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 …show more content…
Lamar has been successfully achieving his dream by rapping about the stress and difficult situations he has encountered but strongly claims that we will all be alright in his song, “Alright.” He released a song called “i” that reflects how violence has increased in the cities and how he wishes everyone should love each other as humans. His last song on “To Pimp A Butterfly” called “Mortal Man” he states “only because you don’t wear the same color as mine, that doesn’t mean I can’t respect you as a human being.” He clearly states how he understands the reputations of other gang members may seem important but should all still respect others as people. Lamar has been a role model to several students from the city of Compton that was able to create a scholarship called “Be Alright” that is based off the same song called “Alright.” Kendrick Lamar has been respectively producing music for his fans without a doubt of impressive beats and
The song I picked for this homework assignment is called Runaway Love by Ludacris and Mary J. Blige. The song is describing the hardships of three young girls and their struggle to survive. Finally, the girls are fed up with the lives they are forced to live and decide to pack up their things and run away. I think this song can relate to many aspects of sociology that we have learned in class. Some examples shown through the song are poverty, education, healthcare, marriage and family. All three girls’ different stories and struggles they face.
For decades, America has oppressed African Americans due to the color of their skin. Although the country has made many strides in preventing some racial actions, racism still consumes the black culture starting in their early years. Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar released his second studio album To Pimp a Butterfly on March 15, 2015. Lamar spoke out against structural racism on this album and even made a case for the black culture being at fault for some of the racism they face. His message may not have been accepted by all the masses, but his bold statements sparked new conversations that any artist dreams of doing. Lamar introduced several metaphors for the racism in America, but the key focus was the development of the caterpillar into the
On a lighter note, he explains his inspirations for his dream of making music in the song ‘Juicy.’ Biggie’s writing went in depth to show his audience where he came from and to also inspire other artists working their way up in the music industry. Lastly, Kendrick Lamar’s piece Good Kid m.A.A.d City is a coming of age story from the perspective of teenage Kendrick living in Compton, California. This album shows the dark side of Kendrick’s life, as well as his lighter moments of aspiration. There are vivid depictions of violence that he endured as a teen, as well as the influence of money and power.
“You Was Right” by Lil Uzi Vert is fairly easy to understand lyrically. The essence of the song deals with unfaithfulness in a relationship as well as the aftermath. Lil Uzi Vert spends a large portion of the song admitting his mistakes to his presumed girlfriend in hopes of making things right between them. The song starts off with the hook, which rests upon the premise of how Lil Uzi Vert should have stayed loyal rather than taking another girl home with him. For example, he says, “You was right, I was wrong” (6) in an attempt to console his girlfriend and apologize. Following the hook, the first verse centers on Lil Uzi Vert’s riches due to his success as a rapper. He ties that in to his relationship by expressing how he wants to share his wealth with his girlfriend. At this stage in the song, Lil Uzi Vert is attempting to win his girlfriend back with his money and general success as a rapper. The hook then repeats itself to indicate that the argument between Lil Uzi Vert and his girlfriend is still continuing. The second verse signifies an escalation in their conflict, as he says, “You just locked the door, so I gotta text you” (42). His girlfriend is refusing to even listen
Songs are one way of expressing feelings and emotion, many artist do this constantly in their music. To some it is why they make music. There are endless signs and verses that hint at many things such as problems, politics, living in racist era’s also places. I chose to focus on one main rapper and his music only. I chose to examine, review, and study a few of his songs. Kid cudi grew up in cleveland, Ohio. His father passed away when he was a young age which affected the kid ever since. He writes about living his life and having to go through many obstacles
It goes without saying that hip-hop has changed. It began as a social practice of African-centered liberation to transform the black community or bring the youth together in unity, but towards the 90’s and onto the hip-hop scene in todays day and age, it is anything but that. The youth of today will know Tupac Shakur and beautify or streamline his self-destructive “thug life” but remain in the dark of figures like Mutulu and Afeni Shakur. Although this is a sad reality to live in, it is not hip-hops responsibility to change this. It is the responsibility of artists alike representing an oppressed populace to speak meaningfully in their art, in someway or another, for the liberation of their people.
“My whole thing is to inspire, to better people, to better myself forever in this thing that we call rap, this thing that we call hip-hop.” (Kendrick Lamar) Hip-hop, which first appeared in New York’s South Bronx in 1973, has been at the forefront of American music ever since Jamaican-born Kool DJ Herc used turntables to stretch certain sections of the song. This first happened at a Halloween dance party. Since then, Hip-hop has become associated with social activism and education which brought the influence into practically every culture in the world. An important aspect of music is to convey musical messages, hip-hop which does just that, has been used all over the world to bring social, political, and economic issues to the ears of many.
Rap is about giving voice to a black community otherwise underrepresented, if not silent, in the mass media. It has always been and remains … directly connected to the streets from which it came. (144)
...hors the song he is exposed to, there will be a specific line in that song that speaks to him, that does not affect any other person exactly the same way. Each rap song, whether presenting the negative parts of society or celebrating the many wonderful things, has an affect on someone and provides a teachable moment.
Many white rappers have had a difficult time making it in the black industry of rap. Eminem, the most recent white rapper to hit the mainstream has had his own share of difficulties in this industry and in his life as well. The poem written my Marshall Mathers, now known as Eminem, entitled "Life," displays Eminem's views on his life, and just life in general. Eminem has continued on the legacy of the contact zone between the white men in the black man's industry, this being rap.
Many rappers and hip-hop artists speak of the things that they do, or have done, to fund their dedication to obtaining material possessions. In his song, Kno The Meaning, rapper, Future, details what members of his family did to achieve their idea of success; “My Uncle Wayne was a kingpin…My Uncle Don, that niggas used to rob banks and shit, rest in peace. My granddaddy was a boss, he was a king pin…”. He goes on in the next line to basically say that he inherited his drive, his hustle, and his idea of what success is from his uncles and his grandfather. This line alone speaks of the vicious cycle of negativity that materialism causes. A lot of Black American youth look up to the older generation, as Future did with his uncles and his grandfathers. The younger generation see the older generation’s financial successes through their possession of material things and naturally, the younger generation follows in the older generation’s footsteps. Detroit rapper, Payroll Giovanni, discusses this epidemic as it relates to his personal life in his song My Idols: “My role models were all street niggas, my idols were all drug dealers…He (in reference to his father) was rocking platinum, fuck gold, I want the same
Nevertheless, most of what is usually discussed in popular hip hop songs is how harsh the “gangster” life is. Now most middle class youth has no sort of experience when it comes to living a harsh life. That is what makes it so much more intriguing to these teenagers. They now have some sort insight into what that “gangster” life really is. Each hip hop artist has a very different “come up” story. Some may have encountered more hardship than others. For example, a very famous Brooklyn rapper named “Jay-Z” can definitely give insight to what one can face. In a song titled “Drug Dealers Anonymous” made by another rapper named Pusha T, Jay-Z featured on the track. In the song he says “ ‘89 in London pull the Benz up / Type it in, Google’s your friend bruh / 14 year drug dealer and still counting.” Here he is not exactly saying that he still continues to sell drugs, but now he has a different “hustle” which is the rapping. Selling drugs were a bad reality for many of these rappers. Some turned to the urban poetry to express one’s feeling, and that is when rapping comes into the picture. Once these artists are very well known and famous, they have this huge platform set up to allow others to know what they have faced in their life. The audience (middle class youth), now have a huge respect towards that person. This gives the listener an emotional connection between them, and their favorite hip hop artist. In the head of the listener, people now think that the rapper opened up to them to let them know what trials one has faced. Making the interest even stronger than it was before. Listening to their favorite hip hop artist also allows them to really experience the “gangster” life without putting themselves in actual dangers. In many of today’s hip hop hit songs, certain topics are usually discussed throughout the song such as: selling drugs to make money, having
The music video produced for the track Apparently features Jermaine Cole, who uses the stage name J. Cole, expressing self-reflection on his life. Apparently is a lyrical story of J. Cole’s trials and errors he went through in his life that helped him reach his present day successes, which goes to show that although he has a rough history, anyone can overcome it with a little help. J. Cole expresses great gratitude for his faith for God and all the help and love from his mother, who he dedicates this song to.
All music is very powerful. It can change the way you think, the way you act, or even who you are as a whole. Throughout modern time, different genres were popular among adolescents. For example, disco music in the 1970’s, or grunge music in the 1990’s. However, no matter the difference in people, music brings one another together; for better or for worse. As trends move forward, people tend to follow their favourite and most popular artists, thus leaving these music stars a heavy bearing as a role model towards teenagers of each generation. In today’s era, rap music is highly popular and listened to by most youth, making these rappers a strong role model in teens’ lives. Therefore, today’s youth is influenced by the personae of rappers, the
Have you ever wondered what was making that horrible racket coming from a teen’s car. The odds are that it would be some type of rap song, yet the beat was too loud for you to hear the lyrics. Based off what the mass knows about rap music, you were lucky to not hear the lyrics right, wrong. Rap lyrics have many senses of great poetry and life lessons that should be heard. At least some of rap songs relate to struggles, deaths they have suffered, or even respect of women that many do not believe that rappers would ever do. Rap music is becoming increasingly meaningful for not only adults but for older youth as well to comprehend about respect and an improved understanding of life with struggles and oppressions.