UW Budget Request, Iggy Azalea And White Artists Using Black Music, This Week In The News

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From Elvis to Eminem, white artists have performed typically black music throughout American music history. Recently, white, Australian hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea has been getting flack for her music, many calling it offensive. We talk about what’s appropriate and what’s not with an Africana Studies professor. Then we ask UW System president Ray Cross why he’s asking for a significant UW budget increase, and we round up the week in state news.

Featured in this Show

  • Weekly News Roundup: Grothman Wins Congressional Primary

    Here’s a rundown of some of the top news stories in Wisconsin this week:

    Leibham Concedes, Leaving Grothman The Victor In 6th District

    The results of the Aug. 12 Republican primary election for the state’s 6th Congressional District had looked for a while as though it would possibly be subject to a recount: State Sen. Glenn Grothman had a mere 219 vote lead over opponent Sen. Joe Leibham. However, following the release of an official canvass from the Government Accountability Board, Liebham announced that he would not seek a recount in the race, making Grothman the official Republican candidate and likely victor in the November election.

    State Reps. Duey Stroebel and Tom Denow were also primary candidates, but finished further back.

    UW System Seeking $95 Million Boost

    UW System President Ray Cross announced this week that he would ask for $95 million in new funding over a period of two years to aid in a new “Talent Initiative.” Cross said the funding would go towards attracting talent into science, technology, engineering and math fields in order to help bring “high-impact” jobs to Wisconsin.

    The funds would also go towards faculty retention.

    Native American Tribal Representatives Meet With The EPA

    Five Wisconsin tribes attended semi-annual meetings with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Traverse City, Mich. to talk about environmental issues that affect them in the Great Lakes region. Perhaps the biggest issue addressed during the meeting: a proposed iron ore mine in the Penokee Hills, that tribes have said will pollute water and deplete the state of valuable natural resources.

    At least one tribal leader said that he asked the EPA to invoke a section of the Clean Water Act that would allow the federal government to halt all mining activity.

  • Why Ray Cross Wants A UW Budget Increase

    University of Wisconsin System president Ray Cross explains why the UW is asking for a $95 million increase in its budget over the next two years and the initiatives he hopes it will fund.

  • Iggy Azalea And The History Of White Artists Performing Black Music

    Iggy Azalea is the first artist since The Beatles to rank simultaneously at numbers 1 and 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her first hits. Only a month after the release of her debut album, Forbes magazine called her the woman “running hip-hop.”

    While her success has been obvious, her acceptance in the industry and among cultural critics has been anything but.

    Iggy Azalea is a 24 year-old blonde, white, Australian woman, but her music style resembles hip-hop from the American south. When Iggy speaks she sounds like an Aussie, but her rap voice mimics what some call a “blackcent” or African American sounding voice.
    From Elvis to Eminem, white artists have performed typically black music throughout American music history, but some say that Iggy crosses the line into the realm of offensive.
    She will perform at the Video Music Awards Sunday, an awards show known for pushing boundaries and making headlines. In preparation for the show we speak with Cornell Africana Studies professor Travis Gosa about where Iggy Azalea stands in the history of white artists using black music.
  • State News Round-Up For August 22nd

    WPR’s news director joins us for a look at what’s making headlines in Wisconsin this week.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Cynthia Schuster Host
  • Michael Leland Guest
  • Raymond W. Cross Guest
  • Travis Lars Gosa Guest
  • Marika Suval Producer
  • Galen Druke Producer

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