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Opinion
 

Letters to the Editor

Defending Dallas

To the editor:

This letter is in response to the Aesop Rock mini tour article, "Aesop won't stop for Houston," (Life & Arts, Wednesday). Not to sound utterly and completely sardonical when I say this, but you've got to be kidding me. You're hateful because an underground hip-hop artist won't stop in Houston, and then you dare challenge his intelligence. I think the writer needs to rethink the whole statement.

Dallas is a great place in Texas for an underground hip-hop emcee to go. Underground hip-hop and its fan base, if you're stepping outside the norm of the typical Houston lyrical flow and content, isn't quite that big in Houston. That may be why you feel as though there is a small portion of underground hip-hop fans. But in reality there is a larger acceptance and more places for underground hip-hop heads and performers who want to thrive, represent and be in the culture to do so like Dallas.

Besides, others that have come to a "leadership role" in hip-hop from Houston, except for maybe Scarface, spent a hell of a lot of time in Dallas. When newcomers Lil' Flip and Paul Wall, to name a couple, were underground artists, they would spend weekend after weekend performing in Dallas at small venues and parties. Even though Houston is a larger city, Dallas' hip-hop following is pretty strong and artists who want to be more than just a name in the streets know that. The question is not why is he not coming to Houston, but rather why is he going to Dallas?

Lately there aren't too many people coming into or out of Houston that could be apart of the "world of intelligent hip-hop" as you call it. When you only have a limited amount of money to spend, you don't have time to waste with people who aren't going to be receptive to your type of work. The New York native, in my opinion, knew what he was doing.

Skipping Houston might have been the best decision, and if you think his making a detour around a city who's underground music is primarily "hustle-" and "get money-" based is going to impair his success, you're giving this city too much props.

Traci Boyd
political science senior
 

Letters to the editor are welcome from all members of the UH community and should focus on issues, not personalities. Letters must be typed and must include the author's name, telephone number and affiliation with the University. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, language and space. Letters may be delivered in person to Room 151, Communication; e-mailed to dclettrs@mail.uh.edu ; or faxed to (713) 743-5384.