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The effect of gang behaviour in our society
Gang influence on youth
Gang influence on youth
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Recently rap has surpassed many genres of music. In the year 2017, eight of the 10 most listened to artist were rap artist. Artist like Lil Uzi Vert, Future, and Cardi B have many songs listed as the top 10 best selling tracks. What do all these rap artists have in common? They have the the three keys that make up the structure of a great rap album. In a reputable rap album an artist must tell a real-life story. The following three artist come from different but similar backgrounds. One artist from Detroit, one from Compton, another from Brooklyn. Sada Baby along with other Detroit rappers share their experiences living in different parts of the city. Throughout D.O.N. by Sada Baby, he references a lot of weapon use, gang activity, and drug use in his neighborhood. The songs on this album go into so much detail about these things, because this was the life he was born into. This is what he knows first hand. In Sada Baby’s song, ‘Guatemalan’, he goes through the steps of his daily life and even goes on to justify why he is the way that he is based off his experiences. released Ready To Die September 1994. Listening to this album will give an overview of what crazy circumstances occurred in his life. 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 view 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. Also in this album, he shows how easily influenced he was when he and his friends break into a home in the track ‘The Art of Peer
When listening to rap music we get to experience the environments that the MC lived through. Most MC’s use music as a way of coping with reality, their violent and hard life. In this way they find a kind of shelter in their songs even though these songs describe their life and how hard it is.
The Notorious B.I.G and Tupac Shakur were two of the greatest rappers of all time. They are the most looked up to, revered, and respected artists in all of rap history. They shall be missed for generations to come.
When people hear the word rap, they think money and drugs. Unfortunately, every rapper falls in to that category however some rap can be more meaningful than any song could every be. Today, I’m going to show you one rapper who falls into this stereotype.
Biggie Smalls caused an increase in the popularity of rap music in the 1990’s and beyond. Biggie’s debut album “Ready to Die” was released on september 13th, 1994. Ready to Die reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 Chart and was the best selling rap album of the year. Ready to Die was eventually certified 4x Platinum (4 Million Albums were sold) and Biggie was named the “Rap King of New York” as he went on to win New Artist of the Year, Live Performer of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, and Album of the Year at Source Magazine's 2nd annual hip hop awards ceremony (Marcovitz, 2007, Pg 26). Biggie’s second album “Life After Death” was released on March 25th, 1997, and just 16 days after, Biggie smalls was shot and killed after an award ceremony in Los Angeles, California. Life After Death is currently the 3rd best selling rap music album of all time according to The Source Magazine (Centeno, 2013) . Life After Death later went on to sell 10x platinum or “Diamond” status (Marcovitz, 2007). Only a handful of rappers have a Diamond status album including Biggie Smalls, Tupac Shakur, Eminem, and Outkast.
---. "I'm Goin In." So Far Gone. Drake, Ft. Lil Wayne. Cash Money Records, 2009. CD.
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
In the words of rapper Busta Rhymes, “hip-hop reflects the truth, and the problem is that hip-hop exposes a lot of the negative truth that society tries to conceal. It’s a platform where we could offer information, but it’s also an escape” Hip-hop is a culture that emerged from the Bronx, New York, during the early 1970s. Hip-Hop was a result of African American and Latino youth redirecting their hardships brought by marginalization from society to creativity in the forms of MCing, DJing, aerosol art, and breakdancing. Hip-hop serves as a vehicle for empowerment while transcending borders, skin color, and age. However, the paper will focus on hip-hop from the Chican@-Latin@ population in the United States. In the face of oppression, the Chican@-Latin@ population utilized hip hop music as a means to voice the community’s various issues, desires, and in the process empower its people.
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...
I choose to do my project on "The Notorious B.I.G" also known as Biggie or Biggie smalls. Why I choose him is because he impacted the hip-hop industry a lot. And I adore how he showed you can come from nothing to something. And even going through what he did and still make it out the hood is ambitions of many boys these days. So, throughout this essay I will explain and show you his come up in the music industries and the things he had to go through to get there.
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)
It is widely believed that “the Rap industry is dominated by artists' who mostly dedicate their lyrics to either violence, drugs, or sex” (brightkite.com). While some rap songs fit this stereotype, a large amount of songs include emotional narratives that can often explain a situation someone is going through. According to the National Music Bureau, “65% [of listeners of rap] live in run-down homes, or impoverished areas, usually being inner cities” (brightkite.com). In addition, “teens are drawn to the fantasies of wealth, glamour, and sex appeal in rap videos”(Livestrong.com); since the majority of rap fans are living in inner cities, they are able to use rap songs to escape their realities and dream of a better life. This also allows for “rap [to offer] a creative outlet and a way to connect with peers” (Livestrong.com). This only proves that rap is beneficial despite the foul language or inappropriate topics because it allows teens to escape their possibly rough lives and fantasize about a place where life is full of exhilarating events and astonishing amounts of
... middle of paper ... ... In retrospect, I feel that I am ahead of where I wanted to be at the end of this paper. I have such a good knowledge of gangsta rap’s roots and who the major players are.
He states that the events he witnessed and the ties he connected affected the way he viewed the world, which in turn altered his mindset into one of a hustler, someone who works to the best of their abilities at all times (Carter 121-122). The Marcy Brookelyn housing projects where Jay-Z was raised, was then as it is now the epitome of suffering and confusion on why the low-income families were not being able to achieve the “American Dream”. In part three, Jay-Z states “We were kids without fathers, so we found our fathers on wax and on the streets and in history, and in a way, that was a gift. We got to pick and choose the ancestors who would inspire the world we were going to make for ourselves” (Carter 140). In other words, these boys had fathers who walked out on them and the only thing they had were old records and the feeling of admiration for either the hustlers or the rappers. For this reason, Jay-Z feels as though it is ridiculous for politicians and government officials to use the media and other resources in order to shed a negative light on rap (Carter 97-103). The shame placed on hip-hop, is in a way ignoring the culture and history of many Americans who used this music as a way to relate to others in circumstances that are usually unsaid. It is clear that the view that was being placed on
Dixon, Travis L., TaKeshia Brooks. “Rap Music and Rap Audiences: Controversial Themes, Psychological Effects and Political Resistance.” Perspectives. 7 April 2009. .
Have you ever been to a ghetto? Not just passed by but really be immersed in it? Well in rapper Ice Cube’s song “Why We Thugs”, he provides important insight into the struggle of growing up in a rough neighborhood. His song is essential in showing us a different way in life, which is beneficial to us all because when we are aware of issues, like poverty and racism, it takes us a step closer to solving them. Through his lyrical message, emphasized vocal ability, and powerful beat Ice Cube takes his listeners on a journey through what a ghetto really entails.