The Harlem Shake has been one of the hottest internets memes over the last few years and while I generally avoid internets memes if there aren’t kittens directly featured in them I have enjoyed some of the various renditions based on this electronic dance music song called ‘Harlem Shake‘.
The song isn’t about the actual Harlem Shake dance or else it would have never become a meme. The actual Harlem Shake is to dance what John Coltrane was to jazz. The dance is both improvised and wholly formal. These Harlem Shake videos are all improvisation. That is why they are so funny.
My argument is that we shouldn’t get caught up in the formality of the actual Harlem Shake dance. Let white folks have their fun with it. This way we can have our fun too. The little kids from Harlem responsible for creating the Harlem Shake will have to create something else if they can.
Yes, let white folks have their fun with it, but only if we can laugh at this form of cultural tourism on display. I mean, why not call it some other sh@t. Ofays stay stealing, shark-biting asses.
I don’t see anyone Harlem Shaking anywhere, btw..
When Just Blaze gets back from his tour with Baauer, it will be interesting to hear his insights on the whole Harlem Shake meme on the Combat Jack Show.
I remember a few episodes back where you guys were talking about gentrification and Just Blaze said that Brooklyn still has a shot, but Harlem is gone.
I think Gordon Voidwell summed it up best with this tweet:
https://twitter.com/GVOIDWELL/status/302914035253383168