Throughout hip-hop music history, artists have developed methods in which they express true meanings and portray meaningful messages embedded in their work. Some artists being better at it than others, they share personal experiences, teach valuable life lessons, and create a melodious piece of art in just a matter of minutes. On account of the various styles and subgenres in rap music today, these specific factors fall under the category of lyrical rap. Rap music has changed tremendously over the last 20 years, but lyrical rap has stayed true to its purpose. From retired lyrical genius Eminem, to current rappers such as J. Cole, the lyrical rap genre lives on. Many new artists release songs with little significant meaning, and lyrics that …show more content…
The most insightful and perhaps the most listened to lyrical rapper today goes by the name of Jermaine Cole or, better known, J. Cole. The hopeful and inspiring rapper from Lafayette, North Carolina, raps mainly about his previous struggles at home and his eventual rise into the rap game. With all the aspiring rappers out there, J. Cole produces a great deal of his music to influence them and show them that anything is possible as long as they put their mind to it. Seeing as J. Cole was once in their position, he relates to and speaks to his audience with ease. One song J. Cole connects’ well with his audience is “Crooked Smile,” a song from his 2013 album Born Sinner. He goes in great depth in this song to explain to his fans not to worry about their imperfections; everybody has them they’re not holding anyone back. The song’s message is summarized in this brief couple of lines: “A perfect smile is more appealing but it’s funny how, my shit is crooked at how far I done got without it/ I keep my twisted grill just to show the kids it’s real, we ain’t picture perfect but we worth the picture still.” As simple as this line may seem, it says so much more than meets the eye. Cole teaches the younger generation to love themselves for who they are; don’t worry about unnecessary stuff like crooked teeth. Clearly it did not stop him from becoming …show more content…
Cole is aware that he’s superior to the new rappers, mainly because of his genius lyrics. So, in spite of the overhype and attention new rappers are getting, J. Cole decided to address the situation by releasing his new single “everybody dies.” The first verse begins with a line hinting at the reason for the out-of-the-blue song: “Look, It’s the return of the Mr. Burn Suckers.” Contradicting his other nickname, “Mr. Nice Watch,” J. Cole goes with ‘Mr. Burn Suckers’ because he is about to burn, or diss, the sucker rappers that he feels have changed the rap game. Perhaps the most pivotal line in this song is one in which he takes shots at “mumble rappers” Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert, and Kodak Black. The hateful line reads as such: “The would-you-take-a-break-please rappers/ Bunch of words ain’t sayin’ shit, I hate these rappers/ Especially the amateur eight week rappers/ Lil’ whatever- just another short bus rapper.” This line accurately depicts what the rap scene has come to in the recent years, especially when he mentions that their words ‘ain’t sayin shit.’ A common theme in the songs these rappers have produced is their low vocabulary, blended together with their incomprehensible voices. This form of music is destroying the, once praised, genre of rap. These new artists are the only reason why some rappers are considered ‘lyrical’. Since their lyrics are meaningless and, for the most part, obnoxious, the lyrical rap genre had to be created for the artists who still
John Jay was born in New York City on December 12, 1745 and was a self devoted leader that help the United States get to where it is today. He served a very important role in the Founding Fathers establishment as well as bringing overall greatness to the country. He devoted himself to the American Revolution as well as becoming the first Chief Justice of the United States. Serving in the Continental Congress, and becoming president of the congress gave him great power and confidence within himself.
In Adam Bradley’s “Rap poetry 101” he shows us how rap is more than just songs being sung, it is poetry; it is something that has an empowering ability to make the familiar unfamiliar.In this chapter Bradley creates a new viewpoint too rap. Bradley shows us how rap and poetry has become a very similar piece of art that should be further appreciated. In the chapter poetry 101 Bradley describes how rap is a form of public art, and how rappers have become our greatest public poets. The importance of rap as poetry is shown throughout Bradley's book as well as the evidence behind the reasons rap is poetry.
J. Cole talks about his insecurities such as his “crooked teeth” and expresses how nobody is perfect (22). Cole also says “I keep my twisted grill, just to show the kids it’s real” (9). Cole is now a famous artist who has the money to fix his crooked teeth but chooses to keep it the way it is to express that “We ain’t picture perfect but we worth the picture still” (10). Cole then transitions his lyrics that will target young women listeners. He expresses how some women are “Killing themselves to find a man that’ll kill for them” (17). Cole then encourages women to not “fix what God already put his paint brush on” (20). On the second verse of the song, Cole says “To all the women with the flaws, know it’s hard my darling” (28). This part of the song aims towards female listeners. Cole says “When I tell you that you’re beautiful you can’t be sure ‘cause he don’t seem to want you back and it’s got you asking” (30-31). This part of the lyrics explains how some women do not believe they are beautiful due to the fact that they cannot find a man. He later says “Take it from a man that loves what you got and baby girl you’re a star, don’t let ‘em tell you you’re not” (33-34). By saying this, he is promoting self-love and inner beauty amongst the generation. However, it did make me question why the lyrics and music video did not match. Although they do not technically match visually, the
The genre of rap and hip-hop music has taken on a whole new persona in the generation of millennials. Fortunately, there are rappers such as Jermaine Cole, or “J Cole”, who work to hold on to a pure form of hip-hop and strive to portray a message in all of their songs. J Cole is a southern rapper with a northern style and flow. His main messages in all of his music is to speak the truth about his life and the world around him. You can listen to all his songs from the start of his career to now and you could understand who he is as and essentially listen to his growth as person. His song entitled “January 28th” is no exception to transparent style. The theme of the songs is to let his audience know that he extraordinary and he gives pieces
Hip-Hop became characterized by an aggressive tone marked by graphic descriptions of the harshness and diversity of inner-city life. Primarily a medium of popular entertainment, hip-hop also conveys the more serious voices of youth in the black community. Though the approaches of rappers became more varied in the latter half of the 1980s, message hip-hop remained a viable form for addressing the problems faced by the black community and means to solve those problems. The voices of "message" hip...
In the article “ From Fly to Bitches and Hoes” by Joan Morgan, she often speaks about the positive and negative ideas associated with hip-hop music. Black men display their manhood with full on violence, crime, hidden guilt, and secret escapes through drugs and alcohol. Joan Morgan’s article views the root causes of the advantage of misogyny in rap music lyrics. In the beginning of the incitement her desires shift to focus on from rap culture condemnation to a deeper analysis of the root causes. She shows the hidden causes of unpleasant sexism in rap music and argues that we need to look deeper into understanding misogyny. I agree with Joan Morgan with the stance that black men show their emotions in a different way that is seen a different perspective.
Hip hop is both a culture and a lifestyle. As a musical genre it is characterized by its hard hitting beats and rhythms and expressive spoken word lyrics that address topics ranging from economic disparity and inequality, to gun violence and gang affiliated activity. Though the genre emerged with greater popularity in the 1970’s, the musical elements involved and utilized have been around for many years. In this paper, we will cover the history and
Hip hop has permeated popular culture in an unprecedented fashion. Because of its crossover appeal, it is a great unifier of diverse populations. Although created by black youth on the streets, hip hop's influence has become well received by a number of different races in this country. A large number of the rap and hip hop audience is non-black. It has gone from the fringes, to the suburbs, and into the corporate boardrooms. Because it has become the fastest growing music genre in the U.S., companies and corporate giants have used its appeal to capitalize on it. Although critics of rap music and hip hop seem to be fixated on the messages of sex, violence, and harsh language, this genre offers a new paradigm of what can be (Lewis, 1998.) The potential of this art form to mend ethnic relations is substantial. Hip hop has challenged the system in ways that have unified individuals across a rich ethnic spectrum. This art form was once considered a fad has kept going strong for more than three decades. Generations consisting of Blacks, Whites, Latinos, and Asians have grown up immersed in hip-hop. Hip hop represents a realignment of America?s cultural aesthetics. Rap songs deliver a message, again and again, to keep it real. It has influenced young people of all races to search for excitement, artistic fulfillment, and a sense of identity by exploring the black underclass (Foreman, 2002). Though it is music, many people do not realize that it is much more than that. Hip hop is a form of art and culture, style, and language, and extension of commerce, and for many, a natural means of living. The purpose of this paper is to examine hip hop and its effect on American culture. Different aspects of hip hop will also be examined to shed some light that helps readers to what hip hop actually is. In order to see hip hop as a cultural influence we need to take a look at its history.
The music video for J.Cole’s 2013 Crooked Smile is an expressive, and powerful production. It reveals itself as a short film commemorating seven-year-old Aiyana Stanley – Jones who was killed by an officer during a 2010 raid in Michigan. The video was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best Video With a Social Message (Kaufman, 2014). It begins with an inconspicuous frame of J. Cole solemnly looking though a window appearing to have been arrested. The video then reverts backwards to show a comparison of two men leading similar lives earlier in the day. It is then revealed these men, although similar, are identified as binary opposites through ideological representation. Throughout the video a repertoire is built showing a white man, and a black man (J. Cole) living their natural lives. They then interact as the white DEA officer enters the home of the black drug dealer during a raid. With guns
To say it lightly, Stanley Crouch does not like the hip-hop genre of music. The dreadlocks, the clothing style, and the "vulgar": gold chains are just a few things he does not approve of at all. (Crouch, 1 ) It astounds him to see how far African-American music has fallen since the days of the Motown. Stanley was quoted as saying this about rap, "It is rudeness, vulgarity, and pornography disguised as ‘keeping it real.'" (Crouch, 1) He also went on to say the hip-hop music genre has the worst impact of all music genres on our culture today. (Crouch, 2) Crouch believes one does not need much talent to become a successful rapper unlike the jazz greats he listens to all the time.
The most popular new music to emerge from the ‘80’s was rap music. It first developed in the mid ‘70’s in New York City, and soon in other urban areas, primarily amongst African-American teen-agers. It became very popular with the urban public that it soon began to spread throughout the United States and much of the world. It replaced rock music as the creative force in music of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. However, as popular as it was then and it is now, the lyrics of many rap songs have caused controversy. Many believe and have charged that these lyrics promote racism and violence and show contempt for women.
From its conception in the 1970's and throughout the 1980's, hip hop was a self-contained entity within the community that created it. This means that all the parameters set for the expression came from within the community and that it was meant for consumption by the community. Today, the audience is from outside of the community and doesn’t share the same experiences that drive the music. An artists’ success hinges on pleasing consumers, not the community. In today's world, it isn’t about music that rings true for those who share the artists' experiences, but instead, music that provides a dramatic illusion for those who will never share the experiences conveyed. This has radically changed the creative process of artists and the diversity of available music. Most notably, it has called in to question the future of hip hop.
Cole is a gifted and bright musician who does a great job of expressing emotions and rooting deep meaning within his lyrics. J. Cole’s song “Crooked Smile” represents the problems society faces with regards to women’s insecurities and the lack of self love in young women today. Society is trying to keep them down and make them feel lesser “You were the one that was tryna keep me way down, but like the sun, know you know I find my way back 'round” the hook explains how they still raise again like the sun does everyday. Cole uses “Crooked Smile” to address the problem and reassure women that they are beautiful and loved the way they are. Cole empowers women and confronts the issues within society that are still relevant
People are surrounded by music every day of their lives. They hear it in their homes, on the radio on their way to work; some people have even caught themselves humming the tune of their favorite song to themselves. But how many people actually listen and not just hear the music they are listening to? Teens in particular don’t realize the message behind the music they are quoting the lyrics to, or the effect it has on them. In today’s culture where rap music has become increasingly popular, many teens aren’t realizing what they are listening to. A lot of teens would argue that the music they listen to has no effect on them, but they are wrong. Rap music, especially, has had a major impact on teenagers in today’s society.
Not only is hip-hop a way of expressing ones feelings or views, but it is a part of the urban culture and can be used as a communication tool. Slang originally came from hip-hop music and has become a very popular use in today’s society, especially the urban parts. Hip-hop is a standout amongst the most compelling musical sorts on the globe. There are rappers everywhere that know what amount of an impact their music can have. Some entertainers attempt to utilize that force of impact to do great (Ruiz INT).