The Unity of Their Contradiction

In speaking about the lower and higher types of music Adorno writes, "The unity of the two spheres of music is thus that of an unresolved contradiction. They do not hang together in such a way that the lower could serve as a sort of popular introduction to the higher, or that higher could renew its lost collective strength by borrowing from the lower" (34). Here I agree and offer this clip of I Can by Nas which includes the repetition of Fur Elise by Beethoven; a piece familiar to anyone who has had piano lessons. Although this song may not rekindle an interest in Beethoven or open up the world of Hip Hop to Classical listeners it does serve a purpose. Adorno goes on to write about the commodification of just these types of songs. By using the Beethoven selection I believe that Nas has awakened his listeners ears to something new and unfamiliar and helped himself sell more records in the process.