I know this is going to sound a little reverberated...but it's kinda my story throughout this hip-hop class. So here it goes...
I enrolled in this class with my friend Monica, and my co-worker Kari. We all needed an upper division JMC elective...and heard M-Money was THE BEST. So we said why not. Me and Monica proceeded to take 2 intersession classes total this December to get a few more hours under our belt so we could speed up the race to graduation!!
The first day of class, I'm not going to lie...I was TERRIFIED. Everyone in the room seemed to know just a tad more about hip-hop than the person sitting next to him/her ....and for some reason, I kept thinking I was the one at the bottom end of that metaphor. HAHA, yes I do have a funny side!
Okay...but down to business. I learned so much over the past too short 3 weeks. I learned about many hip-hop artists that I have never even heard of. The most beneficial days for me in this class were hands down the 1st one, the day me and Monica did our presentation over women in hip-hop, the presentation over 2Pac and Biggie, and when Fair-N-Hyte came to visit. I really don't want to sound cliché...but I have learned so much from M-Money and all my other classmates I don't know what to do with 1/2 the information. I started listening to more hip-hop and trying to understand EVERY meaning behind the beats, and learned that people actually live and dress the style of hip-hop...and that doesn't mean they are going to rob a 7-11 (huh, SCOOBY?) LOL
I like the simple fact that everyone in the class has/had a different perspective on hip-hop. It brings color to our class...so we are no longer just the dull colors of black and white. It takes a bunch of personalities, ideas, and voices to bring a beautiful collage together...and that's what our class has done....and that is solely because of you, Flippin!!
M-Money, I don't know how your other classes have gone...but WOW, I think you should be very proud to have such a caring, knowledgeable, ready to learn, and EXCITED class about hip-hop. We all listened in ahh...when you spoke up and enlightened us with your STUPENDOUS knowledge of the subject. I know you got frustrated toward the end...b/c some of us became a little too needy and demanding..that's why I’m sure I speak for us all...when I say, not only "Thank You"....but You really changed a piece of all of us, no matter in what aspect!!
I'm not looking for brownie points, but I do want to speak up for the ENTIRE class...b/c I know they all feel the same!
I learned more than I ever could have imagined in this 12-day class. I will always remember what you, Scooby, Tony, Bekah, Korie, Clark..etc...had to say to throw their different colors onto the collage.
I know now, I will cherish hip-hop from here on out...and THANK YOU EVERYONE for that!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color
http://www.rapnews.net/0-202-259247-00.html?tag=artistnav
http://www.daveyd.com/raptitle.html
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Fair-N-Hyte
DJ Mass= the DJ
Richard aka Liquid = the Producer
Fair-N-Hyte = the MC
These 3 young gentlemen came to our class today to give us some insight on them as hip-hop artists and answered a lot of questions the class had.
DJ Mass did the most talking, and had some really great things to say.
He started out by saying that music these days are only 10 percent talent and 90 percent business. He went on to elaborate and agree with Fair-N-Hyte on how hip-hop is, in fact, a way of life. That brought a little confusion to me...because if you have read any of my other blogs, I have been so confused on why people actually say that!!
So I asked the question "what is hip-hop?" Fair-N-Hyte chose to answer. he said grafiti, jump roping to music, etc all EQUAL hip-hop.
Liquid and DJ Mass went on to answer Nick's question..."Is hip-hop dead, like NAS states in his new CD?"
They both feel it is dead because of the language!!! Hmm...so maybe what I have been preaching in these blogs does mean something to OTHERS. I guess I'm not the only one who thinks the language is OUT OF CONTROL!
They continued by saying before you never had to cover babies ears. The music was there to teach and enlighten them about the past or what was going on in the present. BUT NOW...there are parental advisories on ALMOST every single CD out there!!
We all know about professional sports. I'm infatuated with NFL!! So when they compared hip-hop to a pro-sport...I totally understood. In the music industry it's a fight to the top...kinda like players fight to the top to get drafted first. Whoever gets drafted first makes the most money...and in the end that's what everyone wants in the long run anyway, right?
I understand that before artists were in the business for the love of the game. Now it's all about the dinero!
Artists get paid 13 cents every time one of their songs is played for ONE minute on the radio. MAN that adds up. They also get paid 40 cents per CD. All the other money goes to the producers.
They all think we should put good values into our children now. We should teach them to do good, because before their moms were all crack heads, and that should change!
This wonderful trio has great music, and good lyrics. I really respect them and what they are trying to do in the hip-hop world. I know I hope to hear them do well in this business.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=107312272
www.ninjaarrow.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_Hop_Is_Dead
Richard aka Liquid = the Producer
Fair-N-Hyte = the MC
These 3 young gentlemen came to our class today to give us some insight on them as hip-hop artists and answered a lot of questions the class had.
DJ Mass did the most talking, and had some really great things to say.
He started out by saying that music these days are only 10 percent talent and 90 percent business. He went on to elaborate and agree with Fair-N-Hyte on how hip-hop is, in fact, a way of life. That brought a little confusion to me...because if you have read any of my other blogs, I have been so confused on why people actually say that!!
So I asked the question "what is hip-hop?" Fair-N-Hyte chose to answer. he said grafiti, jump roping to music, etc all EQUAL hip-hop.
Liquid and DJ Mass went on to answer Nick's question..."Is hip-hop dead, like NAS states in his new CD?"
They both feel it is dead because of the language!!! Hmm...so maybe what I have been preaching in these blogs does mean something to OTHERS. I guess I'm not the only one who thinks the language is OUT OF CONTROL!
They continued by saying before you never had to cover babies ears. The music was there to teach and enlighten them about the past or what was going on in the present. BUT NOW...there are parental advisories on ALMOST every single CD out there!!
We all know about professional sports. I'm infatuated with NFL!! So when they compared hip-hop to a pro-sport...I totally understood. In the music industry it's a fight to the top...kinda like players fight to the top to get drafted first. Whoever gets drafted first makes the most money...and in the end that's what everyone wants in the long run anyway, right?
I understand that before artists were in the business for the love of the game. Now it's all about the dinero!
Artists get paid 13 cents every time one of their songs is played for ONE minute on the radio. MAN that adds up. They also get paid 40 cents per CD. All the other money goes to the producers.
They all think we should put good values into our children now. We should teach them to do good, because before their moms were all crack heads, and that should change!
This wonderful trio has great music, and good lyrics. I really respect them and what they are trying to do in the hip-hop world. I know I hope to hear them do well in this business.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=107312272
www.ninjaarrow.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_Hop_Is_Dead
Hustle and Flow
The beginning of Hustle and Flow was very hard for me to watch. I know they had to start the movie off that way to put off the exact message they were going for. But it was still pretty scary.....
The movie is about this pimp who sells crack-cocaine, and other drugs.. I’m sure to make money! He was just doing what he had to at the time to survive
He has a few of his “hoes” living in his house…one has a baby and another is pregnant. No one really knows who the babies Daddy’s are yet. This Pimp, as the movie goes on…decides to straighten up his life…so he goes to an old buddy of his’ house and asks for help. The buddy decides to help him make a room designed like a sound booth. They decorated it with cup holders to keep the sound in. They put up computers and sound machines to make REAL music. They even brought a boy in from the church to help with the piano and recording.
They ended up coming up with a great first song. They had to change the words from "smack that bitch" to "whoop that trick...get em', whoop that trick" etc...
I loved the song. IT had a great beat...and the hoes even helped out singing.
The pimp eventually makes a demo…takes it to someone…and he actually throws it in the toilet full of crap. He needs this break so bad..that he dug it out so he could let someone else listen to it. Then he starts shooting people, b/c he’s not getting what he wants when it comes to his music. He needs to get this break to survive, so he doesn’t have to pimp the hoes anymore or sell drugs!
I can’t wait to finish this movie. I think it has a great story line…and teaches a good lesson. I just had to give the movie the benefit of the doubt at first...even though it was hard to watch but I think it will all work out!
Can't wait to finish it!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410097/
http://www.hustleandflow.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hustle_&_Flow
The movie is about this pimp who sells crack-cocaine, and other drugs.. I’m sure to make money! He was just doing what he had to at the time to survive
He has a few of his “hoes” living in his house…one has a baby and another is pregnant. No one really knows who the babies Daddy’s are yet. This Pimp, as the movie goes on…decides to straighten up his life…so he goes to an old buddy of his’ house and asks for help. The buddy decides to help him make a room designed like a sound booth. They decorated it with cup holders to keep the sound in. They put up computers and sound machines to make REAL music. They even brought a boy in from the church to help with the piano and recording.
They ended up coming up with a great first song. They had to change the words from "smack that bitch" to "whoop that trick...get em', whoop that trick" etc...
I loved the song. IT had a great beat...and the hoes even helped out singing.
The pimp eventually makes a demo…takes it to someone…and he actually throws it in the toilet full of crap. He needs this break so bad..that he dug it out so he could let someone else listen to it. Then he starts shooting people, b/c he’s not getting what he wants when it comes to his music. He needs to get this break to survive, so he doesn’t have to pimp the hoes anymore or sell drugs!
I can’t wait to finish this movie. I think it has a great story line…and teaches a good lesson. I just had to give the movie the benefit of the doubt at first...even though it was hard to watch but I think it will all work out!
Can't wait to finish it!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410097/
http://www.hustleandflow.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hustle_&_Flow
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Hip Hop in a NUTSHELL (again)
I'm sure many of you have read my previous blog stated "Hip hop in a NUTSHELL", because I have gotten a few comments about that blog. I just want to clarify some things that were stated in my first blog, "Hip Hop in a Nutshell".
When I wrote that blog, it was VERY early in this class. I didn't really know much about hip hop at first, but I was open anyway and decided to share what I thought. My thoughts have changed a little. NOT A LOT, but a little. I do NOT think EVERYTHING in hip-hop is real (okay Tony? LOL). However, I can see how some people may think so. I understand that artists state a lot of true feelings in their work that has to deal with what is actually happening in the world. Not saying I don't respect that but...after listening to Tony's presentation the other day, gave me a different insight. I'm glad to find out that NOT everyone who loves hip hop...thinks it is completely "real"...so to speak. *so thank you Tony for helping me with that one*
On the other hand...I still feel the same way about the vulgar language in the lyrics. After Sully posted on my blog *hip hop in a nutshell* I can see where he is coming from thinking that cursing in lyrics accentuates the meaning...maybe more ppl agree with Sully...and maybe not. I am totally up for learning what other people think on my topics...and most the time I try to see eye to eye with them...when they explain to me exactly why they feel a certain way about a certain topic.
BUT this is not one of those times. I don't think cursing accentuates the meaning more...than using other words. Maybe artists sales would go up...if, perhaps...they used better language. I know I would let my sister listen to it then.
I'm just glad I've learned so much in this class.
AND GUESS WHAT GUYS...I've actually started listening to Hip Hop now...SO BE proud!
LOL!
http://www.shanghaiist.com/archives/2006/10/12/its_official_ja.php (website over Jay Z's show getting canceled in China b/c his lyrics were too vulgar!)
http://www.allhiphop.com/Hiphopnews/?ID=6251 (jay z's response)!
http://www.hiphopeducation.us/ (different lyrics for children)
When I wrote that blog, it was VERY early in this class. I didn't really know much about hip hop at first, but I was open anyway and decided to share what I thought. My thoughts have changed a little. NOT A LOT, but a little. I do NOT think EVERYTHING in hip-hop is real (okay Tony? LOL). However, I can see how some people may think so. I understand that artists state a lot of true feelings in their work that has to deal with what is actually happening in the world. Not saying I don't respect that but...after listening to Tony's presentation the other day, gave me a different insight. I'm glad to find out that NOT everyone who loves hip hop...thinks it is completely "real"...so to speak. *so thank you Tony for helping me with that one*
On the other hand...I still feel the same way about the vulgar language in the lyrics. After Sully posted on my blog *hip hop in a nutshell* I can see where he is coming from thinking that cursing in lyrics accentuates the meaning...maybe more ppl agree with Sully...and maybe not. I am totally up for learning what other people think on my topics...and most the time I try to see eye to eye with them...when they explain to me exactly why they feel a certain way about a certain topic.
BUT this is not one of those times. I don't think cursing accentuates the meaning more...than using other words. Maybe artists sales would go up...if, perhaps...they used better language. I know I would let my sister listen to it then.
I'm just glad I've learned so much in this class.
AND GUESS WHAT GUYS...I've actually started listening to Hip Hop now...SO BE proud!
LOL!
http://www.shanghaiist.com/archives/2006/10/12/its_official_ja.php (website over Jay Z's show getting canceled in China b/c his lyrics were too vulgar!)
http://www.allhiphop.com/Hiphopnews/?ID=6251 (jay z's response)!
http://www.hiphopeducation.us/ (different lyrics for children)
Friday, December 29, 2006
Eminem
I really enjoyed the presentation given in class by the group of three yesterday. I remember listening to Eminem a little when I was a sophomore in H.S. His movie had just came out and everyone loved the soundtrack. Me and all my friends would dance to the soundtrack every day at lunch. I guess the “guys” played the music with their little systems in the back and us “girls” would dance and pretend like we knew what it was talking about. This went on for a while, if I remember correctly.
I'm pretty sure I didn't know exactly what he was talking about back then, but I liked the music. In High School, I think a lot of people like what EVERYONE ELSE likes. I know I was too young to decide exactly what type of music I liked then. But I think I kinda liked the thrill of the new “white rapper”
Eminem started battling at the age of 14. He failed 9th grade three times...therefore dropped out. His uncle that was only a little older than he was committed suicide in 1991 which turned him into hip hop.
The Slim Shady song made him an underground hit. Dr. Dre was the one who really made Eminem's career explode. People wonder if Eminem would be where he is today if it weren’t for Dre.
He does have explicitly violent lyrics about beating wifes, etc...but most people say they can tell when he is being sarcastic, which is usually most of the time.
Becoming a very well known rapper wasn’t enough for Marshall Bruce Mathers III...he says he enjoys rapping about how he should be recognized as one of the best..with other great rappers…BECAUSE he IS. Eminem says… since he is white no one takes him seriously! I wonder if anyone ever will…if he keeps making a big deal about his color. Paul Wall doesn’t set himself apart as being white…and he does great.
Many of his lyrics talk about how he's white, and people don't see past the color of his skin and listen to his music...
I learned a lot more than I had about Eminem...and that's cool!
Eminem, even though he has profane language in a lot of his music, he even helps out with the vote or die campaigns!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_Mile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnkgmUZdfIQ
I'm pretty sure I didn't know exactly what he was talking about back then, but I liked the music. In High School, I think a lot of people like what EVERYONE ELSE likes. I know I was too young to decide exactly what type of music I liked then. But I think I kinda liked the thrill of the new “white rapper”
Eminem started battling at the age of 14. He failed 9th grade three times...therefore dropped out. His uncle that was only a little older than he was committed suicide in 1991 which turned him into hip hop.
The Slim Shady song made him an underground hit. Dr. Dre was the one who really made Eminem's career explode. People wonder if Eminem would be where he is today if it weren’t for Dre.
He does have explicitly violent lyrics about beating wifes, etc...but most people say they can tell when he is being sarcastic, which is usually most of the time.
Becoming a very well known rapper wasn’t enough for Marshall Bruce Mathers III...he says he enjoys rapping about how he should be recognized as one of the best..with other great rappers…BECAUSE he IS. Eminem says… since he is white no one takes him seriously! I wonder if anyone ever will…if he keeps making a big deal about his color. Paul Wall doesn’t set himself apart as being white…and he does great.
Many of his lyrics talk about how he's white, and people don't see past the color of his skin and listen to his music...
I learned a lot more than I had about Eminem...and that's cool!
Eminem, even though he has profane language in a lot of his music, he even helps out with the vote or die campaigns!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_Mile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnkgmUZdfIQ
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Notorious B.I.G
http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-137472.html (interesting website over the war in general)
http://music.aol.com/artist/2pac/50051/main?sem=1&ncid=AOLMUS00170000000009 (2pac pics and videos)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Notorious_B.I.G. (all about Biggie)
The presentation given on Notorious B.I.G was very interesting to me. I had listened to his music before, more than I had listened to other hip hop artists…for some reason… but I never really understood the meanings of his songs. I like the fact that he worked with other big artists, such as: Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and R Kelley. But in all honesty, the most interesting part of the presentation, in my opinion was the East Coast/West Coast War. It is completely amazing to me how the media made everyone assume that Biggie and Diddy were responsible for the attacks and even death of 2Pac. I am not sure if it is true or if the media blew it way out of proportion. But I would definitely like to know. That is a very interesting topic, and I wish I knew the WHOLE story.
I couldn't believe 2Pac made a song, "Hit Em Up".. about how he slept with Biggie's wife. I had never heard that song before. I liked it. But I think it was sort of ridiculous. I think it ended up being a tad degrading, but I’m not a music critic so…my opinion isn’t that big of a deal, considering that a lot of people loved that song. The whole west/east coast thing...I'm not too familiar with...but it just seems silly to me. Why hate on someone from the other side? Why believe everything you hear? Why does the media blow everything out of proportion? I even want to work in the media when I graduate, but it’s stuff like this that pisses me off.
In 1996 2Pac was murdered...and everyone thought Biggie was responsible (had someone hired to kill him) and then mysteriously Biggie was murdered in 1997...which then proved to hip hop that neither death was an accident. They both remain unsolved. It's pretty sad actually that 2 very astonishing rappers had to die over something so petty. Okay, maybe petty isn't the right word, but there are definitely better ways to handle situations, other than killing each other.
I really wish one of the groups would've decided to do their presentation over 2Pac...b/c that would have been very educating for me. LOL, but at least we will learn about it in class, as a whole!
http://music.aol.com/artist/2pac/50051/main?sem=1&ncid=AOLMUS00170000000009 (2pac pics and videos)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Notorious_B.I.G. (all about Biggie)
The presentation given on Notorious B.I.G was very interesting to me. I had listened to his music before, more than I had listened to other hip hop artists…for some reason… but I never really understood the meanings of his songs. I like the fact that he worked with other big artists, such as: Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and R Kelley. But in all honesty, the most interesting part of the presentation, in my opinion was the East Coast/West Coast War. It is completely amazing to me how the media made everyone assume that Biggie and Diddy were responsible for the attacks and even death of 2Pac. I am not sure if it is true or if the media blew it way out of proportion. But I would definitely like to know. That is a very interesting topic, and I wish I knew the WHOLE story.
I couldn't believe 2Pac made a song, "Hit Em Up".. about how he slept with Biggie's wife. I had never heard that song before. I liked it. But I think it was sort of ridiculous. I think it ended up being a tad degrading, but I’m not a music critic so…my opinion isn’t that big of a deal, considering that a lot of people loved that song. The whole west/east coast thing...I'm not too familiar with...but it just seems silly to me. Why hate on someone from the other side? Why believe everything you hear? Why does the media blow everything out of proportion? I even want to work in the media when I graduate, but it’s stuff like this that pisses me off.
In 1996 2Pac was murdered...and everyone thought Biggie was responsible (had someone hired to kill him) and then mysteriously Biggie was murdered in 1997...which then proved to hip hop that neither death was an accident. They both remain unsolved. It's pretty sad actually that 2 very astonishing rappers had to die over something so petty. Okay, maybe petty isn't the right word, but there are definitely better ways to handle situations, other than killing each other.
I really wish one of the groups would've decided to do their presentation over 2Pac...b/c that would have been very educating for me. LOL, but at least we will learn about it in class, as a whole!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Hip Hop in a NUTSHELL!
I have a learned a lot so far in this class. There are a few things that confused me at first...but with a little help from Rasco, Jasmyn, M Money, and my classmates I was quick to jump on the hip hop bus along with everyone else. At least for the most part
First of all…I was confused when Rasco called hip hop, "a way of life". I was confused b/c I never saw any type of music in that way before! NEVER!!! Then he said, "hip hop is everything"...I saw myself looking around wondering if I was the only one who disagreed. Everything to me is: my family, friends, school etc...and music was definitely the last thing on my mind. Am I the only one?
As the class went on...and I listened to classmate's presentations and our professor, M Money. It is then that I started to see where Rasco might be coming from. I'm not totally agreeing with him yet, but I can see why he may think that way now.
Everyone goes through different hard times in their lives…and maybe hip-hop helps/helped most people deal with their issues. Some peole may wear hip hop clothes, sing their music, wear the bling…etc…
SO IT IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR THEM!
Hip hop tells the truth in the lyrics, most of the time…at least that’s what I have learned so far in this class (yes, it is early) It doesn't candy coat things that may hurt our feelings, or hide from the awful times in the past....it simply states the truth all the time. I really look up to hip hop in that aspect.
I know I'm going to get ridiculed for this....BUT it's what I truly think:
Although the music may be "real", and not hiding anything at all. The language has to go. It's unattractive, it's vulgar, and most of all disturbing. There is no need for all the: nigga's, bitches, slut, fuck, mother fucking whore....etc!!! There are other words in the dictionary. It just bugs me tremendously. No one said you have to curse to be a hip hop star!!
I understand that other genres of music use some vulgar language, but not near as much as hip hop. In my opinion, of course!
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1175/is_5_37/ai_n9787551 (website over bad language...many articles)
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-5423.0.html (the truth website)
http://www.csupomona.edu/~rrreese/HIPHOP.HTML (lifestyle and culture of hip hop)
First of all…I was confused when Rasco called hip hop, "a way of life". I was confused b/c I never saw any type of music in that way before! NEVER!!! Then he said, "hip hop is everything"...I saw myself looking around wondering if I was the only one who disagreed. Everything to me is: my family, friends, school etc...and music was definitely the last thing on my mind. Am I the only one?
As the class went on...and I listened to classmate's presentations and our professor, M Money. It is then that I started to see where Rasco might be coming from. I'm not totally agreeing with him yet, but I can see why he may think that way now.
Everyone goes through different hard times in their lives…and maybe hip-hop helps/helped most people deal with their issues. Some peole may wear hip hop clothes, sing their music, wear the bling…etc…
SO IT IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR THEM!
Hip hop tells the truth in the lyrics, most of the time…at least that’s what I have learned so far in this class (yes, it is early) It doesn't candy coat things that may hurt our feelings, or hide from the awful times in the past....it simply states the truth all the time. I really look up to hip hop in that aspect.
I know I'm going to get ridiculed for this....BUT it's what I truly think:
Although the music may be "real", and not hiding anything at all. The language has to go. It's unattractive, it's vulgar, and most of all disturbing. There is no need for all the: nigga's, bitches, slut, fuck, mother fucking whore....etc!!! There are other words in the dictionary. It just bugs me tremendously. No one said you have to curse to be a hip hop star!!
I understand that other genres of music use some vulgar language, but not near as much as hip hop. In my opinion, of course!
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1175/is_5_37/ai_n9787551 (website over bad language...many articles)
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-5423.0.html (the truth website)
http://www.csupomona.edu/~rrreese/HIPHOP.HTML (lifestyle and culture of hip hop)
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