Blog Rubric
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4
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Exceptional. The entry is focused and coherently integrates
examples with explanations or analysis. The entry demonstrates awareness of
its own limitations or implications, and it considers multiple perspectives
when appropriate. The entry reflects in-depth engagement with the topic. Multimedia (video, graphic, chart, audio, etc.) use
significantly enhances blog presentation
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3
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Satisfactory. The entry is reasonably focused, and explanations or
analysis are mostly based on examples or other evidence. Fewer connections
are made between ideas, and though new insights are offered, they are not
fully developed. The entry reflects moderate engagement with the topic. Multimedia use moderately enhanced blog presentation
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2
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Underdeveloped. The entry is mostly description or summary, without
consideration of alternative perspectives, and few connections are made
between ideas. The entry reflects passing engagement with the topic. Multimedia use is limited in the blog entry.
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1
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Limited. The entry is unfocused, or simply rehashes previous comments, and
displays no evidence of student engagement with the topic. Little to no multimedia
use is implemented.
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0
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No Credit. The entry is missing or consists of one or two
disconnected sentences. No multimedia use is implemented.
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Shayla King Drumwright
ReplyDeleteDouble entendre is something that most rappers suffer from. Are you keeping it real when your private life is complete opposite of what you rap about, or a life that you lived growing up is not complementary to the life you rap about. In class we read passages that spoke of a double life or a double thought process. Jay-z stated in his book Decoded that there is “tension between art and commerce”. The tension is there because there are rappers that want to stay true to their artistry, but in staying true to your artistry don’t receive the commercialisms/ money that of someone who is mainstream. In my opinion in order for commerce to happen you will have to sale apart of yourself. A lot of rappers use the term “keeping it real” like it’s a fancy car that is unattainable by the average person. If your true to yourself and your mission as an artist the term “keeping it real” never has to be stated, it just is. According to Trisha Rose Hip hop uses the term “keeping it real” as a defense to prove hip hops role as a story teller. In those stories rappers portray that drugs, pimps, hoes, and single parenthood is how most black you grow up and hip hop is there way of expression of those harsh realities. Most importantly we know that the very people /record companies that encourage the “keep it real “, movement are the ones’ who are pimping the artist. Gansta rap is pivotal in have a double entendre, they say they want justice for unfair treatment and police brutality but yet incite violence among their own people. Record companies know that there are many black families that are free of drugs, without making contact with pimp and hoes, and have both parent in the home that are active. Record companies encourage that statement to make the artist feel like leading criminal lives enhance an artist celebrity (Rose), also for record sale from young black youth who lack identity with have no guidance and white middle American teens that want to escape from their cushy suburban lives because mommy and daddy can’t get alone
https://youtu.be/C99iG4HoO1c ( I used to love H.E.R) by Common
Unit 2 was a very interesting unit that really made me think more deeply into out hi-hop industry and what all our favorite rappers choose to say artistically out there mouths today. When will hip hops babies ( artist ) stay true to them selves and keep it real with there music families (fans) and rap truly about what they have and don't have? when will rap come back to a place where it tells stories that will inspire and captivate . Hip hop artist of today have forgotten to be crafty instead the hip hop world of today focus on how many women can be in their laps , how many cars they can show off in music videos that half of the time don't even be in their name , and how much drugs they consume and lastly how many Benjamin's they have to throw around. To artist of today they believe that's" keepin it real " and sadly we as the consumers soak all that up in a nut shell. I enjoy all the comments in class towards our readings and class discussions. One comment I enjoyed that I agreed to that I believe Mr. Randolph spoke was that artist don't exactly know at the time that their making art , but history decides that over time . That comment was so deep and bring s me back to my point where artist don't keep their craft within their self real and enjoy masking music because it makes them happy. Tricia Rose articles gave me life as I would like to say . She was very blunt and called out the so called brotha's who tried to keep it real in a professional as well as a well spoken manner . I am excited and looking forward to the next blog for unit three.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vsfXdcLQO8 (jamal keep it real)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouhdtrmzenw ( Tricia Rose commercial Hip hop
Throughout Unit II, we discussed many things as a class; ranging from keeping it real to the argument of street vs. decent. However, what really resonated with me the most, was Tricia Rose's argument on "keeping it real". Tricia Rose attacks the current ideology of "keeping it real" speaking on how it is used to glorify and emphasize street life, misogyny, and violence. However, most present day rappers rap about lifestyles they have not lived, portraying this image as a "gangsta", but really never been about that life. The idea of "keeping it real" is detrimental to the hip-hop community because ultimately this is what hip hop is based on, authenticity. Hip-hop artists are called on to tell a story of the everyday events and struggles that the poor and urban youth go through. The music is relate-able as well as the entertaining. The audience formulates a close bond with the music artists because of a feeling of being able to relate is developed. However, times have changed and rap artists no longer have to rap about true events they've experienced.
ReplyDeleteA wide range of rap artists come to mind, but the most prevalent one would have to be Rick Ross, who raps about being a drug dealer and a man in the streets, but ultimately was found out to be a corrections officer. When I found that out I was floored, because he really proved how easy it is to be a fraud in the music industry and still remain successful. This led me to draw the conclusion that rap and hip-hop is no longer based on authenticity, but on a drawn up concept on what one has to do and portray in order to be viewed as "keeping it real".
Another rap artist that comes to mind is Kanye West. There is no denying this man's talent, however, I view him as a pretentious asshole to say the least. His music does not appeal to me as it once used to nor does his fashion sense, but that's another argument for another day. Kanye West is infamous for "keeping it real", saying what no other person would dare say. This was illustrated in his interruption of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for winning best female video of the year. Honestly, I just find him full of shit. In his VMA Vanguard acceptance speech he speaks on not killing a child's spirit, but that's exactly what he did that night in 2009, but I digress.
Furthermore, Tricia Rose makes a valuable point, that rap culture provides a window into the urban lifestyle. That's why it gained so much popularity among those living that lifestyle and those who do not. Because it basically allows people to indulge and gain insight through that artists lyrics. So, "keeping it real" is not really keeping it real; it's now "keeping it marketable". You do not have to practice what you preach, just tell everyone about it so you can make money off of that. The artists who try to remain true to themselves and really keep it real will never gain the success as those who conform. However, they are still appreciated by the true music junkies, who long for authenticity and REAL MUSIC.
https://youtu.be/RvaakT52RjQ
I enjoyed Unit II. There were actually a few things that stood out to me. For this blog I will use Eric Watts' acknowledgement of hip-hop being known notoriously for its "over-the-top" imagery in Spectacular Consumption. This "over-the-top" vision is very entertaining, however it gives kids and weak minded adults the impression that everyone has to have the latest greatest (material things). I personally have some "over-the-top" desires, but if I don't get those things I'll still be the same person at the end of the day. Many artist build they're lifestyles around material thing (Remy Boys, Maybach Music, Ciroc Boys) Many of their fans, feel in order to be a "real fan" you have to dress like them, and buy the brand of liquor they rap about. Before you know it, that brand becomes you. That is all you are known for. For example I have a close friend who recently bought a new Camaro. That car has been in this man's snapchat everyday since he got it in March. I can't imagine who he would be if something made him lose that car. I don't believe there is anything wrong with wanting nice things, I just think it's important to keep your identity separate.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/jc6_XgtOQgI
DeleteIn this unit we read some interesting articles that really caught my attention. The Watts article is one of the articles that seemed to stick we me the most. It was interesting to me to see how the Watts Reading sheds light on spectacular consumption. The Watts article states that “spectacular consumption” is a process through which the relationships among culture forms, industry and lived experiences”. In other words, as we discussed in class “spectacular consumption” is being “over the top”. For example, man-hood mutating to nigga-hood, and female mystique shifting to prostitution. We as a culture become desensitized by what artist are rapping about. Women are called Bitches and Hoes and as a society we sit back, play the music, buy the music and make it the songs a hit. It is as if women (and men) have given unwritten consent for the music industry to disrespect us by not protecting against the music that is being produced.
ReplyDeleteIceberg Slim’s documentary was interesting as well. The documentary continues to address the tolerance of using degrading words in music. I was amazed how Iceberg treated his ‘hoes’, convincing them that prostitution was acceptable by creating a fantasy of love and sense of security and then he made prostitution a reality for women. In my opinion, this is how we react as a society when we listen to music that degrades women, we hear the music, like the beat and see the music videos and we tend to glorify the artist and what we see. We get an illusion or a fantasy that we ARE what they are singing about not. Women refer to themselves use the same degrading language as artist do. We use bitches and hoes in the name of singing or repeating verses from the song, for example, there have been times when I say playfully, ‘Bitch betta have my money”. I know that I am not a Bitch and my friends are not certainly not bitches, however, I would use this phrase in a playful way and we began to laugh. This is a rude awaken. We can’t get upset if other people, cultures or men are calling us out our names when we don’t take a stand and call a spade a spade. If we don’t want others disrespecting us then we should not be disrespecting ourselves.
This is the documentary of Slim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCQrU46MUNc
My whole youth I grew up listening to Lil Wayne, Young Joc, T.I, and Drake when he came out in high school. They all talked about hustling and grinding in some sort of fashion. They all shared the same attributes though. They all talked about having a rough upbrining and selling drugs. Growing up I thought that this was the only way you could have a "hustle". Since that is what I heard and it's what I saw in some of my relatives and community. I found that that T.I. grew up from a middle class home in a good neighborhood then I felt like I was betrayed. As a youth you hear someone's story that you look up to then you believe and take head to the words they are saying. All the other rappers besides Drake could tell specific stories about things that have happened to him while selling drugs. I have yet to hear Drake tell us how to make dope and his techniques to get the product off. All other rappers could give you details about the process and tell stories about close calls with their live, Drake has not told any story like that. I thought that was the only way to hustle and the music you listen to has heavy influence on your thoughts and so forth. The article that Tricia Rose had wrote was my first real eye opener to lies and how real rappers were "Keepin it Real" When we were assigned the Luther Campbell reading I feel like that actually taught me the true meaning of hustle. Luther Campbell made his own company from determination, relentlessness, and confidence. He first realized that industry/distribution process was corrupt when they held out his earnings for his first record in order to receive another record from him they could sell and profit from. After that he broke off and said he was going to work it and figure it out alone. He would personally take his music to a printer in his community and take his records to where ever he needed to sell them. He would drive around in his beat up car and personally handle his own accounts and all the things a manager would do. By doing this he saved money because the printer was in his community and they had an agreement for business. Then he was smart enough to advertise his own Luke Gear through college students. They would wear his stuff and play his music at campus and that generated the demand for Luther Campbell. He used his whit and mind to make himself money instead of taking the easy way out. I instantly respected Luther Campbell after reading his book because it was so real and true I had to respect it. This unit taught me more about real hustling than anything.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiNL0xkmk3k
Luther Campbell Breakfast Club Interview
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed unit two but what stood out the most to me was the Watts article and the idea of Spectacular consumption, as well as the street code vs decent. Basically saying that Spectacular consumption is over the top and a overplayed in the hip hop culture. Street code is generational and played upon the absence of the father and artists are storytellers and signifying. Authenticity now being fantasy and theatrics and giving the illusion that they have the juice when in reality they don't. Rap has become an act, living out a script that you feel will make you the most money but not sticking to what's real in your life. Why do most rappers feel the need to be so raw, violent and disrespectful when in reality they are none of these things. In old hip hop artist are decent sticking to the same old way, resistance to change and safe. Is today's hip hop who we have really come to be ? We continue to support movements like "stay woke" but in reality we support music that's still sleep. Music that is influencing our generation daily to live out something that the artist doesn't even adhere to. We can't continue to get mad at stereotypes when we support the very ones they increase the ignorance of outside opinions of black people. Are we really what today's hip hop describes ?
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/KcoI418ds_0
We had many interesting discussions in class about Unit II. Tupac and our discussion of him is what stood out to me the most. I listen to Tupac, but before doing my research, I didn't realize how real of a person he was. Tupac had a public persona and a private persona, which makes him a perfect example of a double entendre. His public image included the wife beater, exposed tattoos, nose piercing, being bald, and wearing a bandana. His private side included being humble, having hair, showing a little vulnerability, and his love for the community. He was unapologetic in public and in private. What made Tupac unstoppable is that he was self educated.
ReplyDeleteTupac was knowledgeable about what was going on in the world. He made us look at America in a different light in his "Lost Prison Tapes" video. He described America as being the biggest gang. Tupac really makes you think about these things and look at situations differently. His authenticity is what makes him lovable. As he stated in "The Lost Prison Tapes", "I don't have to talk about keepin it real. You'll hear it in the music and you'll know."
Tupac's definition of a thug and gangsta differed. Before doing research, I would have defined a thug as someone who smokes/drinks all the time, sells drugs, and someone who is constantly in trouble with the law. Tupac's version of a thug is someone who starts out at the bottom, but works through their circumstances to become successful. Although he separately defined thug and gangsta, he was very much a gangsta. For example, when in trouble with the law, he would spit at police officers and yell absurd words at them. His mom ,especially, was a big shot in the Black Panthers Organization. I think her being so active in fighting for equal rights for African Americans is what partially fueled his fire and hate of police officers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX8Hv0ImG4Y
Unit II was very interesting to say the least. A lot of different things stood out to me as far as the readings and in-class conversations go. What stood out the most to me was Tupac’s prison interview. I enjoyed that the most because I share a lot of the same views as Tupac does, and he really opens people’s eyes with those beliefs when speaks them. I love it be cause he’s like a walking contradiction. His ideas on gangs, and how although he's not advocate for violence, he doesn't believe gangs are necessarily negative. Mentioning that they could be positive to the community in several different ways including giving money that you're taking from the community and creating community centers and also how gangs could be very useful for the protection of neighborhoods from outsiders. A funny yet, one of the most true things he ever said was how America was the biggest gang. He also pushes the need for love for our Women and how they’re Queens, but at the same time he lets it be known and doesn’t ever hesitate to say how he also finds some of women to not be Queens but to be bi****** and hoes. He states that there is a difference between the 3; how every woman is not a Queen and every woman is also not a b****. This belief by him was big because it was a transition into a big and very important discussion in class about Spectacular Consumption. Which is the way our culture is perceived and consumed by the public. When we spoke on certain words and what we attributed to those words helped us to realize that a lot of the words we use have meanings that were shaped by society, and more specifically men. The whole idea of a player versus a pimp, and what we considered to be a hoe was created by the male music industry (white man) to keep us going along with it and continuing to buy into and make them more money. I also enjoyed the talks about Jay-Z although I wish we could have spoke more on what he spoke about. But a key thing that I liked was the conversations on double-entendres. I think that word get’s confused with double life by some of the class but it isn’t. What many don’t know unless they’re avid Jay-Z fans is that he really is one of the best at spewing double-entendres in a way that each meaning could make you think that he meant it that specific way. He has the ability to connect with several different people within the same bar, and the ability to do that takes a lot of skill.
ReplyDeleteIn unit II I really enjoyed the tupac clip. Tupac really explained how America is the biggest gangsta in society.I believe Tupac told the ugly truth about the society that we still live in today. This clip really shocked me because I realized how intelligent Tupac was as an rapper that happened locked up. This showed me that just because we make bad decisions, that does not mean we lack intelligence. While he was locked up he wasn't worried about making songs. Instead, he directed most of his attention towards becoming a better person for society. While Tupac acknowledged the fact that prison is not a place that people should aspire to be at, he also realized that we are a product of the environment that we live in. In a sense, I believe Tupac was an advocate for the poor black community.
ReplyDeleteAs he mentioned in the video, one of the biggest gangs are the people that run the world and those who are in power. This means people who are in politics and law enforcement. An interesting quote from the video that I noticed was "jail is a big business". Instead of trying to help prisoners become better people, the jail system is set up to make money by charging for phone calls and bad behavior. Although his life may have taken a drastic turn for the worst, I believe that Tupac was a very talented man. Over a decade after his death, Tupac is still a iconic rapper.
Throughout Unit 2, one aspect that has been talked about in almost every reading was the idea of keeping it real. it started off with Tricia Rose's article, then with readings from Luther Campbell's book, then with the excerpt from Jay Z's book and then with Tupac's interview. What stood out to me the most was Tupac's interview. Tupac was a man that always kept it real and always told the truth no matter if people wanted to hear it or not. That's one of the many reasons as to why people respect him and see him as an iconic figure. To the public he was seen as that typical thug that people didn't want to associate with. He was known for his "thug life" tattoo, his bandana, and his nose ring. Even though he was perceived as this bad person he was a man of great intelligence, knowledge, and love. He had love for his community and wanted nothing more than to help his community out. He also was very humble and he did a lot for people especially his mom. https://youtu.be/Mb1ZvUDvLDY In his interview he spoke truths that no one would even think of speaking out loud. He touched on the topics of how America was the biggest gang of all and how a town can live off of prisons because they are such big business. This stuck out to me because he was speaking the whole hearted truth and even though he felt that people weren't going to listen to him, he had a whole following of people who believed in him. He was a man that wanted nothing but change in the world and in his community. https://youtu.be/eXvBjCO19QY He was a legend and such an influential man to many people and artists who have come up after him.
ReplyDeleteLuther Campbell’s business shrewdness, along with Jay Z’s ability to show the culture to suburban white culture. While reading Book of Luke I appreciated Campbell’s business ideas and his ownership of his product. While everyone during his time was not being paid well, most people in the culture will not respect his contribution to the business aspect of hip-hop due to him being blackballed by other movers and shaker up top of the industry. He was the Russel before Russel. It is upsetting that Campbell who kept the money he made and invested around Miami for positive reasons is only remember for his actions towards women. Unlike Luther Campbell, Jay Z is the most well know rapper in Hip Hop today. He transcends the culture and in his book Decoded, he tries to dumb down the ways of hip-hop and explain to the masses of people in the suburban white culture who would not get the idea of hip hop. Unlike Campbell, Jay Z is beloved and respect for everything he was done, not just for one negative thing. He classes up Hip-hop so everyone is able to have a piece. A good example is empire state of mind. During the 10 anniversary of 9/11, Commercials were not playing New York, New York by Frank Sinatra they were playing this in order to represent the city
ReplyDeleteEmpire State of Mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4tqij8zsOU
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out to me most in in unit 2 was Tricia rose "keeping it real artical. In this artical she talks about the artist basically bring "full of shit " in a sence. Most of the things that rappers rap about the have not experienced first had but portray as though they have in there song. Even though they did not experience it fist had dose not mean they did not experience it in there environment. When it is exposed that they have not done many of the things that they have rapped about in there lyrics such as selling drugs, there street credit is being question. She also talks about how hip hop has a effect on on the black community. When many of the young mean listen to the rap music they think that that is how your suppose to live and really believe that that's how a real man is suppose to be . But as tupac said when u talk about robbing and selling drugs you also have to talk about the consequences such as jail time or even death. In reality we are actually all being pimped by the industry making use hoe to the industry because we still consume the music even though we know most of it is not true and is negative.
Dr j Campbell talks about the philosophy of keeping it real in hip hop in the video belowhttp://youtu.be/sr78DZdN09o
What stood out to me is watching the lost prison tapes of tupac shakur while he was in New York's clinton Correctional Facility. You see growing up, my father and my uncle were the biggest tupac fans and out of all the videos they showed me and spoke on, they never showed or said anything about this one. To see tupac without a medallion on no rolex on his wrist and no tattoos showing, this was all foreign to me. He's in the video like, you don't wanna be here, this isn't the place you wanna be; instead of saying "F#*k the police" or being extremely rugged like he usually is. I truly believed that going to jail really did humble him and made him hungrier at the same time, realizing he doesn't have all the lavish things behind bars. They'll never be another artist like this, where you can feel what they're expressing, all the pain and a artist that can have so many different sides like Mr.Shakur.
ReplyDeleteThis link is to a Tupac interview with Tabitha Sorens, shortly after he was released from jail answering some great questions and being quite honest on them in the mist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsItj_NzbuI
Today, the influence Hip-Hop has had on culture, specifically pop culture, is obvious. With roots firmly entrenched in hip-hop culture, the urban market is heavily influenced by rap music and pop culture, which influence sales of 'culturally cool' items including specific luxury brands. Hip hop has had an influence on the music , the way people dress , dance and speak in pop culture.Pop stars like Katy Perry,Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga ,Chris Brown, and Justin Bieber have all been influence by hip-hop and its culture. Adding a rapper on a Record or even incorporating a hip-hop beat in their music helped expand there music base and also emerged a mix of the two genres. The pop artist Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber change the Disney Channel pop Image to a more urban hip-hop image with the way they dress, language, lyrics, and music. Hip-hop has had an positive impact on my life , it has given me a personal spiritual escape the harsh reality sometimes experience. The lyrics in the hip-hop music is some way shape or form always seem to relate to my life. Like tupacs "dear momma" mad me feel as if everything was going to be alright having to be raised by a single mother . Link to Mike WiLL Made-It - 23 (Explicit) ft. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J http://youtu.be/bbEoRnaOIbs
ReplyDelete