ian: Pastiche or Parody?

Upacking the debate surrounding ian's debut album and authenticity in hip hop

People who are attentive to discussions about hip hop on the internet may be privy to discourse surrounding a rapper named ian’s new album called Valedictorian. But for those who aren’t as familiar allow me to catch you up.

The Facts:

The first thing you should know about ian is that he is a white rapper. This may not seem noteworthy in an era where this is unremarkable, but ian's whiteness is a significant component of his brand (and arguably his appeal) in a way that I have not seen before. ian draws a lot of inspiration from trap and drill artists, with many fans lauding his ability to mimic Gucci Mane, Chief Keef, and Young Thug among others.
ian juxtaposes these influences with visuals that reflect his suburban upbringing. In one music video, he raps at a table while eating dinner with his family in their suburban home, which has an American flag flying from it. His album cover depicts him wearing a polo and khaki shorts against a backdrop of a suburban neighborhood (referencing the iconic "You Know I Had To Do It to Em" meme) that is presumably similar to the one where he grew up in Texas. This visual is intended to be satirical and perhaps provocative.

Following the release of his debut album, Valedictorian, there was significant discussion regarding whether this is appropriate in a society where black people are routinely erased from the genres they create. All of this raises important questions about what hip hop will look like in 15-20 years if more white rappers like ian are permitted to freely partake in these aesthetics.

Alphonse Pierre, a Pitchfork writer, gave Valedictorian a 4.1 rating. Pierre criticized ian for mocking the genres he was attempting to imitate. "It's making a joke out of the music and culture it's trying to swagger-jack" according to him. He goes on to criticize the album's lack of innovation, noting that "Performing an amalgamation of melodic regional rap of the last decade or so, ian lacks the ability or intention to do anything other than replicate music that already exists". This review received mixed reviews. Obviously with negative feedback from fans who say Pierre is a hater that doesn't understand ian's appeal, while hip hop traditionalists who were already saying these things appreciated the fact that their opinions were being documented by a reputable publication.

The Opinion:

I tend to agree with Pierre and those who are unwilling to permit non-black folks to engage in hip hop without adequate study. You know me. I’m extremely passionate about the preservation of black genres. It’s why I started this blog. I've heard people on the internet assert that ian is well-studied because of his ability to sound exactly like his influences, but I'd argue that his skill in this area does not necessarily imply that he understands the history of this music. In fact, I believe it is more likely that he doesn't due to the lampooning nature of his image.

Many of his followers find what he does comical and find irony in the fact that someone with his background could produce music like this. I strongly recommend those people to dig deeper into what makes it so entertaining. In order for it to be funny you have to be willing to accept white people making a mockery of hip hop. White people have consumed hip hop music for a long time, particularly since the 1990s. The exoticisation of the black experience consistently plays a role in this dynamic, and it is evident in the underpinning of ian's career and how his music is perceived. It’s unimaginable that ian’s music would be perceived in this light if he were black. Part of the appeal is that nobody would expect a suburban white kid to sound like that. When I think about this, I think about the white kids I went (and still go) to school with who don’t see drill and trap music as something to be taken seriously. When they suggest someone turns on Chief Keef or Tay K in a social setting it’s almost always meant to be a joke. Almost as if their lived experience, the subject of their music, was a joke.

This isn’t an article arguing that white rappers shouldn’t exist or that white people shouldn’t engage with hip hop. Many have done so successfully without making a mockery of the genre. Mac Miller, The Beastie Boys, and Action Bronson are all excellent examples of this just to name a few. And you can tell from their music that they have done the work to be educated about the history of hip hop.

What concerns me is when we allow people who don’t take it seriously at all to rise to stardom. What happens to this genre if we don’t lock the gate, or even worse leave it open with a sign that says “Come on in!”? Will people forget who made this genre so fruitful in the first place?

All fruit for thought that I really think we should explore more seriously.