Samoan Hip Hop and Media Construct of Samoan Gang Member

• In Event: Portrayals of Crime, Criminality and Punishment in Music

Abstract

American Samoan Hip Hop has only recently been a part of the mainstream music scene. As notoriety puts Samoan music artists into the popular entertainment spotlight, the news media demonizes these artists as dangerous members of society. What are the repercussions of such constructs? Are these artists remaining authentic to their culture standing in society or is there a mix of commercial industry image performance versus authentic American Samoan street image performance? What will be the result if society perceives the dangerous American Samoan music icon as the generalized reality of all American Samoans? Hip hop culture is its own subculture, while Samoan culture is its own entity too. But, in the world of hip hop music, the substance of each overlaps. In order to avoid the stigma associated with such demonization, an understanding in particular of American Samoan culture, American Samoan street culture and American Samoan hip hop culture will lead to a better culturally competent understanding of this phenomenon and avoid such negative repercussions.

Author

• Jason Chester Dunbar, Washington State University - Pullman