In Jason Reynolds’ Long Way Down and Tupac Shakur’s “Changes,” the main themes are revenge and cycles of violence. Through his poems, Reynolds describes a young teenage boy’s thoughts of revenge after losing a loved one to gun violence. Likewise, Shakur’s poems focus on the violence seen in gangs and impoverished communities. While both Reynolds’ and Shakur’s poems take similar approaches to the theme of the cycles of violence and revenge, they are different because Reynolds’ poems conclude by breaking the cycle of violence while Shakur’s shows the cycle continuing. The most significant similarity between the two authors' poems is that they both explore cycles of violence, revealing the destructive nature of human behavior as it creates a never-ending …show more content…
The third rule demonstrates how the people in the protagonist’s community seek revenge. It also ensures the continuation of the cycle of violence because if the rule is followed it means that the person seeking revenge later becomes the target of revenge. Similarly, Sharkur highlights these thoughts of revenge and acts of violence through the line,“And the only time we chill is when we kill each other,” (Shakur line 39). Shakur underscores the fact that one cannot rest until revenge has been taken. Furthermore, Shakur shows the cyclical nature of gang violence with the words, “we kill each other”. Both lines overall give the same message, even though one is a rule and one is a statement. Each shows the theme of the cycle of violence through their respective communities and the feeling of burning revenge that does not subside until the act is completed. Despite sharing similar themes, these works diverge in their conclusion and overall message. The last poem of Reynolds’ piece “I WANT OUT” ends with the question, “You Coming?” (Reynolds line 34), and shows the protagonist breaking the cycle of
In Jenée Desmond-Harris’s narrative Tupac and My Non-thug Life, the author’s use of a photograph aids the reader in conveying what Desmond-Harris and her friend Thea were like. The photograph captures the natural essence and innocence of the young high-school girls as they enter an age of self-discovery. The purpose of the photo is to bring the descriptive details of the narrative to life and provide a vivid image of the girls during their adolescent years. The photograph reflects a youthful and rather naive time the girls find themselves surrounded in.
The theme of lines 1-5 in, ¨Untitled 1¨ by Tupac Shakur is that African Americans have been oppressed, over many generations. He describes the world, ¨as a ghetto, that they cannot leave,¨ referring to ghettos such as
Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian” does a marvelous job of highlighting the violent nature of mankind. The underlying cause of this violent nature can be analyzed from three perspectives, the first being where the occurrence of violence takes place, the second man’s need to be led and the way their leader leads them, and lastly whether violence is truly an innate and inherent characteristic in man.
Bibliography Bastin, J.D. - a.k.a. Related Posts of "Tupac Interviews & Articles" http://www.u.arizona.edu/bastin/interview.html 22/10/97 Patrick, Tony Shakur, Tupac, et al. The "Interview" - "The 'Attor http://www.stallion.jsums.edu/awil0997/tupac/interview.html 22/10/97. Placid, Sylvester. Personal Interview 10/11/97 Unknown Author.
The inclination to violence stems from several circumstances of life among the poor; the stigma of race, drug use and drug trafficking, and lack of employment, as well as the media and, family/peer association. The Code of the Streets by Elijah Anderson, is a groundbreaking essay the social scientist wrote, taking us inside of a world that most of us only read about. Anderson shows us how a frantic search for acceptance and respect governs social relations among the African American race; primarily the young men.
“A warrior poet had been born and bred, and now he needed to walk the earth. He would be in danger for the rest of his life. But he would also bring art to his world and ours” (Clifford 26). Born in New York on June 16, 1971 as Lesane Parish Crooks but known to the public as Tupac Shakur was an iconic Hip-Hop artist, actor, poet, dancer and writer. Being raised by his mother Alice Faye Williams also known as Afeni Shakur, a former Black Panther leader, and other members of the Black Panther Party may have been the reason Tupac Shakur fought for justice for African Americans. From the time he about two years old, he was encouraged by his mother to write his thoughts and emotions as a form of discipline. Biographer and family friend of the Shakur
Kading, Greg. Murder Rap: The Untold Story of the Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur Murder
George covers much familiar ground: how B-beats became hip hop; how technology changed popular music, which helped to create new technologies; how professional basketball was influenced by hip hop styles; how gangsta rap emerged out of the crack epidemic of the 1980s; how many elements of hip hop culture managed to celebrate, and/or condemn black-on-black violence; how that black-on-black violence was somewhat encouraged by white people scheming on black males to show their foolishness, which often created a huge mess; and finally, how hip hop used and continues to use its art to express black frustration and ambition to blacks while, at the same time, refering that frustration and ambition to millions of whites.
This violent theme continues to be prevalent within rap music because just recently have white capitalists overtaken ownership of many of these artist’s recording labels, thus selfishly dictating how the music must be portrayed in order to produce revenue. Within this rhythmic poetry, artists will assume hyper-masculine roles in demands of a respected reputation and an attempt to disrupt peace solidified and enjoyed by the racially privileged. This only reinforces and attempts to justify institutional interventions, such as racial policing, police brutality, and high incarceration rates, in which Rebollo Gil and Moras refer to as “hip hop in crisis” (2012, pg. 120). Today, rap music continues these same narratives, while other musical genres, such as heavy metal group, Metallica, have also became more active in describing violence through song lyrics, although they experience far less criticism and branding from audiences when doing so. There is an assumed exception among white critics and white artists themselves who deem their expression of violence as more appropriate than rap’s, simply because they lack imposing stigmas attached to their race and
They got caught up in a shootout between two gangs. Politicians and Ministers were quick to point the finger at today’s music. influencing gun crime in the U.S. The minister for tourism said, ‘The hateful. lyrics almost connote a culture killing is a fashion accessory”.
Jeffries, M. P. (2011). Thug Life: Race, Gender, and the Meaning of Hip-hop. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Shakur’s life through Coates' eyes Most people know Tupac Shakur just for his rap career, but he is known for one other career too—he is also a poet—Tupac Shakur’s poem collection, The Rose That Grew From Concrete. His collection is heavily revolved around his personal life and the systemic issues that drowned the African American community, which is also explored in Ta-Nehisi Coates’ essay, “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration”. Coates’ dives into many matters that revolve around the mass incarceration of the African American community. They both have overlapping issues like, compounded deprivation, discrimination, incarceration and poverty. When looking at Shakur’s work with the aid of Coates’ analysis, we can have a deeper
These are the kinds of music that often use violent lyrics and violent beats, depicting urban street gangs. Typical themes and ideas deal with street life including pimping, and hustling as well as killing and shooting (Malek 108). “I’m bout to bust some some shots off. I’m ‘bout to dust some cops off” (Ice-T). The lyrics of Ice-T’s Cop Killer evoked a loud outcry about whether ideas about killing police officers should be expressed publicly. It is not only the violent ideas expressed within the lyrics, but the context of which they are expressed. Rap is criticized because rappers are known to “sing of guns with almost lascivious glee”. They talk about their “pieces” or “glocks”, “ninas” or pistols as the “object of their affections”
Richardson, Jeanita W., Kim A. Scott. “Rap Music and Its Violent Progeny: America’s Culture of Violence in Context.” The Journal of Negro Education 71.3 (2002): 175 – 192.
Violent song lyrics increase negative emotions and thoughts that can lead to aggression, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 84, No. 5) [1]. Western Connecticut state university student Eliana Tropeano did a study examining the effects of watching violent rap videos. Tropeanos’ experiment found that videos containing violent lyrics, and degrading behaviors made the individual feel and conduct themselves in a more aggressive manner. The effects of how music provokes violence has been examined by many, this is due to the amount of people listening to music every day. Research has proven that exposure to such violence through the media heightens the youths chances of having similar aggressive thoughts and behaviors. In 1986 N.W.A released their first debut album introducing more explicit lyrics and violent destructive images in their videos such as “F—Tha Police”. This pushed other west coast rappers to begin u...