Although released in 2011, record executive Steve Stoute’s “The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy” was recently turned into a 2-part documentary series on VH1.
I was a little hesitant about watching but the documentary took it back from the beginning and giving the insight of the thought process it took just to get African Americans on television yet alone on the radios. Even for those who are well-versed in hip-hop's beginnings, the special included some priceless footage and interviews from Russell Simmons, Diddy, Mariah Carey, Al Sharpton, Nas and numerous other individuals who have had an impact on the culture in some way.
Although most of the interviews reflects those teens that grew up in the 80s when hip hop began, I remember growing up in the 90s as a teen falling in love with hip hop. Sharing cassette tapes of of various rappers in New York, California, and Miami. Me and my best friend use to play Bone-Thugs in Harmony on repeat just to learn the words. Calling into TheBox just to hear our favorite songs played on the video channel. Before VH1 & MTV ever decided to open their market up to hip hop and rap music.
It was definitely a time that most kids of the 90s felt that they too can be rappers. Hip Hop was ideally the voice for the voiceless. Our outlet, our sound, our dances... once crossed over became somewhat unidentifiable. Yet necessary for the culture to grow.
"We had no choice as hip hop artist to tell our story because we tired of it being told to you by people who hate us" - Nasir 'Nas' Jones
Steve Stoute interviewed with New York's Power 105.1 Breakfast club and gave a very insightful aspect of the documentary. Hence the reason I decided to give this documentary a try. Although people tend to group hip hop with just the music - those that grew up in it and in some cases raised them- is a culture within itself. A very lucrative culture at that.
Check out Steve's interview and the full documentary (part 1 &2) below:
Part 1: 'Tanning of America' Word is Born (
video) -
Part 2: 'Tanning of America': Fight the Power (
video) -
ForeverMeah says... I always thought... One day I would outgrow my relationship with Hip Hop. I never thought it was a "fad" like many, but I never thought it could grow and mature. I thought it would be an adolescent memory I'd look back on it... like a crush. But it's deeper than that. We have a history... a friendship... a bond... My feelings have never been more clear, and I know they will never go away. I'm not a big fan of the new HipHop - more so impressed by the beats than the word play, just when you think you know everything there is to know about Hip Hop, it finds a way to surprise you... and remind you why you fell in love in the first place.
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