Racism In J. Cole's G. O. M. D.

Rap music, also known as hip-hop, is a popular art form. Having risen from humble origins on the streets of New York City during the mid-1970s, hip-hop has since become a multifaceted cultural force. Indeed, observers say, hip-hop is more than just music. The culture that has blossomed around rap music in recent decades has influenced fashion, dance, television, film and—perhaps what has become the most controversially—the attitudes of American youth. For many rappers and rap fans during it’s early time, hip-hop provided an accurate, honest depiction of city life that had been considered conspicuously absent from other media sources, such as television. With a growing number of rap artists within this period, using hip-hop as a platform to call for social progress and impart positive messages to listeners, the genre entered a so-called Golden Age

In the first podcast, Kelly Mcevers, the host, makes us listen to the actual video of a shooting where multiple gunshots were heard. An officer shoots Jonathan Ferrell twelve times. “Ten of those shots hit Ferrell. Officers handcuff him, and tell him not to move. At some point, Ferrell dies.” This works to great effect in really making an emotional impact on the listeners. The fact that they heard so many gunshots is chilling.

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

Considering the fact that Joyner Lucas is a black man, he has earned his own credibility to talk about racism because he is black. He can tell the struggles of black people because he has lived it. I think that since he is a black man, he could potentially receive less criticism from black people who hear this because he is telling the struggles of the average black person in America. Joyner Lucas’ use of logos in his song is the most complicated. In his lyrics you hear him talk about real things that are happening in the world that seem racist because of who is saying it. He sings all the lyrics but they are split in the video by a white man and a black man. I think that his performance of the opinions of a generalized black and white men of America are logically written. The opinions of these characters are true among people in the United States. There are people in this country who think like the two people in the video. When Joyner sings “With all disrespect, I don't really like you white motherfuckers, that's just where I'm at. Screaming "All Lives Matter" Is a protest to my protest, what kind of shit is that? from the perspective of the black man, it makes sense. That is a logical response to have when a white man disrespects you for 3 minutes

Kendrick Lamar’s song “Alright” talks about race and how African Americans are being targeted and profiled. The song tells about the gun violence and police brutality that is effecting our community, “And we hate Popo, wanna kill us dead in the street for sure, n…” (Line 35). This quote out of his song is significant because in the world we live in someone gets killed every day for the color of their skin color or a profile that someone made off assumptions. As the song goes he tell about how African Americans were discriminated. “When you know, we been hurt, been down before, n… / When our pride was low, lookin' at the world like, "where do we go, n…?”’ (Line 33-34). Throughout the years African Americans are looked down on to the point where they do not know what their purpose is. For some, living in a world where people do not want them there hurts the pride of people.

Racial ideology and injustice is an issue which spans across all generations. Public Enemy's protest songs voiced protest of these societal issues, making them unforgettable ("Public Enemy"). By appealing to those oppressed in inner-city and project life they reached an audience who felt there needed to be a serious change in how society handles racial profiling.("Gangsta Rap"). A lot of poverty lies within these areas of the United States, which many Americans are oblivious to. By highlighting our biggest downfalls as people, many classic hip-hop songs can inspire both the insider and outsider alike to make a change.

African American rap artists are quite a distinguishable social group. Rap artists,being represented as hypermasculine, mostly rap about gunplay and violence, and share a general homophobic nature. The music video “Many Men” by 50 Cent shows this representation. He confirms the social assumption of a need to be tough, dominant, invulnerable and a ‘player’, not only in being an African American rapper but a man as well. This need arises from a context of brutality, gunplay and drugs which are the norm in the lives of these rappers, as referenced from Byron Kurt, director of the “Beyond Beats and Rhymes” documentary.

On February 15, 2016, Kendrick Lamar took the stage at the 2016 Grammy Awards show. Shackled in chains, he moved lethargically across the stage in a prison uniform. Words began to stream out of his mouth and I imagined the elephant that filled the room as an unapologetically black male made a statement to the world about African American oppression in the United States. Kendrick Lamar’s showcase included an intricate set that addressed social issues such as mass incarceration with song, “The Blacker the Berry”, while keeping hope towards better days with song “Alright”. The elaborate performance on February 15, 2016 would be a performance that will go down in history. An artist used his platform to discuss important issues in the United States to a diverse audience. With so much passion invested into the song, it was almost impossible to pick any other song besides “The Blacker the Berry”, as it discusses a wide range of issues within the United States, especially related to the black body.

Lamar’s appeals to the audience by using Pathos, logos, and ethos throughout the course of the song. Pathos is the most important appeal that he uses throughout the song due to the emotional aspects of the song. He uses Nelson Mandela name in the hook throughout the course of the song but switches from ghost to voice consistently. The reasoning is because Kendrick sees himself in the body of Nelson Mandela, but he wants to continue the legacy throughout rapping. A moment when Pathos is presented is when Kendrick starts to state rhetorical questions, he says “Do you believe in me? How much you believe in her? You think she gon’ stick around if them 25 years occur? You think he can hold you down when you down behind bars hurt? You think y’all on common ground if you promise to be the first?” Just like Nelson Mandela situation, his wife held him down and waited for 27 years, Kendrick is asking both male and female perspective on how we’ll handle the same situation. Your emotions would play a strong role in your decision on whether or not to stick around and this would also be a test to your loyalty. Ethos is used because Kendrick Lamar is a song writer and a video producer, plus he is one of four artists who had their albums inducted into the Harvard’s Library. He has worked with many well-known song artists like Future, The Weeknd, J. Cole, Travis Scott, and everyone within his record label Top Dawg Entertainment. Being a influence to people

I do believe that Kendrick targeted the African American population with the song but the song could be for all races and minorities. I don’t think the song excluded anyone. Police brutality can happen to any race and it has happened to just about every race. African Americans just have been the most talked about and more frequently abused lately. Kendrick doesn’t put himself upon a pedestal or imply that he’s above

The subject of God is rarely talked about in modern society compared to traditional times because like in Kanye West’s song, Jesus Walks, “ If I talk about God my record won’t get played.” The unknown in society is scary to people which connects to the denial that God exists. As well as, the continuation of the inner human struggles. It is hard to look down at the world, and believe there is a God with all the evil in the world. In contrast, Kanye West declares that people are constantly at war with their environment, and believes the root of all conflict lies internally. A rap song that talks about God but has references to terrorism and racism which are both conflicts that this modern society deals with. The four-minute music video is a collection of stories of reprehensible characters; crafted into a modern biblical visual to signify the inner and outer conflicts of mankind.

Unlike many other mainstream artists, Kendrick Lamar attaches great importance to the lyrics of his songs. Lamar’s song “DNA”, released last April, became a real breakthrough in the world of hip-hop music. In this song, Lamar reflects on various social issues faced by the modern African-American community of the USA. The song’s lyrics, as well as the music video, portrays the most common stereotypes and biases labeled to the African-American community. The central aim of the song is to sarcastically demonstrate the image of African-Americans as they are viewed by biased media. By the use of symbolical sarcasm and double meanings, Lamar underlines the acuteness of the race inequality that remains existing in the modern America.

Kendrick lamar’s award winning music video for his 2017 single Element shows the many experiences he faced growing up as a black man. The various symbols broadcasted throughout this music video show specific conflicts and struggle that he has dealt with throughout his life and also allowed black man that have been in his position something to relate to. He teamed up with director/photographer Jonas Lindstroem to help him convey his message but in a unique and creative way. The slow moving scenes show a softer depiction of his encounters. They give a sense of understanding which allows the viewer to be able to comprehend and absorb his message. As a whole, it was a collection of the pain, beauty, peace and violence that exists within his “element”.

Throughout the album, it tells the story of Kendrick’s life , also the life of a typical African-American who wants to escape the system, and of his rise to stardom and the boundaries he faced within his rise. It depicts two separate parties the white and the black and the racial ideology that is in both parties. In this I think both parties can be disadvantaged to this album. The obvious party is the white man and its culture. They are made out to be out to stop progress or to control the black man. He does it by either drowning them in riches and has the ability to drop them at a moment’s notice if they mess up. Then on the other hand the black man is at a disadvantage with this coming out. The album delves into the hypocrisy that faces their culture and how they will not come together to help to make progress for themselves but would rather infight and drive a knife in between them. This album opens the black society up and shows true struggles they face. It seems to be an introspective piece that shows not only where the artist, Kendrick Lamar, has been and came from but, also where the African-American in American society has been and come from. This album is all about the social inequality that the black community has lived through since their arrival in the United States. It shows that even if they do make it to the point of prosperity they are still

Lamar sends a powerful statement about racism and diversity in general where Kendrick raps about his African America an heritage and his roots in the song Lamar makes a lot of stereotypical references like this one that grabs my attention when he says, “Or eat watermelon, chicken, and Kool-Aid on weekends/Or jump high enough to get Michael Jordan endorsements/Or watch BET cause urban support is important” (line 97-99) Is a metaphor against stereotypes made especially towards blacks, where he believes is miss judgmental because they are treated differently from everyone else just like the accident with H&M. Gun Violence is another topic mention in the song, “So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street/ when gang banging make me kill a n*** blacker than me? / Hypocrite!” (line 100-102). This is a metaphor, describing Kendrick emotions and frustration and