For example, the song "Ali Bomaye" by the Game is essentially about the life style of all the artists, yet it has some lines in it that touch on race and identity in today's world. Here are some of the lines:
'Get my people out them chains nigga
I mean handcuffs, time to man up
Put my hands up? Fuck you sayin' bruh
Cause I'm a black man, in a Phantom.'
By saying 'my people' he is talking about people of his race, so African Americans. He is suggesting that racism is still alive in our world. Game is suggesting that police would pull him over because he is a black man in a really nice fancy car. This is his way of showing how he sees his identity and race in our world. Many African American hip/hop artists see our world as being racist and they show how they identify with their opinion by telling their story about how they, usually, went from rags to riches. Mostly saying how they broke the mold in their families.
Many artists in the rap world today are famous for speaking out about their stories and their identities. Speaking out on how they think racism is still present in our world today and they even make it a political issue because some artist use Obama as a bright outlook on the future and relate it to their races.
For example the song "My president is black" by young Jeezy and Nas talks about how before Obama no president did anything for him and all they did was put him in jail some could not vote. This may not be true, maybe he actually did commit a crime, but he sees it as a racial thing. He talks about how things are now looking up because of a new black president. This helps him feel better about his identity because I think he feels as if he has a upper hand now.
Many artists in the rap world today are famous for speaking out about their stories and their identities. Speaking out on how they think racism is still present in our world today and they even make it a political issue because some artist use Obama as a bright outlook on the future and relate it to their races.
For example the song "My president is black" by young Jeezy and Nas talks about how before Obama no president did anything for him and all they did was put him in jail some could not vote. This may not be true, maybe he actually did commit a crime, but he sees it as a racial thing. He talks about how things are now looking up because of a new black president. This helps him feel better about his identity because I think he feels as if he has a upper hand now.
I like how you said that stories in rap music can have a variety of emotions. I also like both examples you gave with The Game and with Young Jeezy, as those are two of my favorite rappers.
ReplyDeleteI liked your different examples of story telling. Both of these songs tell very different stories and have different tones and narratives.
ReplyDeleteI like how you used the game to help talk about racism in society today. He's one of the rappers who consistently talk about oppression and racism and I felt like that was one of the best examples you could've used. I feel like most black rappers reference racism in their songs because it is more common than people think.
ReplyDeleteRap is intertwined with race in many aspects and your examples provide great proof of this and the impact it has on the listeners and market. Whether it be positive or negative.
ReplyDeleteMost rappers now-a-days are telling their stories and implementing racial challenges that they have gone through in their lyrics. I like how you talked about the song "Ali Bombaye" by the Game because that's a great example of artists telling stories and adding some background history to make it credible and show us that racism is still well alive in our surroundings.
ReplyDeleteRace and identity are two huge speaking points that almost all rappers have in their arsenal of lyrics. It's sad to hear of all the brutality that many rap artists have dealt with for the color of their skin in the past. They use the songs not only to escape their troubled paths but also to shed light onto the still present racism in our country
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point, most artists will give a view from their perspective. Especially if they are a minority (black). I think that it is a little strange when a white artist- mac miller, Eminem- tells a story of their backround but still view it as valuable
ReplyDeleteThe example you used about our president now being black is a good one. Every single one of us can relate to that. The "rags to riches"story that is usually told in hip hop songs is the story of a lot of people's identities. Sometimes we just think that is a story people made up; however, it is usually something more than that. That could very well be a person's existence.
ReplyDeleteRacial struggle has always been a big part of hip hop. I liked how you gave two examples to show different perspectives on the issue.
ReplyDeleteFirst let me begin with the fact that I LOVE that song by the Game so extra points from me. I also enjoyed how you further validated the song you chose showing examples, and explaining them clearly.
ReplyDeleteRace being a big part of hip-hop, i love how you take a twist and even apply it to the real world with Obama. This different perspective gives a change of only what hip-hop has to say.
ReplyDeleteI liked the example you used with the song by Young Jeezy and think it fit your argument well. Also, it's true, storytelling in hip hop can have a variety of emotions. The genre isn't defined with one emotion as a whole.
ReplyDelete"My President" by Young Jeezy is a perfect example for this topic. It is a textbook display of a rapper making a relation to somebody with more power and influence based on a similar race/identity.
ReplyDeleteRace and racial challenges is something that will always be prevalent in our society no matter what. Rapper use their music to express their thoughts and to tell personal stories about racial differences they have experienced.
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