Abstract
This chapter addresses the use of the controversial N-word by non-black fans or performers during live shows and reflects on it may reshape the performer/audience relationship. Crowd involvement and cooperation being instrumental to creating and building intensity and unity, can the rap performance still work as a cooperative venture with non-black fans singing black rappers’ unaltered lyrics?
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Anderson, E. (2018). Black in white space. Penn Institute for Urban Research. Retrieved from https://penniur.upenn.edu/index.php/publications/black-in-white-space
Datta, H., Knox, G., & Bronnenber, B. (2018). Changing their tune: How consumers’ adoption of online streaming affects music consumption and discovery. Marketing Science, 37(1), 5–21.
Demby, G. (2013, September 10). Who can use the N-word? That’s the wrong question [Web log message]. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/09/06/219737467/who-can-use-the-n-word-thats-the-wrong-question
Josephs, B. (2017, September 13). How do rappers handle “nigga” during the rise of white-dominated festivals? SPIN. Retrieved from https://www.spin.com/featured/how-do-rappers-handle-nigga-at-white-dominated-festivals/
Kennedy, R. (2002). Nigger: The strange career of a troublesome word. New York: First Vintage Books.
Milo. (2015). Souvenir (featuring Hemlock Ernst). On So The Flies Don’t Come. Ruby Yacht.
Reed, C. (2017, October 27). Disregard of N-word warning at A&O Blowout disgraceful. The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved from https://dailynorthwestern.com
Simmons, R. (2012, June 5). Why is everyone so cray about Gwyneth’s tweet? Global Grind Entertainment. Retrieved from https://globalgrind.cassiuslife.com/1843519/russell-simmons-defends-gwyneth-paltrow-niggas-in-paris-blog/
Taylor, Ben. (2018, May 24). White people, you don’t have to say the N-word. The DJBOOTH. Retrieved from https://djbooth.net/features/2018-05-24-white-people-n-word-conversation
Weiner, J. (2012, June 12). “Niggas,” in practice. Slate. Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2012/06/gwyneth_paltrow_and_niggas_in_paris_is_it_ever_ok_for_white_people_to_use_the_word_.html
Williams, S. (2018, May 24). Kendrick Lamar, black language and what white fans don’t get about the “N-word”. Billboard. Retrieved from https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8457834/kendrick-lamar-n-word-white-fans
Wilson, S. (2017, November 8). Is it okay for white fans to sing the n-word at concerts? NOW. Retrieved from https://nowtoronto.com/music/features/is-it-okay-for-white-fans-to-sing-the-n-word-at-concerts/
Zidel, A. (2018, May 22). T.I. gives his take on Kendrick Lamar fan rapping “N-word” on stage. HNHH.com . Retrieved from https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/ti-gives-his-take-on-kendrick-lamar-fan-rapping-n-word-on-stage-news.50821.html
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Diallo, D. (2019). Rap Music and Singing Along to the N-word. In: Collective Participation and Audience Engagement in Rap Music. Pop Music, Culture and Identity. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25377-6_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25377-6_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-25376-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-25377-6
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)