Violence & Values

Hip-hop will never stay the same; it always has and always will change over time. In past years the main focus of hip-hop was status: how much money you had, what kind of cars you drove, or how much jewelry you had. Hip-hop hasn’t exactly departed from the talk of these subjects but the definition of status has changed. Rappers now talk about how many guns they have, drugs they’ve sold, and people they’ve killed.

Violence in hip-hop isn’t something new to genre. Groups like N.W.A. exemplified what life was like in Compton to the casual hip-hop listener. The depictions they gave in their songs were very straightforward and included scenes of violence. When artists like N.W.A. came onto the scene rapping about violence it was brand new and different; they were being genuine with their audience.

The same appeal is seen with hip-hop today. Artists are rapping violently and are being prided on their realness. For example, the song “Russian Roulette” by Fat Trel & Chief Keef is about how both they and their squads are respected in Chicago and D.C. This was an early song from Chief Keef that helped make him very popular. “I got money, I got power, got respect with this tech. My niggas out here wildin’ playin’ Russian roulette…Russian roulette, with niggas’ heads.” With lyrics like these it’s almost baffling as to how lyrics like this can make an artist popular.

This violent music for one reason or another has become the face of hip-hop for many, but this type of music does not define the genre. Although it seems as though there is an overwhelming amount of rappers rapping violently there still are rappers out there who rap about different material. Rappers like Asher Roth have always had a positive message, like in his song “Pearly Gates,” [1] “Kids eat your vegetables, stretch, wear your SPF. Give 110%, work until there’s nothing left.” Asher Roth hasn’t necessarily had radio success but he’s a well-respected and well-liked rapper in the rap community.

It seems as though violent rappers’ excuse for their subject matter is that they rap about what they see, and what’s in their lives. In my opinion it is excusable to write songs about violence if that is a major component of your life, but there are rappers who go through the same adversity but rap with a less negative message. Chance the Rapper is a good example of this. In his song “Paranoia” off his latest mixtape Acid Rap he illustrates the ghettos of Chicago. He details the violence in the city without him getting violent himself.

These rappers who rap violently definitely do not give off a positive message of give hip-hop a good image, but that doesn’t mean all of these rappers do not have values. Rapper Chief Keef has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons of late; Keef may be one of the most violent rappers out now. He also is a scapegoat for a lot of violence, especially in Chicago. He’s been to jail, he’s been involved in shootings, but it’s unfair to blame him for a whole generation of violence. A few days ago, a 2 year-old was beaten to death, in Chicago, by her own father. Chief Keef has since released a statement saying that he would pay for her funeral.

Rap overall has increased in violent content but who knows where it’ll go from here. Values seem to have taken a backseat to shock value. While the more violent rappers seem to be getting more media attention, there are rappers out there who are striving to improve the image of the hip-hop industry.


1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3srGPJKuYdM
2. http://www.vibe.com/article/chief-keef-pay-funeral-slain-chicago-two-year-old

MC Stylists: Finding Yo' Groove

ENC1145, we live in an era where it can take someone .5 seconds  to snap an Instagram selfie, tweet their favorite Kid Cudi lyrics, post a new personal groove to Soundcloud, or update their relationship status on Facebook. Everyone can be a photographer with a smart phone. Everyone can be a professional chef with a Cooking app. Everyone can be instantly intellectualized on anatomy, astronomy, and anthropology with Google at their fingertips. With the advancements in technology, it has become easy to increase your knowledge in any given hobby or activity...and increasingly more difficult to put yourself out into the art community as an original artist. In a world where turntables and orchestral sound effects can all be downloaded via laptop, how is an aspiring hip-hop artist to create their name?

The central focus of this blog post will be on an incredible example of a blooming hip-hop MC (and my personal favorite rapper) Donald Glover, more commonly known by his stage name Childish Gambino. He actually came into the industry as a writer, scribbling scripts for the NBC series 30 Rock. And like another critically acclaimed actor-gone-rapper, Drake, he eventually moved in front of the camera to grab nationwide attention, unveiling his acting talent on his sketch comedy Youtube channel, then moving onto bigger lights such as The Muppets, Community, and The To Do List. In 2008, Gambino released his first independent album, Sick Boi. 2011 brought along his debut studio album, Camp, which received a controversial amount of praise and disgust. Because the Internet, released in December of last year, is what really has really defined the voice of this MC.

Donald Glover is a mere genius in the production of the 57 minute long masterpiece. It isn’t just the mastermind lyrics that draws in and relates to a large audience on the subject of growing up. It was also released with a 75-page screenplay (http://becausetheinter.net/) and short film excerpts to bounce off of the music. The songs are labeled with roman numerals, a beautifully chaotic collision of the tracks, a perfect balance of rap and voice, and another additional commonality his music shares with Drake. Childish explains the album in an interview with MTV:

"Because the internet I'm here, because of the internet we're all here. It's the language of earth. Everyone keeps saying by this or that year, Mandarin or Spanish will be the most dominant language, but the internet is already a language we are all connected to; even my dad can understand the meme format. But the thing is, there are no rules, which is also the awesome thing." 

The general voice of the album is about how we have all this technological chaos at our hands’ grasp, and the cost of how it has shaped our generation, politics, culture, and more-so, Glover. It really taps into his subconsciousness, especially his song “Life: The Biggest Troll”.

“I mean where's the line between Donnie G and Gambino?”

I believe this lyric from “Life: The Biggest Troll” is what really sums up the whole album. Childish Gambino was simply a name he snatched from a Wu-Tang Gang Name Generator he found floating on the internet years ago. Childish is what has made him famous via the internet, while Donald Glover is him as a person. Where does he draw the line? Do his two different personalities he has created drawn the lines themselves? Is there even a line at all? Now ask yourself the same question, about the voice you have created over the internet, and the voice you actually are.

Glover approached the industry from all angles, in all forms of art. He is an artist who has been using all the same tools we have; the only difference is the voice he’s putting into it. 

Lyrically, You Can't See Me: Analyzing What We Say & Why We Say It

     Some argue that lyrics are the most important aspect of a song.  Others might say the chorus, the beat, the introduction, etc.  Lyrically a song can be so-so.  It all depends on how those lyrics are being stated.

     True hip-hop artists will keep their fans on their feet.  No one wants to dance and rap along to lyrics that are typical.  When artists such as The Notorious B.I.G. hit the scene, hip-hop fans had never witnessed with their own two ears, or even their eyes, what was taking place.  It was a whole new form of hip-hop.

     It is more like poetry.  Wordplay gives the lyrics color and emotional value.  It crosses the barriers and has no limits. The explicit lyrics are something to definitely catch a listener's attention.  However, instead of questioning these lyrics in a negative way, why don't we look further into them.  William Jelani Cobb phrases hip-hop as an art formed from the "shunned expressions of disposable people."  While analyzing lyrics, it is seen that hip-hop was created to relate to one another.  It came together to speak to a new generation by re-creating its original language.  Much emotion, thought and time is put into these lyrics.

     Lil Wayne is a rap genius from New Orleans, LA.  Aside from the awesome beats and introductions he uses, his music truly comes alive.  It is brought out through the lyrics he is professing.  His use of metaphors, similes and puns throughout his songs reshapes our imagination.
 


"Mind so sharp, I fuck around and cut my head off"   -6 Foot 7 Foot, Lil Wayne

"Man I got summer hatin' on me cause I'm hotter than the sun
Got spring hatin' on me cause I ain't never sprung
Winter hatin' on me cause I'm colder than y'all
And I would never, I would never, I would never fall
I'm bein' hated by the seasons
So fuck you, hatin' for no reason!"   -Mr. Carter, Lil Wayne (feat. Jay-Z)

     Wordplay is an extremely important part of hip-hop, and other genres of music, because it makes the familiar unfamiliar.  It brings our souls and minds to a new level.