Hip Hop Culture and America’s Most Taboo Word
The associations between hip hop and use of the “n word” have been the focus of a great deal of public debate. Drawing on research in Chicago focused especially on Latino performers, this article looks at the controversy from within hip hop culture itself, examining the norms that regulate the use of the “n word.” These rules are dependent upon context as well as one’s position in the racial hierarchy.
Purchase this article from UC Press
online resources
online video
Sonny Black, “Watch Yo Mouth”: the same song described by Harkness in the article’s opening paragraphs:
Frank Nit, interviewed in Harkness’ article:
Pinqy Ring, also interview in the article:
Bill Cosby and Tim Russert discuss the n-word in hip hop:
online audio
- Michael Eric Dyson on Bill Cosby, Hip Hop and the n-word, July 18, 2007, Democracy Now
- KRS-ONE and Paul Mooney discuss the n-word on NPR
- Latino blog radio show, Capicu!, discuss Latino use of the n-word.
further reading
Who gets to use the N word?, an interview with Jabari Asim, author of The N Word in Salon.
