Around the world, America has a respectable reputation, which is providing equality and fair treatment to all of its citizens. Yet sometimes some groups of people may not always receive fair treatments especially many color communities. The communities don’t always receive the necessary funding or help from the government in order for the community to thrive in the future. Due to a lack of resources many residents are not receiving job opportunities, proper education or guidance. Many African American communities are embedded in a never ending cycle of poverty and criminal activity. Gang Starr’s “Code of the Streets” and 2Pac “Changes” exposes the experience of living in low-income communities, witnessing conflicts there and determining the …show more content…
future of the communities. Artists are influenced by the environments they have grown up in. Gang Starr and 2Pac had very different upbringings, which influenced their style of music. 2Pac from a young age “took to the streets, selling drugs and becoming involved in the gang culture” (Ray) and being part of the gang culture inspired him to write songs about what he has witnessed. In contrast, Gang Starr was raised in a respectable home because his father was a judge for the “Boston municipal courts, and his mother…was the co-director of library programs” (Caramanica). When growing up his dad would listen to a lot of jazz music, which influence Gang to appreciate this genre of music as well. Before pursing the music industry Gang Starr was a social worker and he worked with many African American communities. He had witnessed multiple different issues that the poor communities were facing such as drug problems, gang activity and violence. Gang Starr tried to create a “music bridged … engagement with jazz, even hip-hop” (Caramanica) and inspired him to talk about what challenges African American communities face each day. The two artist many have different inspirations for creating music, but they are passionate about hip-hop. 2Pac and Gang Starr had a different tempo of singing their song lyrics, which was trying to grab a listener attention or interact with them in some way. When looking at Gang Starr song “Code of the Streets” he was not singing fast or slow, but at a normal pace. It seems like he is trying to have a conversation with the listener. In “Code of the Streets”, Gang Starr is expressing his own personal stories and letting the listener know what he has witnessed when working with these poor communities. Gang Starr had a serious tone when singing the lyrics. It seems like the artist was trying to give advice to his audience of how to obey the codes of the streets when entering certain communities. In contrast, 2Pac had two tempos when singing “Changes”. A majority of the time in the song 2Pac would sing slightly fast and then occasionally slow down. 2Pac would sing very quickly when he sang about the problems that African American communities were facing each day. It seems 2Pac was stressed about the problems are going around his community. When the singing the lyrics “things will never be the same” then 2Pac would sing slowly because it gives hope to other people who are living in those communities. If a tempo changes it shows what lyrics or parts of the song are important to the artist. If an artist was singing the lyrics slowly then the artist wants to make sure the listener understands the main lyrics of the song. 2Pac had a few lyrics in the song that he was singing slowly while Gang Starr felt that his entire song was important. The two artist express the emotions they feel about the situation of these communities by playing certain instruments or using other song samples.
In the song “Code of the Streets” Gang Starr feels that majority of the African American will not resolve the ongoing issues in the community. The listener can tell that Gang Starr feels hopeless because the overall tone in the song is depressing. Gang Starr used multiple different samples to create the soundtrack and overall tone in the song. The song included samples of “Little Green Apples” by Monk Higgins and “Synthetic Substitution” by Melvin Bliss. The artist used samples from “Synthetic Substitution” to create a drum beat from the start to the end of the song, which helps to create a serious tone. The artist used a few saxophone samples from “Little Green Apples” to create another constant background sound. The saxophone scenes were changed a little bit in order to create a low pitch in the song, which can represent the sadness of living in a poor community. While the soundtrack of the drums and saxophone had a constant rhythm throughout the entire song, when the song mentions the “The Code of the Streets” the artist uses a DJ turntable to stop the soundtrack by scratching the record. The rhythm of the song is disturbed in a way. This could represent that a person has to carefully know the rules of the streets in order to survive. Gang notice that these poor communities have their own system and rules such as dealing …show more content…
drugs or taking part in other illegal activities. It was interesting that the soundtrack stopped when those lyrics were mentioned it might express the importance of knowing the rules of the streets and respecting it. If a person living in that community knows the rules then they survive another day, but if they break a rules then there can be consequences. In the song “Code of the Streets” the lyrics mention of how the youth in the poor communities are dragged into criminal activities. The lyrics say “It starts with the young ones doing crime for fun … if you ain’t down, you’ll get played out son.” If they aren’t part of it, they will be left behind by not getting a chance to earn any money. The song mentions that “They … say we’re a menace to society… I say “why is it me.” Society thinks people who are from these poor communities will cause a lot of trouble because of the situation they are living in. Society is judging them based on their upbringing. When the song lyric says “why is it me” this shows an individual from a poor community wish they were given a chance to prove themselves. But the song also says “I can’t work at no fast-food joint … I got some talent ... selling drugs.” It was interesting to see that people who came from these poor communities are not given any opportunities. Therefore, they are dragged into the life of crime. The songs go on by saying that “I can leave behind, the mad poverty… Organized crime… gotta be a pro…dealing with the code of the streets.” Gang Starr’s lyrics show that people who are raised in these poor communities want to escape poverty, but the only way they can escape this lifestyle is taking part in illegal activities. A person must be familiar with organized crime and the rules of the street, in order to survive and earn money to support themselves. In the song “Changes,” 2Pac understands the struggles that these African American communities are facing, but he has hope in the future there will be positive change. The main samples used for this song were “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby and “Set It Off” by Strafe. The beginning of the song starts off really serious by using the sample “Set It Off”, which had a low pitch. There was a constant drum beat that was used throughout the song. It gave a feeling in the song that what happens in the streets should be taken very seriously. The drum beat can also represent persons a heartbeat. Since, people living in those communities see the ongoing problems such as the violence and hardships it can cause fear to a person who. When the 2Pac used the sample “The Way It Is” he tried to lighten the mood by singling the lyrics in a clam voice. In the song “Changes” it seems like majority of the time the artist feel hopeless because singing all the struggles he has witnessed. While he reflected that there can be positive change in his community and giving his audience hope as well. If he can climb up to success than anyone in those poor communities can rise up. In the song “Changes” by 2Pac the lyrics mention “I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black.” It shows that many African American people aren’t proud of their race because society judges them and they can’t really escape poverty. When 2Pac mentions “Cops give a damn about a negro Pull the trigger kill a nigga he's a hero.” The artist expresses that African Americans are seen worthless in society because some people think that they can’t contribute to society. The African American community are facing police brutality and government oppression. The lyrics mention “One less hungry mouth on the welfare”, which shows that the government does not really want to help the poor because it cost a lot of money. The song says, “Unless we share with each other We gotta start makin' changes.” 2Pac wants to show that with all the struggles the African American communities are facing it’s important that they fight for positive changes. Therefore, the communities start resolving their main issues and try to thrive. The two artists might have two different perspective of the situation in African American communities, but both songs talked about the issues they have witnessed when growing up. The songs discussed the ongoing issues of drugs, social status and killings. Gang Starr sings a lyric “a menace to society” and 2Pac mentions “even worse I'm black.” The two artists want to show that other members of society think that African Americans aren’t even worth helping. When these poor communities don’t receive the necessary resources then the people living in those communities cannot thrive. In both songs the artist had a serious voice when singing the list of multiple issues that is happening in the African American communities and how the criminal activities is hurting their community. The artists feel the African American communities are headed in two different directions. Gang Starr might feel that these communities are always going to be the same and changes will not come. Gang Starr mentions “Organized crime… gotta be a pro…dealing with the code of the streets.” It shows that the government does not have total controls of these communities, but the people who are living in those communities have a better control. Gang Starr believes that organized crime will always control those communities. He might believe that it will always stay the same because the good members in the communities have no other way to make money to survive. In contrast, 2Pac doesn’t have the same perspective as Gang Starr. In “Changes” there were a lot of lyrics mentioning the negative side of living in those poor communities, but he mentions not to lose hope. The key lyrics in his song were “But things changed, and that's the way it is /That's just the way it is/ Things will never be the same.” The lyrics show that 2Pac has hope that in future the changes that are going to come will be positive. He is hoping that the situation that these African Americans communities are living in will become better. In the song “Changes,” the majority of the time it was serious, but 2Pac tries to lighten the mood by changing the vocals and instruments that were being played. 2Pac played drums sound when singing about the ongoing problems to create a stronger tone, but to create hope for the listener he used the piano. It might help a listener feel calm when listening about the ongoing issues in his community. Overall Gang Starr feels there is no hope because the issues he might have seen working as a social worker. While 2Pac feels that there is way to overcome the struggles since, he became successful from being raised in a poor community. “Rhythm Science” by Paul D.
Miller and “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander sheds light of these two songs. Miller talks about the importance of self-reflection because it can tell a story about the musician’s life. When telling a story through a song, it can create multiple different emotional feelings and thoughts for the listener. Gang Starr who wrote “Code of the Streets” wants to tell a story of how people are stuck in poverty and why there is violence in many poor communities. The artist talks about the emotions a person might feel when living in these poor communities. People might feel frustrated and hopeless because they aren’t given any opportunities to earn money to finically support themselves. When some people take part in criminal activities they enjoy it because it’s an opportunity to earn money. 2Pac and Gang Starr have similar views of the ongoing struggles that are happening in poor African American communities such as the violence, drug dealings and other criminal activities. Michelle Alexander mentions various problems that African American communities face each day such as “high levels of unemployment, discriminatory mortgage practices, and the gutting of early-childhood learning programs” (179). Gang Starr feels the future of these communities will not change and the people will be stuck in poverty. 2Pac sends a hopeful message in his song about positive change that these poor communities can
overcome the issues. Both artist’s want to bring awareness to the situation that African American communities face each day, but have different ideas of the future of these communities. In conclusion, no matter what genre of music a person might listen to there is always a message or a story behind the song. Music creates emotions for the listener that is being expressed by the artist ranging from happiness to sadness. In the songs “Code of the Streets” and “Changes” the artists wanted to show what they have witness the struggles of African American communities. The artists did an excellent job using the lyrics and setting a tone to make the audience feel the emotions as if they were the artist. When listening to the lyrics it shows two different perspectives on the future of African American communities. There is been progress in this country such as having the first African American president. Yet there are some African Americans are struggling to survive and it’s important to give them the necessary resources so they can thrive. The people in those communities can escape poverty and crime can be significantly reduced.
Wilson, William J. More Than Just Race: Being Black and Poor in the Inner City. New York: Norton & Company, 2009. Print.
The systematic oppression of the underprivileged is an unescapable loop that keeps people chained. J Cole’s album, 4 Your Eyez Only, shows the difficulties of escaping a difficult lifestyle. J Cole, a young North Carolina based rapper, focuses on the consequences that come with choosing to live a life of crime. Although living this lifestyle is wrong, many are forced into this life and tend to glorify it because it is all they know. J. Cole challenges this notion while also realizing the oppression he is facing while trying to escape the life. He chooses to tell the album from the perspective of his dead friend, who chose this lifestyle. Although this album is dark, it has an underlying tone of hope.
For the children of the projects, the pressure to join a gang never waivers. Quick cash and protection are hard forces to resist in a world of poverty and violence. However, the children's role in these gangs is inferior to that of the leaders. At first, the concept of joining is quite attractive. According to Lafeyette, one of the two brothers profiled in the book, " 'When you first join you think it's good. They'll buy you what you want' " (31). However, " 'You have to do anything they tell you to do. If they tell you to kill somebody, you have to do that' " (31).
This movie was very sad but depicted the many social problems of struggling black communities in the early 1990’s. We learned in Adler, Mueller, & Laufer how criminal behavior as a result of frustrations suffered by lower-class individuals deprived of legitimate means to reach their goals are
Throughout, the documentary one can come to the conclusion that most of these African- Americans who live in this area are being judged as violent and bad people. However this is not the case, many of them are just normal people who are try...
1-The story tells, Real facts occurred in the 1940s, where it was a racist society. Gangs were scattered throughout the cities, and regions, and the streets. To live, you have full get away, or belonging to one of them. You should help the gang members that they were right or on falsehood. Also, it is a kind of bigotry, not much different from intolerance, national, ethnic, and sectarian That were prevalent in American society. in fact, it is the inevitable result of this society. When the corruption becomes prevails, injustice and lawless prevails too, and justice will disappear.
The movie City of God, showed the incredible world of gang youth in the undeveloped area of Rio de Janeiro, where gangs ruled the streets and young children were initiated into murder before they were teenagers. The urbanization of the third world is creating sub-cultures that are filed with chaos and run by crime, most of which is the result of drugs and other illegal activities. In his article Race the Power of an Illusion, Dalton Conley says, “the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s really marks both an opportunity and a new danger in terms of racial relations in America. On the one hand, the Civil Rights era officially ended inequality of opportunity. It officially ended de jure legal inequality, so it was no longer legal for employers, for landlords, or for any public institution or accommodations to discriminate based on race. At the same time, those civil rights triumphs did nothing to address the underlying economic and social inequalities that had already been in place because of hundreds of years of inequality.” (Conley, 1). Though the Civil Rights movement was able to get equal rights for blacks, it could not stop the brutality that still plagued them. The urban setting is so overcrowded that the people are living on top of each other.
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 early 1990’s in Los Angeles, California, police brutally was considered a norm in African Americans neighborhoods. News coverage ignores the facts of how African ...
The downgrading of African Americans to certain neighborhoods continues today. The phrase of a not interested neighborhood followed by a shift in the urban community and disturbance of the minority has made it hard for African Americans to launch themselves, have fairness, and try to break out into a housing neighborhood. If they have a reason to relocate, Caucasians who support open housing laws, but become uncomfortable and relocate if they are contact with a rise of the African American population in their own neighborhood most likely, settle the neighborhoods they have transfer. This motion creates a tremendously increase of an African American neighborhood, and then shift in the urban community begins an alternative. All of these slight prejudiced procedures leave a metropolitan African American population with few options. It forces them to remain in non-advanced neighborhoods with rising crime, gang activity, and...
In what can be called a viscous cycle starting with the war on drugs, a war that from the beginning has unfairly targeted minorities. A war that has helped contribute to the breakdown of the black family, and add to the constant socioeconomic struggle that perpetuates crime in many communities. These communities experience constant and unfair policing that puts so many youths into the system, that discredits, imprisons, and ultimately breaks them. Filled with discriminatory practices that have been overlooked for years under the disguise of gaining a “Victory.” A victory that may never actually come to
Many people claim that racism no longer exists; however, the minorities’ struggle with injustice is ubiquitous. Since there is a mass incarceration of African Americans, it is believed that African Americans are the cause of the severe increase of crimes. This belief has been sent out implicitly by the ruling class through the media. The media send out coded messages that are framed in abstract neutral language that play on white resentment that targets minorities. Disproportionate arrest is the result of racial disparities in the criminal justice system rather than disproportion in offenders. The disparities in the sentencing procedure are ascribed to racial discrimination. Because police officers are also biased, people of color are more likely to be investigated than whites. Police officers practice racial profiling to arrest African Americans under situations when they would not arrest white suspects, and they are more likely to stop African Americans and see them as suspicious (Alexander 150-176). In the “Anything Can Happen With Police Around”: Urban Youth Evaluate Strategies of Surveillance in Public Places,” Michelle Fine and her comrades were inspired to conduct a survey over one of the major social issues - how authority figures use a person’s racial identity as a key factor in determining how to enforce laws and how the surveillance is problematic in public space. Fine believes it is critical to draw attention to the reality in why African Americans are being arrested at a much higher rate. This article reflects the ongoing racial issue by focusing on the injustice in treatment by police officers and the youth of color who are victims. This article is successful in being persuasive about the ongoing racial iss...
For the past 400 year African Americans have suffered severe forms of oppression, hatred and racism. Even though America has made great strides to eliminate the practice of hatful ideologies and discrimination the residue of inhuman treatment still resides in our society. Racial violence and institutional racism is still in full effect and receiving media coverage like never before. Controversy has arisen due to lives of many African Americans being taken by law enforcement. The African American community has been in an uproar as they feel injustice has occurred being that many of those law enforcement officers have been acquitted of all charges. Birthed from this pain was a chapter-based national organization
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...
The problems of race and urban poverty remain pressing challenges which the United States has yet to address. Changes in the global economy, technology, and race relations during the last 30 years have necessitated new and innovative analyses and policy responses. A common thread which weaves throughout many of the studies reviewed here is the dynamics of migration. In When Work Disappears, immigrants provide comparative data with which to highlight the problems of ghetto poverty affecting blacks. In No Shame in My Game, Puerto Rican and Dominican immigrants are part of the changing demographics in Harlem. In Canarsie, the possible migration of blacks into a working/middle-class neighborhood prompts conservative backlash from a traditionally liberal community. In Streetwise, the migration of yuppies as a result of gentrification, and the movement of nearby-ghetto blacks into these urban renewal sites also invoke fear of crime and neighborhood devaluation among the gentrifying community. Not only is migration a common thread, but the persistence of poverty, despite the current economic boom, is the cornerstone of all these works. Poverty, complicated by the dynamics of race in America, call for universalistic policy strategies, some of which are articulated in Poor Support and The War Against the Poor.