Over the past few weeks, we dialogued about old and current topics in HH. We've discussed provocative issues such as: depression, suicide and death. We began with TuPac and are now unpacking place-based identities, such as the stereotypes perpetuating the dichotomy between the North and South in Hip-Hop. So, I ask you to share what real life sh*t from HH resonates with you the most and why? Be sure to include an image, audio, song lyrics or video (if applicable) to help emphasize your selection.
Due: Thurs., 6/15/17 by 11:59pm.
I think one of the biggest and realest things are suicide. I believe suicide because these strong men, who put up a front are tearing it down to tell their emotions and how messed up they really how, and how they really feel. For example Biggie Smalls Suicidal Thoughts ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4M8GjgfG9k ) to me had a very powerful hit because he told what was going on in his life and how he felt about it and what was his fault, The whole song to me was a real shi type song. Lil wayne has a couple songs he mentions suicide or tells how he thought about it and tried. In Solange's song Mad he says "And when I attempted suicide, I didn't die, I remember how mad I was on that day, Man, you gotta let it go before it get up in the way, Let it go, let it go." Another song by Lil wayne that talks about suicide is "I feel like Dying" ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cykGnl1KvcM ). Songs like these, rappers like these for just a few things have really hit people hard with the thought and conversation on suicide. Even some old songs like 1-800 Suicide by GraveDiggaz . I think songs like this makes people think like "Dang I thought about it, not not like that" or "It's okay to think it".
ReplyDelete- Neikya Slade
DeleteThe thing that resonates with me the most in hip-hop is the fascination with death. Biggie Smalls and his "Ready To Die" album is a perfect example of this. A whole album proclaiming that if his time came in that moment he was ready for it. I'm not quite sure why many artist discuss death so frequently but it makes me wonder what could they be going through to always have death on their mind. After reflecting on it death might just be the circumstance they have to witness because of their environment. They witness everyone dying around them so there might not be a choice but to be ready when it comes. When you take the time to think about the statement I just made it almost questions why we look down on our rappers for rapping about the content they rap about. Honestly, if that is how you grew up wouldn't you want to tell the world too?
ReplyDeleteWhat I notice most about Hip Hop is the depression that comes with the artist. Many people in the public believe if you have money and fame than everything else in your life is perfect! That's not the case at all , if anything you are criticized more or put out there because of the fame. One big artist in today's society that suffered from depression is Kanye West. It's interesting that not a lot of people bring him up in the conversation or depression or some sort of suffering. Kanye's battle of emotion took place in front of the whole world , which most say it impacted one of his masterpieces 808's and Heartbreak.Rapper Kid Cudi had to check in a rehabilitation center to treat his ongoing battle with mental health issues. He publicly spoke about he felt "ashamed" because he was suppose to be a leader but suffered from depression and had suicidal urges. This goes to show that famous people are human to , their problems are still problems and the most important face they are still HUMAN.
ReplyDeleteOne key component of Hip Hop that resonates the most with me is the death topic, but more specifically the topic of suicide. This is because the topic is such looked over topic in the black community. The black community doesn't like the idea of dealing with mental issues. It always boils down to the need of going to church. So many people are left to deal with the sturggles of it by themselves. Then with the continuous struggles of their mental troubles the believe the only way out is suicide. But when they commit suicide they don't take in consideration on how that may affect the others around them. The crazy part about is how many rap artist as actually dealt with the problem like Biggie,Tupac, and Lil Wayne. In the song Thug Masion tupac states"
ReplyDeleteI once contemplated suicide, and woulda tried
But when I held that 9, all I could see was my momma's eyes ". Another great example is Biggie's song suicidal toughts where says" I swear to God I want to just slit my wrists and end this bullshit
Throw the Magnum to my head, threaten to pull shit
And squeeze, until the bed's completely red
I'm glad I'm dead, a worthless fuckin' buddah head
The stress is building up, I can't
I can't believe suicide's on my fucking mind, I wanna leave
I swear to God I feel like death is fucking calling me
Naw you wouldn't understand"
The thing that resonates with me the most would be the death obsession we see in hip hop today. I would have to agree with my classmates when they say mental health has taken a toll on the black community. I think this feeds directly into the obsession our community has with violence and death.
ReplyDeleteWe have songs like 21 Savages single Red Opps, where he glorifies shooting up family members houses and so forth:
"Pull up at yo momma house and put some rounds in it
Wet a nigga block and watch them niggas drown in it
Hunnid round drum gun a nigga down with it
I'm on that Slaughter Gang shit, Murder Gang shit"
We see a numbness to the fact that we talk about killing one another and their family members like it is nothing.
Why is it that rappers talk about shooting others day in and day out? I find that the death obsession is not just specific to hip hop but to other things in our society like the government, military, movies, other genres of music. Death is everywhere. So is it just that hip hop males are following suit and are just automatically used to it? I think so.
Something that resonates most with me in relation to HH is depression brought on by society's image of what people should look like including what they wear , how much they weight , whether or not they have "good" or "bad" hair etc . In a lot of hip hop songs the "model" types are glorified. Most rappers want foreign women and make sure their videos and song lyrics reflect this.
ReplyDeleteFor me this is big because of my weight I don't fit into the cookie cutter mold of the size that is glorified in these songs. J.Coles Crooked smile touches on listeners accepting their flaws and all instead of trying to fit in with others .
"They tell me I should fix my grill cause I got money now
I ain't gon' sit around and front like I ain't thought about it
A perfect smile is more appealing but it's funny how
My shit is crooked look at how far I done got without it
I keep my twisted grill, just to show them kids it's real
We ain't picture perfect but we worth the picture still"
These lyrics show how in his profession he is pressured to fix his imperfections to blend with the other rappers . There are not enough songs like this one . So when kids growing up don't have the latest shoes or clothes they are picked on and treated bad and a lot of it comes from what they see their favorite rapper doing .
The thing that resonates with me the most is how much I am able to relate to certain artist. Most people don't know how I grew up and it isn't that I am ashamed of it, but that I don't feel like everyone deserves to know me. However, when I sit and listen to artist like Kendrick Lamar I feel as though my story is being told to the world and that it is okay to have grown up the way I did. "Good Kid M.A.A.D City" broke me when I first heard it. Hearing how Kendrick went through life fighting drugs, having addicted family members, and feeling like at one point there was no way out and then prospering made me push for more. Post-album I began to easily speak out about my life. I no longer found the need to hide behind the mask, but instead I found peace within myself. A song for years that pushed me was "Swimming Pools" even though to most it was just a party anthem I sat and listened to it as I heard my own story of how alcoholism and peer pressure nearly took over me at a young age. The song was a way for me to see just how much it was not worth losing myself to.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt0hLBF0rN8
I think what resonated with me the most is the masculinity and sexuality in Hip-Hop. I thought it was interesting that everyone bring up Young Thug and other artists today for being metrosexual but I have yet to hear anyone mention Snoop Dogg. He was infamous for getting his hair curled and done and also having a french manicure. I think what made Snoop different is he was still very masculine but did what he wanted and did not care what people had to say. His lyrics have been known to be vulgar calling women "bitches and hoes" but he also has been married for 21 years. On top of that the irony of him having a cooking show with Martha Stewart is very intriguing because it is an unlikely pair. But that just relates back to him not caring and doing what he wanted and still making a huge platform for himself and others to come.
ReplyDeleteI have attached a video from TMZ discussing the french manicure Snoop Dogg got a few years ago, many of the people said it was cool. This just goes to show how he has his masculinity but still looked at as cool for also being well groomed and having feminized ways.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djUfWNOTFYs
The real shi*** that resonates with me in HH is the depression and self-hate that many of our hh artist take on. Our mainstream artist such as kid cudi, kanye west, and our OG HH artist DMX, and the Gheto boys dealt with their mental illness. DMX battled depression for years and that is one of the major things that killed his image and career.
ReplyDeleteMany people close to DMX has publicly spoke on his depression and how he would have mental breakdowns after the show screaming to the top of his lungs asking why me! "DMX" song "slippin" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ww-TQUeA3E this is a perfect example of how he feels that he constantly feels that he's possesed by the darker side and that he can't get ahead..