Jay Z's Song 'Everyday Struggle'

He had the self control to express himself through his lyrics and say it how it is. Tupac wasn’t only known for his music he had a talent and passion for

Black pathologies include characteristics such as rising rates of poverty and crime, selling of drugs, and being unemployed. It appears that some elements of Jay Z’s biography fit this “tangle of black pathology” stereotype. Jay Z was born into poverty, and his father left his family when Jay Z was younger; the idea of poverty and of the father figure leaving are black stereotypes. Jay Z would also go on to become a hustler, selling drugs to others in his community. Some might argue that the actions blacks undertake result in characteristics such as unemployment. However, there are also several aspects of Jay Z’s biography that do not fit the “tangle of black pathology” stereotypes. Today, Jay Z is a very successful man who escaped poverty.

When a major social or political movement is occurring, popular figures that get involved or talk about those subjects serve as an influence for the public. An example of an entertainer that had influence would be Paul Robeson. Although Jay-Z and Robeson are known for their artistry and business reputations, the glaring difference between the two is political influence. When prominent leaders were needed, Robeson was involved with political activism during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s. The issues brought forward by those leaders were broader and more easily seen. In his music, Jay-Z talks about the obstacles he faced while growing up in the streets of New York. Poverty-redden ghettoes are present today, but there is not much being

Tupac and Biggie’s relationship began as friends, but ended in death due to Biggie’s ego and Tupac’s pride. Tupac and Biggie met at a club in New York, they were very good friends and hung out a lot. One day at a studio in a hotel in New York, Tupac was recording a song and Biggie was about to show up before Tupac went down stairs and got shot and mugged. Tupac got paranoid and thought the thugs that mugged him were sent by Biggie, that’s when the beef started between them both and where arch rivals since, until Tupac’s death in 1996. Their music told their stories and really impacted every rap artist today.

A person’s traits are important because they are characteristics upon which talent is dependent, and talent is no less an important factor to success than opportunity is. If a talent without opportunity leads to little to no achievement, then what kind of outcome does one get from opportunities without talent? The opportunities that Wallace received as Biggie Smalls were simple, and ones that Gladwell would most certainly agree with. Like hundreds of other black youths, Biggie grew up in the 1980s, during the golden age of hip-hop. Hip-hop, to young blacks and the recently paroled, was a means of leaving the streets and a life of poverty ("Remembering the Golden Age of Hip-hop."). He took to rapping on street corners, which was also a popular thing to do at the time ("Notorious B.I.G. Bigger Than Life"). The biggest opportunity of his life was probably Sean “Puffy” Combs’ insistence that he be signed to a record deal. But why Biggie Smalls and not the countless other young rappers, such as Chico Del Vec and Lonnie “Common” Lyn, who also rapped on the street corners of New York, given the same opportunity? Furthermore, how did he become so successful despite being an overweight, dark black kid with a lazy eye during a time when hip-hop was

He then so confidently raps how as long as Jay is a billionaire he'd never go broke. Kanye always speaks of Jay with such high praise, as Jay returns it from a distance. Kanye has always been the person to wear his emotions on his sleeves, as we've seen with George Bush and Taylor Swift. Jay moves like the coolest guy on the planet as everything seems calculated and premeditated. He was involved in a UFC fight in a elevator, and walked out like nothing happened.

It showed that he was willing to try new things but still keep the raw talent that made everyone love him in the beginning. It also makes his fans think of what he would've done musically if he was still alive today. What would Biggie sound like if he received production from producers like Kanye West, Just Blaze, Metro Boomin, or Zaytoven? We may never know but one thing is for certain, "Life After Death" shows why when both hip hop greats such as Jay-z & Nas are asked "Who's the best MC's both have The Notorious B.I.G. in their top

Kanye’s career has gone through many ups and downs over the years. He started as someone who most labels wouldn’t make it as an artist, but he persevered and became one of the greatest if not the greatest. His early life, career, and modern-day career show how he stayed strong no matter what. Kanye’s story is that of struggle, loss, and inspiration that has impacted many young artists to launch their own careers. Kanye’s impact on hip-hop can be seen today in artists like Drake and Travis Scott who he

Dr. Dre connects with our generation because of his style of music. He takes account of the "weak" and lifts them to support a higher purpose letting them know they are heard, unlike Washington. Dre's advantage to self-empowerment allowed him to focus on his drive. His reliance on himself build his focus but left him unprotected. The fact he lacked a support team to guard his vulnerabilities: will. His will to success generated obstacles because not everyone wore a smile for him since some viewed his prosperity as their demise. As a black male in his era, he overcame the prison stigma opening concealed doors to his community members. This breakthrough motivates artists even now to thrive. Dre's methods to triumph attracted people due to the unusual perspective. His music depicted his life struggles. Coupled with the growth of technology Dre's work arose. The internet promotes straightforward access enabling people to follow the development of Dre's music industry. Since music designated a role in the majority of the population's lives Dre's pathway bridge had already been created. As he says, "I've gotten my personal life all the way intact and made sure that it's straight. Without that, you have no foundation. Your building is going to crumble." Dre's private life assisted in setting the tone for his fame. Although, placing the ugly and good on a pedestal can lead to condemnation from people.

Biggie makes it known throughout his entire song that he isn’t ashamed of how he grew up before the wealth. I think his main point was to let people know that he will never forget and that it’s the lessons he learned during those times that undisguisable got him to where he is now. Throughout the entire song Biggie tells us little parts of his past like “‘Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner” (verse 1, line 14). This is one of the things he went through was having times where would have eat like this because it was all that he had. Now honestly he didn’t always go days like this, but it

In the first verse, he reveals the irony of the situation by contrasting on how the relationship was better when the both of them were struggling to how their problems started when he gained fame. The line: “We was together on the block since free lunch/ We should’ve been together having Four Seasons brunch” suggests that their relationship started when they were kids at school trying to get food for free, and yet they can’t enjoy luxurious food together as successful adults. He admits to letting the money and fame complicate the relationship in the second verse as it seems rather innocent in the beginning (as innocent as a relationship with 90s Jay-Z could be): “On repeat, the CD of Big’s “Me and My Bitch”/ Watching Bonnie and Clyde, pretending to be that shit/ Empty gun in your hand saying, “Let me see that clip”/ Shopping sprees, pull out your Visa quick.” However, things don’t stay good for long– “We was so happy poor, but when we got rich/ That’s when our signals got crossed, and we got flipped.” The signals getting crossed serves as a metaphor for the mistake of him neglecting his ex while she continued to support him; because, when two cars follow signals that conflict each other, there’s going to be an accident that can end up hurting everybody involved. The third verse illustrates Jay-Z’s original contempt towards his ex after she decided to move on with somebody else: “ A face of stone, was shocked on the other end of the phone/ Word back home is that you had a special friend/ So what was oh so special then? You have given away without getting at me.” “A face of stone” refers to the feeling of being so shocked that you freeze on the spot, which would be a reasonable reaction to finding out that somebody that you’re involved with is suddenly seeing

Biggie smalls (Christopher Wallace), rapper name The Notorious B.I.G,was born on May 21,1972 in Brooklyn,New York to Voletta taught and and his pop,Selwyn.Selwyn(biggies dad)left when biggie was two,Voletta had two jobs just to send biggie to a private schools-the Roman Catholic Bishop Loughlin Memorial High school.Biggie was great in English,but often played truant at Westinghouse and dropped out at the age of 17 in 1989.Biggie started selling drugs at the age 12,according to a interview given to by a New York Time in 1994.Biggie was working the streets next to

Another rap artist she used in her argument was Shawn Carter, also known as Jay-Z. Jay-Z did not have a father as he grew up. Both Tupac and Jay-Z grew up as adolescents, who sold drugs, had guns, lived in the ghetto, and had a mentality of a thug or gangster. Even though they had those cons, they both rapped about being good parents will prevent your kids to be like them. “The fact that child abandonment is also a theme in hip-hop might help explain what otherwise appears as a commercial puzzle—namely, how particular music moved from the fringes of black entertainment to the every center of the Every teenager mainstreams” (Eberstadt). Hip-hop music does not only symbolize adolescent black teens, but also disobedient white teens.

As he navigated his young, uncertain life, Biggie started making music. He got with a crew called the "Old Gold Brothers," and began making music on music on his own. That’s when his life changed.

There is little question that he came from the streets, but this had been a growing comparison among the correlation of hip hop and the crack generation. “Not only did black teenagers in similar situations relate to what Eazy was talking about, but white suburban kids fantasized about being in his situation” (Eriewine).