Persona and hip hop

Carl Jung discussed the idea of the persona, saying that it was the impression, or mask that one puts on to interact with the world. I am not really one for Jungian psychology, but this idea of the persona is something that persists in our culture. In modern everyday language, we use the term to talk about a character that an actor plays, or even sometimes a different personality one can evince.

I was enjoying a bit of hip hop music, and one line in a song got me thinking about this idea, and the interesting relationship of hip hop and the use of persona. In much of rap and hip hop music, the artist uses a persona, or creates a character to rap as. They choose symbolic, clever, or simple alternative names, and the content of the music is not always real to that individual’s life, desires, actions, or even ideas. Some rappers even have multiple personas, and sometimes these personas even end up in conflict with one another. Artists in other genres sometimes can develop persona such as this, but hip hop is unique in that the persona takes center stage, and stands directly in the spotlight in the content of the music. Hip hop artists often make references to his/her persona by name, making their alternate identity clear.

I see these personas as fragments of the individual’s personality; a small aspect of who they are, like a lens through which they can express those which are normally hidden or understated thoughts and feelings. By creating these personas, they give a voice to different aspects of their personality, and can indulge often ignored desires. I think this can be used as a cathartic release. Perhaps by telling stories through these personas, they can give listeners a glimpse into a dormant part of their personality.

Many have said that good art is a reflection of the artist, and I think hip hop is no different. Though, I would assume, just as there are paintings and books that are crafted without feeling or self reflection, there would be a fair share of hollow hip hop, that just goes through the motions that the real hip hop artists are presenting. I just think the presentation of the art by the artist through persona in hip hop is an intriguing phenomenon. Just a quick thought. Perhaps I will follow up on it later. Thanks for reading.