Hip-Hop Genre In Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight

Batman: “ Then why do want to kill me?” Joker: “I don't, I don't want to kill you! What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no, NO! No. You... you... complete me.” (IMDB) In Christopher Nolan’s 2008 The Dark Knight, we see two of the most storied comic book characters of all-time battle for dominance, in one of the best comic book adaptations of all-time, we see Batman struggle to find the strength and resolve to take down his arch nemesis Joker. Through the film, we see how Batman is forced to channel the anger and hurt that he feels from the Jokers assault on Gotham City, in order to raise his level of prowess so he could defeat him. Without Joker, we may not have had The Batman, only Bruce Wayne a man in a mask.

Without them, the genre lacked the competition and competitive nature for which it had become known for. Prior to their deaths hip-hop was in the midst of one of the greatest rivalries that hip-hop had ever seen, the “West Coast vs. East Coast Feud”. While it can be argued that this bitter feud between the two record labels, coasts, and artists brought about their deaths. It cannot be refuted that the rivalries, competition, bragging, and “dissing” between artists is a trademark of this braggadocios, grandiose, and in-your-face genre. These characteristics helped distinguish hip-hop from all of the other upcoming and established genres, in addition to push it forward from its underground roots to a mainstream art form. It is in fact an ego assassination that takes place through the skillful dis. As in much of hip-hop, here we find variations on the game of playing the dozens (an African American folk practice of competitive insult) and its competitive discourse. (Tabasco) While The Bridge may not have been a direct diss towards Boogie Down Productions, The Bridge is Over was without a doubt directly aimed at MC Shan and Marley Marl. This song sets off one of the first publicized hip-hop rivalries and disses within hip-hop. This rivalry would serve two fold purpose, one to canapulte

Illmatic was hailed as an instant classic, but was followed by It Was Written, which was met with mixed reviews. From then albums such as The Firm, I Am…, Nastradamus, Stillmatic, and The Lost Tapes all failed to meet the lyrical and thematic standards that had been set on his first two records. Nas was going through this period of an artistic identity crisis, his music did not quite fully appeal to the “hip-hop heads” who made up the majority of Nas’s fan base, many of whom had been fans since Live at the Barbeque. It was felt by many that he had gone commercial forgotten about the fans and types of music that initially made him a sensation within hip-hop. This community of hip-hop listeners for whom the music defines its generation, who feels it deeply and loves it, and who participates in the culture surrounding hip hop as a whole sees its role in the composition of the MC as essential. When heads perceive that the intended audience for a cut is not lovers of hip hop, largely those of or connected to the urban black community but rather the general white population, a crossover audience accusations of selling out come quickly. (Tabasco) God’s Son was released on the after the conclusion two major life events for Nas; the death of his mother, and the end of his feud with Jay