Hip-Hop Assignment

Hip-Hop is the expression of the relationship between urban youth and their environment. The art of the streets, if you will.

Rappers:
1. Amadi
2. Gangstarr
3. Ghostface Killah
4. Biz Markie
5. Drake

Hip-Hop Videos:
1. Never Yet Contested aka NYC - "I Can't Take It/True Statement"
2. Gorilla Zoe - "What It Is"
3. Tay-Dizm ft. Akon - "Dreamgirl"
4. Boobe - "Can't Live Without The Money"
5. Evenodds - "Gettin Money All Day"

OKC Area Hip-Hop Radio Stations:
1. 104.9 FM
2. 103.5 FM

Hip-Hop in Advertising:
1. Boost Mobile
2. Vitamin Water
3. Sprite Commercials

Hip-Hop has influenced the media in many ways. Reporters and journalists take into consideration the culture of hip-hop when reporting and interacting with urban youth; or when they are attempting to appeal/connect with youth through the type of dialogue they choose to use including the use of "slang."

Also, in almost every magazine geared toward female readers there are always advertisements for breast enlargement and club clothing stores to order online - which is depected in hip-hop videos on a regular basis. Hip-hop seems to be something that media outlets want to understand and are attempting to understand, but just can't. In a way it's almost funny.

In mainstream culture hip-hop has had a major influence on what this generation (my generation) dubbs to be cool. People are obsessed with material objects, wealth (greed), being a "hard-ass," being a G, and keeping up a wealthy appearance in public. Never in my life have I remembered seeing so many cars with rims (even I have rims on my car). I am just as much a participant of trying to live a wealthy lifestyle as many other youths, but I like to think that I keep my rationality of what to expect in my life right now a main focus. Many don't, but need to. Another thing that hip-hop impliments on our culture is the double-standard on women and downplay of how serious sex is. They like to emphasize cheating relationships and a "playa" mentality for how men should treat women. Ultimately if someone idolizes hip-hop stars they will lead a relatively unfullfilling life full of let-downs and heartache. People need to remember that the music they listen to doesn't have to effect the way they live their individual lives. Just listen to the music, like it, do fun things while listening to it, just don't LIVE it.

Parents music:
1. The Beatles (The White Album)
2. Led Zeppelin
3. Steeley Dan
4. Pink Floyd
5. Fleetwood Mac
6. Creedence Clearwater Revival
7. Santana

Reflections of hip-hop artists:
"Battle" by Gangstarr
-He claims he's wiser than others and that he's confident in his rap-battle skills. No surprising lyrics, just the same old ego-tooting lyrics about money, women, and skills.

"Nutmeg" by Ghostface Killah
-The beat reminds me of old school hip-hop, I like it though. He has a more believable way of addressing his listening audience about his superiority among society, as well as a "don't mess with me" cocky attitude.

"Alone Again" by Biz Markie
-Has a storytelling vibe, which I am always a fan of. He seems a lot more light-hearted with his raps; it just has a little more satirical feel to the music.

Amadi
-I listened to a lot of this artists songs because I found to really really like him. He has a unique style of rapping and addresses many issues in some of his freestyles about his critiques on hip-hop today and he had a real attention grabbing way of speaking about the problems of the world today. a very "real" artist.

Drake
-Also another very "real" artist that I stumbled upon during this assignment. I listened to a vast number of his songs as well and has a very moving freestyle gift. He strikes me as intelligent (much like the above mentioned artist) and confident, as well as talented.

Reflections of hip-hop videos:

NYC - "I Can't Take It/True Statement"
The video has an old school vibe; it focuses on a politician, a man who's struggling financially, and addresses the struggling economy and its effect on urban communities/then it switches to another rapper in the streets and in a concert. Not very flashy at all but the first part of the video has a very artistic feel.

Gorilla Zoe - "What it is"
The usual stereotypical rap video with the rappers in the center of their expensive "tricked out" vehicles with rims and video vixens. All of the scenes are placed outside in the streets of an urban area.

Tay-Dizm ft. Akon - "Dreamgirl"
I really liked this video and song. It focuses on a man finding his beautiful girl of his dreams. Set in the rapper's living environment. Akon is in a set with stars and clouds in the background. I really liked this video because it doesn't talk about cheating or anything like that. It's refreshing to hear rappers talking about finding love with ONE woman.

Boobe - "Can't Live Without The Money"
Miami style, the rapper has "haters" who don't like him but what allows him to deal with these problems is money. Back to the typical flashy rapper gimmic with women, money, hustlin, and cars.

Evenodds - "Gettin Money All Day"
Has a 70s retro action TV show vibe with the different camera angles in each scene. It also has a very urban street feel while still idolizing the rapper's ego with money, cars, women, and of course hustlin.