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)
Sunday, December 31, 2006
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)
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Presentation #1
http://www.emergency.com/la-riots.htm (la riot website)
The presentation given in class today by Scooby and Heather was phenomenal. I learned so much. It's crazy how much you can learn from your own peers. They taught me a lot. Not only about Ice Cube, but about a lot of what went on in the early ninety's. I learned about the Rodney King story and the LA riot that occurred shortly after. They truly gave a great presentation.
I especially liked learning so much about Ice Cube's Lyrics.
Scooby and Heather informed the whole class that Ice Cube began to write lyrics that were giving hints that a riot was in the future. Ice Cube’s song, “Black Korea” talked about how no one was getting along when it came to race. No one was being treated equally and something, soon, would happen about it. Nevertheless, on April 29, 1992 the LA Riot broke out right after Rodney Kings hearing was finalized. People went crazy.
Ice Cube’s lyrics, after the Riot, were about what everyone was going through at that time. People started listening more and more because it was real. The music actually told the truth on what was going on in the world. His famous song, “We Had To Tear This Mothafucka Up” talked about how riots and disturbances of the peace should not be permitted for the better of the nation.
Today was a very good class in general, but I liked learning so many things, that I had absolutely no clue about before!
The presentation given in class today by Scooby and Heather was phenomenal. I learned so much. It's crazy how much you can learn from your own peers. They taught me a lot. Not only about Ice Cube, but about a lot of what went on in the early ninety's. I learned about the Rodney King story and the LA riot that occurred shortly after. They truly gave a great presentation.
I especially liked learning so much about Ice Cube's Lyrics.
Scooby and Heather informed the whole class that Ice Cube began to write lyrics that were giving hints that a riot was in the future. Ice Cube’s song, “Black Korea” talked about how no one was getting along when it came to race. No one was being treated equally and something, soon, would happen about it. Nevertheless, on April 29, 1992 the LA Riot broke out right after Rodney Kings hearing was finalized. People went crazy.
Ice Cube’s lyrics, after the Riot, were about what everyone was going through at that time. People started listening more and more because it was real. The music actually told the truth on what was going on in the world. His famous song, “We Had To Tear This Mothafucka Up” talked about how riots and disturbances of the peace should not be permitted for the better of the nation.
Today was a very good class in general, but I liked learning so many things, that I had absolutely no clue about before!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Breakin
http://www.fast-rewind.com/break/findex.htm
(Breakin's website)
Today in class we watched the 1984 movie, "Breakin". I loved it. LOL, I know that sounds weird but it was funny ...and looked as if it would end great. It could have been put together a lil better, but all in all I like the story it was portraying. I think it had a similar background as Letter to the President, b/c it talked about the Hip Hop crowd growing up in the projects...and whites/police couldn't accept them. In this movie, it was as if no one could accept Kelly (protagonist) at first b/c she was not only a ballerina, but white as well. If I'm guessing right, I would say it all works out in the end and they all live happily ever after.
I think people today need to focus more on all types of dancing to all types of music, rather than being so prejudiced. I can't break dance, but I still call it dancing (and don't kid yourself, I totally wish I could). However, I can ballroom dance, do a lil ballet here and there, and also choreograph routines...but some may not call my type of dancing..."dance". I think that's wrong. Everyone needs to go into every situation, not just dance with an open mind. And I wish everyone would do just that.
Granted, this movie isn't the best I have seen about this type of situation...but it puts forth a good lesson.
(Breakin's website)
Today in class we watched the 1984 movie, "Breakin". I loved it. LOL, I know that sounds weird but it was funny ...and looked as if it would end great. It could have been put together a lil better, but all in all I like the story it was portraying. I think it had a similar background as Letter to the President, b/c it talked about the Hip Hop crowd growing up in the projects...and whites/police couldn't accept them. In this movie, it was as if no one could accept Kelly (protagonist) at first b/c she was not only a ballerina, but white as well. If I'm guessing right, I would say it all works out in the end and they all live happily ever after.
I think people today need to focus more on all types of dancing to all types of music, rather than being so prejudiced. I can't break dance, but I still call it dancing (and don't kid yourself, I totally wish I could). However, I can ballroom dance, do a lil ballet here and there, and also choreograph routines...but some may not call my type of dancing..."dance". I think that's wrong. Everyone needs to go into every situation, not just dance with an open mind. And I wish everyone would do just that.
Granted, this movie isn't the best I have seen about this type of situation...but it puts forth a good lesson.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Letter to the President
http://www.justfocus.org.nz/articles/2006/08/29/letter-to-the-president-review/
This website gives reviews and critiques over the movie, "Letter to the President"
I had never seen the movie before, and I actually enjoyed it. It taught me a lot about the hip hop artists. When the movie first started, it was talking about how Jessie Jackson was hip hop...b/c he grew up poor in SC. It was portraying that being poor and from the hood is what a rapper should be...or was (in my opinion). It started talking about new drugs emerging and everyone was trying this drug (crack-cocaine) b/c it was new or just to make money. They used it to escape reality. The cops were the actual bad guys, b/c they were the ones actually selling the drugs to help out the govt, no one knew this or believed it even when the rappers were singing about it.
As the movie progressed I started to feel a lil differently about the hip hop artists. JayZ states, "everything gets addressed in our music, and that's what makes it real. It shows everyone what we go through here in the projects, it shows the truth".
I had never heard about Operation Pipe Line, and learning about it honestly just pissed me off. Why on earth would cops pull ppl over for no reason? And then when they did pull them over cops thought they may be drug trafficking b/c they were black, looked nervous, had a destination circled on a map, etc... That is just ridiculous!
Toward the end of the movie, it showed all the rappers/artists showing their support for the Presidential Election. VOTE OR DIE (there isn't a better way to put it). In a way I think rappers are leaders...for putting themselves out there to try and get young adults to take charge in what they want and prove it by voting.
I enjoyed this movie, and hope to be enlightened more on the "hip hop" subject in the next weeks.
This website gives reviews and critiques over the movie, "Letter to the President"
I had never seen the movie before, and I actually enjoyed it. It taught me a lot about the hip hop artists. When the movie first started, it was talking about how Jessie Jackson was hip hop...b/c he grew up poor in SC. It was portraying that being poor and from the hood is what a rapper should be...or was (in my opinion). It started talking about new drugs emerging and everyone was trying this drug (crack-cocaine) b/c it was new or just to make money. They used it to escape reality. The cops were the actual bad guys, b/c they were the ones actually selling the drugs to help out the govt, no one knew this or believed it even when the rappers were singing about it.
As the movie progressed I started to feel a lil differently about the hip hop artists. JayZ states, "everything gets addressed in our music, and that's what makes it real. It shows everyone what we go through here in the projects, it shows the truth".
I had never heard about Operation Pipe Line, and learning about it honestly just pissed me off. Why on earth would cops pull ppl over for no reason? And then when they did pull them over cops thought they may be drug trafficking b/c they were black, looked nervous, had a destination circled on a map, etc... That is just ridiculous!
Toward the end of the movie, it showed all the rappers/artists showing their support for the Presidential Election. VOTE OR DIE (there isn't a better way to put it). In a way I think rappers are leaders...for putting themselves out there to try and get young adults to take charge in what they want and prove it by voting.
I enjoyed this movie, and hope to be enlightened more on the "hip hop" subject in the next weeks.
Monday, December 18, 2006
First Class Discussion
Class today was interesting. In all honesty I don't know much at all about hip hop, so I learned a lot.....maybe I learned that I should KNOW more about hip hop artists. HAHA
This class may be a lil more difficult than I thought b/c of the whole hip hop industry in general. I'm totally NOT educated enough in that field, YET (I guess that's the key word)
I really enjoyed Brasco and Jasmyn's thoughts on the subject. It was a fabulous way to start a class with the name "Hip Hop and the Media"
This class may be a lil more difficult than I thought b/c of the whole hip hop industry in general. I'm totally NOT educated enough in that field, YET (I guess that's the key word)
I really enjoyed Brasco and Jasmyn's thoughts on the subject. It was a fabulous way to start a class with the name "Hip Hop and the Media"
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