College Dropout Aces the Exam

Hitting the charts at #2, Kanye West’s debut album The College Dropout provides its audience with much appreciate. The unprecedented skits and interludes especially add a new dynamic to the album. While building the stories and themes throughout the album -- such as critique of the education system, importance of family, and materialism -- the skits and interludes serve as a thread tying each song to the next. From start to finish, it is clear that West succeeded in taking this album beyond the beat.
Again taking the album past the lyrics, the album booklet takes The College Dropout to a totally different level. Carefully designed, crafted, and published to resemble a yearbook, the album booklet features chalkboards, handwriting, and pages mimicking yearbook “spreads”. Additionally, West uses yearbook-style photos, ironically often called “mug-shots,” to identify his album staff. West’s photo is labeled “most unlikely to succeed.” The superlative beneath West’s photo further develops the album’s critique of the education system, poking fun at the practice of unwarranted labeling. West shows how foolish these labels, and the education system, can be because in absence of a college degree West himself has been highly successful.
Like any half-way decent album, The College Dropout has a theme. Themes are what set albums apart from singles, unifying the compilation of songs through a common factor. Unlike most albums, however, West somehow manages to successfully integrate the themes of family, self-consciousness, materialism, religion, and personal struggle into a single album. Each song comes off with a different feel while still coming together seamlessly as an entire album. The composition of the track list is a work of art in itself. The album kicks off with “We Don’t Care,” focusing mainly on self-consciousness, materialism, and personal struggle. The album progresses to “Jesus Walks,” which samples “Walk With Me” while centering on religion, then to “The New Workout Plan” and “Breathe In, Breathe Out” which further illuminates self-consciousness and materialism. The later half of the album develops West’s critique of the educational institution through a number of skits and songs including “School Spirit.” West adds an intimate personal level to the album in “Through the Wire” and “Family Business” which detail his own personal struggles and the importance of family. Many songs were hit singles on their own; it is their cohesiveness as an album that makes The College Dropout a landmark in HipHop history.
One of West’s unique abilities as an artist is his ability to let his listeners into his life through his music. The song “Through the Wire” which samples the 1984 song “Through the Fire” by Chaka Kahn, is based on a personal experience in which he was in a nearly fatal car accident that ended in his mouth being wired shut. Despite the personal struggle that West details, he persevered and continued to make music, thus literally delivering to his fans “Through the Wire.” This song, and the album in its entirety, serve as a musical autobiography. In my eyes West has created one of the most compelling musical collections that is both quality music and truthful about life experiences.
West’s honesty is part of what makes him such a relatable artist. Being straight up through his lyrics, and admitting his own short-fallings, is what has gained West the respect of fans and critics. Not only is his music credible and honest, but within this album there is something for everyone to relate to. Black or white, fat or thin, rich or poor, male or female, young or old, anybody who listens to this album will be able to personally identify with Kanye through his lyrics. The ability to appeal to such a wide audience is a true skill, one that West has no-doubt mastered. The album’s wide reach is part of what makes it so worth of all its acclaim.
As a debut album, The College Dropout served great importance in bringing Kanye to the stage as a reputable artist. While his artistic qualities are not necessarily unique to this album, as they are evident in West’s later works, this album set the stage for West’s further successes. Had West’s potential not been captured in his debut album, he may never have made it to where he is today. As a listener of this album, I can see every facet of what makes a good artist, jam-packed into what is rightfully considered the greatest debut album of all time.

Reflections: The College Dropout

In his debut album, The College Dropout, rapper Kanye West demonstrates a wide range of ability and emotion. He draws inspiration from his own life to produce a collection of songs that compliment each other and add to a collective message. West accomplishes his goal of exposing society’s falseness in many arenas, from academia to the dating game. However, it’s his honesty and openness when conveying this theme that take The College Dropout to a new level.
As hinted in the album’s name, West questions the purpose of the institution of college. In “All Falls Down,” he tells the story of a young single mother who knows her degree is of little help, yet she pays tuition to attain it until finally deciding to drop out. She leaves school because she can make more money cutting hair. The Snippet, “Lil Jimmy Skit” further exposes the truth behind the allure of higher education. Lil Jimmy’s father died, and all he’s left with is a series of degrees his father earned while failing to make money. West points out that degrees are worth little if nothing (concrete) is gained from them.
Besides questioning the value of college, West confronts the walls we build between society and ourselves. Frequently, we buy fancy things not because we need them, but to flaunt our wealth. Admitting that he too practices this behavior, West goes on to attribute it to the impact of society’s harshness, especially on African Americans. West makes his listeners think about the effect so many failed promises has on a group of people. In “All Falls Down,” West states, “We trying to buy back our 40 acres/And for that paper, look how low we a’stoop/Even if you in a Benz, you still a nigger in a coupe.” This line, a reference to the pre-Civil War forty acres promise made to slaves, provides a source for the African American community’s fascination with bling and exposes the mindset ingrained in black Americans.
These tracks precede “Spaceship,” a song that focuses on escape. In its chorus, West repeats the lines, “I’ve been working this graveshift.../Wish that I could buy me a spaceship and fly.” This outcry for escape relates to many listeners, and introduces a source for the anger displayed in the track that follows it. In “Jesus Walks,” West focuses on God and the strength he receives from his religion. West has often felt the need to run away, and religion helps him get through his struggles. While the focus on God will relate to many, needing a source of hope resonates with all.
West follows these serious songs with a relaxed track. “The New Workout Plan,” is introduced by a snippet of two girls discussing a workout tape. The content of their conversation highlights their silly behavior when attracting a male. West uses sarcasm when he instructs his listeners to, “...give head and check your weave” along with, “...put in work/eat your salad no dessert.” The song is upbeat and fun to listen to once you realize West is making a mockery of the way in which women degrade themselves to attract a male.
The album ends in a reflective manner, with West focusing on family and his journey to becoming an artist. “Family Business” is one of the most powerful songs on the album, due to its universal relevance. In the chorus, the words, “all that glitters is not gold” are spoken in a voice that sends chills down the listener’s spine as the truth of the sentiment sinks in. Listening to West speak of his loyalty to his imprisoned cousin causes us examine the importance of family in our own lives. He concludes his work with “Last Call,” a song in which he celebrates his success, reflects on his past, and boosts his credibility with a cameo from Jay-Z. It’s the perfect way to end a complete album, and leaves listeners reflecting on the themes presented throughout the work.
Overall, The College Dropout is a masterful debut album that demonstrates West’s range as an artist. In only twenty one tracks (including snippets), he covers every emotion from sadness to silliness, and does so in an intelligent and thoughtful way. The brilliance of The College Dropout lies in West’s honesty, as he admits to practicing many of the behaviors he mocks in its songs. His confession makes it impossible for him to be labeled a hypocrite, as he instead made himself into one of the most relatable rappers in the public eye. While the piece doesn’t leave its listeners yearning for more, it leaves them curious as to what West will create in the future.


The College Drop-in

Jenna Rousseau

English 125.093

November 29, 2010

Brown

The College Drop-in

College will be the best four years of your life. Hearing this statement in high school only increased my urge to escape from the weird smelling hallways and classrooms that had defined my educational experience up to that point. Now, being a college student, I realize that this is a sad truth. My parents met here and all their best friends now are the people who they met and in Ann Arbor 30 some years ago. They all tailgate together, and they mostly talk about their funny college experiences. My brother is a senior here, and he and all his friends are mourning the last few months they have left as undergrads—many have said to me, “I wish I was a freshman again.” Both those long graduated who look back fondly and those soon to be graduates lamenting their college years have offered me the same advice: enjoy every second of your experience because it goes by too fast. The best four years of my life also happen to be the fastest. Isn’t it ironic? It’s also a little cruel, but I like to think I have heeded this advice thus far. I have found my niche, done well in school, and still find time to have fun. And so, in my short three months as a college student, I can agree with and attest to the fact that college is the best time of my life, but also flies by with every blink of the eye.

And Thus, a HipHopocracy Was Formed

Jenna Rousseau

English 125.093

November 29, 2010

Brown

And Thus, a HipHopocracy Was Formed

When I first read the CTools description of this course, I was, let’s just say, skeptical. HipHop music has always been something that I listened to on the radio, at parties, or high school dances; it was never really my go-to genre—which my ITunes library can prove. If I was ever listening to rap on the radio with my mom, she would say, “turn that trash off! The words are terrible!” My response was always, “I don’t listen to the lyrics, just the melody and beat.” This was strangely true even though I had memorized all the words. Is it possible to know the lyrics to a song, sing them repeatedly, and never think about any deeper meaning? My answer is yes, because I did it for years. This class has opened my eyes to an entirely new world in which lyrics to songs are relevant. They are purposeful and have meaning. Words are not just strung together to make a sick rhyme that follows a beat; they are artfully linked to express intense emotion, and social protest. For me, “fuck the police” was just an expression my friends and I playfully used to joke about our suburban teen angst toward the overbearing police force in Troy, MI. Now this seems even sillier because I see the circumstances this expression emerged from and the true meaning it has. This class has been a challenging, and mentally stimulating experience that has opened my eyes to the greater world of HipHop.

The College Dropout: a Review

Jenna Rousseau

English 125.093

November 28, 2010

Brown

The College Dropout: a Review

Kanye West’s debut album, The College Dropout, is a telling reflection of his many personal philosophies. One of these is a strong anti-education sentiment, following the title. This is present in many of his songs along with the hilarious skits. The skit “Lil Jimmy” says “all the regular homeless people have newspaper, but look what I have”—referring to degrees his dead father left him instead of money. In addition to voicing his view of education, West has multiple songs about his family and personal life that are extremely moving. “Family Business” and “Through the Wire” are the two most personal songs on the album. “Family Business” is an emotionally rich song in which Kanye works through struggles from his high school years and expresses his appreciation and love for his family. “Through the Wire,” is about his car accident and the aftermath; he literally raps “Through the Wire” because his jaw is wired shut as he explains the accident and thankfulness for being alive. The final song on the album, “Last Call,” is mostly Kanye talking about his experiences. This song adds meaning to the album by outlining the hard work he did to get to this point, and is an essential part to the whole. The most astonishing part of this album is that West manages to convey many of his attitudes while still managing to produce sick beats and melodies that people want to sing along to.

Rick Ross - Free Mason feat. Jay-Z.

Many more things out there to look at. Leave it for you to decide.

Jay Z On to the Next One Video analyzed

Jay Z Illuminati denial interview analyzed pt.1

Want to know more...

http://necolebitchie.com/2010/01/13/jay-z-speaks-on-the-illuminati-and-his-religious-beliefs/

http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/01/06/its-a-c-o-n-spiracy-10-clues-jay-z-is-in-the-illuminati/
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/01/06/its-a-c-o-n-spiracy-10-clues-jay-z-is-in-the-illuminati/2/
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/01/06/its-a-c-o-n-spiracy-10-clues-jay-z-is-in-the-illuminati/3/
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/01/06/its-a-c-o-n-spiracy-10-clues-jay-z-is-in-the-illuminati/4/
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/01/06/its-a-c-o-n-spiracy-10-clues-jay-z-is-in-the-illuminati/5/

Secret Society Inside of Hip Hop

The Illuminati is said to be a secret society of individuals that controls oil-businesses and infiltrates politics (along with other things). By selling their souls to Satan, they gain power. (Rappers and music artists believed to be working with this cult subliminally reference satanic messages in their music). Jay Z, the supposed leader of this collective, ostensible named himself Jay Hova, echoing the name of Christian God Jehovah. The obsession increased during the release of his Blueprint 3 CD, in September 2009, whose white and red striped cover is said to reference Jay Z's position in Illuminati. Note the line “This is La Familia, I’ll explain later,” in his song “Run This Town.” La Familia, of course, is Spanish for “The Family.” The satanic Process Church
of the Final Judgement referred to themselves as “The Family.” What struck me most was the speed with which the belief in Illuminati spread.

Hiphop is always dealt a bad hand, whether through an artist's negative act being ridiculed, or their negative lyrics criticized. Why do people always flock to negativity? Music is an art form that may deal with real occurrences, or details from an artist's life, but the musical art form can contain just as much fiction as a child's novel. I agree that words are powerful, however I do not believe that all music should be taken literally. Everyone has their own opinion, but should bear in mind that hiphop artists are human just like everyone else.

^check out the other posts for some of the links if you want more info on this stuff ^

Keeping it Real

Since its birth in the 1960s, hiphop culture has cultivated an obsession with “keeping it real.” When rappers discovered the importance of building street cred, power, and status, there was a whole new meaning to this realness. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy E led the gangster rap explosion of the mid-1980s, when they enforced this need to keep it real. I never understood this need until I moved to a school with an African-American population. Their goodbyes were different from the usual waves and “see ya laters.” They would instead exchange phrases like “keep it real, man.” African-American youngsters value realness and use hiphop as a form of discourse in everyday settings to retain their black identities.

Rappers also measure realness based on “who’s badder.” How rappers behave and express themselves artistically affect the target audience. My appreciation for hiphop music is a secret from some of my friends who perceive it as a monolith of unthinking noise. Tricia Rose would have something to say about that. I think there is a personal value to hiphop music; it is a form of cultural expression for the black community. Especially in a society dominated by racialized stereotypes, hiphop music focuses on themes like class, race, and gender to retain its realness. Record companies hire hiphop artists and decide how to sell them based on image. According to such companies, if a rapper has good street cred, has sold drugs, and has voiced these themes, he is real and thus marketable.

A Rapper's Responsibility: By Emma Betzig

HipHop music integrates many contemporary social issues. Take, for example, Kanye West’s album, The College Dropout. West’s music is filled with expletives, offensive names, and tough messages. When listening to HipHop, I often ask, “When is a song no longer a socially acceptable form of art?” Music is an art form, and art is created to evoke emotion and challenge its audience. However, musicians have responsibilities as celebrities; the words they rap are heard by millions of individuals. Unfortunately, many rap songs degrade women, make offensive language seem acceptable, and glorify violence. The first time I listened to West’s, “The New Workout Plan,” I was disgusted by his word choice and the song’s overall message. West instructs girls that they’ll get a man if they, “Give head, stop breathe, get up, check [their] weave[s]/Don't drop the blunt and disrespect the weed.” Through a deeper reading of the piece, one realizes that West is mocking those who view women in such a degrading way; however, many of his listeners take his lyrics literally. In his song, “Stronger,” West loosely uses the word, “dyke” to refer to a woman. By using such words, he deems them acceptable. While West frequently uses the word, “nigger” in his lyrics, it’s not viewed as hateful speech because he’s reclaiming the term. However, since West isn’t a gay woman, it’s difficult for him to reclaim the term, “dyke.” Rappers need to realize that their lyrics are frequently taken seriously, and have a large impact on society.

The Power of Music- Annie Lopez

The Power of Music

Black music, whether rap, hiphop, or spiritual blues, is a unique and exciting art form. For the past four years I was enrolled at Atlantic High School in South Florida. Sixty percent of my school’s student body was black. Walking down the hallways of the school, Tupac, Jay Z, and Kanye West were heard loud and clear playing from the headphones that hid underneath the hoods of my classmates’ sweatshirts. One day I was early for class and was watching some students walking down the hall. One young black male heard the hiphop music coming out of another student’s iPod and stopped to listen. Watching this, I realized the power that music can have in helping people share personal experiences. Within a few minutes, a group of young black students had gathered to listen to the music. The songs played an effective role in bringing together the black race because it allowed them to connect with the material in the tunes.

During school pep rallies, the most popular rap songs of the day blasted through the speakers in the gymnasium. The excitement that was manifested in the student body was not school spirit; it was an emotional connection that was shared among all races of the student body through the music. This energy was not limited to the black students, as it clearly affected students of all races. This simple example helps to reveal the power of music and the way it can enhance relationships among the races.

“Pushing the facts” – A Media Outlet Without an Agenda

Beyond the crude language and somewhat inappropriate content, hip-hop is a media outlet for most artists. As Lupe Fiasco raps in his song “Conflict Diamonds,” “I ain’t pushing an agenda homie/ I’m just pushing the facts.” Rappers use their music to truthfully inform the public about prevalent social issues.

Rappers aim to discuss and enlighten society about current events that the general public is unfamiliar with. One example of a recent issue rappers have attempted to raise awareness about is the exploitation of third world countries and accompanying atrocities. In 2005, Kanye West produced and released the song “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” in an attempt to inform society that the majority of money spent on diamonds finances the activities of warlords in many African countries. Immortal Technique’s song, “The 3rd World,” highlights the government corruption that plagues third world countries. Immortal Technique raps that he’s from a country where “practically every presidents a money launderer.”

Opponents of hip-hop often claim that rap encourages misogyny, racism, sexism, violence, homophobia, prejudice, and greed. Rappers, however, feel that hip-hop allows for the exploration of issues that many media outlets choose to ignore. In a congressional hearing in 2007, rapper and record producer Lavell “David Banner” Crump argued that rappers explore these controversial topics in their music to create awareness about these issues. Responsible rappers are obligated to accentuate these issues when they feel that most high-profile media outlets have a specific agenda that integrates biases and intentionally conceals information that supports the opposition.

Stuck on Hiphop

Today's society is indisputably influenced by Hiphop. Its artists have integrated themselves into modern society, becoming the culture of our generation. Many believe Hiphop's a style of music appealing only to certain classes and/or races. Such a musical/societal division is not present.

In high school stereotypical “gangsters” who listened to rap, were easy to spot. They sported Hipop fashion: baggy pants, extra large T's, and even “bling.” It was their clothes not race giving them the stereotype. While hardcore rockers and such were also an easy spot, they were clearly outnumbered. Hiphop has become a legitimate medium of expression. Wearing the newest Hiphop fashions, teenagers attempt to portray that, like those from the streets, they've had it rough and they do things for themselves. This is what draws in teenage listeners who usually wouldn't have interest in such beats and themes.

Hiphop represents the rebel in all teenagers allowing it to seize the party scene. It represents the controversial image teenagers take on to defy their parents. Teenagers party, and when they do, they listen to Hiphop. It sets them free. This hasn't gone unnoticed by other genres. Pop was quick to acquire some of Hiphop's beats and lyrical innuendos, to gain entrance to Hiphop's diverse cowed. Pop usually dominates the party scene, but with hip hop coming in they're integrating Hiphop to get back in. No matter where I go, it's Hiphop I hear. Whether integrated into other styles of music or on it's own, it's everywhere.

The Downfall of Kanye West

Kanye West is an award winning rapper, so why has his appearance in the news been negative recently? Ever since 2005, fans have watched his life take a downward spiral. During an NBC telethon, West ignored the teleprompter and claimed, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” immediately bringing West into the negative limelight, marking the disintegration of his reputation.

At the MTV Europe Music Awards, West got on stage and complained that his video should have won the award, though later blaming his actions on alcohol. West also made a scene at a show in 2007, in which he vowed he would never return to MTV because Britney Spears was chosen to open the show. He never apologized for these actions, and the media continued to portray him negatively. At the 2009 VMAs, Kanye took the stage as Taylor Swift was accepting her award, insisting that Beyoncé should have won the award over Swift. In an interview, Kanye stated, “I need to, after this, take some time off and just analyze how I’m going to make it through the rest of this life, how I’m going to improve.”

Although it took several incidents for West to realize his faults, he made the right decisions in rehabilitating his reputation. Through twitter.com, Kanye has been able to apologize for his actions and tweet about different songs he is currently creating. He continues to rebuild his reputation through his G.O.O.D. Friday releases and is making better choices when being confronted by media.

Similarities Across Music Genres: Kanye West and Taylor Swift

What Could America’s Golden Girl and America’s “Monster” Possibly Have in Common?

Each artist has sensational marketing skills and is prominent in their respective genre. Swift’s strong following is the result of her humble approach, and her 2010 Grammy for “Album of the year” proves her success.

For many Americans, hurting their sweetheart Taylor Swift was unacceptable. The public witnessed West behave bluntly at the 2009 VMAs, where he stole the microphone from Swift with an outburst stating that the award belonged to Beyonce. Even after the incident, he quickly regained popularity in hiphop.

However, marketing is no secret to West, either; he has been wearing the “villain” cloak for years. To promote his album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, he offers free tracks online, appears on talk shows, and overuses his Twitter account. Both singers used the incident as a successful marketing tool.

After the incident, West bombarded Twitter with remorseful ramblings, but Swift rebounded later with a new song, “Innocent.” In her lyrics, she refers to West by singing, “32, and still growin up now.” West and Swift both handled the matter immaturely, whether 32 or 20, but neither’s career was affected.

While hiphop and country are stereotyped as different, West and Swift both write honest lyrics. Each proves to be a true storyteller, and each maintains close family ties. West’s 2004 song “Family Business” and Swift’s 2008 song “The Best Day” both commemorate similar memories of valuable family experiences.

Whether you’re on Team Taylor or Team Kanye, check out the opposition sometime. They’re not as different as you think.

Beyond the Beat

Current rap moguls have begun to expand their influence beyond simply making music. As rap has gained popularity, the business of rap has grown exponentially. Not only do HipHop musicians focus on producing hit music, but they have begun to focus on expanding their influence beyond their lyrics. Artists today aim for additional ways to market themselves while still influencing popular culture, often reaching the most unlikely subjects. Last week I watched my 12 year old sister walk in from the mall wearing bright red shutter sunglasses. Before I had the chance to tell her how ridiculous she looked, I recognized the glasses as a symbol of Kanye West’s persona. Who else could have started a trend of wearing sunglasses with shutters covering your line of vision? None other than the infamous rap mogul Kanye West. An entire industry stems from rap musicians’ work, and not just from the money generated by their music. Rap artists have also taken hold of the fashion industry. Almost every prominent HipHop artist today has his or her own brand, clothing line, or perfume. Don’t believe me? See if any of these look familiar:
Apple Bottom Jeans (Nelly). Sean John (Diddy). Shady Limited (Eminem). Rocawear (Jay-Z). G-Unit (50 Cent). Baby Phat (Kimora Lee Simmons).

Exposure to rap’s corporations is inescapable because rappers constantly build their brands, customizing a public personality. Successful HipHop artists today are not only defined by the popularity of their music but also by the vastness of their corporations.

Hiphip: Behind the Lyrics

When I think about Kanye West, images of his “Good Life”, fame, drugs, flashy clothing, cars and houses come to mind. Stereotypes such as these depict hiphop as provocative and shallow. When hiphop is examined closely, however, listeners realize there is more to the music than being ‘gangsta.’ When the material facades are stripped away and the context of the lyrics is understood, listeners find that hiphop has depth. Hiphop studies is a new field that works to uncover the meaning behind the music, enabling listeners to dive into the lyrics of their favorite artists. Lyrics often contain themes of family, materialism, racism, and respect. By employing these themes into their lyrics, hiphop artists communicate important messages to their audiences.

Hiphop artists are far more intellectual than perceived. Their lyrics express protest against modern institutions. West, for example, raps about discrimination he faces at Sam’s Club in his song “Never Let Me Down.” His lyrics directly point out flaws in modern society; whites continue to discriminate against blacks. Hiphop is an accessible route for musicians to expose racism in our society. Similar to West, many other artists rap about the inequalities faced by blacks. Hiphop lyrics are an effective way of exposing social issues, and artists use them to create awareness of the existing social relations between blacks and whites. Lyrics make these issues heard and understood by a large audience. Hiphop proves itself to be a credible mechanism for social protest and a voice for change in the future.

Kanye, I Got Your Back

Kanye West’s infamous incidents include when he called George Bush a racist and interrupted Taylor Swift at the VMA’s. The storm of headlines and media coverage of Kanye is not surprising; his actions are newsworthy. Yet, it is surprising that Kanye continues to patronize the same media which drags him through the mud.

In Kanye’s latest interview on the Today Show, Matt Lauer repeatedly forced answers from Kanye including an apology to George Bush. Matt Lauer also played clips of Bush at inappropriate times to catch Kanye off guard. Kanye West voiced his frustration at Lauer’s behavior in his tweet, “HE TRIED TO FORCE MY ANSWERS. IT WAS VERY BRUTAL AND I CAME THERE WITH ONLY POSITIVE INTENT."

Yes, I understand that Kanye has My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy dropping the 22^nd and went on the Today Show for exposure, but when in his interview did Kanye get a chance to discuss his album? Was the interview ultimately worth it? I hope Kanye lives up to his tweet, “No more Bush questions…no more Taylor questions…” Kanye doesn’t need the media to be a commercial success as evidenced by his 1.6 million followers on Twitter.

Kanye, I’ve listened to some tracks on your album and know that the album will sell itself. I’m glad you stuck it to Matt Lauer along with the Today Show, and I hope you continue to stand up to the media by cancelling your remaining interviews. Kanye, I realize your disillusion with the media is legitimate.

HipHop and Crime

The strong relationship between hiphop artists and jail time is undeniable. I’m not saying that every hiphop artist has been, or will be, in jail. But there is a definite trend in the hiphop industry; the big names that come to mind are T.I., Lil’ Wayne, and Gucci Mane. T.I. was sentenced to 366 days in the slammer on felony weapon charges. Lil’ Wayne got one year in prison on gun possession charges. Gucci Mane served 90 days on drug possession charges, then again for assault, and is currently serving a six-month stay for violating probation.

Why is this a prominent trend?

One big factor is skin color. I do not think that every black person is involved in crime, nor do I think every black celebrity supports crime. However, due to crime involvement, many black celebrities get put in this negative light. The fact is that racism still exists today. It’s just ignored. The law will make an example out of a celebrity’s mistakes for black adolescents, while the media is ready to report controversial stories for higher ratings. For these motives, the obvious target is a hiphop artist that screwed up. They’re idolized by inner city people and their race creates controversy.

Celebrities shouldn’t get preferential treatment for breaking the law. However, the law should not be harder on black celebrities. The system shouldn’t use mistakes as a chance to make an example out of black celebrities and the media shouldn’t feed off the story just for money.

The Blogosphere

Jenna Rousseau

English 125.093

November 2010

Brown

Welcome to the Blogosphere

Online social networks have revolutionized communication. TV and radio segments can have millions of comments within 30 seconds of airing. This instantaneous cyber conversation can make or break someone's image. A perfect example of this is how Kanye West repaired his reputation after the Taylor Swift incident at last year’s VMAs. It has been more than a year, and West is still dealing with criticism about that night. After laying low for a while, Kanye decided to make his recovery—as a public figure and an artist—using Twitter to connect with haters and fans alike. His first tweets boasted about the realness of his Twitter. After telling followers the tweets belonged to him (not a PR rep), Kanye apologized to Taylor Swift for his actions at the VMAs. These tweets were just the beginning of Kanye's quest to get his name back in the limelight. He proceeded to use his huge Twitter following to advertise his free downloads from the album he is currently working on. He tweets about all of his new songs, release dates, and album artwork. By doing this, Kanye encourages feedback from his fans and engages many of them in the greater conversation of HipHop. With free music and apologies, West has been successful in creating a new image for himself via Twitter. He denounced the stigma that he is a jerk by recognizing his outrageous actions and making himself and his music accessible to fans. This recovery would not have been possible without Twitter.

Who Da Best?

The hip-hop world is full of artists claiming to be the king of the rap game. Kanye West, Ludacris, Drake, Jay-Z, and even “Crank Dat” Soulja Boy have boasted about being the best rapper alive. However, only two rappers in today’s world can even be considered to sit on this so-called throne—Eminem and Lil’ Wayne. Both have sold millions of records. Both have a long list of dedicated followers. They are even friends and have collaborated on the songs “No Love” and “Drop The World.” But after taking a closer look at the two, the answer is pretty clear: Eminem is the ruler of the hip-hop empire.

Eminem’s third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP, released in 2000, is the second highest selling rap album ever released. In its first week alone, it sold more than 1.79 million copies in the US, while Lil’ Wayne’s best selling album, The Carter III, only sold 1.0 million copies in its first week. Eminem has eleven lifetime Grammy Awards, is the best selling artist of the decade, and was named Artist of the Decade by Billboard magazine. As for Lil’ Wayne? No qualifications of his even come close to matching those of Eminem.

Some may argue that Lil’ Wayne puts out more tracks than anyone, that he works harder than any other rapper, and that his rhymes are genius. But Eminem is a lyrical mastermind, a modern-day John Lennon. He is, as he rightly boasts, “The most meanest MC on this earth.”

“Give head, stop breathe, get up, check your weave” – Hip Hop’s Portrayal of Women

They say that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This lyrical naming and shaming of women in HipHop music poses a strong cultural challenge to feminism as women are portrayed as hoes, bitches, and hood rats that are obsessed with everything flossy. These offensive messages are alarming. In these lyrics, it is a badge of honor for men to financially, physically, and emotionally abuse women.

HipHop lyrics reflect these street norms, but artists do not exclusively drive the content of their work. The entertainment industry plays a role in generating and rewarding sexist lyrics. In response to record label pressures, many rappers abandon social or political themes to focus on what sells: money and sex. In his song “Thangs Change,” Too $hort raps about how commercial demands encourage him to abuse women: “‘Cause I get paid real good to talk bad about a bitch/ And you bought it, so don’t be mad I got rich.” Kanye West’s song, ‘‘Gold Digger,’’ criticizes women who seduce men to get their money. Such public affirmation stereotypes women.

Society plays a role in the process of rewarding misogynistic representations of women in HipHop. The HipHop industry has a powerful influence on American culture. As a white suburbanite and a listener of HipHop, I am part of a generation that uses music to vicariously experience ghetto culture. Such cross-cultural “learning” is dangerously biased by the stereotypical representations of Black Americans. We can all take the rap for that…

Kanye Making Headlines by Chels

From a controversial interview to a controversial album cover, Kanye West is making headlines. In an interview with Matt Lauer of NBC’s Today Show, Kanye West initially went to apologize to President Bush for claiming that Bush “doesn’t care about black people,” in 2005. Bush recently told Lauer that West’s remark was one of “the most disgusting moments in my presidency.” Bush’s remark seems a bit exaggerated, but so does Kanye’s reaction to his experience on Today. Lauer played excerpts of his interview with Bush and the VMA clip to prompt West’s responses; this extremely insulted West who interupted, “Yo, how am I supposed to talk? I’m hearing it when I’m supposed to talk.” Lauer obligingly turned down the audio; however, West tweeted angrily about the event: “HE TRIED TO FORCE MY ANSWERS. IT WAS VERY BRUTAL...” West’s apology to Bush and Swift on the Today Show seemed sincere, however, his negative tweets: unnecessary.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652027/20101111/west_kanye.jhtml

Twitter was buzzing on October 18th when Kanye posted explicit cover artwork for his new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The painting, by George Condo, depicts “a nude, demonically grimacing West reclining... while a naked winged woman... straddles him” (mtv.com). Kanye tweeted, “Yoooo they banned my album cover!!!” According to Los Angeles Times, West was “strongly urged” to use a different cover image. My... Fantasy came out on November 9th to rave reviews. Rolling Stone calls it his best album to date; a “rock-star manifesto for a downsizing world.” (Jann S. Wenner. Rolling Stone). http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/45342/232350

Kanye Raps about Family

Due to his newer material and media coverage, rapper Kanye West’s popularity has recently increased. However, The College Dropout is where he began. The College Dropout’s subject matter focuses on Kanye’s personal life, hardships, survival in the inner city, and values: religion, truth, and family.

A value of HipHop culture that Kanye’s album touches upon is family. “Family Business” integrates this significant topic. West’s album tells us family is important and shows how HipHop takes “family” to different levels. “Family Business” shows in the inner city you have your actual family to whom you are very close; however, you also have your “family” or posse. Your blood-related family are the people you love, care about, support, and survive with daily. Kanye raps, “Come on, let’s take a family Gammy picture” (“Family Business”). Kanye wants to let his family and listeners know how important his family is. He is trying to give credit for his Grammy to his family by asking them to be in his picture. Kanye feels his family supports him and they deserve credit for his Grammy. “Family” has another meaning. The people you hang out with and roll with, that is your “family.” These people are whom you associate and survive with on the streets. When Kanye raps, “…my niggas from the Chi, that’s my family dog/…my niggas ain’t my guys, they my family dog,” he is saying his friends are not just his guys they are his family (“Family Business”). Although they aren’t blood-related, to him they are still family.

ill, not [sic]...an intro in 250 words

The English word “sic” is of Latin origin and means “intentionally so written.” In formal writing, it is placed in brackets after a problematic word or phrase to indicate a quotation has been transcribed exactly as it appears in its source material. A highly circumspect writer might quote:

            See now we smart [sic]. (Kanye West, “We Don’t Care.”)

When we write about hiphop, the convention [sic] reveals the power relationship between “standard” and other forms of English. One vocabulary deems another incorrect. Thus the line quoted above, which appears exactly as written in the liner notes to The College Dropout, is denigrated by the insertions of [sic]. The sic’s say, “It is not me the author who is making these grammatical errors but rather some less intelligent or educated person I'm quoting and I want to make sure you don’t confuse us.” Well, that’s sick.

Throughout this blog you’ll notice bloggers using the singular, non-hyphenated word “hiphop”—without the [sic]. This linguistic experiment is based on the primacy of the web search in our everyday lives, the desire to keep track of our hips and our hops, and (most recently) the popularity of the #hiphop hashtag on Twitter.

If the revolution is not televised, we may need to search for it.

These posts were written by the talented freshman (and one fine sophomore) of English 125, “College Writing on The College Dropout,” an introductory composition course at the University of Michigan. They represent earnest inquisitions into hiphop music and culture.