DJing as a Filipino Thing

The author, Tiongson, explores several perspectives on the Filipino hip hop movement. He discusses the origins of the hip hop movement, started by young blacks and Puerto Ricans in the Bronx, and modern hip hop deejays that fall outside of the original demographic. He explores whether or not modern Filipino deejays are creating "authentic" hip hop. In my opinion, whether or not Filipinos were present in the initial movement is not relevant. What I find important with creating authentic hip hop is a shared desire to form a tight grassroots community and express oneself honestly. Furthermore, hip hop tends to share certain themes, such as impoverished roots, racial struggles, and a desire to live and enjoy life. It is my belief that the modern Filipino hip hop origins more than share in all of these aspects with the original African American and Puerto Rican hip hop movement, and should be considered authentic. Hip hop has an interesting relationship with race. Obviously the two are connected. If they were not, how would one explain the abundance of African American men in hip hop, and the dearth of say, Caucasian or Asian individuals in the movement. Belonging to a race with it's own hip hop movement gives the artist a set group of individuals with whom to associate and gain notoriety. Within hip hop, races tend to form small sub-genres where artists discuss similar issues and appeal to those who can identify to their position in life. That being said, hip hop is not owned by race. Independent artists from races not typically associated with hip hop make notoriety on a somewhat regular basis. Lil Dicky and Macklemore both fall into this category. Both rap about obscure, nontraditional subjects, and fall under the Caucasian demographic. However, both are extremely talented and write their music with a particular audience's struggles in mind. While one could suggest that these artists are making a mockery of hip hop, I prefer to take the stance that anyone with a love for hip hop expression, and a message for an audience is perfectly entitles to create their own "authentic" music, whether they are black, white, Puerto Rican, Filipino, or anything in between.