America in her early years was dominated by the ideas, traditions, and skills of Western Europe. England, particularly, had a profound impact on American culture and society. English was the language to be learned by thousands of new immigrants such as the Germans, Mediterraneans, Eastern Europeans, Asians, and Africans (although for hundreds of years, Africans were not really counted as citizens). (Cooper, 569-573) Therefore, it follows that the music in America was greatly influenced by her European contemporaries, na

During the early era of hip-hop (1973-79), the spun records had to speak for themselves. DJs threw some catchy phrases over the mix; however, there wasn't much to the actual rap element of hip-hop. Later, however, Melle Mel told the world that living could be "like a jungle." This was "The Message." It evoked the nationalist roots of rap better than anything before or since. It was cutting edge. It was what was called "edutainment." This type of nationalism was rooted in the commonality of oppression and "The Message" made it plain. Later artists would try to provide a more political and cultural analysis of the black condition without compromising the basic hip-hop aspects of their raps. (Henderson, 3)

No other rap captured the mindset of the incarcerated blacks the same way as "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos." It restated Malcolm X's assertion that to be black in America was a prison in itself. Rapper Chuck D pushed this line of nationalism into the heralded "Fight the Power." However, the predominant result of all this religion-based nationalism of the NOI was that, although most black youth respected them, they had no intention of joining them. The mere image of Malcolm X captured the hip-hop nation and demanded less of a sacrifice of followership than the discipline of the NOI. Also, the mysticism of NOI philosophy, the centering of history, the making of a messiah/god out of a non-Black Farad Muhammad, countered the more cultural-based nationalism and revolutionary Black Nationalism of black youth. (Henderson, 10)

What was missing from the PE appeal was the same elements missing in the NOI: a cultural focus on African tradition and practice. Enter X-Clan. They fused aspects of revolutionary Black Nationalism. They grounded their nationalism in black culture and in protest that was present day and not simply hearkening back to dead heroes. The Egyptian imagery and philosophy were much more studied and apparent in X-Clan. They were forthright in their nationalism. They coupled their rap with the organizational focus of the Blackwatch Movement, which is a Black Nationalist organization in several cities. Blacks organized "Days of Outrage" as a form of protest. X-Clan gave expression to both the sentiment and the activities that fostered and resulted from continued attacks on black self-determination. (Henderson, 10)

One of the greatest musical forms to come from and be influenced by Black Nationalism is hip-hop (rap) music. It has fostered a profound nationalism in black youth. It is a conduit for African-American culture to a greater extent even than jazz. Jazz embraced the nuances and jagged edges of the collective black experience but it could not self-consciously energize the nationalist philosophy in quite the way the more lyrically focused hip-hop does. It needed the lyric of the poet. Also, they still relied on their jagged edges being intact and still used the talking drum of instrumentation to present day. It captures the black position of struggle, resistance, righteousness, and exploitation in Black America. Hip-hop fused these two forms - poetry and Jazz. It rendered itself the most conductive source of the African-American culture. (Henderson, Errol A. 2)

Black nationalism comes in three varieties. First is that brand that comes from identification rooted in perceived commonality of oppression. Another emerges from a recognition of a common political purposes, objectives, and goals. Third is that type which rests on the justification of a commonality of culture. In the last case, the reactive and purely skin color considerations are bypassed. It takes on self-defining aspects of the culture group and does not derive from reactive definitions. It incorporates gender, class, and other diverse components of society. This nationalism suggests that African-Americans, a distinguishable group, have been subjugated as a group into a caste in the United States. Much of the early nationalism in hip-hop had its

Some topics in this essay:
Black Nationalism, Melle Mel, Henderson Errol, Fly Girl, X-Clan Henderson, African American, Eventually American-born, Beastie Boys, Jesse Jackson's, Casanova Crew, black nationalism, black youth, black nationalist, image hip-hop, henderson errol 2, errol 2, henderson errol, run dmc, black community, cooper 569-573, nationalism black, impact american music, black nationalism 1, black nationalist poets, black panther party,