Imitation 6 (2000s): Jay-Z Ft. Alicia Keys, Empire State of Mind

Assignment #8
Rap and Spoken Word

The song “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys is about growing up in New York and some of the things you are likely to experience. He specifically talks about the things he likes, enjoys and some things he came across while living in New York City.

Yea I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in TriBeCa
right next to Deniro, but I'll be hood forever
I'm the new Sinatra, and... since I made it here
I can make it anywhere, yea, they love me everywhere
I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicano's
right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald's
Took it to my stashbox, 560 State St.
catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons with them Pastry's

I think this song is a boast, because in this song brags about how great New York City is and what living here in the city would be like. For example, Alicia Keys said that the streets will make you feel brand new and the big lights will inspire you.  She talks about how beautiful New York City is by the streets and big lights. Jay-Z also talks about New York City as being the best place to live.

The context of this song is basically where Jay-Z was growing up. The reason for him probably writing this is because he wants others to see where he came from and where he grew up at. Some people that maybe influenced him was Biggie, since he mentioned him during this song. They both grew up in the same area and made something out of themselves. He also probably wrote this song to give people the inside scoop of New York City; the pros and cons from his point of view.  

In this song Jay-Z uses a lot of literary elements. For example, he uses a rhyme scheme. In the eight bars above he uses cross rhyme, internal rhyme and end rhyme all at the same time. His cross rhyme is when he rhymes “here” with “anywhere.” Then his internal rhyme is when he rhymes “anywhere“ with “everywhere” and lastly his end rhyme is when he rhymes “here” with “everywhere.” As I read the lyrics along with the song I noticed that he does this pattern many times. Another literary element that is used in this song is narrative story. He talks about where her grew up at and where he live now and this things he do in New York City Lastly, he has rhythm in the song ; referring back to the eight bars above he stressed the syllables of “Dominicano’s” so when you read it you’ll be able to see that it rhymes with “McDonalds.”

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.