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jennamiller05-blog · 9 years ago

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20 Feb 2016

English 1021

Annie Sugar Johnson & Wales University

Dear Rooster Magazine

2300 Central Ave.

Ste. L

Boulder, CO 80301

I have chosen to write my essay on music genre of Hip-Hop. Focusing on the “rebirth” of the genre when more vulgar language was used and underlining messages of “hard times” were spoken. Starting in the 1980s, artists started shifting the sound of Hip-Hop to a simpler beat with a great emphasis on the lyrics and messages. This became the poetic and power genre of Rap music. Rap consisted of shortened terminology or “slang words”. Artists started replacing words with “slang terms” to better appeal to the youth. It showed a sense of creativity and an effort to connect with that crowd. The youth got what they wanted, attention. The stories of hardship and every day struggles within their neighborhoods caught the attention from the media. Now word was spreading all over the country of what it was like to live this lifestyle.

Not all Rap music spoke of inspirational messages or the truth of what it was like to live in a poor neighborhood. The songs contained messages of mistreating women, gang membership, drugs, and acts of violence. Unfortunately, this is what the youth found relatable and picked at their interests. In 1988, the first “Parental Advisory” sticker was issued on a label, this acted as another magnet for the younger crowd. Even during the mix up with graphic stories, there is a light that shows confidence. These rappers were producing songs and “telling it like it is”, the whole truth. The act of speaking the truth meant a lot to the listeners.

The rappers weren’t trying to idolize these actions, I believe the youth would hear these more intense or graphic lyrics and misinterpret them. The lyrics were based off of real life stories of hard ships of violence, drug abuse or parents who neglected them as children. This translated as having a “gangsta life” and the youth wanted to create one for themselves. Yet, we had the leaders in the Rap music industry such as Dr. Dre, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Run DMC and many more who empathized in their work that Rap is an art form. Lyrics belonging to the late Tupac Shakur spoke of violence, compassion, the so called “gangsta lifestyle” and peace. He wrote a song called “Dear Mama”, sharing the story of his rough upbringing by a mother who seemed to choose drugs over her child and later kicked him out. At the end of the song, he reflects and acknowledges it wasn’t easy to raise a son in that negative environment and the hardship of being a single mother. He states over and over how much he appreciates her because, she did her best.

These positive messages were overlooked due to the more dominant stories of violence. As the artists kept producing songs their audiences wanted to hear, the generation once again became blinded to the truth of what Rap music was trying to tell us. It was a good influence on the younger crowd, giving them hope and a sense of confidence. One could even say the formation of the lyrics keeping on beat, rhyming etc.… showed a great deal of intelligence, something that is often overlooked. Rap quickly became a powerful tool, everyone loved it. There wasn’t a piece of it that wasn’t relatable.

I hope you have found this paper to be above your expectations.

Thank you,

Jenna Miller

#ENG1021 #jennamiller

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jennamiller05-blog · 9 years ago

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Rap Soundtrack

Gangster rap has always been seen as a genre of music that promotes negative activities such as alcohol abuse, violence, racism, promiscuity, gangs, rape, profanity, crime and a wide variety of other activities deemed to be socially unacceptable or unlawful. Many of the people in this era that criticized this type of music were mainly white politicians or other white commentators. These people didn't want to accept that what these kids were saying in their art was an honest reflection of the realty they were living.

Sister Souljah states in an interview “one main reason rap has been under attack for so long is for the fact that it exposes the contradictions of American culture and critical issues that are not usually discussed in American politics such as a system that doesn't want to deal with the reoccurring problems in inner cities”. The art that was created in this era exploits the reality of a corrupted system during that time. The same corruption we still see today.

I chose to use pretty much the same genre of music throughout this soundtrack to really enhance the fact that many types of rap can be profoundly expressive and true to many things in life. The songs in this soundtrack give examples of how the white establishment hid the truths of many people’s lives, yet they weren't afraid to still share their experiences.

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five “White Lines” (1984)

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This song mainly discusses the drug abuse during this time. It also speaks very deeply to a widely denied truth we all know exists that is white privilege. The song speaks about how a black teen would get jai time for drugs or crime, yet a businessman gets off on bail for a larger charge. I also find it interesting how it speaks about how drugs are abused and are often brought back into circulation even after receiving from a previous unlawful act.

Pure as the driven snow (Connected to my mind) and now I'm havin' fun, baby! (High fry) It's getting kinda low ('Cause it makes you feel so nice) I need some one-on-one, baby! (Don't let it blow your mind away) Baby! (And go into your little hideaway) ('Cause white lines blow away)

A million magic crystals, painted pure and white A multi-million dollars, almost overnight Twice as sweet as sugar, twice as bitter as salt And if you get hooked, baby, it's nobody else's fault, so don't do it!

Higher, baby (Ahhh) Get higher, baby! (Ahhh) Get higher, baby! And don't ever come down! (Freebase!)

Don't you get too high baby! (Turns you on) You really turn me on and on (When you gonna come down) My temperature is risin' (When the thrill is gone) No, I don't want you to go

A street kid gets arrested, gonna do some time He got out three years from now just to commit more crime A businessman is caught with 24 kilos He's out on bail and out of jail And that's the way it goes Raah!

Athletes rejected, governors corrected Gangsters, thugs and smugglers are thoroughly respected The money gets divided The women get excited Now I'm broke and it's no joke It's hard as hell to fight it, don't buy it!

Tupac Shakur “Changes” (1992&1998)

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This song is very emotional, yet focused on expressing many things people were blind to in this era specifically, and although he is gone I always wonder how Pac would feel if he witnessed that we still often hide behind lies of social media about social injustice. He speaks of struggles that not only everyone (every race) experiences, but on top of that how being black at this time really wasn't something you benefited from. This song speaks about dirty cops, drugs, guns, and the differences between being white and black yet committing the same crimes.

Come on come on I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself Is life worth living should I blast myself? I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black My stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch Cops give a damn about a negro Pull the trigger kill a nigga he's a hero Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares One less hungry mouth on the welfare First ship 'em dope and let 'em deal the brothers Give 'em guns step back watch 'em kill each other It's time to fight back that's what Huey said Two shots in the dark now Huey's dead I got love for my brother but we can never go nowhere Unless we share with each other We gotta start makin' changes Learn to see me as a brother instead of two distant strangers And that's how it's supposed to be How can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me? I'd love to go back to when we played as kids But things changed, and that's the way it is

That's just the way it is Things will never be the same That's just the way it is Aww yeah

I see no changes all I see is racist faces Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races We under I wonder what it takes to make this One better place, let's erase the wasted Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right 'Cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonight And only time we chill is when we kill each other It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other And although it seems heaven sent We ain't ready, to see a black President, uhh It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact The penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks But some things will never change Try to show another way but you stayin' in the dope game Now tell me what's a mother to do Bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you You gotta operate the easy way "I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy way Sellin' crack to the kid. " I gotta get paid, " Well hey, well that's the way it is

N.W.A. “Express Yourself” (1988)

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This song really speaks to me about the fact that white establishment really was a threat to this music. It was widely felt that if you expressed the things that were real to your life that others didn't want to be known to the outside public then you would be reprimanded for it. This song also discusses how some people and rappers are so scared to talk about these things that they act one way and preach another.

I'm expressing with my full capabilities And now I'm living in correctional facilities Cause some don't agree with how I do this I get straight and meditate like a Buddhist I'm dropping flavor, my behavior is hereditary But my technique is very necessary Blame it on Ice Cube, because he said it gets funky When you got a subject and a predicate Add it on a dope beat, and it'll make you think Some suckers just tickle me pink, to my stomach Cause they don't flow like this one You know what? I won't hesitate to diss one Or two before I'm through, so don't try to sing this Some drop science, while I'm dropping English Even if Yella, makes it a-capella I still express, yo, I don't smoke weed or sess Cause it's known to give a brother brain damage And brain damage on the mic don't manage, nothing But making a sucker and you equal Don't be another sequel (Express yourself!)

Now, getting back to the PG That's program, and it's easy Dre is back, new jacks are made hollow Expressing ain't their subject because they like to follow The words, the style, the trend; the records I spin Again and again and again, yo, you're on the other end Watch a brother blend dope rhymes, with no help There's no fessing or guessing while I'm expressing myself It's crazy to see people be What society wants them to be, but not me Ruthless, is the way to go, they know Others say rhymes which fail to be original Or they kill where the hip-hop starts Forget about the ghetto, and rap for the pop charts Some musicians cuss at home But scared to use profanity when upon the microphone Yeah, they want reality, but you will hear none They'd rather exaggerate a little fiction Some say no to drugs, and take a stand But after the show, they go looking for the "Dopeman" Or they ban my group from the radio Hear N.W.A. and say, "Hell no!" But you know it ain't all about wealth As long as you make a note to (Express yourself!)

from the heart Cause if you want to start to move up the chart Then expression is a big part of it You ain't efficient when you flow, you ain't swift Movin like a tortoise, full of rigor mortis There's a little bit more to show I got rhymes in my mind, embedded like an embryo Or a lesson, all of 'em expression And if you start fessing, I got a Smith and Wessun for ya I might ignore your record because it has no bottom I get loose in the summer winter spring and autumn It's Dre on the mic, getting physical Doin' the job, N.W.A is the lynch mob! Yes I'ma climb, but you know you need this And the knowledge is growing just like a fetus Or a tumor, but here is the rumor Dre is in the neighborhood and he's up to no good When I start expressing myself, Yella, slam it Cause if I stay funky like this I'm doing damage Or I'ma be too hyped, and need a straight jacket I got knowledge, and other suckers lack it So, when you see Dre, a DJ on the mic Ask what it's like, it's like we're getting hyped tonight Cause if I strike, it ain't for your good health But I won't strike if you just (Express yourself!)

Public Enemy “Fight the Power” (1990)

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This song spoke to me not only for its lyrics but also because of its its upbeat rhythm and tempo. This song makes you feel empowered ad as if its ok to fight against the powers that restrict our freedom. The point is that there needs to be open mindedness in thought and knowledge to try to execute change.

1989 the number another summer (get down) Sound of the funky drummer Music hittin' your heart cause I know you got soul (Brothers and sisters, hey) Listen if you're missin' y'all Swingin' while I'm singin' Givin' whatcha gettin' Knowin' what I know While the Black bands sweatin' And the rhythm rhymes rollin' Got to give us what we want Gotta give us what we need Our freedom of speech is freedom or death We got to fight the powers that be

Lemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you say Fight the power

Lemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you say Fight the power We've got to fight the powers that be

As the rhythm designed to bounce What counts is that the rhymes Designed to fill your mind Now that you've realized the prides arrived We got to pump the stuff to make us tough From the heart It's a start, a work of art To revolutionize make a change nothin's strange People, people we are the same No we're not the same 'Cause we don't know the game What we need is awareness, we can't get careless You say what is this? My beloved lets get down to business Mental self defensive fitness (Yo) bum rush the show You gotta go for what you know Make everybody see, in order to fight the powers that be Lemme hear you say Fight the Power

Lemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you say Fight the power

Lemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you say Fight the power We've got to fight the powers that be

Elvis was a hero to most But he never meant, to me you see Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain Mother, him and John Wayne 'Cause I'm Black and I'm proud I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps Sample a look back you look and find Nothing but rednecks for four hundred years if you check Don't worry be happy Was a number one jam Damn if I say it you can slap me right here (Get it) lets get this party started right Right on, c'mon What we got to say Power to the people no delay To make everybody see In order to fight the powers that be

Blue Scholars “Wounded Eyes” (2005)

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This song is an incredible reference for this not only because of its message but because it is a newer album but still has the capability of reflecting their true lifestyle. It speaks of how their eyes are wounded from all they've seen yet still others haven't even openly accepted these realities.

All right, yo, yo yo... My wounded eyes seen through the lies, many soon to die Who am I? A student, I study to survive Wounded eyes seen through the lies, many soon to die Who am I? A student.

I'm listening to the music of the countryside circling the city for the victory Liquor shop philosophy: scary, but necessary Pops was a military man, and seein' what it did to him and fam, it was never in my plans My method is one hand open and one fisted, skin burnt like the sun kissed it Consistently committed to community-building, they could never put the theory into practice Who are they to be illin'? I made a killing, not for profit but respect And unless it's for a benefit you better cut the check Dude, compensations for the blood and the sweat, see I do for my people cause I love 'em to death. In my geography, you gotta be smart, boss, it's crucial Paranoid, don't smoke as much as I used to Even more broke than before we made music, but maybe one day we'll get through it.

Now, my wounded eyes seen through the lies, many soon to die Who am I? A student, I study to survive Wounded eyes seen through the lies, many soon to die Who am I? A student, I study to survive. Wounded eyes seen through the lies, many brutalized So we rise and fight for the future we strive Wounded eyes seen through the lies, many soon to die Who am I? A student.

Observing my environment to see contradictions in concrete conditions Evidence we're living in an obsolete system, poverty-stricken, folks constantly livin' hope American dreams danglin' from a rope, I got folks working in the public school sector Who lose one youth to death per semester, I guess the cost of living is going up While the chance of living is going down, what the fuck is the basis? I'm saying never no more, the solution for the poor, recruit 'em for the war They kicked in the door, waving the .45 cal, one million died, I survived, now alive I reside where the struggle and the hustle coincide, and this moment in time, a shift in the tide Get the blindfold lifted from your eyes, and see what we see, and stop pretending it's all right man

My wounded eyes seen through the lies, many soon to die Who am I? A student, I study to survive Wounded eyes seen through the lies, many soon to die Who am I? A student, I study to survive. Wounded eyes seen through the lies, many brutalized So we rise and we fight for the future we strive Wounded eyes seen through the lies, many soon to die Who am I? Who am I ya'll?

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangsta_rap

https://www.youtube.com

#Miller ENG1021

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