laugh. Canadians do listen to hip hop. It's interesting to find that when I tell people that I listen to hip hop, they often reply with "but you're from Canada". Oh that's right because my musical tastes must be comprised of "Mountie Music" with the national anthem, "Oh Canada" on the remix track and lead vocals by Shania Twain, Celine Dion and Avril Lavigne. Why is being Canadian a qualifier for my percieved two-dimensional tastes by non-Canadians?

I think it has a lot less to do with Discover Channel induced images of snow, igloos, and First Nations and Aboriginal (not "natives") peoples in goose down parkas, and more to do with looking at the context in which hip hop was created.

It wasn't created by an American kid in the slums who wanted to make music for American people, but rather influenced by a Jamaican immigrant who brought his musical influences from "back home" to the "land of opportunity". Reggae and dub culture emigrated to the US. Once there it was manipulated to appease the tastes of the locals, and ta-da! hip hop. It then grew to become the omnipresent force that now permeates the way we walk, talk, speak, laugh, interact, chat, and blog.

I have a feeling, someone out there is wondering, "What is this chick whining about?" It's simple. Hip Hop wasn't created in a vaccum. The things that influence the music and culture were inspired by more than the "American way". So if you want to find "Mountie Music" and Celine Dion remixes head to Ebay because I'm not the one.