--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By denying its musical and artistic…" description: "\"By denying its musical and artistic merit, hip hop's critics get to have it both ways: they can deny the legitimate artistic standing of rap while seiz..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/michael-eric-dyson-1424_art_by-denying-its-musical-and-artistic-meri_327930.png" --- # By denying its musical and artistic merit, hip hop's… ![“By denying its musical and artistic merit, hip hop's critics get to have it both ways: they can deny the legitimate artistic standing of rap while seizing on its pervasive influence as an art form to prove what a terrible effect it has on youth.” quote by Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/michael-eric-dyson-1424_art_by-denying-its-musical-and-artistic-meri_327930.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/michael-eric-dyson-1424_art_by-denying-its-musical-and-artistic-meri_327930.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/michael-eric-dyson-1424_art_by-denying-its-musical-and-artistic-meri_327930.png) > “By denying its musical and artistic merit, hip hop's critics get to have it both ways: they can deny the legitimate artistic standing of rap while seizing on its pervasive influence as an art form to prove what a terrible effect it has on youth.” [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critics paradoxically deny hip hop’s artistic value while exploiting its cultural impact to claim it harms youth. **In simple terms:** Hip hop is both praised and condemned. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural bias in artistic criticism. Themes culture art social critique Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education curricula - media analysis - policy debates - parenting discussions Key Concepts racism media bias artistic value Questions to Reflect On - How do we evaluate art fairly? - What role should cultural impact play in criticism? A Different Perspective Artistic merit is subjective; some concerns about content are valid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-form/) [Artistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Pervasive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pervasive/) [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [The methodologies of examining hip hop are borrowed from sociology, politics, religion, economics, urban studies, journalism, communications theory, American studies, transatlantic studies, black studies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/the-methodologies-of-examining-hip-hop-are-borrowed-from-sociology/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Ideas come from all over, but as I write more and more, I find I'm always hunting for mood: I want to write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/ideas-come-from-all-over-but-as-i-write-more-and-more-i-find-i-m/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [We have an institutional problem with pervasive racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-williams/we-have-an-institutional-problem-with-pervasive-racism/) [Monty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-williams/) > [Our technologies become more complex while we become more simple. 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We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/every-day-we-at-the-united-nations-see-the-human-toll-of-an-absence/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Our vision is for pervasive computing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-robison/our-vision-is-for-pervasive-computing/) [James Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-robison/) > [Science shouldn't be just for scientists, and there are encouraging signs that it is becoming more pervasive in culture and the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/science-shouldn-t-be-just-for-scientists-and-there-are-encouraging/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [There's a shift to mobile apps; I'd like to see a more pervasive communications experience, and I think Skype can contribute to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bates/there-s-a-shift-to-mobile-apps-i-d-like-to-see-a-more-pervasive/) [Tony Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bates/) > [“The elements of control within society are pervasive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-elements-of-control-within-society-are-pervasive/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Innovation will come from an ecosystem of pervasive computing so natural and all-encompassing that it disappears into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-philippe-courtois/innovation-will-come-from-an-ecosystem-of-pervasive-computing-so/) [Jean-Philippe Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-philippe-courtois/) > [Innovation has to be pervasive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/innovation-has-to-be-pervasive/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) ## More by Michael Eric Dyson > [Jeremiah Wright is one of the greatest prophetic preachers that black America has produced. 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