Music Essay - America Needs Rap and Hip Hop
analytical Essay
1360 words
America Needs Rap and Hip Hop
Ever since it became popular in the late eighties, hip-hop music has been a target of moral disapproval. Many critics have labeled the music as an offensive, vulgar, misogynist form of expression, which negatively influences its listeners, particularly children. Early in rap music's' development "concerned citizens" and various government officials held protests against the release of certain rap albums. Rap music's opponents demanded strict censorship. But hip-hop was increasingly attracting large audiences and its supporters were ready to fight the censors who they believed were taking away their constitutional right of freedom of speech, and the freedom of the urban black culture to express itself. What critics of rap music don't comprehend is that rap music is a part of our culture, which is impossible to ignore. Although it may be untraditional, it is a very eloquent form of expression that illustrates the conditions and feeling of a vibrant African -American young culture
Hip-hop is constantly attacked in the music world. Many music critics argue that rap is not a valid form of music. This attack on rap music isn't only restricted to critics, many people of older generations have similar attitudes regarding this style of music. Those who stick to the conventional definition of music argue that Hip-hop has no melody, and that since there is no singing it isn't true music. Rap music is also criticized for its lack of originality, because rap artists are constantly "sampling" beats from pre-existing songs.
. In response to the argument that hip-hop isn't a "true" form of music, one would ask: who and what defines music? Is there a canon which all contemporary m...
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...eve I'm in the right place/ showed her my boarding pass/ then she short of gasped/
If white boys doing it , well, it success/ If I start doing it, well, it's suspect/
( for rest of song see appendix 2)
In spite of the controversy the hip-hop culture encounters, its' significance cannot be overlooked. Rap music is an important cultural phenomenon that represents a part of society that, after many years, has found a voice. It would be a mistake to think of all hip-hop as monolithic in fact it could be seen as a continuous dialogue within a community. Despite some of the controversial elements of hip-hop, rap music is an essential tool for the African- American community's search for identity.
Be a native/ get creative/ original and designated
-A tribe called quest( youthful expression)
1 The eloquent essay, Leo Marx. P.88
In this essay, the author
- Argues that rap music is an eloquent form of expression that illustrates the conditions of a vibrant african-american young culture.
- Explains that hip-hop is constantly attacked in the music world. many music critics argue that rap is not a valid form of music.
- Argues that hip-hop isn't a "true" form of music, and critics attack it because it's unconventional. the real talent of rappers comes in their poetry.
- Argues that rap music's sexist portrayal of women is a symptom of an increasingly crumbling set of social values in the black urban community.
- Argues that rap song lyrics are a twentieth-century colloquial dialect describing contemporary courtship rituals, economic inequality, and lack of commitment.
- Analyzes how the notorious b.i.g in this song is using language familiar to people living in black urbanized areas; his language doesn't portray his personal feeling as much as it portrays his culture.
- Argues that many rap songs glorify gang war-fare, black on black crime, hate crimes, and other forms of violence. hip-hop rivals believe these negative messages provoke children to act violently.
- Argues that rappers and supporters of rap music argue that the violence present in their lyrics is indicative of events which are real to the black community.
- Analyzes how the censors are destroying the essence of rap music by not allowing rappers to talk about violence.
- Explains the "underground" aspect of hip-hop rap music, where artists use their lyrical abilities to write songs that attack the negative aspects of the black community.
- Narrates how they were on a first class flight late at night and the flight attendant caught fright.
- Opines that despite the controversy, rap music is an important cultural phenomenon that represents a part of society that, after many years, has found its voice.
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- Essay About Hip Hopanalytical essayFabrice Vassor Hip-Hop/Rap is one of the greatest developing sorts of today. From its beginning times in the 1970's to the present popular culture, it has developed a considerable amount. Shockingly, it has built up an unpleasant notoriety of medications, viciousness, manhandle, and posses. At the point when individuals connect Hip-Hop with things it is typically a pessimistic picture that rings a bell. Which is dismal, Hip-Hop/Rap has an incredible masterful quality to them that gets so not entirely obvious.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hip-hop/rap has developed from its beginnings in the 1970's to the present popular culture.
- Explains that hip-hop/rap has its favorable circumstances and its disservices. it gives kids another outlet and another approach to convey what needs to be.
- Explains that hip-hop and rap go so well together that individuals often place them into a similar classification.
- Analyzes how hip-hop/rap developed out of the urban boulevards in the 70's.
- Explains that the 70's were the start of hip-hop/rap with names like dj kool herc, afrika bambaataa, grandmaster streak, sugarhill gang, melle mel, and others.
1200 wordsRead More - Essay About Rap Musicanalytical essayRap music from the 1990’s to the year 2000 is known in hip hop as “the golden era”. This era is all about individuality and innovation of creating music in one of the newest musical art forms. Rap music started out as the expression of young black youths in the inner city of New York. Rap music is rhymed storytelling accompanied by highly rhythmic, electronically based music. It began in the mid-1970s in the South Bronx in New York City as a part of hip hop, composed of graffiti, breakdancing, and rap music. From the outset, rap music has articulated the pleasures and problems of black urban life in contemporary America. Rappers speak with the voice of personal experience, taking on the identity of the observer or narrator. Rap music has lost a lot of it purity and essence due to the multimillion dollar business. Rap music is always critizied because of it’s violent and sexual nature but its just reporting what is views in this cold world.(Rose, 1994)
In this essay, the author
- Explains that hip hop's golden era is all about individuality and innovation of creating music in one of the newest musical art forms. rap music began as the expression of young black youths in the inner city of new york
- Explains that grandmaster flash and the furious five's "the message" was the first rap song that didn't talk about cars and partying. melly mell was trying to explain everyday life in the poverty-stricken slums of new york.
- Explains that run-dmc pioneered a rap rock style of music that took the music world by storm. their music and stage performance set them apart from other rappers in the late 1980's.
- Analyzes how roxane shante gained notoriety off her response to u.t.f.o song "roxanne, roxanne" which sparked a rap battle. the most sensual and sexual rapper of all time is lil kim.
- Explains that public enemy tackled political and social issues that many hip hop artists strayed away from.
- Opines that hip hop gets a bad rap in the media because they will never understand its essence.
1155 wordsRead More - Rap. Simply Music, or Something More?analytical essayEvery major societal change in history has been met with resistance of some kind, and the adoption of rap music into the entertainment industry is no different. There are an innumerable amount of viewpoints on whether rap music is to be admonished for the objectification of and disrespect towards women or simply accepted as another expression of modern society. Even those these two opposing viewpoints are vastly different, there are opportunities for those who listen to this type of music to develop their intelligence on the various topics discussed in modern rap.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the adoption of rap music into the entertainment industry is no different. there are numerous viewpoints on whether it should be admonished for objectification of and disrespect towards women or simply accepted as another expression of modern society.
- Argues that rap music has a tendency to represent misogyny at its true best, capturing the essence of women in oh-so-catchy rhymes of debased and objectified, crude animal forms.
- Analyzes how hip-hop/rap musicians are moving away from violent, hyper-sexualized lyrics and trying their hands at more empowering, and uplifting lyrics. rap artists are slowly becoming aware of the stigma of rap music and realizing that they need to make a change.
- Analyzes how the questionable lyrics in most rap music present a teaching moment for the guardians of adolescents.
- Explains that rap songs have a specific line that speaks to the listener and does not affect anyone exactly the same way.
- Explains that rap music blamed for teen pregnancy. the carter administration, ne-yo, carl sturken, et
679 wordsRead More - Analysis Of Hip Hop Planet By James Mcbrideanalytical essayHip Hop’s according to James McBride article “Hip Hop Planet” is a singular and different form of music that brings with it a message that only those who pay close attention to it understand it. Many who dislike this form of music would state that it is one “without melody, sensibility, instruments, verse, or harmony and doesn’t even seem to be music” (McBride, pg. 1). Though Hip Hop has proven why it deserves to be called music. In going into depth on its values and origins one understands why it is so popular among young people and why it has kept on evolving among the years instead of dying. Many of Hip Hop values that make it unique and different from other forms of music would be that it makes “visible the inner culture of Americas greatest social problem, its legacy of slavery, has taken the dream deferred to a global scale” (McBride, pg. 8). Hip Hop also “is a music that defies definition, yet defines our collective societies in immeasurable ways” (McBride, pg. 2). The
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes james mcbride's "hip hop planet" for its cynical tone and attitude towards the musical side of hip hop.
- Explains that hip hop is a singular and different form of music that brings with it the message that only those who pay close attention to it understand it.
- Explains that hip hop is a music genre where the expression of oneself is put to freedom and heard.
730 wordsRead More - Keeping Their Own Identity in Black Nationalismanalytical essayHip-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 this essay, the author
- Explains that black nationalists sought to acquire economic power and political self-determination, as well as infuse a sense of community among african americans.
- Explains that hip-hop culture has been a global phenomenon for more than twenty years. the failure and declining of the movements, the influential, rebellious, and powerful music reshaped black nationalism, unity and to signify the struggle.
- Analyzes how hip-hop was characterized by an aggressive tone marked by graphic descriptions of the harshness and diversity of inner-city life.
- Explains that hip hop has the potential of filling a whole within the black community by providing new meaning and lyrics to old and new tunes.
- Explains that the black nationalists promoted economic self-sufficiency, pride within their race, and black separatism. malcolm x was the most controversial exponent of black nationalism.
- Explains that hip-hop is a product of african american history and an invention of black cultural productions that reinforced black nationalism and black pride.
851 wordsRead More - Rapanalytical essayRap is an extremely popular genre of music in society worldwide today, especially with teens. Throughout the past hundred years, rap music and hip-hop have evolved from Jamaican roots in which deejays would talk over reggae music in small settings to tremendous commercialization of the genre which has injected violence into the minds of young people because of harsh lyrics and has been affected by pressures from the economy and society as a whole. Rap music has affected countless people, both positively and negatively, through its’ many ways of getting through to innumerable.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that rap music and hip-hop have evolved from jamaican roots in which deejays would talk over reggae music in small settings to tremendous commercialization of the genre.
- Explains that rap and hip-hop date back to the early 1900s in jamaica, although roots are also found from west african culture.
- Explains that gangsta rap reflects the violent lifestyles of inner-city american black youths.
- Explains that hip-hop is a language that binds all young people around the world while giving them the chance to alter it with their own national flavor.
- Analyzes the harsh stereotypes that come along with the support of rap music, such as that all african american men are thugs and criminals, and all women are strippers.
- Argues that rap music's impact on violence is a constant discussion due to censorship, and that the only way to change the situation is to talk about the negative aspects of the music.
- Explains that rap music has saved countless lives because it gives teens an outlet to express themselves instead of reverting to crime and substance abuse.
- Analyzes how the commercialization of rap music is displacing local rappers and musicians on the radio and television airwaves in africa, asia, the caribbean, and south america.
- Analyzes how rap music has grown from its roots in jamaica with both positive and negative side effects of commercial life in the united states. commercialization of the genre has injected violence into the minds of young people.
1567 wordsRead More - Hip Hop Civil Rights Movement Analysisopinion essayHip-Hop is produced on the role of coercion and power. The diversity of the culture supposes to create meaning not chaos. Social order is maintained by domination, and the power of the song lyrics. The black youth is more likely to be victimized by crime than any other group. Hip-Hop influence the music that we listen to that a new artist can directly affect how we dress, talk, dance and etc. For example, “prison inspired hip-hop styles like sagging black pants and oversized t-shirts” (Baxter & Marina 2008, 110). Sending a culture shock across the country, some may believe it could be a good thing and others may believe it could be a detriment to our youth and
In this essay, the author
- Opines that hip-hop's purpose was to be the new improved of the civil rights movement. the black youth is seeing it as a culture where nothing is important, but wealth and not realizing the crisis.
- Opines that blacks are being controlled by their own culture. the lack of education the youth may have is due to hip-hop culture that promotes deviance.
- Opines that hip-hop is a powerful force of expression of thoughts, emotions, spiritual aspects and aspirations.
- Explains that hip-hop is a world-wide phenomenon that emphasizes power. it was organized to produce power and specific gender roles and behaviors.
- Explains that hip-hop is produced on the role of coercion and power. the black youth is more likely to be victimized by crime than any other group.
- Explains that young african american youth are greatly influenced by the music they listen to especially if they look to those artists as a role model and someone that they want to reflect their life after.
- Explains hip-hop's influence on african american culture is a powerful tool to motivate people for the better. it speaks to the masses unlike any other contemporary.
- Analyzes how the style of hip-hop depends upon a certain society culture value. baxter & marina emphasizes the teaching of certain behavior young people learn and the tradition of specific gender roles.
- Analyzes how the black youth is used and abused due to the generation of hip-hop. it was developed through stratification, gender roles, deviant behaviors, and certain song lyrics.
- Explains that hip-hop is an art form of the civil rights movements, where restrictions, set rules and entertainment should strength, unity and respect. it was developed throughout history to produce a voice for the african american youth.
- Analyzes how the hip-hop generation creates a crisis structure for the black youth because the norms and beliefs are not stable in this culture.
- Opines that african americans have many opportunities that will help them succeed in life. the youth should be seen as privileged due to the hip-hop culture.
- Concludes that the crisis the youth face is embedded in the history of hip-hop culture. although african americans are free, they will still be treated as inferiors to white americans.
1394 wordsRead More - Essay On Hip Hopanalytical essayHip-hop originated 30 years ago in the South Bronx, a borough of New York City, a community that appeared to illustrate the harshness of poor urban places. In the past few decades, hip-hop and rap have had a gigantic influence on youth culture. It affects how the youth dress, talk, what products they purchase and helps shape identities. Some look to these hip hop artists as role models and look up to them in a way like some do to hero’s. Many of the early rap artists such as NWA and Public Enemy released tracks about rebellion and building a nonconformist attitude, which ideology reflected in their music videos. Big baggy pants, shirts and backwards hats were displayed all over rap videos and each specific item sent out a distinctive message to the receptive youth. Even the language they used in these videos gave new significance to old words and generated a new type of dialect. (Taylor, 2008)
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hip-hop and rap have had a gigantic influence on youth culture.
- Explains that hip-hop and rap music have influenced youth culture in a lot of ways but mainly in how they decide to dress.
- Analyzes how hip-hop affects the youth's language and its meaning. snoop dogg was the first to start the trend with this hip hop dialect.
- Explains that hip-hop has an enormous crossover appeal; it is theoretically an abundant unifier of diverse communities.
- Explains that hip-hop is the fastest rising music genre in the united states, accounting for more than 10 percent of the $12.3 billion music sales in 1998.
- Analyzes how rap music's popularity has increased 150% over the last ten years and is still increasing.
- Argues that hip-hop's messages of affection, goodwill, anti-racism, and social inspiration can have a massive effect on ethnic relations in our society.
- Analyzes how tupac shakur has written about sympathetic subjects without eluding the rugged essence of the streets. if more musicians focused on positive messages like this, the influence on today's youth culture could be groundbreaking.
1101 wordsRead More - The History Of Hip-Hop Cultureanalytical essayHip-hop is arguably one of the most innovative art forms there is. As Steven Best and Douglas Kellner express in Rap, Black Rage, and Racial Difference: “rap articulates the experiences and conditions of African-Americans living in the spectrum of marginalized situation ranging from racial stereotyping and stigmatizing to struggle for survival in violent ghetto conditions.” They continue to convey how “rap provides a voice to the voiceless, a form of protest to the oppressed, and a mode of alternative cultural style and identity to the marginalized.” The way that artists can flip and reinvent sound is truly admirable. Rap is poetry, it takes talent to make a story out of mere words--it is a thing of beauty. Hip-hop is dictating its own--a literal parallel
In this essay, the author
- Explains that punk rock was a raw and rigorous genre that created an adrenaline rush throughout the crowd. hip-hop is an anthem of postmodern marginality and conflict.
- Explains that diy began with the punk movement of the 70s. the movement emphasized amateurism and raw energy over technique.
- Opines that artists need to garner a large fan base to make it on their own. chance, who has created his own label, requires $35,000 per show to book him.
- Analyzes how kendrick lamar's to pimp a butterfly captures the struggles of a person of color in america through hard-charging flows and oft-jarring production.
- Explains that punk rock and hip-hop have one thing in common: they are good music. it transforms that energy and gives you something tangible that you can grasp onto.
- Explains best, steven, and douglas kellner, in rap, black rage and racial difference, vol. 2, enculturation, spring 1999.
- Argues that the punk movement is a rebellion against the status quo, and that hip-hop artists can flip and reinvent sound.
- Cites mugatunes' article, "hip hop's punk rock movement: 5 artists that are changing the game." stop the breaks | independent music grind.
1363 wordsRead More - A race issue that occurs within the rap and hip-hop musical genre is the racial stereotypes associated with the musical form. According to Brandt, and Viki rap music and hip- hop music are known for fomenting crime violence, and the continuing formation of negative perceptions revolving around the African-American race (p.362). Many individuals believe that rap and hip-hop music and the culture that forms it is the particular reason for the degradation of the African-American community and the stereotypes that surround that specific ethnic group. An example is a two thousand and seven song produced by artist Nas entitled the N-word. The particular title of the song sparked major debates within not only the African-American community thus the Caucasian communities as well. Debates included topics such as the significance and worth of freedom of speech compared with the need to take a stand against messages that denigrate African-Americans. This specific label turned into an outrage and came to the point where conservative white individuals stood in front of the record label expressing their feelings. These individuals made a point that it is because artists like Nas that there is an increase in gang and street violence within communities. Rap and hip-hop music only depicts a simple-minded image of black men as sex crazed, criminals, or “gangsters”. As said above, community concerns have arisen over time over the use of the N-word, or the fact that many rappers vocalize about white superiority and privilege. Of course rap music did not develop these specific stereotypes, however these stereotypes are being used; and quite successfully in rap and hip-hop which spreads them and keeps the idea that people of color are lazy, all crimin...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that rap and hip-hop music is known for fomenting crime violence and the continuing formation of negative perceptions revolving around the african-american race.
- Opines that rap and hip-hop artists aren't role models, but that the art of the oppressed is never just entertainment.
- Opines that rap and hip-hop is a lucrative business that spreads from the bronx to the worldwide sensation.
682 wordsRead More