PROFILE
Andrew McFall
Andrew McFall
Consultant
Andrew has a passion for making a difference and inspiring others to reach beyond their perceived limitations by channeling their unimaginable potential into meaningful pursuits. In May, 2010, Andrew received a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from the Columbia University Graduate School of International and Public Affairs.
- Hip Hop's Influence on New York's Youth
Comment: I long for the days when the pendullum of Hip Hop music swung in more than one direction. When NWA talked about living in Compton, Slick Rick narrated imaginative children's stories, while Public Enemy encouraged us to "Fight the Power" and warned against believing in the hype. Today we are constantly fed a diet of distilled Hip Hop music that is devoid of any cognitive, informative, or spirtual value. Hip Hop music is too phenomenal to be typecast as a monolithic artform of urban degradation and misgogyny. For me it used to be uplifting, inspiring, political, thought provoking, and at a minimum a consistent joy to listen to. A few years back, Nas claimed that "Hip Hop is dead." Well I would contend that it may not have flat lined, but it's in desparate need of life support. So what's the solution? I would argue that more dialogue like this is needed to hold the artist, record companies, and radio broadcasters accountable. The challenge needs to erupt within the hip hop community and then galvanized in the larger community. Organizations, schools, colleges and universities need to embrace Hip Hop music in their workshops, lesson plans, classrooms, and course work. These efforts will help to guide young people in determining what's great and what's garbage. Hip Hop music continues to be the pulse of the urban experience. It's influential, innovative, and monumental. So like many of my you I would be willing to support fresh strategies that breathe new life into the artform.
Posted on July 29, 2010
ARCHIVES
VIEW FULL ARCHIVE- Improving Policing and Care for the Disabled
Posted on May 11, 2012 - Are Bad Rules Making Bad Cities?
Posted on April 30, 2012 - The Risks of Lien Sales
Posted on April 27, 2012 - Myths of the Minimum Wage
Posted on April 25, 2012 - Immigration and NYC's Resurgence
Posted on April 09, 2012
CONVERSATIONS SPONSOR
CURRENT TOPICS
- Improving Policing and Care for the Disabled
- Are Bad Rules Making Bad Cities?
- The Risks of Lien Sales
- Myths of the Minimum Wage
- Immigration and NYC's Resurgence
- Time for Mandatory Paid Sick Leave in New York City?
- School Testing Drama: Are Students Center-Stage or a Sideshow?
- The GED: Private Property, Public Good
- Toward a Greener Brooklyn: Has Gov't Helped?
- Toward a Greener Brooklyn: Go Green, Fight Poverty
AUTHORS
- Tamara Steckler
- Suleiman Osman
- Steve Lilienthal
- Shaun Donovan
- Sarah Crean
- Samuel I. Schwartz
- Ron Dembo
- Roberta Brandes Gratz
- Robert Walsh
- Robert Jackson
- Robert Doar
- Richard Lipsky
- Ralph da Costa Nunez
- Pedro Noguera
- Norman Oder
- Mustafa Sullivan
- Moises Perez
- Michelle Holder
- Melissa Mark-Viverito
- Matthew Goldstein
ABOUT CITY CONVERSATIONS
City Conversations is City Limits' forum for meaningful dialogue on the social, political, and policy issues that shape critical civic issues. City Conversation gives readers first-hand access to the opinions of the city's leading academics, advocates and policymakers, as well as let you sound off on the topics that matter to you most.
Sign-up for Conversations Updates
