Hip: The History Review: Hippin’ Ain’t Easy

How often have you seen some big trend hit the streets and wonder to yourself “Now, why is that considered to be cool”? “Hip: The History,” written by John Leland, is here to answer your question. Everyone knows, in a sense, what it means to be “hip.” Mark Twain, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong are all universal examples of “hipness.” But if you ask someone to define it, they’ll likely look at you with their mouth gaping like a fish. That is where John Leland comes in.

In this book, not only does he tell us, in a way, what it means to be “hip,” but also explains the history behind the entire culture of “hip.” It’s a long and twisted journey, from the days of slavery and Minstrel Shows, to current-day hip-hop. And it is a hell of a ride.

Hip is America, and America is hip. Such is an overriding theme throughout the book. Hip means encouraging variation and adaptation, calling upon all variety of influences and making them your own. Hip is as American as apple pie, but an apple pie isn’t likely to be hip. Hip is historically intertwined with the growth and development of America, socially, morally, economically, and culturally.

If you will excuse the colloquial phrase, “Hip is ‘Murica.”

Having written on the issues of race and pop culture for over two decades, Mr. Leland has a solid background to draw upon. Taking us on a trip through history, he shows us, era by era, trend by trend, just how exactly the introduction of slavery, and thus black culture and the inherent mixing with white culture, was what gave birth to the original “hip.” The musical rhythms and general mentality of the African culture that the slaves brought to America and, inadvertently, introduced to their white slave-owners who, in turn and also inadvertently, introduced their own European culture and heritage to the slaves. This synthesis allowed for a cultural exchange without boundaries, an event that really hadn’t taken place before. Leland goes on from there through each great cultural era of America, starting with the Minstrel shows, on to gangsters, the beatniks, the hippies, hip-hop, and so on. Hip is and also is not a business. It is a vital part of our culture, and yet is also separate from it. Hip draws upon everything.

If there is anything that will be a turn off for the reader, it is in Leland’s language. No, it is not a steady stream of swear words, but he is very blunt with his descriptions. If a situation calls for the use of the dreaded “n-word,” or any similar epithet, he uses it, in full, uncensored glory. He maintains the proper historical and cultural context for it, but this will likely still offend many readers’ sensibilities of “proper speaking.” Beyond that, he is overall very intellectual, so some basis of knowledge in pop culture and related subjects is very encouraged.

Overall, this is a book for the pop culture philosopher. The thinker who sees connections between X-men and Socrates. If you want a book that will damn sure make you think then this is the literature for you. Do not, by any means, take on this book with modern “politically correct” sensibilities. Open your mind and your vocabulary, and then dive on in. You’ll have a lot less hate for the hipsters.