Hip Hop Reflects Black Dysfunctional Ghetto Culture

The Hip Hop Wars
Hip Hop Reflects Black Dysfunctional Ghetto Culture

When I began reading this chapter, I became very attached to it immediately. For example, most of the things that I read I was able to relate. More or less witness it for me to be able to understand it better. I was able to totally agree with it before reading the whole point presented to me. In this chapter, Tricia Rose speaks about so many different points that when I was reading I had to take a step back to decide whether or not I understood what she was saying. When authors do this, this helps me understand the bigger picture than what is written on the paper.

           To begin with, Tricia Rose talks briefly about how Hip Hop is not considered the origin of dysfunctional but it is a promoter. When I read this statement I totally disagreed, however when I began to actually think deeper on the meaning I quickly changed my opinion. I agree with her because for the most part, if you really think about it people only associate Hip Hop with the black culture. For example, when one think of Hip Hop one automatically think about black culture, not allowing Hip Hop to obtain more than just the black culture being apart of it. Hip Hop can contain as many cultures as possible; blacks, whites, Hispanics, Asian, Germans and so on so forth. However society portrays this idea that anything that is associated with  Hip Hop consists of the black culture.
           One thing I disagreed with was hip hop being "proof" of the black urban underclass dysfunction. In a way this can be true but, then again who really knows if the people who rap about hip hop is speaking the truth, or keeping it real as stated in previous chapters. One cannot automatically think that everything that comes out of another persons' mouth is the complete truth. We all tell lies, and we all tell stories. Also, in the society we live in today, we quickly base our knowledge on what others said, instead of stepping out the box ourselves and finding out the real truth. Then once one has their mind set they run in to things that support their decisions. For example, hip hop being "proof" of the black urban underclass dysfunction. We'll notice a little dysfunction in hip hop and automatically assume that it leads to the black urban underclass, without actually looking deeper into the situation.
            Lastly, one thing that stood out to me the most was the part that stated that slavery wiped out African approaches to many things. This was a deep meaning and as i read it is usually hard for me to grasp a deeper meaning in specific readings. However, when I read this, I believe my mind automatically went into that deep thinking stage. Now I can sort of see how slavery affected African Americans in the moment. As the African American was being slaved the whites were able to get ahead in life, basically a head start.  Then when African Americans were finally freed they became behind in everything and until this day they still try to catch up and it seems as if there is no way.

 

Imitation 5 (1990s): Sugar Bear, A 90's Kid

Assignment #7
Rap and Spoken Word

The poem “A 90’s Kid” by Sugar Bear is about a child who is now at an older age that talks about his past as being a 90’s kid. The context is mainly focused on his time period of him being a child  and his years growing up. For example, the things he used to do, some things he was able to learn when he was growing up and so on so forth. He talks about how when he got older, that television shows and game systems faded of his life.

I remember getting up early on Saturdays just to watch cartoons
And everywhere I had my GigaPet and Nano
My Little Pony, Care Bears, and Ninja Turtles were cool
And watching Mr. Roger’s right after school
Where everything was all about Sesame Street
And I remember the times before WB
When the classics Disney movies where the top hits
And the VHS would bleep white screens when finished.

Sugar Bear presents this poem in a way others reading it, who were born in the 90’s can relate. I can personally relate to Sugar Bear in so many ways because I am a 90’s kid myself. As I read through this poem I began to think about my years growing up and I remember many of the things mentioned. For example, he talks about saying “Physke” and “Not” at the end of every sentence or even say “Talk to the hand.” I remember these days like it was yesterday. As I think about it, it makes me want to go back to those ways as a kid and enjoy life as the time pass.

            Sugar Bear uses many literally elements in his piece. For example, he uses end rhyme, tone, and narrative poetry. The way he uses end is by trying to keep the same sounds at the end of the line. The 8 bars above rhyme scheme is A B AA CC DD. Sugar bear tends to do this throughout the poem. There are times when he uses A B A B then CC DD. He switches it up throughout the poem. He also uses narrative poetry and through narrative poetry the tone of this poem is expressed. He tells his story about what his life was like when he was growing up as a child and he tells this story in a playful manner. The tone is very playful and child-like and then the mood switches from content to gloomy. He expresses his type of character here throughout it. This is what dragged me as the reader, to learn more about him. Also, the title alone was catchy and made me instantly want to read the poem.

Imitation 4 (1980s): Michael Jackson, Beat it

Assignment #6
Rap and Spoken Word

The song “Beat it,” by Michael Jackson is about a person or a group of people who chooses to redeem themselves by putting up a fight. Others are saying that it is not necessary to do that; however now-a-days, people always feel they still have to prove themselves. Throughout the song Michael continues to warn the person about not trying to put up a fight, and walk away, but the person chooses to not back down.

You Better Run, You Better Do What You Can
Don't Wanna See No Blood, Don't Be A Macho Man
You Wanna Be Tough, Better Do What You Can
So Beat It, But You Wanna Be Bad

Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It
No One Wants To Be Defeated
Showin' How Funky Strong Is Your Fight
It Doesn't Matter Who's Wrong Or Right

As the beat plays in the beginning without lyrics, already I get excited. I like songs in which the beat grabs my attention, and this song does it completely! When I like the beat of a song, the lyrics really don’t matter towards me because the beat is what makes the song. In this song specifically, I like the beat and the lyrics. His uses end rhyme in his rhyme scheme, making the same sound at the end of each line in different verses. For example, in the first verse he uses end rhyme, specifically a slant rhyme. Then as he does this he adds an attitude to it. His attitude here is aggressive. Basically whatever he says he means. Also, he does not sugar coat anything when he says it. He gets to his exact point as quickly as he can. This shows that he wants the people who are listening to this song to quickly grasp the point he is trying to get across.

In this song I think Michael is trying to teach a lesson. For example, if you know you are wrong in a situation you should try to get out as s you can before things get worse. You are better off walking away. Also, many times it is better to walk away instead of trying to be something you are not or doing something you usually do not do. Bringing the context of this song to violence and in this context it can be any type of violence; specifically gang violence. He brags by saying that at the end of the day it is never worth it, no matter how bad you think it is. You should just go away, and learn how to back down.