Music has been around for many years now with its variety of beats, rhythm, and lyrics. From jazz and classic to pop and hip hop, the types of music one listen to can have an impact on them. Although the beats and rhythm plays a big role in the creation of a song, one main thing that really attracts the audience to it is the lyrics behind it. Words speak loud for those who cannot speak for themselves, not well educated, or a way to connect to someone and/or something. In today’s world, it seems as though majority of the music being played on the radio surrounds its lyrics around drug, sex, and money. A very common thing for an artist who wishes to hit the billboard, but not one who has done it without the use of those unnecessary themes. Goes …show more content…
Cole, a man of creation, has taken the game of hip hop to whole different level by not recreating what is already there, but approaching things differently that many fear or avoid. During an interview with Muhammad, he said, “So it 's a different level of honesty that I feel like I have been trying to bring to the game.” when explaining his song “Power Trip.” He wants to say the things people know is there, but have this mindset that approaching it that way will make them be seen as something else. To avoid the negative comments and lack of popularity. Yet, to J. Cole, it was not what was trending that kept him going, but how genuine he was in his music. For him, as stated, “Power Trip" explores another side that like I feel like a lot of rappers won 't show, which is, yo, what if you 're just shy?” (Kelley, Frannie, JCOCWHS). Something simply as how a man may act when around a female he admires seems to be quite difficult for rappers these days to say. By writing this song, his purpose was to show that it’s okay for someone to act that way. Not all guys can front like others or have the balls to holler at a particular woman. Everyone is different and accepting the reality of it is what Cole wants those who are afraid to say anything to know their not alone. What more can a music do than this? For that reason, in order to gain more fans, the rappers of today’s world have to step up their game and connect with their audience on a deeper, relatable, and valuable …show more content…
For someone so young, how does he make such powerful music? It can not just be that he’s well educated, but because his heart is telling stories (Kelley, Frannie, JCOCWHS). The use of personal stories like mentioning Tiffany in “Born Sinner” or letting his role model down in “Let Nas Down” gives this authenticity. Most songwriters in our society today get others to write their music or come up with a repetitive idea. And with his life out there, the art of how he puts together his words were like therapy as he said; “these verses on this album was literally like therapy” (Kelley, Frannie, JCOCWHS). So rather just being a catchy song to listen to, it became a tool to discuss the inner most thoughts and feelings of his and others who’ve experienced the same in hopes to bring some resolution or closure at least. For years, music has helped people in tough times and this type of music that J. Cole is producing could speak for that. Hence, indicating that more rappers should follow the footsteps of this brilliant artists. Take advantage of what one has and make a change with
His path started like many others as Hip-Hop usually just talks about degrading of women, promiscuity, guns and drugs. When Cole finished high school he went off to college at St. Johns University. He had always helped young African Americans at some point in their lives that have had similar dreams of becoming something in life. Rap has always dominated most of the black community to assist in the expression of their feelings, emotions and situations. Single parent homes are very common in the African American Community, and J. Cole’s is also a product of this unfortunate circumstance as he writes about his life through his music. He has been fascinated by rap since he was fourteen and followed his dreams becoming Jay-Z’s
Throughout both songs, the artists J. Cole and Kanye West describe shortcuts that the younger generation of people would take to try and obtain the illusion of success. “A Tale of 2 Cities” by J. Cole describes a scenario
While West presents images that are startling, he is reflecting society with a noticeable lack of original thought while at the same time not addressing root causes for the desolation he portrays. West is the guy on the street who saw the graffiti on the wall, recognized a lot of what people were talking about and summarized it as a reflection offering no solutions or understanding of the problems inherent in the black or of the feminine experience. He gives the worlds youth music to get lost into. Many conservatives believe that he is a bad role model, but they do not understand his lyrics because he is not speaking to them, he is speaking to the youth. It is this type of lyrical composition that has made Kanye West a household name. In the article, Celebrity, Victoria Price explains, “The origin of the unique phenomenon of twentieth-century
It is a day in the summer of 1974 on the block of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, NY. The grass is blazing, the air is fresh, and the kids are shrieking with joy. This is where it happened. DJ Kool Herc popped in his new record playing smooth rhythms of jazz and blues with the integration of Jamaican sound creating a new genre that would soon sweep the nation. He called it Hip-Hop. Some would call it “black noise”, but to urban African Americans it was music they could own; music they could learn to appreciate and adore. As they faced afflictions like racism, oppression, drugs, and much more, they used this new found hip- hop to express their thoughts and feelings. Today, we try to understand where this passion and substance in rap has escaped; if it was left to wither in the blazing grass, or blow away in the fresh air. Today, we try to understand what is hip hop, and why it’s becoming the “black noise” we once denied it to be. Ever since rap officially emerged in the 1970s, critics had a negative reaction; even when rap had meaning and substance and consisted of people telling their stories. Now that rap has become more contemptuous, critics have began to question what rap is really about. It is clear themes have changed: But at what point? And how? Furthermore, how has this impacted blacks and their image, who dominate the rap industry. Conclusively, while themes in mid 20th century rap have been known to revolve around aspects like politics and unity, currently rap has underwent a dramatic change now producing themes that promote violence, among many other things, and has ultimately painted a negative image of African Americans.
Since hip-hop has expanded from the undergrounds in Bronx in the 70’s it has grew into a popular accepted music genre. Consequently, as it progressed from the golden age it gradually grew away from its original roots. If one were to evaluate the change of lyrics in hip-hop, they would see a difference between early hip-hop and today’s hip-hop. The current state of hip-hop is in a stage where things like hey young world are outdated. Instead of broadcasting out a positive message, hip-hop sends out a message of sex, drug, and violence. The early musicians who helped solidify hip-hop, by producing music that told stories on subjects of race, respect, or even music that had a positive message.
Reality melted around me as I poured through album reviews and rankings, seeing the amount of praise and reverence his work holds, I was blown away. I watched interviews from artists I’d been a fan of for years, claiming that Kanye was their inspiration. I read analysis pinpointing how each of his albums opened up new sub genres in hip hop, how he completely changed the stigmatism of the art, allowing for new creative freedom, opening the doors for artists like Drake, Tyler the Creator and Chance the Rapper just to name a few. He had been right under the surface all along. He paved the way for my generation of artists to walk on, and I had been blissfully ignorant, skipping along his path.
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.
Rap music has given me personally something to look up to. Not a role model but hope of continuing my dreams because rappers successfully made it. “For what’s money without happiness, or hard times without the people you love” is from a song called “Love Yourz” by J. Cole. He clearly understands how there is “beauty in the struggle and ugliness in the success” because he’s lived that life. Other songs such as “2Face” or “The Autograph” were instantly relatable to me because he has been through several struggles from the beginning of his childhood. Cole’s father left when he was six leaving his mother and younger brother alone. Cole became “the man of the house” but becoming a rapper is not as easy as it seems. Cole’s messages in these two songs are relative because I too, have had several issues with my mother and father creating a sense of lonesome. Hearing music like Coles helped me overcome my
Cole’s musical idols, which greatly influenced his musical style. His style captures the attention from younger generations and the adolescent population, whom also came from an uneasy childhood and along the way lost motivation. “I 'm here to spread a message of hope. Follow your heart. Don 't follow what you 've been told you 're supposed to do.” (Music times, 2014) Through this message, J. Cole constantly portrays to be an ambition seeking activist. He hopes to project hope in those who are struggling by sharing his life challenges and voicing how he overcame
Women have consistently been perceived as second-class citizens. Even now, in times when a social conscience is present in most individuals, in an era where an atmosphere of gender equality 'supposedly' exists, it is blatantly apparent that the objectification and marginalization of women is still a major social issue. In reality, progression in terms of reducing female exploitation has been stagnant at best. Not only is the degradation of women a major problem that to date has not been eradicated, but it is actually being endorsed by some music celebrities. There are a growing number of people who purchase rap albums that support the fallacy that women are mere objects and should be treated as such. As the popularity of rap continues to climb at unprecedented rates, so too does its influence on the perception of women. In the vast majority of hip-hop songs, the depiction of women as sexual objects, the extreme violence directed towards them and the overall negative influence these lyrics have on the average adolescent's perception of women make rap the absolute epitome of female exploitation.
Music is the third most important thing to me in life outside of god and my mom. Music keeps me balanced. Every since I was a baby music was played around me. Jazz was always played around me to soothe me. There would be times when I would be really hyper acting like I couldn't sleep, my mom would put on some jazz and I would be fine. A lot of times I can have a long chore and I say to my self how can I accomplish this, Knowing it will take me forever. So I'll put on some jazz music and in twenty-five minutes I'm finished.
In order for this problem to adjust over time, much work will be necessary. I believe that our country as a whole should focus not so much on the content of the lyrics, but who the musical artists themselves are. Just because lyrics are profound doesn’t mean that the artist believes in them, they could be relating to previous acts that have occurred in their lives, or speaking freely on the problems our society is faced with. It would be beneficial for our country if a sensor council or committee was founded to screen all songs and albums before they’re released, in order to identify them with a warning label or not
Music is an essential part of life because of the expression it allows people to have, its entertainment, and its therapeutic ways for the world.
Think back on a time when you experienced something stressful. How did you cope with it? Recall a time when you needed to relax. What did you use to help you? Chances are your answers involve music. The desire to play music while working, studying, or even relaxing is universal. Whether playing the music, singing along, or just listening, music can have many positive effects that aren’t often recognized. Music is unique in its ability to stimulate more than just one brain hemisphere, incorporating both the right and left sides of the brain. Because both sides of the brain are being affected, there are both creative and analytical benefits to making music part of daily routines. It’s no secret that listening to or playing music is enjoyable, but studies have proven that music can boost more than just your mood.
Music has played a role in society since the dawn of man. Said to be the beginning of communication in early civilization, music and dance have influenced how we think, act and treat members of our own society. Song and dance is used in rites of passage ceremonies such as births, weddings and funerals throughout the world. Jamaican and Yoruba cultures have made many contributions to our society. The uses of this music as a vehicle for political issues, values, and beliefs have been used by many musicians from different cultures. I intend to discuss the Contribution of these two contemporary cultures music and their effect on society.