Neil, I definitely agree with you that the best contemporary
rappers are very aware of the oral tradition they are
upholding, carrying on and extending. As you note, their
videos are rife with references, some subtle, some overt to
classic blaxploitation films. And, of course, to the
signifying monkey.
And the films were definitely aware of their debt to the
literature -- Melvin Van Peebles,
writer/producer/director/star of the Sweet Sweetback's Badass
Song, generally regarded to be the first blaxploitation film
(although given that it was made by blacks for blacks, unlike
most of the later films in the genre, it could probably be
argued it was not exploitative), wrote the intro to the first
volume of Payback Press-UK's three volume collection of
Chester Himes's Harlem Cycle. Speaking of Van Peebles, has
anyone read his I Was a Bear for the FBI? Is it hardboiled?
Is it good?
I remember reading somewhere last year (I've got to see if I
clipped the article) that a few rappers (not big names) were
venturing into publishing, trying to create an updated
version of the Holloway House books. I know HH continues to
reprint Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines, but do they put out
any new material?
Along those lines, am I under the correct impression that a
well-known rapper (Ice Cube?) has an interest in the Old
School Books series?
Although I haven't gotten that far with Pelecanos, I know he
draws on Blaxploitation in the DC Quartet. I've only read
Stray Dogs by Ridley. I don't remember the race of the
protagonist ever being specified -- of course, I read it
knowing Mickey Rourke was going to play the role, so that may
have influenced my take. Is race a factor in his other
books?
And PatZ, thanks for reminding me of Mosley -- Mouse most
certainly fits the Stagger Lee mold. For that matter, so does
Hawk, another strong black man who answers only to himself,
holding himself above the law.
Mark
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