Linguistic innovation is a crucial component in Hip-Hop or Rap music and in everyday life. As Curzan and Adams mention in How English Works, there are an infinite number of possible utterances one can create from the English language. Therefore, who determines what is acceptable and what is not? Over the centuries, language has changed because of different influences. For example, Hip-Hop and Rap music emerged when African Americans used it as an expression of their struggle against oppression and economic limitations. These changes may be acceptable in some circles, but are frowned upon by the society that judges a person by the way they speak. We the people change the English language and no authority can control those changes. The use of double negatives, “incorrect” grammar, and finding new meanings and contexts for words happens in everyday life; this does not take away from the understanding and communication—that is what is important.
Niggas in Paris by Jay-Z and Kayne begins with an utterance, “so I ball so hard motherfuckers wanna fine me” (1). Jay-Z has uses “ball” in an entirely different context and thus changes the meaning of the word. Language mavens would find this use of “ball” unacceptable. Dictionary.com has many definitions of ball, but none corresponds to what Jay-Z is communicating. In this context, “ball” means to have a great time, and to add emphasis he says that he balls hard. This indicates that he is going all out in the way he is partying. According to Curzan and Adams, the “language mavens,” are those people who we trust to tell us what is proper and acceptable, especially in writing (33). These “language mavens” would be lost as to the message the lyrics are conveying. He continues by saying, “…this...
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...ivity in Hip-Hop and Rap should be given a license and as it is represented in most lyrics, the creative language has been taken. People often identify with a certain crowd and express themselves in different ways, additionally, persons may have accents that restrict them from or favor different pronunciations. Language is ever changing and as long as people have personalities, there will be creativity in the grammar and syntax of the English language.
Works Cited
Curzan, Anne, and Michael Adams. "Chapter 1-2." How English Works: A Linguistic Introduction. Boston: Pearson Longman, 2012. 1-56. Print.
Fiasco, Lupe. "Dumb It Down." Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. Warner Music, 2008. MP3.
Jay-Z, and Kanye West. "Niggas in Paris." Watch the Throne. Roc-A-Fella Records, 2011. MP3.
Ma, Kai."Top 10 Weirdest Twin-Crime Stories." Time. Time, 26 Aug. 2011. Web. 13 Mar. 2012.
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...
What most listeners do not understand is that a lot of hip-hop music is not understandable from the get-go. It takes intense analyzation of lyrics and an open mind to be able to understand what it is really about. Some people can’t understand what is being said just by listening with their ears, and they don’t bother to go study the lyrics. They then leave with the perception that hip-hop is chalk full of, well, nothing. One of the greatest rap lyricists of all time, Shawn Carter, also known as Jay-Z, says, “People don’t bother trying to get it. The problem is that so many people don’t even know how to listen to the music.” Mister Shawn Carter has also said that rap is poetry. He mentioned not to forget that the lyrics in the song were transmitted from feelings, thoughts and emotions to lyrics written on a piece of paper. He went on to say that if you hung that piece of paper up on a wall and someone went up and read it as it was, they’d say, “Wow, this is genius. This is poetry.” McHorter’s opinion on rap can and will be agreed upon by many, many people; however, this conclusion can only be reached without h...
Neuleib, Janice, Kathleen Shine Cain, and Stephen Ruffus, eds. Mercury Reader for English 101. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013 Print.
Mose Def’s “Hip Hop” works as a song and as a poem. He is telling the world through his words what it was like growing up as a black man. “Speech is my hammer, bang the world into shape, now let it fall….(Hungh!!) (5). He talks about being restless, can’t sit still to finish his words. Growing up in Brooklyn, standing on the street corners, he started rapping. He spoke the “King’s English, but caught a rash on my lips” (23). It was easier to express
...ts out to do, the art of rap and hip hop. That is the skill, talent, and ability that one must have in order to rhyme. Yet, the movie seems to not provide enough historical background or inform the audience of the cultural aspect of Hip Hop. Had the movie went deeper into the origins of Hip Hop then the audience would be able to get a fuller grasp about all the elements that are truly entwined in such a genre.
Throughout American history there has always been some form of verbal acrobatics or jousting involving rhymes within the Afro-American community. Signifying, testifying, shining of the Titanic, the Dozens, school yard rhymes, prison ?jail house? rhymes and double Dutch jump rope rhymes, are some of the names and ways that various forms of raps have manifested. Modern day rap music finds its immediate roots in the toasting and dub talk over elements of reggae music (George, 1998)....
Rap’s Controversy 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 teenagers. It became very popular with the urban public and 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.
Imagine our youth all over the country being exposed to this explicit kind of language. There is no need to imagine, because it is already happening. Ever since the rise of Rap and Hip Hop music, teens have been turning to them to help solve their problems. However these kinds of music can be very destructive to teens. It is not the youth’s fault; it is the content that the music contains. Although Rap and Hip Hop music can be a force for good, they can also have an extremely negative impact on the attitudes and behaviors of our youth.
"Linguistics 201: First Language Acquisition." Linguistics 201: First Language Acquisition. Western Washington University, n.d. Web. 8 Sep. 2013. .
Omoniyi, Tope. "So I Choose to Do Am Naija Style." Global Linguistic Flows: Hip Hop Cultures, Youth Identities, and the Politics of Language. By H. Samy. Alim, Awad Ibrahim, and Alastair Pennycook. New York, NY: Routledge, 2009. Print.
Fromkin, Victoria, Robert Rodman, and Nina Hyams. An Introduction to Language. 8th ed. Boston: Thomson, 2007.
Fromkin, V., Rodman, R., & Hyams, N. (2003). An introduction to language (7th ed.). Boston: Heinle.
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).
113-117. 151-195. The. English: A Linguistic Tool Kit, (2012), (U214, Worlds of English, DVD ROM), Milton Keynes, The Open University. English in the World, (2012), (U214, Worlds of English, DVD ROM), Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Center for Applied Linguistics. Why, How, When? N.p.: Center for Applied Linguistics, n.d. www.cal.org. US Department of Education. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.