Fight The Power Analysis
Ridge, Ellie. ""Fight the Power": Two Rappers' Insight into Politics | The Daily Californian." The Daily Californian. N.p., 26 Feb. 2016. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Ridge’s article focuses on the importance of rap music and the strong political influence that is possesses. In general, music has an incredible power to engrain thoughts and speak ideas freely to a widespread audience. When young African Americans of the 1970s were born into staggering poverty, they expressed their anger and dissatisfaction with their community through their music. An excellent example in Ridge’s article is rapper Sam Gabel. Son of a union organizer and professor of law, Gabel actively protests and collaborates with young artists against police brutality in his hometown …show more content…
In rap music, black “baby mamas” are often regarded either as drug-addicted or “gold-diggers.” In fact, 11 out of 12 songs present negative content about the mothers of rappers’ children. Conversely, African American women think otherwise. In Cassandra Chaney’s qualitative study, the majority of women believe they express strength, sensitivity, and sensuality. Despite these ideas, when it comes to songs about their own mothers, rappers and R&B artists speak with unconditional love and incredible emotional support. 59 songs from the Billboard Research Services were analyzed and each song had at least one phrase that painted rappers’ and singers’ mothers as an outstanding rock and source of teachings and endless love. 3 of these songs, even argued that motherhood was superior to fatherhood has many of these mothers raised and cared for their families almost single-handedly. Overall, though some rappers and R&B singers may speak lowly of the mothers of their children, these same artists still promote black equality and musical support to the African American community through their positive and uplifting …show more content…
Through Gsann’s performance at the 2009 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta was a short, one-minute rap, Droessler argues that it represents a “miniature example of the unifying and dividing forces at work in contemporary global Hip Hop culture.” When Gsann emceed at the BET Hip Hop Awards, his rap was spoken in Swahili. Though Gsann’s words were a mystery to both the audience and fellow rappers, the performance was enjoyed by all and provided viewers with a sneak peak into the lyrical styles of an entirely different culture. However, Gsann’s debut for BET should not be praised just for its different language, but for the fact that rap and hip hop music from across the globe can be listened to, enjoyed and understood by fellow Hip Hop enthusiasts. Though Gsann does not live or completely understand life here in the U.S. and vice versa for Gsann’s viewers, the message spoken within his Swahili rap is accepted and felt just as if it were said in
Ridge’s article focuses on the importance of rap music and the strong political influence that is possesses. In general, music has an incredible power to engrain thoughts and speak ideas freely to a widespread audience. When young African Americans of the 1970s were born into staggering poverty, they expressed their anger and dissatisfaction with their community through their music. An excellent example in Ridge’s article is rapper Sam Gabel. Son of a union organizer and professor of law, Gabel actively protests and collaborates with young artists against police brutality in his hometown …show more content…
In rap music, black “baby mamas” are often regarded either as drug-addicted or “gold-diggers.” In fact, 11 out of 12 songs present negative content about the mothers of rappers’ children. Conversely, African American women think otherwise. In Cassandra Chaney’s qualitative study, the majority of women believe they express strength, sensitivity, and sensuality. Despite these ideas, when it comes to songs about their own mothers, rappers and R&B artists speak with unconditional love and incredible emotional support. 59 songs from the Billboard Research Services were analyzed and each song had at least one phrase that painted rappers’ and singers’ mothers as an outstanding rock and source of teachings and endless love. 3 of these songs, even argued that motherhood was superior to fatherhood has many of these mothers raised and cared for their families almost single-handedly. Overall, though some rappers and R&B singers may speak lowly of the mothers of their children, these same artists still promote black equality and musical support to the African American community through their positive and uplifting …show more content…
Through Gsann’s performance at the 2009 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta was a short, one-minute rap, Droessler argues that it represents a “miniature example of the unifying and dividing forces at work in contemporary global Hip Hop culture.” When Gsann emceed at the BET Hip Hop Awards, his rap was spoken in Swahili. Though Gsann’s words were a mystery to both the audience and fellow rappers, the performance was enjoyed by all and provided viewers with a sneak peak into the lyrical styles of an entirely different culture. However, Gsann’s debut for BET should not be praised just for its different language, but for the fact that rap and hip hop music from across the globe can be listened to, enjoyed and understood by fellow Hip Hop enthusiasts. Though Gsann does not live or completely understand life here in the U.S. and vice versa for Gsann’s viewers, the message spoken within his Swahili rap is accepted and felt just as if it were said in