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[ksjade]

Treatment of Women Hip-Hop Artists 

It’s common knowledge that the hiphop genre has and is heavily male dominated for most of its history and because of this it’s easy to find many misogynistic takes among many of the artists and followers. There has been sprinkles of women artists like Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, Lil Kim, and more that paved the way for more modern artists like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Doja Cat, etc. but it’s definitively, extremely hard for women artists to make a  break in the industry and even when they do the hate never dies down. 

What women hip hop artists promote.

There is a lot to be said about this topic alone. This is one of the most argued topic when women creators are talked about.To start,  the criticism. A common argument with those that have an issue with popular women artists is that these women promote a “lower standard of women.” Now, just typing that felt ridiculous. There are two routes someone can take when saying this, there’s the outright misogynistic take where the individual thinks a women letting her sexuality be known makes them “less desirable” or “easy” or there’s the extreme feminist take where these individuals think since women  artists make  tracks that are mainly explicit and sexual it allows for people to demean women and only see them as a sexual object. I can see where the argument may somewhat stand for the latter but regardless I’m going to argue that both are ridiculous takes. 

 

Starting with the former, this opinion reeks of insecurity and misogyny. Since forever many women have been, and still are, unable to express their sexuality in any way, shape, or form. This is due to the societal misconception that if a women dares to desire or be connected with their sexuality it makes them “easy,” a hoe, thot, whatever demeaning term that has and could be applied to women. Because most individuals that spout this opinion can’t even comprehend the fact women can make good music they also have the idea that the only reason popular artists like Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Megan the Stallion, etc. are popular is because they “sell themselves” and can’t make music that’s not sexual. This is just outright stupid. These artists do and have released music that aren’t about sex but also about heartbreak or their life. But they don’t like talking about that, huh? These women are not popular just because of their music, it’s also their online persona, and how they represent adult women taking back their sexuality on their terms, or women empowerment. That is why these ladies are popular.  This take also refused to acknowledge the many women that don’t make sexuality centered art. A good example of this is Little Simz.

 

Moving on to latter argument. This take I feel is a backwards way of putting women down but masking it as concern.  Although I do understand women are constantly sexualized there is no point in hiding their own sexuality because of other people. There is a very distinct difference when a women is sexualized vs. when she allows herself to be sexual. Usually the former is not consensual while the other is fully in the women’s power. I feel the whole point in this movement of music is to take something back that has always been out of women’s power. So while yes, these women are seen as a sex symbol it’s on their terms and it’s very backwards to try to take a moral high ground against these women because you may feel uncomfortable with it. 

-Cardi B in response to Candace Owens calling her an “illiterate rapper”

Overall what both of these arguments ignore is the fact that women artists now are representing femininity and sexuality that has never really been seen before and that they’ve become a symbol for not just empowerment but also for many women to reclaim their sexuality for themselves and their own desire. 

 

The next argument about many mainstream artists is that they’re not for kids to consume but kids are listing to it. To this I say: get over it. If you don’t want your kids viewing or listening to something how about watch what YOUR kids are consuming and not put all the responsibility on the artist. To quote Cardi B “stop expecting celebs to raise your kids.” Take some responsibility <3. 

Breaking into the industry 

New women creators trying to come into the industry is extremely difficult. This is obvious when Cardi B recounts her experience trying to get onto a magazine. She recounts, “I will never forget how I went to shoot for this magazine and the photographer, he was trying to get close to me, like, ‘Yeah, you want to get in this magazine?’ Then he pulled his dick out! I was so fucking mad.” This is definitely not uncommon for many women, even in normal everyday settings. Now, I’m not saying that this doesn’t happen to men in the industry, it does, and it should be addressed as well but in regards to women things like sexual assault is normalized in everyday society and it’s just a “fun chase.” That much is clear when Cardi tried telling the magazine owner about her assault and his response showed he could care less. 

Not only this but tying back to the previous argument women artists  have such high expectations on them to be perfect and put on the grandest shows. While men hiphop artists can get by with standing, jumping, mumbling on stage, and having overall careless lyrics, women are forced to prove themselves with amazing visual performances dressed with choreography, good bars, and beats. Yet, they are still criticized for this. 

Final Thoughts

 It’s clear to see the double standards between women and men creators. While men are praised for their mumble rap about “money and bitches,” women are discouraged for similar things. When male artists are rude or outspoken their “cool,” but again when women do the same thing they’re a “bitch” or “disrespectful .”  Kristine Wright, a Los Angeles college sociology professor, explains this spectacle best. She says “Hip-hop is a microcosm of society… The patriarchy we see in society, we see it in the hip-hop industry as well. The industry – and what they believe sells – is what they promote.”

References: Fox News- Cardi B has heated response to critics who deny her story of sexual harassment, Life and Hip-Hop: How women’s role in the industry allows for empowerment, breaking norms,

[ksjade]

Kendrick Lamar- Artist Profile 

Kendrick Lamar is one of the most, if not THE most, prolific MC in his time. A living legend, a voice of a generation,  you name it, regardless of what you call him his influence is unmatched. There are formally five albums released under his name with even more mixtapes, EPS, and singles. For the sake of simplicity I’ll be solely looking at his albums. 

 

The Beginning:

 

Born June 17, 1987 in Compton, CA. Growing up was hard, for a lack of a better term. I could drone on about the crack epidemic and precarious streets Kendrick endured but I frankly wouldn’t do it justice. A nice brief overview of his childhood could be read with an mtv interview where Kendrick describes how he was a as a child and what it was like growing up. The main thing to know, it was a more than difficult upbringing. Despite this he was a good student who enjoyed English class, writing, and poems. Kendrick understood he had a gift and put it to work. 

 

Kendrick formally started his career between 2003-2004  at 16-17  years old with a series of mixtapes released under the name K-Dot. He was quickly signed to Top Dawg Entertainment in 2005 and featured on an array of other rappers tracks. Here is where he formed Black Hippy, a group of mcs that included Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and Schoolboy Q, and released two acclaimed mixtapes. Going into 2012 K-Dot was dropped and Kendrick started using his name. At this time the mixtape Overly Dedicated  was dropped and the first full length independent album was released. 

 

2011. Section. 80

For a first album Kendrick started off strong. Although this is an enjoyable album throughout this so many stories, beliefs, concepts are mixed in. The underlying message is darker. Stories of people struggling to make sense of the world around them, the crack epidemic and prevalent drug abuse, the hard choices that people need to make to survive (working sex work), the heartless cycle of neglect and tragedy, call backs to Tupac’s “Brenda’s Got a Baby”. Again, I could keep going. 

 

Quite obviously, this sets a precedent. Kendrick’s ability to make conscious rap the way he does. Although not yet at his ‘prime’ the album was nominated for the 2014 Grammy Awards and sold over three million copies.

 

 

2012. Good kid, m.A.A.d city

 

Every part of this album has underlying implications. This album is a story. The first track “Sherman’s aka Master Splinter’s Daughter” sets the stage. The following tracks solidify the story of a boy getting into with the wrong crowd and his parents trying to find him. Even the title has its own underlying meaning. “Good kid, mAAd city” about the struggle of growing up in the hood and “mAAD” being an acronym for “my angels on angel dust” and “my Angy Adolescence divided”. 

 

This release was highly anticipated, and for good reason. Just like the previous release there were many hit tracks, including “Poetic Justice” and “Swimming Pool (Drank)”. Along with this release was promotion that really exposed him to the mainstream public. We can clearly see here is when ‘peak’ Kendrick starts to rise. 

 

 

2015. To Pimp a Butterfly

 

Easily Kendricks most known and talked about album. This is what really put him on everyone’s radar. Selling over a million copies, and won five 2016 Grammy awards. This release had old school funk, jazz, and spoken word elements throughout its tracks and I think this is really allowed the album to stand out among its peers. The story within it, however, was what really won many people over. 

 

Ending with a story of a caterpillar doing what it must to survive but is shunned in contrast to the butterfly that represents everything the caterpillar is not. This is a wonderful allegory to the many individuals that grow up in a hood and do what they must to survive but are ultimately ridiculed in comparison to other people that happen to be in a better social and economic position that allowed them to thrive. This poem additionally tells us the story of the album, coming full circle. The message pushed in this release is a strong one that speaks to everybody. It’s relevant to many people in the black community and anyone that is trapped by their socioeconomic position. 

 

2016. Damn

I’ve personally seen some criticisms with this album being a showcase of Kendrick becoming “mainstream” but I really don’t agree. In this release Kendrick is directly mentions the criticisms thrown at him previously by media and alongside the theme of pride, fate and destiny. Best seen in the track “Duckworth”. A song that follows the story of his father Duckworth and Top Dawg changing history one day by allowing Kendrick’s father to live.  

 

 

2022. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers 

Kendrick’s latest album release. Admittedly not as popular as the previous. However, it’s far from the least delivering. I feel as though this album didn’t care if it was popular to the mainstream public. Here Kendrick wanted to send a message to his fans about him, his life, not just a his people and a shared experience. This doesn’t mean shared experiences aren’t mentioned, what is meant is that we are introduced to a lot more intimate information on Kendrick’s life. 

 

Just like the others this release has a story and similarly to the previous three albums there is a story that is played out before us. The theme of generational trauma and healing os prevalent though the tracks and, even more, Kendrick’s personal journey with his healing.

 

Final 

 Kendrick Lamar is well loved, and for good reason. By looking at his track record its clear to see why people claim he’s a mind that will change the world is the voice and leader for the people. I really respect the amount of thought and genius but into every album and even track that Kendrick makes. Throughout  his whole discography there is a clear common theme and it connects to people. Every artist has their own fair share of controversies and Kendrick is still prone to them, he’s human. But I feel they are really few and far between. Overall, a cultural icons like Kendrick have  earned his spot in music history next to all the other greats. 

Refrences: https: Article 1. Article 2. Article 3.

[ksjade]

Artist Interview: Alligator Daydream

Introduction

Today we’ll be putting a magnifying glass on a very small creator. Alligator Daydream has released one project with a number of instrumental tracks. In a brief interview with him we got to hear about how he started. 

The name you release under is significant?

The story with Alligator Daydream is that the band I was in was called something else, and we realized 'yo this name is kinda stupid' so I'm not going to say it. I was on vacation in like South Carolina and I was walking 

around and stuff and we were talking about it. There's alligators and stuff, in some parts, and they told me to be careful about them. I was thinking 'oh alligator' and then I started daydreaming. So it was like putting the two together. It's a band name. But yea, for a long time we were Alligator Daydream. 

What would you say the genre of music you fall into is? Does your music cater to a specific audience?

That’s a tough question. That’s probably one of the easiest ones to answer all day but, probably I’d say indie with elements of funk and maybe metal elements. Rock music but with asterisks on it. It’s kinda hard to say. I don't think music should cater towards a specific group of people, I'm not writing it for anyone.

Is music a hobby, a dream? What do you hope to achieve? 

I wanna say hobby. But I like to think I take it seriously because obviously listening to my songs I'm like 'oh I could've done this better, I could've done this better.' But it's like I wanna take it seriously but once it stops being fun it stops being for me because I wanna write songs that are for me and if people listen to it people listen to it I don't really care. I don't know what I'd like to achieve. Like I don't really care about playing at a venue with like a million people. I just like making music that I can listen to, that I can put in a playlist with other artists. Not that I can compare myself to other established artists.

How long have you been making your own music? 

In terms of making stuff I only really started late 2019, my junior year of high school. But I've been playing for 2 ish years before that. Some friends asked me to start a band and we saw we can make stuff and write our own songs instead of just covering other songs. 

Have you ever thought of putting vocals or lyrics in your tracks? Have you ever written lyrics? 

So, yes. Short answer yes, long answer is it's complicated. I would love to have vocals on them but my singing is... bad. It's objectively horrific. I write lyrics constantly. But the way I write lyrics is not to fit an instrumental. I want to be able to write lyrics to fit into a song but I can only write a song around lyrics. A lot of the lyrics are like rap, as corny as that sounds. Like MF Doom, my favorite artist of all time, him and a bunch of other rappers are all like constantly in my head. 

What originally got you in music? 

Getting into music, there’s like two ways you can take that. There’s listening music and playing (making) music. What got me into listening to music was listening to Foo Fighters for the first time. Like old Foo Fighters, not really their newer stuff I’m not much a fan of. But listening to them for the first time it was like ‘wow music can be more than the pop music I hear on the radio all the time, or the contemporary Christian music my mom listens to all the time.’ But what got me into playing it’s a weird story. I’ve always known people that could play guitar and stuff so growing up I always wanted to learn. But my mom, she told me I had to play piano first. I didn’t want to learn piano, I thought it was lame. I was a stupid 8 year old who doesn’t know how cool piano is. But on a whim I just decided to go to guitar lessons.

Do you play any instruments? How many? 

I also play bass and know the basic fundamentals for piano and midi type 808 stuff. So for the project pretty much all that’s on it is me other than a couple tracks guitar and bass parts.

What inspired you? 

I make music similar to Foo Fighters but they weren’t what pushed me to make music. I think the types of bands I was listening to at the time were more like Kanye, Tyler the Creator, and, this is pretty out of left field but, Pink Floyd. Those  three were like I wanna make music now.

Conclusion 

It’s clear to see that Alligator Daydream makes and releases what he enjoys and isn’t really in it for any type of fame or money. It’s nice to see someone make music ‘just because’ or because it’s a fun hobby. It’s a nice contrast. Although his tracks aren’t something I’d usually listen to, it was a nice change of pace compared to my usual playlists. In the future I’d like to see if vocals are ever released in his tracks and how much he may grow.

[ksjade]

90’s Hip-Hop Scene: Gangsta Rap

There is rarely a dull moment in hip-hop history, even starting with 80’s NYC hip-hop. This time gave rise to many, many groundbreaking  NY-bred rappers and it has undoubtedly established itself as a cultural and commercially significant time. Following this large rise in hip-hop the next decade, 90’s, developed a new path for west-coast rappers. Subsequently, this is where the mainstream evolution of Gansta Rap originated. Ice cube, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G to name a few participators in the genre. 

Going back to the rise of west coast rap a new sound with descriptive story over funk samples developed on top of the ‘luxury’ of music. Gasngsta rap is universally thought to be the product of economic and social policies affecting black and brown communities during the Reagan-Busch era. The most popular example of this is the Crack Epidemic. This epidemic flooded and devastated many black and brown communities on the west coast and LA was one of the worst examples. Social and economic policies lead to deindustrialization, economic displacement, lack of economic opportunity, and much, much more. Due to these struggles there became a rise in unemployment, poverty, crime, drug dealing, and addiction. Regan’s response was a War on Drugs Campaign that almost seemed to target black and brown communities by punishing those suffering from addiction and economic disenfranchisement, and implementing harsher punishments for crack than cocaine. Leading to a even higher increase in social and economic struggle. 

This violence and racism is where popular participators in Gangsta rap rose from. Hip-hop has always been involved in politics but with the popularity and more outward criticism this genre of hip-hop became a spectacle to the public. This new wave of artists were unapologetic and spoke their truth without missing a beat. They unabashedly criticized the government and police, spoke about the violence, racism, and struggles they’ve faced. So much so many felt like it was a glorification of violence and self destruction.  

Similarly to now, the response to the genre varied at the time. Much of hip-hop’s success at the time came from young  suburban consumers and this turned many conservative heads. Conservatives used Gansta rap to uphold harmful narratives about blacks communities. There was much infighting within the genre too. Many rappers like Public Enemy, KRS One, or Heavy D backed movements like Stop the Violence Movement and denounced the glorification of violence. On the other hand, those that advocated for the genre thought that it revealed experiences that were always ignored and Gangsta Rap forces people to finally listen. 

Despite all the struggles this era of hip-hop faced it is still  it’s Golden Age. Many lovers of the genre believe the most change happened and it has easily paved the way for future great artists to thrive. 

To mention briefly, alongside Gangsta Rap other hip-hop pop and R&B genres were also on the rise with artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Lauryn Hill, and Lil Kim. These artists perused their own set of messages other than what Gangsta rap traditionally discussed. 

My Thoughts?

I personally love the Gansta rap era of hip-hop, I grew up with family drilling this stuff into my head. I believe that critics of the genre are justified in their thinking but also I feel that the advocates are ultimately right. The devastation done to black and brown communities are constantly dismissed or ignored and by bringing to light the violence that they face it forces people to finally listen. In terms of the glorification of violence I believe this is just another commentary to show that this is what their country has done for their community and this is all they’ve known. I understand that this genre of rap can give racists more reason for their unjustified bigotry but I’d also like to argue that when someone is really so ignorant towards a group nothing that group can change or do will change that persons mind. It shouldn’t be the marginalized responsibility to cater towards their oppressors wants. Politics aside, Gangsta rap paved the way for the new generation of hip-hop and easily became the blueprint for many future hip-hop artists and I truly believe hip-hop wouldn’t be where it is without this era. 

References: The Cause & Effect of 90's Hip Hop , Gangstas and Playas , 90s Hip-Hop: How Snoop Dogg, Tupac And Eminem Took Over The World

[ksjade]

The sound of Nostalgia, Ultra 

I feel as though, especially now, people long for a time before. Regardless of what generation one is born in the concept of nostalgia and the yearning for a simpler time has easily become a dream for many. Frank Ocean is one artist that captures pain, longing, and nostalgia perfectly. Though he hasn’t released much what he has put out is easily peak art and expression.

Nostalgia, Ultra released in 2011 is a small mixtape of songs that touches on the feelings of pain and heartbreak according to djbooth writer Donna-Claire Chesman. Many songs on this mixtape are later used in future albums but a fan favorite track has sadly been left out of a proper release. “American Wedding” is a 7 minute track that samples the instrumentals of “Hotel California.” It’s well known that the meaning behind “Hotel California” is a bit ambiguous, but what is generally agreed upon and what the band has said themselves is that it’s a socio political statement about the duality of self destruction and greed (American Song Writer Ethan Reese). This track easily reflects life. Life if filled with times of darkness and times of light, this duality is inescapable.

Why am I talking about “Hotel California”?

Because the track is the only thing played in tandem with Frank Oceans lyrics. Using this sample wasn’t only because it’s cool and sounds nice but because it’s meaning parallels the story Frank portrays in “American Wedding”. The story explained to us isn’t anything too profound, it follows Frank and a lover rushing into a marriage without thinking, it ultimately doesn’t work out as planned, and they get divorced. The duality of dream and reality. So not only does the lyrics tell a story of life but the sample instrumental reminds us of a similar story told before. What does this show us? It shows us that life repeats itself. By utilizing a old track that outlined a mans regrets and placing new modern lyrics that also outline a mans regrets it exemplifies how easy it is to repeat mistakes.

It’s easy to recognize the flaw in Franks actions. He is lead by fleeting feelings and believes in daydreams and ignores the red flags everyone else can see, but who doesn’t? Heartbreak is a big topic through all of Frank Ocean’s tracks and he believes it’s one of the oldest and unchanging emotions. Frank Ocean’s ability to reveal these adolescent, stupid mistakes for the sake of a fleeting romance is what so many people are drawn to.

In terms of nostalgia this song fits perfectly. I’m sure every child has heard this song being played by grandparents or parents alike throughout their childhood. It’s timeless.By utilizing such a recognizable song that everyone undoubtedly has history with Frank Ocean’s track “American Wedding” triggers the listener to remember or return to a younger point in life.

“American Wedding” isn’t a new story, but that’s what makes it perfect. It’s the fact that it’s a basic story that even the best of us can relate to. It’s telling us the story of life and adolescence through both its lyrics and instrumentals.

[ksjade]

How Do You Grieve? 

This collection of tracks come from Kendrick Lamar’s most recent release Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. For the lack of a better term is album is a lot. But an amazingly good type of a lot. A makes you think for days type of a lot. Any and all of the tracks on this album can be dissected and written at lengths. 

For a brief overview, the album is laid out like a play. It tells a story of Kendrick’s life and his journey with trauma, generational trauma, his shift in mindset, and his healing. The first half addresses the broader issues of society like typical Kendrick but going into the second half we can see a shift where it becomes more intimate and personal to his issues.

United In Grief 

The first song of the album opens with a beautiful message: “I hope you find some peace of mind in this lifetime.” And this message is carried and developed through the whole album. Beside this overarching message is an adolescent Kendrick. And I don’t mean young in age, I mean young in soul, in spirit. We see him here before the intervention of therapy and before he truly looked deeper within himself and his traumas. In the beginning Kendrick starts off questioning the small things in life. Eventually, he spirals into how how he ‘grieves different,’ essentially saying how he grieves is superior. He grieves his childhood and his trauma through material goods and lust, even proudly proclaiming that it runs in the family with his cousin Baby Keem  following in his steps. Bars on bars he talks about buying cars, mansion, watches but in the end it was unfulfilling. Yet, he still tries to justify how he copes is the best way, that’s until his thought process is broken by a separate thought: ‘Everybody grieves different.’ He’s no longer special or superior with this thought, he’s brought back down and humbled that he’s just like the other steppers that chose him to lead. This realization was Kendricks first step to truly healing. 

“Especially in the case of deep trauma the pain can easily define your sense of identity.” – Eckhart Tolle

N95

Healing is a long road and although Kendrick started his journey  with “Untitled Grief” he hasn’t even began his first few steps. We see this with “N95.” Starting off, the title itself is a reference to N95 masks and a subsequent call back the the Covid-19 virus, this is why the song starts of with “You’re back outside / But they still lied” and throughout the track the motion of taking something off is constantly addressed. Although the masks are off and the everyone is outside again the social and political issues have yet to be addressed. Kendrick demands that people leave behind  the designer brands, the fake woke, and cancel culture because in the end these are all things that mask your true self. People hide behind fancy clothes or cars to mask insecurity. Others, they follow cancel culture or ‘wokeness’ for the aesthetic essentially faking their truth for clout or likes. Kendrick later calls out the hypocrisy of these people saying “ You entertainin’ old friends when they toxic / What’s your life like? Bullshit and gossip.” Overall, this song encapsulates ‘classic Kendrick’ the Kendrick who speaks for the community, who is a leader, but is somehow lacking to speak purely just for himself. Perpetually stuck speaking for others.  

Worldwide Steppers 

Entering this track we finally see some of Kendrick’s deeper thoughts within himself. After Kodak Kendrick follows with how we’re all mindless in search of that something. He claims he’s “the man of God.” There’s a contradiction, however. Kendrick will easily kill for his daughter, he’s weak to his sex addiction, he’s constantly in question of himself, he can’t pass judgment. For the rest of the track he talks about his infidelity and sex addiction. How he’s objectified so many women, how he’s used his status to get laid, how he takes some type of different physiological pleasure in laying with white women. Kendrick ties this back to how he’s seen as a leader or god, just like non-profits, churches, or preachers but in they end they’re all just the same as crooks and burglars. The track is ended with the lines “Photoshopping lies and motives / hide your eyes, then pose for the pic” addressing how we all turn a blind eye to all the lies and ulterior motives to save face.  

Father Time (feat. Sampha)

This track is a personal favorite, for reasons people can probably guess. Aside from that, we can see that this track addresses more of Kendrick’s trauma, specifically with his father and being raised with the ‘men are tough’ mindset. Although he is admitting the issues he still refuses to acknowledge he needs help, therapy, keeping with the thought ‘real men don’t need therapy.’ Throughout the track outright he says “I got daddy issues, that’s on me” and explains how his father raised him to be a traditionally masculine man. He couldn’t show emotion or express himself. Even going as far as not trusting anyone with said feelings. Kendrick further reveals that, yes, he does take this out on the women he loves, just like so many men with daddy issues do. By revealing his personal issues with his father Kendrick somewhat also contradicts the thought in Good Kid m.a.a.d City that his father being there for him was purely a good thing. He salutes the men that were able to make it without a father but also realizes the mindset he grew up with is immature. Despite being raised this way he still turned out opposite of what his father wanted, it forces him to hold grudges and have a hard head, only causing more grief on himself. In the end he starts slowly coming to terms with the fact that maybe, just maybe, he might need therapy. 

We Cry Together

With all the growth someone does it doesn’t make them impervious to relapse. This is seen in ‘We Cry Together,’ an intense, intimate, awkward track. When the track opens you immediately feel like you’re not supposed to be there, that you’re listing in on a private conversation. A toxic couple arguing. Admittedly, I may be biased in saying that I believe this track shows the struggle of women putting up with men who don’t treat them right, men that refuse to seek help and take it out on who they love. You hear how she’s put up with his cheating, his side pieces coming after her, his mothers criticism, and much more. That’s not to say she’s not being toxic, she is, but the issues she describes are real issues. On Kendrick’s side you can see that he just puts up excuses and insults. The end of the track is a turn where the couple goes from fighting to immediately fucking and the tap dancing ensues. An aspect I’ve yet to mention is the tap dancing, this dancing is carried through the album and in part shows how people dance around their issue instead of addressing it.  

Count Me Out 

This track is the the first steps into the second half of the album where Kendrick finally starts addressing himself and his struggles. It’s obvious with the inclusion of Eckhart Tolle that Kendrick has started therapy. He starts to address the guilt, shame, and hurt he feels. Lamenting about how he shares too much and finally admitting he’s broken. This time though he’s trying a new approach where he’s only thinking about himself and not trying to please the masses. Finally, he’s letting go of the ego and praise everyone has built up. Finally, just looking in the mirror. Finally, counting himself out. He’s gong to share himself and no longer speak from a distance. Here Kendrick has admitted that although he’s blessed he’s also flawed in so many ways. 

“Whatever you identify with becomes part of ego and it can happen that people identify with some pain or something they suffered… you need to realize that is not who you are.” -Eckhart Tolle

Savior 

For this track I feel it’s to tell the audience that the artists and figures they hail are human, they’re not a Masiah, they’re not your savior, they’re just human. Kendrick asks if the audience is really happy for him if they really want to hear his real voice or if they want to keep hearing his preaches. He asks if they’re really happy with him choosing to leave his position as appointed ‘leader.’ Again, The topic of ‘fake woke’ is brought up. He talks about the discourse online and although people anticipated a release from him during the BLM movements he chose to instead “meditate in silence” and wait for something he could speak on with more meaning. I feel he also shows some anger in being hailed as a leader. He says “Tupac dead, gotta think for yourself” addressing that figures are brought up to the standard of speaking for the masses but the masses stop speaking for themselves and put all this pressure on said person. This carries a lot of stress and hardship. The track ends with Kendrick saying that he’s going to protect and cultivate his soul on his own, he’s going to finally learn to heal.  

Mother I Sober 

To me, this track is so much heavier than a lot of the others. Kendrick begins with saying he feels for everybody, a reason why he has been able to speak for them and ‘heal’ them. But he has yet to speak or heal for himself. He reveals the survivors guilt he’s felt, his struggle for finding faith, how he wished he could be anyone but himself. This track then leads us through how Kendrick dissected his generational trauma and how he’s come to realize he’s lost himself. His internal battle is described of not feeling good enough to be forgiven and the final realization of how generational trauma has molded him and his mother and his mothers mother, and so on. The last thing Kendrick concludes is he will be the end of that generational curse, he’s exposed his soul now. 

Mirror

This last track of the album is a message to his audience. It’s a goodbye letter. He let’s us know that he can no longer actively speak for his people, he can no longer carry the burden. He chooses himself. But he leaves us with some advice: get a mirror. Look at and within ourselves, address the trauma and the issues, then we can find freedom. This track shows that Kendrick has come to terms with not ‘saving the world’ not living up to being the the man Tupac inspired to “change the world.” It shows his growth, from an adolescent mind to a newly matured one where he’s found what he wants right now. 

Final Thoughts

I really recommend listing to this whole album in one sitting because as I said before every track has thought out meaning behind it. I feel even some of the features on this album had a significant purpose, specially Kodak, Eckhart, and Taylour. This is an album that makes you think and personally has a lot of things I can connect to in my own life and experiences. In all honesty, having to pick 10 tracks was hard as I wanted to do the whole album. Overall, it’s clear to see that this album is not a regular one, it’s one that makes you think without a break, it’s something you listen to with a lot of intent. 

Sources: Dead End HipHop, Pearl Fountain Explained, Eckhart Tolle on Trauma

[ksjade]

The Verbal Mayhem Experience 

For many personal reasons I admittedly do not go out much, meaning going out to school clubs isn’t really my thing. However, going to Verbal Mayhem  this past Wednesday was such an experience I might have to reconsider. The intimacy, the self expression, the general vibe was just so inviting it really helped me change my view. 

So many may be asking “What the hell is Verbal Mayhem?” And I’ll tell you. Verbal Mayhem is a Rutgers social club where music artists, writers, singers, and anyone really can express themselves. Think of it as a leveled up version of your high school school talent shows. Where people can do covers of songs or poems, play original pieces, or even just play a instrument. Now at this point y’all are probably now asking “okay?? Why do I care?” And although I can’t make anyone “care”  I’ll tell you why I care. To start off with the bare minimum, it’s a very inclusive place!  For everyone that performs they start off with their name, stage name, what they’re performing, and pronouns. There’s an advisory to not include any hate speech in your performances and if there may be anything triggering it should be run by the e board and made known. Along with this you’re not pressured feel “professional” at whatever you’re preforming. Although, yes, many do preform their own original pieces many others also covered songs or poems or even experimenting with a new instrument or sound. Constructive criticism is not off the table however. Of course not harsh tough love, but just genuine appreciation. More than anything Verbal Mayhem felt like a place where you can just chill, watch your fellow students perform, and have fun. 

Let’s now get into the performances. The night started off  Whillhelm, this young man was played a wonderful original guitar piece that he explained he is in the process of writing lyrics for. Next was Jamilexx, stage name Jaz (sometimes), performed a song about love and exhibited her wonderful vocals. Following was Ruyi. Ruyi is a aspiring R&B artist and played for us two original songs about, you guessed it, love. His explanation of his music was a chill, alternative, kinda mesmerizing type of R&B.  Then we had an older member of the club, John Oh,  perform a poem that linked love and toxicity, love and delusion, love and addiction, so, so, so beautifully. Following him, we had Marietoie and Shania play a poem and song covers respectively. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the names for the life of me. But regardless they were nicely done. Finally, finishing the night was Mike. Mike performed an original poem and a cover of Giveon for us.  

Now, my previous explanation of the performance life might sound totally boring but it’s quite the contrary. The whole night was a pretty intimate experience where most of the audience was actually performing, and even if you weren’t you got to sit back and enjoy others sound. I think that’s what really draws me and many others in is the self expression. Even if someone isn’t displaying an original piece you can here them sing / cover something they enjoy or connect with. Although it was freezing the chill outdoor environment somehow made the feeling even more intimate, like you’re just a group of like minds sharing your experience. 

If you are to take anything away from this it’s Verbal Mayhem is an amazing place to display your self expression or experience others. It’s an intimate experience that is inclusive to both people and songs. They’re a good social group that could help a music, or music related, creative gain experience and friends. Personally, I will try to make more of an effort to attend and just watch the performances and I hope many others will try to also. 

Wednesdays 9pm College Ave. 

[ksjade]

Revisiting a Legend 

Tupac Shakur. I could really stop it at that, no need for introduction. But, for the sake of formalities, I wont. Tupac is the most celebrated MC in the culture, a man people still hail as hip-hops visionary, messiah, legend, or god even. Why? It’s because of what he stood for and how he represented his community. With all this notoriety one would think he was on the scene for YEARS but no, he was only out for about 5 before his untimely death. Although a full discography review would do better justice in really showing who Tupac was, for now I’ll settle for a few songs from his album before his death: All Eyez On Me.

Before getting into the songs lets first start with the album itself.  All Eyez on Me was the first album of its time to be released as a hip-hop double disk. Back then, this was unseen but after Pac others started following the blueprint. Not only that but this album became certified diamond when it broke records selling 10 million copies in the US. Why does this matter? It just goes to show how much work Pac put into his art, not many people can release 6 more albums after death. But Pac didn’t just put the work in for himself, he also did it for his people. In his 1994 MTV interview he gives a palatable analogy as to why his community is so angry and why it’s justified, he says,

 “we was ASKING 10 years ago. We was ASKING with the Panthers, we was ASKING with them, you know, with the civil rights movement. We was asking. Now these people who were asking are all dead and in jail, now what do you think we’re going to do? ASK??… And we shouldn’t be angry? And my raps that I’m rapping to my community shouldn’t be filled with rage?” 

In most, if not all, Pac’s interviews he talks about needing to rap about the suffering and injustices his people face because if not him then who? Not the media, not the schools, not government, so it had to be him. I could really go on and on, quoting interviews, movies, songs etc., etc. but lemme move on. 

 “Only God Can Judge Me”

This one is a personal favorite. From start to finish Pac has amazing bars that lament about the struggles of living in the gutter, the lies of the media, and the mental struggles of it all. This whole song could honestly be dissected line for line but I’ll stick with a few. 

“And all my memories, of seein' brothers bleed

And everybody grieves, but still nobody sees

Recollect your thoughts don't get caught up in the mix

'Cause the media is full of dirty tricks”

Although not as descriptive or ‘vulgar’ as some other lines Pac has used they still say a lot. To put it simply, what’s being described is the horror and trauma his community faces and despite it all they’re repeatedly ignored and looked over. But, when talked about (or rapped about) the media paints him, or any other speaker, as the aggressor, the instigator, or the evil. Throughout the song he mentions thoughts of death and suicidal / dangerous actions that are brought about because of the pain and the struggle people have to endure just to live. At the end of the day people are just doing what they gotta do to just stay alive and keep themselves and their families fed. So, no, no one can judge what they’ve done except for God.  

“Heartz Of Men” & “All Eyez on Me”

This album has a lot of feel good, ‘Thug Life,’ music. This doesn’t change the integrity of Pac though. To start, Pac’s definition of a thug is not the textbook, he means the underdog, the beaten, the abused. Songs like Heartz of Men and All Eyez on Me still describe a lot about his struggles, just more personal. Throughout both songs he talks about being back stabbed by friends and having people after him, but still getting back up to keep doing what he’s doing. Particularly in All Eyez on Me the title alone describes his ongoing struggle of not wanting to be forgotten. And just like his other songs that showcase his lyrical prowess these songs are no different. Many people are put off by rap music because of the ‘vulgarity’ or it’s claimed to condone gang life but, although this might be true in some cases, in many cases, especially Tupac’s case, it’s just describing what really goes down, what people really experience. In a 1994 interview with Ed Gordon Pac describes living, 

“We all living in a war zone. It’s not as easy as people are making us think… it’s not like that. We live in hell, we live in the gutter… by the time you get out your house you strapped up to protect yourself cause’ you living in the same community the police is carrying rifles and riot gear.” 

In another interview, 1995 MTV News, he describes wanting to finish school and wanting to go to college but just like so many kids he was unable to. He describes having to work to feed himself, his mother’s drug addiction at the time, and his house not having any light as factors. So even though it may be fair to say that rap is too aggressive or vulgar it’s not a true understanding of what the genre is. If just hearing about the struggle is too much just imagine being cursed with it. 

2Pac’s Legacy

Just describing these few things truly doesn’t do enough justice. Some other honorable mentions are Do For Love, Keep Ya Head Up, Ghetto Gospel, and Dear Mama. Tupac is emotional, and I don’t mean that negatively. His raw emotion, his big mouth, his willingness to speak his heart, and the obligation he feels towards his community is really what makes him so beloved. Aside from his music, this is what makes him a legend. In all his interviews he connects to and speaks for his people, they never leave his mind. In the 1994 BET interview he says he speaks for the youth, all youth. Going back to his 1994 MTV interview he says

 “All the society is doing is leeching off the ghetto. They use the ghetto for their pain, for their sorrow, for their culture, for their music, for their happiness, for their movies… I don’t wanna be another 50 years old at a BET ‘we shall over come’ achievement awards… I want when they see me they know that everyday when I’m breathing it’s for us to go farther.” 

He says “us.” He keeps the same energy for the poor. Theres so many clips out there with pac asking how can you make millions and be okay with people living on the streets? It’s clear to see just how and why Tupac really changed a community. 

Even today rappers still go back to him, the blue print. Kendrick saying that he’s continuing the legacy and even dreaming about him. ASAP Rocky admitting that he’s still a fan and is still moved by his work. And many, many, many more. It’s sad to hear that the youth doesn’t fully remember and acknowledge his legacy and although I understand his music isn’t this generations taste or some just might not care, his influence on the genre and on his people is undeniable. Many forget Tupac was a just a boy, only 25 when he died, but even in such a short amount of time he’s made more than a generations worth of impact. 

“I’m not saying I’m gonna rule the world or in gonna change the world but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world”

[ksjade]

Recognizing Miseducation 

When Lauryn Hill’s solo album ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ was released just saying it was a good album was an extreme understatement. It helped change and inspire the next wave of hip-hop, R&B, and soul. To this day, you can play any song and not feel the need to skip. Although recently Lauryn herself is surround by an array of controversy it’s undeniable that her solo album is a beautiful thing to experience. 

‘Miseducation’ is still acclaimed for its rap and R&B mixture. Currently, this is not anything new but not many people know that Lauryn’s solo album is one of the strongest movements to make that happen. The Michigan Daily says, “Drake, who in 2012 called himself “the first person to successfully rap and sing,” was borrowing from one of the unsung pioneers of the hip-hop genre.” In The Dead End Hip Hop it’s discussed how some don’t even consider the album a hip-hop one, however, they can still admit it has managed to make an impact on the community. This is evident with articles counting down artists like Drake, Kanye, J. Cole, and many more sampling not just Lauryn’s solo album but other works too. And, further discussed in The Michigan Daily, its clear to see that things like mixing of styles (jazz, soul, etc.) with hip-hop and the spoken-word style of rap was developed in this album. 

Beyond the impact  ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ had on the hip—hop genre, the album feels like something that teaches us about love, wisdom, and experience. More specifically women’s experience with love and losing oneself in the music industry. The most obvious pieces of evidence to that is the audios in classroom with students discussing the meaning of love and how it’s experienced. In this setting, Lauryn in conveniently missing and it’s telling to hear that a lot of the most insightful thoughts on love come from the young women in the classroom. 

Love and heartbreak is not a new or amazing thing people sing about but what makes this album stand out is how it displays Lauryn’s intimate experience with toxic, young, dumb love. In songs like ‘Ex-Factor’ and  ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’ it’s easiest to see how she was so trapped by her love that although it was toxic she still went back despite the pain and false hope. Other songs describe her healing process, sadness, and gaining of knowledge like in ‘Nothing Even Matters’ and ‘I Used to Love Him.’ Although most songs are about her lost love the song ‘To Zion’ is about Lauryn choosing love for her child and ignoring her mind. Despite the struggles, despite her growing her career, she chose her heart. These messages are important to the many women that go through a similar experience with toxic love and unplanned pregnancies.

Many other songs like “Forgive Them Father,’ ‘Final Hour,’ ‘Lost Ones,’ and ‘Superstar’ talk about gaining wisdom through experience. In some capacity, these songs explain how she has learned regardless of the amount of money or power one may have what matters most is the wisdom you should gain and  the people you love. 

What allowed this album to be so great in what it does is the intent Lauryn had behind making it. In her interview she discusses in length on how although she used to make music just to listen to she feels its now her duty to create that something that inspires others and she doesn’t feel right creating anything less. This narrative is obvious in the song ‘Superstar.’ Lauryn also discusses her idea with what miseducation really means. She used that word to not describe her academic miseducation but to describe her younger way of understanding the world and love. In the same interview and with the RollingStone she further describes that this album was not meant to prove much of anything but instead creating something she wanted to put in the world that was unique and inspiring. 

“That wasn’t the meaning behind it. It was really sort of a catch and me learning that, you know, when I thought I was my most wise, really not wise at all. And then my humility, you know, and in those places that people wouldn’t expect a lesson to come from. That’s where I learned so much.” -Lauryn Hill 

In recent time, a lot of controversy has been surrounding Lauryn and her ‘Miseducation.’ Allegations of stealing work. Best seen in Dead End Hip-Hop’s discussion on Robert Glasper’s interview and the interview itself. The claims on Lauryn are important to discuss but as the men in Dead End Hip-hop maintain it’s more about a moral issue on the artists part and separating the art from the artist. For many, this controversy doesn’t change the impact or integrity of the album because at the end of the day it’s an amazing piece of work with amazing vocals. And although this revaluation doesn’t tarnish the album it’s more of a stain on Lauryn as a person, simply because this solo album has, in a sense, gone beyond Lauryn herself. 

Overall, ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ isn’t recognized enough for its hand in the evolution of hip-hop. What this album teaches about wisdom and growth is just as important as what it displays musically. We should all reevaluate our own misunderstandings on life and create things that inspire ourselves and others.