Hip-Hop remains controversial. Its emergence onto the music scene reminded me of reactions to gospel, the blues as well as jazz when they exploded into Western culture. Ironically, each of these genres like Hip-Hop is grounded in the African oral tradition. The drums, an essential instrument in African music resonate in each of these musical genres. In Hip-Hop the drums, i.e. the "drum" or "sound" machine known as an 808 is a "must have" for most.
provides a detailed narrative of surrounding environments. So, as we journey along with this montage of folks who have identified contributions as well as hear from some of the originators of hip-hop, I'd like to know - what have you learned that you didn't know?
(Please remember to follow the blog rubric found on your syllabus.)
I have learned so much since I have been in this Hip Hop Discourse class. When I entered this course, I had no idea that Hip Hop was so detailed and had different types of hip hop and what goes into the actual "hip hop." First off, there is a difference between Hip Hop and Rap. Hip Hop is more like a storytelling type of perspective. I feel like Hip Hop artists tell a story through music but also telling the truth about life and how they have been living. In other words it is a biography that includes all aspects of life but in music form. On the other hand, Rap has two definitions, the first is that rap is just music that is trying to be the next trending topic, and talks about sex, drugs, and violence. The second definition is that rap is for more of battling other people instead of music. Music nowadays is awful and just being made to be the next big trend. I feel like Hip Hop is slowly dying out now that new generation music and artist are coming in the game now.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Rap, after reading "Playing by the Dozens" by Roger Abraham's, I got the gist of what rap is about and how it is broken down into different parts. The Dozens spoke about three main factors when it comes to Rap. The game is called a battle, which is an oral performance between one or more people. Abraham's uses the word "playing" as a type of comedy rap. For instance this would be with all of the "Yo Mama" jokes that are corny. These usually take place in the inner cities between young black men. Switching the topic to the opposite of "playing" which is "sounding." Sounding is a battle with an audience, response and engagement from the crowd and opponent. It is more aggressive, and serious compared to the "playing" aspect of rap. Lastly, Abraham's used "signifying" as an indirect message that is hidden within a battle. For example if someone is battling you and says you stink, you need to take a shower. That could be a hidden message if it is true.
There is a lot more to learn about Hip Hop that I cannot wait to learn about! I hope to start back from when Hip Hop first started, to rap today. My opinion on Hip Hop is that it is dying out as I said previously. Here are a couple links to videos I found that pertains to the information I have learned in this class. Hope you all enjoy!
- Cody Jones
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnKwM5pkbS8
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x35P2wTX0zg
In this class i have learned quite a lot dealing with hip hop. It is very interesting on what new things i have been told about how things came about like break dancing, DJ's and ect. Ive learned that being a b-boy is way more then dancing it is also an attitude back when gangs wanted to dance. Also the song that started break dancing was a James Brown song "Get On The Good Foot".
ReplyDeleteHip hop is more detailed then people think, it tells stories about lives and how people use to grow up and the environment they were in and how music had a big play in that. From Dj's having block parties that played a huge roll in the community to Dj's making a living out of producing and making music with rappers. i learned about DJ's like DJ HERC and DJ KOOL. I was informed on what they would do with turn tables and how they made there beats to become great DJ's.
Another thing i have learned in this class is that hip hop was very popular at one times and seems to be dying out, specially with this generation and how the world has evolved its so many different ways to make music and go about what hip hop really is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD6WnepBE0I
Through this class so far, I've learned a quite bit of information that I never knew before. When reading "Playing the Dozens" I learned the difference between "Playing and Sounding". This happens commonly among the males. They take turns "cracking on," or insulting, one another, their opponents mother or other family member until one of them has no comeback. You can compare this battle style to the format of the sport boxing, due to how it is setup into rounds and each competitor has it time to spit its freestyle such as if a boxer is throwing his punch.
ReplyDeleteLearning how Dj'ing and and DJ's came upon is capturing. A man by the name of Clive Campbell aka "DJ Herc" is the pioneer of DJ'ing starting back to his time at the Brooklyn projects. He used the same two turntable set-up of disco DJ and then used two copies of the same record to lengthen the break. He called his dancers "break-boys" or just "b-boys". This originated from city gangs and they came together and challenged each other to a break dance battle. "Get on the Good Foot" by James Brown was the first song that started break dancing. Later on as it developed, DJ Herc's style was quickly taken up by figures such as Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash.
It's amazing how much hip hop has changed through the generation but at the same time artist now someway are able to incorporate sampling from older music into theirs to keep it contemporary at the same time.
Here's a clip of a little "sounding and playing"
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NDZq9-kCzI
This is my blog above. Somehow it didn't connect to my name
Delete-Marcus Albert
In class this semester I have learned a lot. Starting with the basics I never new the root of hip hop came from Africa.It is rapping and the rhythmic use of spoken or sung words which came from ancient tribal chants. They use to chant back in Africa before slavery and it transformed to negro spirituals or as they call it pathways to freedom. I learned in the passage "Hip hop's Founding fathers Speak the Truth" The definition of a B-boy which is what they called break dancers back in the day. Also to my surprise that beat boxing isn't something you do with your mouth. I grew up thinking it was something Doug E. Fresh started. But it was Grandmaster Flash who hooked a drum up to his equipment and use it to play when the music stopped and called it beat boxing. In the documentary I learned that Grandmaster Flash stole his name from a Dj who came before him named Grandmaster Flowers. Also there is an argument as to where hip hop started between the Bronx and Brooklyn two boros in New York. The most interesting fact I have learned so far is where the chant "The roof, the roof, the roof is on Fire" came from. Its a part of a speech Malcolm X did about a house negro and a field negro. He said if the masters house was to catch on fire the house negro would want it saved because that is where they worked and slept. But the field negros would want it to get burned down. When I heard that I thought of this part in Nelly song It's Getting "HOT in Herre". At 2:40 in the video it demonstrates two things. One is the use of the chant the roof is on fire, and two it shows and example of call and response when the Dj played by comedian Cedric the entertainer says "HOLD UP" and the crowd responses" WAIT A MINUTINE". Which I learned call and response is an African oral tradition and a modern way to connect with and audience From the first paper we read "Playing by the Dozens".
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/GeZZr_p6vB8
https://youtu.be/GeZZr_p6vB8
DeleteWhen I first started this course I thought I knew a little about hip hop and rap history. It turns out that I only knew the surface of hip hop. In this class we dig deeper into the history and the people that influenced the hip hop/ rap culture. One thing that I took form this unit was the article Play the Dozen by Roger Abahams. When I read the article I only got the surface of what he meant. In class we dissected the article. This is in the lower class black community dominated by single black women. Mr. Roger talks about playing and sounding as it relates to age. Playing is seen in young black males when they are interacting with each other. Playing is like a game to the boys. It's similar to comedy in America now. You may hear the boys joke about each other mothers. Sounding is more serious and hypermasculive. You will see black men battling or proving themselves with aggression.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this articles it shined some light on how boys interact with each other as they grow up. I'm studying to be a social worker I learned the different stages of development and how interaction with your peers can shapes you. I was able to read some thing I actually saw growing up with younger males. I remember boys joking about they friends mom. As I got older so did some of my male class mates did too. I remember seeing how the boys would start off joking and the next thing you know they start fighting. This article just put things into perspective on why men act the way they do when they interact with each other. also, why men see the need to be hyper-aggressive or violent towards each other as they get older.
this is my video on playing the dozen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oscnjjh7ZtY
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ReplyDeleteIn the past month or so I have learned a lot. Growing up my parents did not play hip hop, I heard it through friends or cousins. From that I only thought hip hop to be music. I did not learn hip hop to be fashion, dance, music and art until I took this class. I learned that one aspect of hip hop is fashion. Not just any type of clothing but but creative, out the box, colorful clothing. Some artist used clothing to stamp themselves. For example, Run DMC and Missy Elliot was known for wearing adidas. The second type of hip hop was dance. Back then break dancing was a very popular style. Next, was the art. Graffiti,although it was not always looked upon as art, it was just that to the community. Lastly, the music. I learned that early in the hip hop era music told stories, either, about the artist, someone the artist knew, or something the artist was witnessed. It was very relatable music. I am still learning that hip hop is evolving and not dying off. For, they say hip hop may die off it is reborn in a new way.
ReplyDeleteBelow is a video that sums up why I think music in Hip Hop is dying but how we can change it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blvcswxmPCU
I have learned a lot about hip hop while being in this class. I am a huge fan of hip hop, and I thought I knew more about it than I really did. I never knew djs were as popular as they were back then. I've never heard of DJ Herc, or Grandmaster Flowers before this class. This began to make me think about how I think hip hop is in a producer era again. I also learned from "Playing the Dozen" that is where "yo mama" jokes and also battle rap came from. Not only that but it also went into further detail about how it is different from when people played it as a child, teen, and adulthood. When you played the dozen as a child normally you would use corny, cheesy yo mama jokes. And when you get older the jokes become more vulgar, saying more sexual things. Overall I have gain a lot of knowledge about the culture of hip hop, and I look forward to learning a lot more about it.
ReplyDeleteHere is my video of playing the dozen as children:
http://youtu.be/I4C9aYMed_U
I have learned that "yo mama" jokes played a part in playing and sounding. I always thought telling jokes in that form was for class clowns and individuals that wanted to be the center of attention. I also notice that mainly males was the ring leaders of the joking sessions. Knowing now the history and how young males participated in "Playing" to grow masculine and to prove that they are considered grown. Low income and poverty communities was known to have groups of boys "Playing" each other in jokes. Also how "Sounding" now in time has been so aggressive, that people have been killed or threaten about their life. To this day a lot of lyricist go back and forth between jokes and lyrics also known as "dissing". But good thing you have some playful people that does not take harsh things personal, like my clip I chose.
ReplyDeleteI also learned about DJ Herc and how he was known to be the "kool" DJ of that time. He was known to ride around with big speakers in back seat , which he called " sound system". He had been injured at one of his party's and after the incident he decided that DJ in the public was not safe so he DJ low key. During that time other DJ's thought it would be their time to shine since Herc was now where to be found like normal on the block of Brooklyn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_1Y1dqJwXs
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ReplyDeleteI have learned an ample amount of things that I didn’t know! Prior to enrolling in this class, the only thing that I knew about it-hop was that is was another genre of music. Growing up, I remember hearing my family, particularly my uncles, talk about hip-hop, DJ’s, and artists like Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, Doug E. Fresh, and the very first rap song - . I’ve never thought much about hip-hop and where it originated, but all of that changed when we began to dig deep into this chapter. Since we have been covering this chapter, I finally have a better understanding of what I was experiencing when I was younger. I was experiencing sounding and playing. Every child has experienced being the "butt" of someone else's joke, whether it was teasing each other about their shoes, clothes, hair, mentality, looks, or family. I remember when I was in elementary school, I became aware of the famous "Yo Mama" jokes. This type of behavior normally took place in the cafeteria, playground, or whenever an adult wasn't present. As I got older, the whole dynamic of the teasing began to shift. The jokes became more aggressive, even escalating to the point where individuals would want to fight. I’ve also learned about trickster characters and their significance. When older members in my family would tell stories about life, they would incorporate old sayings using animals, equivalent to horses, dogs, tortoise, and many other animals. In addition to the information above, I was introduced to narration in a song. I learned that if you listen closely to a song, you will hear the true meanings of the lyrics and the stories of the hip-hop artists. For instance, “Juicy” by Notorious B.I.G. tells the story of how he grew up poor, dropped out of high school, and became a successful rapper or “Children’s Story” by Slick Rick told the story of a child’s encounter with a police officer. Finally, I’ve learned about the African American Language. I’ve always noticed how African Americans had a signature talk, it was almost like a smooth, laid-back type of voice. When I think of the African American Language or Black English, I can only think of television shows like “What’s Happening!!” or “Good Times”, when the main characters used slang, terms, and many other sayings that other people may use on a daily basis.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8fcsaPRLRA
The amount of information I've learn in the short amount of time in Hip-Hop discourse has been incredible as well as challenging. Having a "outsiders" perspective, one I grew up unfamiliar to Hip-Hop/ Rap culture and two I'm "Euro American". (I acknowledge and understanding my birth privilege). I've always knew that the culture portrays and demands respect. Reading the articles and watching many of the videos this concept has really been solidified just how sacred hip-hop is. The origins discussed in the text as well as class gives historical and developmental aspects that opens my mind up to a whole new world along with a deeper appreciation for Hip-Hop and Rap. I never really put into perspective that these lyrics, beats, rhymes, and rhythms are more than just a story, it's a story of over coming the odds set out from the very beginning of the Africans race in America. It's cultural memory and cultural heritage. I thought the "playing and sounding" brought a meaningful way of looking at urban communities. Personally with much more insight forms a stronger political view on racism and equal rights. This to reinforces my personal choice in coming to A&T. With a heart of a social worker I value humanity and every walk of life. I knew the journey at A&T would open my mind and heart in a bigger way to a path for social justice. I have been able to get that experience in each class yet so far, especially this class and learn about a deep rooted culture of Hip-Hop.
ReplyDeleteOut of all these terms and conditions of this sacred culture I favor learning about Signifying known too as "Mother-Whit". The "essence" of common sense.Now in many years of observation, I have always found the Black theology and African American heritage soulful. This has always allured my curiosities' from my personal personality as well as the wisdom that continuously lives on from generation to generation. I couldn't forget to include how challenging and exciting it is to learn a bunch of fancy rhetoric.
I thought it was interesting about some views in today's Hip-Hop being overran by Eur-Americans/ Whites. I do not particularly understand because I've just admired the culture from the side lines and never partook. So I don;t believe I can decided weather or not I agree or disagree, however my clip is comedian Paul Mooney and his humorous take on the concept.
watch 00:00-00:11 sec
video is 03:11
https://youtu.be/rV7ilFcozHs
Honestly, everything that we have gone over in class for the most part is new to me. I mean I am able to make connections with some of my previous knowledge but a couple things really stood out to me such as the origin and history of break dancing was very interesting. It started with gangs doing a dance called “Get on Your Good Foot” and mostly dominated by women. From the video I took a liking to King Charles because I also enjoy reggae. He was one the first to incorporate reggae music into the hip hop culture since he was from Jamaica. I also thought it amazing the group called Nu Sound was able to make their own speakers called the earthquake speakers and I was also pleased with the fact that they started a label in their community helping local artist. I am really beginning to see that hip hop is more than just music, it a culture that brings unity into the black community.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe_GN5r-aFY
Upon entering Hip-Hop discourse, I never really knew anything deep about Hip-Hop. I knew stories about Hip-Hop from my parents because they were apart of the Golden Age or Golden Years of Hip-Hop. This means that they grew up during the era where Hip-Hop was vibrant and alive. Hip-Hop was nowhere near dead, but today it is almost non-existent. They taught me about DJ Kool Herc, GrandMaster Flash, Slick Rick and Dougie Fresh, Afrika Bambaataa, KRS-One, Whodini,N.W.A, Tupac, Biggie, 2 Live Crew, and the list goes on. To me, Hip-Hop was just a genre of music that everybody in the Black community could relate and dance to. It was a style of music that allowed artists to express themselves whether it was about police brutality, "The Man," scandalous women, etc. No matter what it was about, Hip-Hop sent a positive message throughout the community and the community always responded. What I've learned so far about Hip-Hop is that it has a deeper history. It originated in Africa where Africans developed their own system of call-and-response. They also developed various styles of beats and incorporated their call-and-response system to express themselves. Griots were storytellers that passed down stories from past generations. I believe that they were the original MCs. While there's Hip-Hop, there is also Rap music. Rap is defined as as music that is filled with explicit language, violence, sex, and vulgar implications towards women. Rap also holds the title of "battling" against another person or in front of a crowd. The article "Playing the Dozens" by Roger Abraham described the many ways that Rap has been used throughout the Black community. Those ways were: playing, sounding, and signifying. "Playing" was a form of Rap that held a comedic undertone behind it. For example, the use of jokes about somebody's mother allowed young boys and men to express their creative ways of rapping while still trying to be funny. "Sounding" was aggressive because it was associated with young men and women battling against one another. Battling was a used as chance to mock the other person, while controlling the crowd. This was seen in the videos that were shown in class of the men battling each other.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've learned so much in such a short period of time, I can't wait to see what else will be discussed in class. I hope to see a lecture on Tupac, and how his raps not only rocked the community but the whole world. His music is still prevalent today which goes to show how important longevity is in Hip-Hop and other genres of music. I'm really looking forward to learning new things about Hip-Hop so that I can challenge my parents on the knowledge that they think they know and what they actually know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zswrGZP7jUY
Hip Hop is more than bars, beats and mixtapes; it's a way of life and culture that is becoming more and more prominent throughout the world. Before I entered this class, my knowledge of hip-hop wasn't as in depth. Now that we've begun and information is coming left and right at me about hip-hop, I'm learning more and more in the classroom and outside the classroom.
ReplyDeleteRoger Abraham's "Playing the Dozens" explained the numerous ways that rap, which ties in with Hip-Hop, impacts the world and specifically the black community. To name a few: playing, sounding and signifying. When you hear rap with comedic tone to the rapper, he is practicing "playing". For example, "Ya mama so big...she don't take pictures, she takes billboards" or Ya mama so stupid she thought a quarterback was a refund". The movie 8 mile is a great example of sounding. Numerous rap battles in the film displayed a culture that brought people together in peace.......
With a long but fast semester ahead of me I hope to learn more of the black man's place in Hip-Hop, Rap, and the business of the whole aspect. I believe the wrong people are in charge of the game and how everything works.
This is a great example of sounding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylkOAtifuJ0
8 Mile Rap Battle Scenes
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ReplyDeleteUpon registration for this class, I assumed I knew mostly everything Hip-Hop had to offer. However, actually being apart of the class has opened my eyes to various things that I had no prior knowledge of. In the weeks that we’ve been in class, I’ve learned about the origins of Hip-Hop culture, the origin of Hip-Hop itself and the founding fathers of the art form.
ReplyDeleteAs I entered this course, I thought everything Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop related stemmed from Sugar Hill Gang’s hit record “Rapper’s Delight.” The group was credited for recording the first ever rap song. In all actuality, the origin of this genre/culture has roots that can be traced back to Africa. Everything from dancing to rhythmic melodies can be traced back to this great continent. But in America, Hip-Hop originates by way of the Mecca, New York City. DJs such as Kool DJ Herc, Arika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash contributed in revolutionizing one of the most popular music genres in the world. In the early years of Hip-Hop, the beat was more important than the lyrics. The DJ was the heart and soul of the music by implementing/blending different genres of music together to move a crowd, without saying a word. Honestly, I knew of the legacies of Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash, but I had no idea that they pioneered the mixing and scratching of the turntables before they were artists.
I’ve learned many things in the short period of time in class, but I am still eager to learn more. Below I’ve attached a clip that represents the art of a DJ mixing battle in its purest form. Feel free to let me know who you think won!
https://youtu.be/pg7XfgUMYsc
Before experiencing this class I knew very little about the genre hip hop. I have a uncle who has been creating beats and spinning at many events for years now. I knew that he was passionate for his job but to me all he was doing was playing music at events. I never really took the time to see that what he was doing was art, the songs he was playing weren't just songs they were storytelling and influential. Since being in this class I've learned hip hop in depth. When reading the article Hip-Hop's Founding Fathers Speak the Truth I found the statements that Flash was making to be very fascinating. He said that one had to really study the turntables and speakers. He had to custom make everything including his cue system. Another thing that caught my attention was in the Founding Fathers video they explained how they would play the grooves of the record to find a new beat for the longer parties to keep the crowds entertained.They didn't have mixers they only had switches. So they would grab the groove and cue it in. This allowed the djs to extend the songs in order the keep the crowd entertained.
ReplyDeleteMy uncle also shared his break dancing stories with me from when he was in high school. I thought that break dancing was guys dancing on the ground spinning on their heads, using their arms and legs. After reading Hip-Hop's Founding Fathers Speak The Truth Grandmaster Flash says that early break dancing didn't touch the ground. Afrika Bambaataa elaborates saying the first forms of break dancing started with street gangs called "Get on the Good Foot". In these street gangs there were a lot of woman which caught me by surprise. Then there was a second generation carried by the Puerto Ricans. Then finally a new acrobatic, gymnastic type of style which came with the term B-boys which meant the boys that break.
I am starting to understanding and appreciate the importance of hip hop and I am looking forward to the rest of the semester.
The First B-Boys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzFRUpHpk2Y
Coming into the class I was not sure exactly what the class was going to like.I thought i had way more knowledge of hip-hop and it's over all culture.Over the past few weeks I've learned more than i have over my lifetime.The variations of artist and ways they express themselves through there lyrics. How a artist can liberally control a whole room of people just by a song. They are able to express there output on life,politics,humor and even tell an story.There are so many different styles all in one genre its a amazing the artistic skills and to be able to start from scratch or even sampling older lyrics or beats.Finding out that music has such a huge impact on the culture many share is amazing to me and just shows how powerful music/hip-hop can be and have a large impact on many people. I've enjoyed learning about the one on one battles how they attack or mock each other through there words knowing its all for fun.Joking about mothers or they clothing anything they can use to make the crowed say oooo!
ReplyDeleteI've learned to much in these past few weeks Im really understanding more and more about hip-hop every day Im excited to see what more i can learn and looking forward to it,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvW94MO1E0U
Before coming to this class, if you had asked me to define hip-hop I would have responded that it is simply a genre of music, completely ignorant of its cultural ties to the community and the power it truly holds. Even more ignorant to its origins and how it developed over the years. To think that hip-hop is the culmination of years of playing and sounding, poor economic conditions, a need to assert one’s dominance and masculinity, and a burning desire to be heard are components I would have never guessed. I had no idea of hip-hop’s history in Brooklyn or of its pioneers such as DJ Cool Herc, DJ Grandmaster Flowers, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Hollywood, DJ Dony, The Disco Twins, Cool DJ Pete and the list goes on. The way they impacted the community and how dedicated they were to their craft is truly inspiring. They had a vision of where what they were doing could go and pushed the envelope creating newer beats, blending music, and evolving with the technology just so that we could listen to the music we do today. That was their way of life and the gave everything they had to pave the way for the artists we now enjoy. Being in this class has truly opened my eyes to another world that exists within our own and how it influences us at almost every level from the way we talk, to the way we act, to the way we dress and conduct ourselves on a day to day basis. I have learned that hip-hop/ rap is a very complex idea. Where people would normally just see a group of words and a catchy beat I have begun to see a myriad of interactions and possible undertones. I’ve learned a great deal about hip-hop/ rap so far which is why I feel I am better able to appreciate this funky blend and am looking forward to the coming topics.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/AOroVqxJJ1c
- Julius Reynolds
Before signing up for this class I assumed I knew mostly everything about Hip-Hop and this would be a easy class because I knew a lot or at least I thought I knew a lot about Hip- Hop. Prior to enrolling in this class, the only thing that I knew about it was that is was my favorite genre of music with R&B, and Gospel. I always hear my family especially my dad and uncle reminiscing on the hip-hop, DJ’s, and artists they grew up on and the type of music they had versus what is considered hip hop today. Hip Hop is more than bars, beats and mixtapes, raps and even music in general; it's a way of life it is a culture. However, being in this class for these few weeks have taught me things that I did not even think where apart of Hip- Hop. In the weeks that we’ve been in class, I’ve learned about the origins of Hip-Hop culture, the origin of Hip-Hop itself and the founding fathers of the art form.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading “Playing the Dozens” by Roger Abrahams I learned about playing and sounding and the difference between the two. Abrahams uses the word "playing" as a type of comedy rap. An example of this would be the "Yo Mama" jokes that are corny. This is very common between young black men. Sounding is a battle with an audience, response and engagement from the crowd and opponent (call and response). It is more aggressive, and serious compared to the "playing" aspect of rap during this they are taking “shots” at you. Even tho they are maybe just jokes between friends it is still more aggressive. Just like in the video of T-Rex and Charlie clips rap battle, while charlie was rapping he would tell rex you know I'm just playing right. They were going at each other and saying things that only friends would know about each other. It is just apart of the game. I have learned so much in this little time and it is not even midterms, I am ready for the rest of the semester and what it has to offer. We go deeper than just the surface layer of the term Hip- Hop, we dig down to the roots and just keep going up the tree of Hip- Hop to what it is today.
http://genius.com/discussions/156265-Official-yo-mama-jokes-thread
This link shows diffrent "Yo Momma" jokes and show how they can be corny and how they can turn vulgar these are examples of what we have talked about in class.
As a kid I grew up listening to a lot of older R&B songs and artists. My dad and I would drive around the city and listen to artists like Maze and Frankie Beverly, Teena Marie, Sade and Luther Vandross; just to name a few. It wasn't until I attended middle school that I started liking and listening to rap music. Rap is one of the main components of hip hop and so far this course has allowed me to get a better understanding of it. I enjoyed the video called The Founding Father's. The way in which they described hip hop and how it was originated made you envision what it would be like if you were one of those kids in the park or at a block party listening to their set. It was interesting to see how much equipment DJ's would use in order to create their own sound. DJ's came up with things such as scratching, created a six step dance better known as The Hustle, and used different equipment such as an echo flex, amps, and the infinity machine. What I found most shocking about this course is the relationship between this vast wide spreading genre and that of both African and African American history. It was fascinating to see how articles and reading on hip hop can further be broken down to fit today's society. When reading the article Playing the Dozens, I really didn't grasp the full understand of what Abraham was explaining in the reading. In class when we discussed it, it was odd to see how rapping is also interrelated to signifying, masculinity, aggression, poverty, and sexual proclivities. Within the last few weeks I have learned a lot and feel that hip hop is more than just music, its a movement.
ReplyDeleteCommon- I Used To Love H.E.R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C99iG4HoO1c
I have learned a lot since being in the hip hop class. I've learned that the root of hip hop has a lot more to it than what I thought before. Almost all things hip hop related can trace back go earlier years no matter what it is. I have learned of several individuals who were important in hip hop and paved the way for many others Including DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster flowers. I've learned that the chant "The Roof is On Fire" came from slavery days. I always used to sing it since when I was younger and I would picture Nelly's Hot in Hurr video because they say that chant. Also I've learned that hip hops rising has a lot to do with women. Sounding and playing traces back to men and their mothers and DJing and making music in someways was a result of less gang activity to impress the ladies. Hip Hop is history although many people do not see it that way.
ReplyDeleteI think Hip Hop is already playing a major part in the revolution of our black communities just not in a positive way. We are facing a lot of real issues that isn't getting addressed as much as it should be. The hip hop culture is one of the fastest ways to get to our youth. Just think about it all kids do all day long is listen to Pandora or YouTube and if they are not listening to it they are making their own videos rapping or doing the next hot dance. Hip Hop dictates how majority of these teenagers walking around here dress, dance, and basically think. If it's not what they are listening too it's reality T.V glorifying the mistreatment of women with shows like Love and Hip Hop. When Beyonce came out with the song formation talking about her love for her blackness, and touching on issues like hurricane Katrina also Police brutality from visuals in her music video. She Caused quite an outrage especially with adding a tribute to the black panthers in her super bowl performance. I believe she caused such controversy because she is a very powerful black female with a lot of followers. If enough people was to actually stand up against the racism that still exist and police brutality society would have no choice but to change. Now I do know there are some rappers like J Cole, Kendrick Lamar who are trying to shed some light on real hip hop but, image is everything and even their lyrics can be questionable sometimes. The main stream artist that most kids listen to could care less and are all about a dollar, telling fake tales of being in the streets, or selling drugs. Not to mention coming up with new dances that are basically the same ones just remixed. That is where the problem lies, they influence these young boys to wear tight pants, dye their hair and hit the quan. But wont touch on how important it is to stay in school and stay off the streets. I found this clip of Young Thug response to a reporter asking his view on Ferguson and police brutality. It is an example of how Tupac was right all along!
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/Fqydua5N3BE