~~MuSiC and CuLTuRe~~

We all know German and American cultures are different. From class lecture, we defined culture as “the shared values, norms, traditions, customs, arts, history, folklore, and institutions of a group of people.” Moreover, as an American student, I was submerged intentionally into the German lifestyle for about a month. There came a point where I was left no choice, but to become “culturally competent;” that is, to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures. Mostly, what stood out was the music culture surrounding the city of Berlin.

All of Germany’s regions offer concerts that attract international acclaim and music lovers from all over. However, outside of the United States, Germany generates the most sales for recorded hip-hop*, and has one of the more vibrant scenes in the world. The genre is very popular within the country. FYI: throughout my stay in Berlin, I came to discover that hip-hop music is dubbed “Black.” In one of our class lectures, we shared our views of race and ethnicity regarding "black" music with our German counterparts. Personally, they opened my eyes to the varying degrees of prejudice that still exist in the world. It seems that hip-hop and “black culture” have once again been intertwined and/or stereotyped.

**LIL WAYNE CONCERT FLYER I PASSED**

In addition, Germany has the largest electronic music scene in the world. Trance music is a style of electronic music that originated upon German unification. Prestigious annual electronic music festivals are held in beautiful, traditional country settings all over Germany. One of the most notable events referring to this scene is the Love Parade festival that includes millions of participants from all over the world. People gather to enjoy all types of electronic music. It is a remarkable festival for all the senses.

**@ Love Parade by the Statue of Victoria**

The night before having to catch a flight back to Miami, I got a chance to catch one of my favorite trance DJs in action @ Weekend in Berlin. I went with people who appreciated the origins of this genre, EDM lovers. As wee made our way to the front of the line, past the German bouncer, into the elevator filled with outsiders and right to the front of the dj booth, German life was great. The air was crisp, the lasers were gleaming and the music was just right. I came to Berlin with many goals in mind. Seeing Carl Cox, spinning at one of the best clubs in Berlin, satisfied one of the many. Talk about “cultural competence.”

My Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Zn0AIGWmU

Carl Cox Live @ Weekend in Berlin -- June 18, 2009

*Pennay, Mark. "Rap In Germany: The Birth of a Genre." In Global Noise: Rap and Hip-Hop Outside the USA, 121. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 2001.