“Dolla Dolla bills y’all”- Wu Tang Clan. The song I chose to write about is “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2,” by Drake, featuring Jay-Z. Drake and Jay-Z are two of the biggest names in hip-hop music and are both very wealthy. “Pound Cake” was released on Drake’s album Nothing Was The Same, which had a lot of songs that talked about how life is different after becoming successful. The song discusses being wealthy and living a lavish lifestyle, but more importantly how people with wealth are perceived and the persona that comes with having money. The song opens with the chorus, stating. “Cash rules everything around me C.R.E.A.M. get the money dolla-dolla bills y’all.” This hook is taken from the song C.R.E.A.M. by the Wu Tang Clan. This lyric
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if there was more meaning behind the song Waltzing Matilda? No, well there is. It may not be true but it definitely got me interested. Jackie French, an Australian author, wrote the book A waltz for Matilda. While reading the book you discover a story of a young girl who soon becomes an orphan in the desert country of Australia. Her name is Matilda. Matilda wasn't always alone she had her Parents and her Aunt Ann, but one year that all changed. Her family soon vanishes from this world to another. As you continue to read the story you uncover many stories and you start to feel like you're a shadow that's always behind the characters, you're watching the story play out. Matilda was a young girl who grew up to help change a nation in which we could all live in as equals.
World War 1 proved America to be the nation producing the highest amount of propaganda. Through his use of propaganda President Wilson was able to draw American Support for the war. Despite his being elected as the “peace” president. Many Americans believed he’d keep them out of the war, especially after he stated that, “so far as I can remember, this is a government of the people, and this people is not going to choose war.” Before his election, Wilson promoted American neutrality. He pushed for what he believed his Americans wanted. However, through his employment of propaganda, Woodrow Wilson was able
The decade of hip-hop is what some may call it. Tupac, Naz, Biggie Smalls, as well as other artists, were major contributions. Not only for the people who are trying to find their footing, but Buck as well. Throughout the book various lyrics were embedded in order to create a better understanding for its readers. In addition, this book is based upon a 90s lifestyle within Philadelphia, which included drugs, gang activity, crime, hip-hop, and havoc. Malo was directly in the center of everything, the girls, the fights, the guns. His experiences shed light towards what it’s like to as an African American individual living in or near the hood. Not everyone realizes what people go through while living there, but now it gives some readers an image of what goes on. Though times have changed, not all previous feelings
Hip-hop culture began to develop in the south Bronx area of New York City during the 1970s. It had a significant influence in the music industry. Hip-hop music generally includes rapping, but other elements such as sampling and beatboxing also play important roles. Rapping, as a key part in the hip-hop music, takes different forms, which including signifying, dozen, toast and jazz poetry. Initially, hip-hop music was a voice of people living in low-income areas, reflecting social, economic and political phenomenon in their life [1]. As time moves on, hip-hop music reached its “golden age”, where it became a mainstream music, featuring diversity, quality, innovation and influence [2]. Gangsta rap, one of the most significant innovations in
One of the most popular Hip-Hop groups is Run D.M.C, however; “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five. The 80s formed the roots of Hip-Hop occasionally having bad
Today, rap music is an ever growing genre of music that is often centered on hedonistic pursuits such as wealth, cars, drinks, and fame. About forty years ago, however, rap music focused on an entirely different subject matter. During the 1970s, African Americans sung rap songs to express the need for Black empowerment in society; though their form of singing was not called rapping back then, it was called spoken word poetry, a form of song in which verses of poetry were performed with a fixed beat before an audience. African Americans used this style of singing to express the discontent with the economics and politics during the 1970s. The black population was still economically and politically powerless
One of the more interesting implications that are presented in the later parts of this essay is the economic ramifications of the hip-hop culture. McBride paints the picture of a lower income Caucasian American teenager in Dayton, Ohio who finds truth in the story of hip-hop. McBride notes:
Today many people feel compelled to buy anything or everything with an expensive price tag. This includes Expensive designer clothes, latest gadgets, expensive vehicles and many other similar things. This form of consumerism has embedded itself in today’s society; where it's encouraged to invest in such materialistic possessions. Kanye West is an African-American rapper, producer, and entrepreneur, who articulates his struggle with consumerism and the struggle for those around him in his song “All Falls Down.” West, utilizes puns, rhyme, and juxtaposition to highlight the issues surrounding materialism that can be interpreted differently by different listeners such as African Americans and White Americans.
The origins of hip hop started in the late 70’s as a pastime that brought all the impoverished people of the projects together to have fun through. But decades later in the 90’s, people began to rap about many subjects ranging from the crack epidemic, hard life in the ghetto, or just having fun, but the underlying motive of rappers in this era was to reflect on their rough lifestyle through clever lyrics. The motive wasn’t for money, but recognition for their unique wordplay among the rap community. However, that all changed when record companies saw a financial opportunity in rappers, and rappers saw a financial opportunity through music. Due to the commercialization of hip hop, authenticity is rare to find in the mainstream
It has been 30 years since Hip-Hop was first “introduced” to the world. Whether it be fashion or politics, this musical genre/culture plays a huge role in everyday life and has generated billions of dollars across the globe. In this paper I will be discussing when, where, and how Hip-Hop was created, “old school Hip-Hop, “Hip-Hop’s Golden Age”, “Hardcore rap” “Gangsta rap”, “G-Funk”, 21st century Hip-Hop, and how Hip-Hop affects society.
Rappers often associate material possessions, such as riches, with a satisfying, and accomplished life. Boogie Down Productions both exemplifies and counters this when they say, “Yeah, I’m making some money, he’s making some money, but none of these things are necessities / What I find to be a necessity is controlling a positive destiny.” “Money” is the financial gain one obtains, often from their employment. The term epitomizes a sense of satisfaction rappers often experience when working, and earning a living. Boogie Down Productions elucidates that making money isn’t always a component when measuring personal achievement and contentment. A “necessity” refers to indispensable things; things often perceived as essential to life, and required
Kanye West produced the popular song “All Falls Down” in 2004. He is well known for creating many wonderful tunes but this one stands out above the rest. While his other songs contain bass-heavy instrumentals and contain lyrics about money and women, this one is strays away from the previous structures. “All Falls Down” catches the attention of youth, with its mellow melody, to send a strong message concerning the overemphasis on money and education and how it can be harmful through the lyrics. The issues contained in the message are highly focused on the idea that money and education will not always be there
Changes - Tupac Shakur Changes by Tupac, is a song about the struggles and racial issues of African American people living in the poverty stricken areas or ‘Ghetto’s’ of America. Tupac sings about the injustices for his people living in poverty and how people need to stand up and make a change for the better, as the way things are going are not helping to
Even though, hip-hop is viewed as primarily of promoting negative message, however, it has reveled the pain behind the lyrics. “Hip hop music, had for over three and half decades, delivered a resounding message of freedom of expression, unity, peace, and protest against social injustices”. (Anderson & Jackson) As hip-hop continues to grow it has continued to remain a strong influential social impact. Hip-hop created a way for many individuals to express themselves on controversial issues seen throughout society.
Despite all the hardships he faced he did not choose to be like the others in his community. Throughout the song he visually explain the life of the young women and how they turn to selling their bodies as a means of making money. Although this may seem absurd, it was the life that many of the women lived in order to feed themselves and their children. According to Crystal Endsley and Marla Jaksch Hip Hop has the ability to enact social change because it is firmly connected to local youth, a source that the state does not generally reach. The global impact of Hip Hop as it relates to East Africa and the struggles for equality and liberation begin with raising awareness within the masses. In the song, Grandmaster Flash tried to bring awareness to the community in which he resides and he explores the struggle and fight to continue living in a poor