In a curious move, the U.S. government is investing tens of thousands of dollars to promote American culture abroad by using music famous for glamorizing violence, misogyny, drugs and lawlessness. The project is called Bridging Cultures Through Hip-Hop and it aims to “explore the commonalities and differences between India and the United States through this influential music genre,” according to the State Department, which plans to spend $70,000 on the absurd endeavor.
In its announcement the agency omits the dark side of Hip-hop, a predominantly African-American brand well known for graphic lyrics involving urban violence and the abuse of women. Instead, the State Department celebrates Hip-hop musicians for using “their art to highlight socio-political problems, particularly pertaining to youth in underserved and other minority communities.” Hip-hop will serve as a valuable tool to show the vibrancy and innovative creativity of U.S. society, according to the State Department, because it exemplifies free expression that promotes values such as pluralism, tolerance and inclusion. With roots in New York, Hip-hop has become so popular that it has “ascended to a global art form,” the government asserts.
The U.S. also claims that this type of music helps increase a sense of connection by building linkages across communities that normally do not interact. “The goal is to engage citizens and artists in social action through music productions that highlight the achievements of the arts in America, promote respect for cultural diversity and understanding, and emphasize the role of music as a form of free expression and tool to promote tolerance and inclusion in democracy,” the State Department grant announcement reads. It further reveals that “Hip-hop culture” is becoming increasingly popular in India and it is difficult to miss the influences from the American Hip-hop scene. The target audience of this bizarre venture is “underserved populations and youth in minority communities.” The plan is for Hip-hop artists from the U.S. to travel to India on American taxpayer dime to perform in cultural festivals and workshops. The State Department expects that the U.S. artists will help address the role of Hip-hop music in “cultural diplomacy.”
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