I leaped into the air with excitement last night when Three 6 Mafia won the Oscar for Best Song. Not only did Three 6 win the Oscar they were also the first hip-hop group to perform at the Oscars.
I'm elated that the Academy embraced these pioneers of crunk out of Memphis. This shows that the members of the Academy are actually open-minded and (dare I say it?) progressive. It would've been easy to choose either of the other nominees. I know this could be a selfish ploy for youth appeal, but I believe it's based on the merits of the song, as it is crucial to the film. Everyone seemed rather shocked; Three 6 most of all.
Southern rap has been driving rap music for the past few years, yet it's been continually discounted because of its usual subject matter of pimping, flashy jewelry, cars , and selling drugs.
I've been immersed in it my entire life. I've watched it evolve over the past ten years from ATLiens to Southern Hospitality to Stay Fly. This award and Outkast's Grammy nod are the latest proof of the mainstream's acceptance of Southern rap as legitimate music.
Andrew Nusca @ Mon, 03/06/2006 - 3:47pm
I don't think the Academy really embraced them. The Academy is traditionally known as stingy - and think about how long it took them to give an African-American an award, much less an African-American woman - so I must disagree on this one. What I think you are correct about is the song's relevance to the film - and that's about the only reason it was picked.
To me, Three 6 was just collateral - if the Academy has the panache to nominate The Color Purple for 11(!) awards without a win, or wait until 1993 to give Spielberg his due, they surely don't have the mind to be progressive.
I'm with Brando on this one.