Dangerous Outsiders

Gangsta rap, heavy metal, and Screw music seem wildly different yet are remarkably similar. All three were created as a means of giving expression to those bored with the then-status quo of their respective art forms. The humble, localized origins of the subgenres in the gangland of 1980s Los Angeles, the industrial towns of 1960s England, and the hot backstreets of Houston, Texas gave way to increasingly larger audiences; the anti-establishment movements themselves became institutionalized. This panel will focus on the controversial and transformative natures that bind the three subgenres together. Whether they are inciting kids to join gangs, engage in violent behavior, or dabble in drug abuse, these three subgenres have escaped simple beginnings to become the cultural powerhouses they are today.

Gloria Jones, Sam Kirby, Melvin Backman