Final Thoughts on Hip-Hop

The adventure of exploring hip hop and its worldwide affects has come to an end[@ least in the ANT 3085 class]. So many open discussions have taken place in the classroom and beyond, on what exactly hip hop means and how the perfomances, dress code, dances, DJs are are all powerful mechanisms that have shaped and formed hip hop into what it is today.More importantly we have discovered that a more influential factor on hip hop is Web 2.0. It is thru the use of blogs and YouTube videos that we assess a more profound understanding of hip hop on a global scale. It is truly an universal language that extends beyond 'Representn your Hood' or 'Keepn it Real'. For many hip hop is the microphone for the unheard, the spotlight for the unnoticed,the recording of the indescribable.

On a Personal Note:::
This course was an eye-opener on how hip-hop has surpassed so many other music genres in comparison to its authenticity,significance and inspiration.Hip Hop is unnoticeably reflected in many lifestyles [including my own ;-)] which fortifies its role in urban culture. It is the subtle along with apparent aspects that fosters the life of hip hop; yeah hip hop IS NOT dead.



The video below is 'My Props' to Hip Hop for staying in the game for so long & continuously creating channels for a productive change..

Blogs & You Tube { the combination is phenomenal}

The vivid connection an individual makes between his life or surrounding environment to the topic of discussion is the primary characteristic that makes a blog appealing to the reader. Discovering that one event that aided the individual to come into terms of what hip-hop is and verbally expressing how unconsciously their actions complemented to the culture of hip-hop, is the feature that brings spark to a blog post. These life-based connections were present in some of the blogs that caught my attention, but postings that were swamped with many details eliminated some essence of the blog.

The use of You Tube videos in a blog post allows the reader to get a visual perception of the writer’s thoughts on a particular topic. Not all writers are able to clearly express themselves so that readers of a blog can grasp their viewpoint. Adding a You Tube video to a blog not only allows the user to associate an idea with an image, but creates access for the reader to see how others visually socialize images with a specific topic. YouTube is the source of a diverse knowledge in which many collaborate to create a productive learning environment for its watchers. Posting a You Tube video to a blog entices the reader by creating an opportunity to discover the connection between the passage and the video.

Majority of the stories on the blogs were interchangeable in the sense they relate to a memorable event. Many stories were based off of the moment the writer became fond of hip-hop or developed an understanding of what hip-hop was. While other stories took a rhythmical form and the writer articulated the emotional relationship cultivated with hip-hop and its artists. Blogging is an attribute that allows readers to further expand their perception and critical analysis of hip-hop. For example, blogs composed by music artists allows fans and other spectators to really understand the aspect of music that appeals to the artists themselves. A blog allows a reader to see how others define hip-hop and creates an transition to allow the reader to think outside the box of what hip hop is.

*** Those who tell stories....Rule Society!!! ***

"In the MC battle, victory belongs to the slickest dealer of disrespect. Take this tendency to treat insult as blood felony and then pair it with the wit, invention, and genius of the negro verbal tradition and the result is either a high-stakes art competition, where victory belongs to him of the swiftest tongue, or a prelude to a black homicide. Or Both Simultaneously " - - - - -


This quote gave me a flashback when the freestyle battle aspect of hip-hop really gained my interest. It was back in my high school days when it was a friday requirement to be at someone's home between 7 -7:30 pm to catch freestyle fridays on 106 & Park {AJ & Free were holding it down }.. There were two rappers that really had me and my friends going "Postaboy" and "Jin". If we couldn't physically be together to watch, we would have each other on 5-way while the battles took place. To hear these guys rip their opponents to shreds was just amazing. They would take punchline after punchline and commit verbal manslaughter. You could always tell the difference between those who wrote their rhymes at homes, and those who came up with the slickest, ill, ego-crushing bars on the spot. There were countless arguments between who definitely deserved to win the battles. But whent it came to Postaboy & Jin; there was no argument there, they deserved it hands down. On the following mondays during lunchbreak we would have the wanna be rappers come downstairs to the cafeteria; and try to imitate the victorious Champion or imitate the lyrically decapitated Loser.{Those were the good ol' days ;-) }



"Postaboy"

Watch more My Video videos on AOL Video

"Jin"




Sited Sources:
Cobb, Jelani. To the Break of Dawn, A freestyle on the hip hop aesthetic. Chapter 3'Word of Mouth'. Page 80,Paragraph3

Assignment 5 {Videos from Jelani Cobb}

Title:Albert King - 1981 - Born Under A Bad Sign
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKY8KIt9kqc
Duration: 5 mins/ 54 secs
From: killerclam
Date added: January 09, 2007
Tags:
Albert King Born Under Bad Sign Electric Blues

1.)This video was posted and created by a fellow youtube user named killerclam from the United States.
2.)What attracts the viewer to this video is that you get a chance to see a famous king of the blues, perform his song'Born under a Bad Sign' live.It gives the viewer the opportunity to see a part of history exactly when it was taking place. Also, the bright stage lights and Albert King's unique look guitar can grab one's attention as well
3.) Other viewers see this video simply as a piece of a soulful masterpiece. You can clearly see that Albert King has the skills and beyond which made him earn the title of King.The song contained simple and catchy lyrics, and his guitar playing skills are remarkable.
4.)This video portrays what the Blue's is all about. Yes it is known for being depressing music, in which the artists vocally express the hardships and downfalls of life. But this music genre has so much more, hidden deep inside the lyrics was a message of hope and encouragement.
5.) This message was sent as channel to allow many to experience the sounds of Albert King visually.The user killerclam has many live performances posted on his page, so his agenda maybe to give viewers the opportunity to see performances that they cannot physically.


Title:MOS DEF Ms. Fat Booty (1999) High Quality
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1dZQDpHA44
Duration: 4 mins/ 25 secs
From: BoomBoxxMixtape
Date added: August 02, 2008
Tags: MOS DEF REFLECTION ETERNAL MS. FAT BOOTY RAWKUS BOOMBOXX CLASSIC HIP HOP RAP GOLDEN ERA 90s HIGH QUALITY

1.)This video was created by a record label BoomBOxxMixtape from Germany.
2.)The first thing that would attract a viewer to this video is the artist himself 'Mos Def', he is highly liked in the hip-hop game for his nice lyrics and head bangn beats. Secondly, the video shows the words to the song. Many viewers may like this aspect because it not only helps them to understand what Mos Def is saying, but also gives them the opportunity to rap along. What is probably most attracting is The Beat.
3.)Some viewer's felt that this song was no big deal and that he copied off of Slick Rick's song 'Mona Lisa'. But these viewers may not understand that hip-hop is all about sampling. Artists take bits and pieces of someone else's song and create their own creative piece of work.Yes in the video Mos Def fell in love with a stripper, but that was a demo of the love situations that fellas were and still are dealing with.{T-Pain..I'm in Love w/ a Stripper}
4.)This video is a good example of the few hip-hop songs that exist in which rappers express the pain of being left by a woman. Many rappers neglect the pain of love, and Mos Def was not one to be included amongst this group. He was able to sum up his motions of not only being played by a female, but finding out that the female who had him caught up was a stripper.
5.)This video was posted as part of the 1990's video collection that the user BoomBoxxMixtape has created. This user may feel that the best hip-hop videos can be found in the 90's and therefore want to grant his viewers the chance to see these amazing contributions to hip-hop.



Title:2Pac - Brenda's Got A Baby
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl54ABY8VgY
Duration: 3 mins/56 secs
From:bgjoker
Date added: February 12, 2006
Tags:
2Pac Tupac Music Video

1.) This video was posted by a youtube user name Bgjoker.
2.) The main thing that attracts the viewers is the numerous messages that are attached to this video. Young girls getting pregnant, single-mothers making money by any means necessary , parents not owning up to their responsibility of raising their children.
3.) The viewers of this video see this video as a tribute to 2Pac,this video is much more than that. Hip-hop generally did not discuss how women were sexually abused and exploited.But 2Pac's video was an exception to the rule, and he discussed how the mistreatment of women affects the community.
4.) This video represents what hip-hop is about, rappers discussing their troubles of their own personal life and of their community.Its a knowledgeable resource for outsiders to become aware of the hardhships or attributes of the residents of a
community.
5.) The user bgjoker has a collection of all 2Pac's videos. He may have posted this particular video' Brenda's Got a Baby' to allow his audience to become aware of what is taking place in some neighborhoods. In addition to inspire them to watch some of 2Pac's other videos and decipher what message he is trying to relay to his listeners.

Toni Blackman

"Loose the fear of making a fool of yourself"
--T.B.

We utilized a different method of learning in hip hop class today. We diverted away from the videos on YouTube and had a actual freestyle artist talk to us and demonstrate the notion of improvisation. You already know i was a bit nervous because I knew that eventually i would be standing in her spot, improvising on a topic{and I'm no rapper}. But it wasn't that bad, once you become comfortable with your surroundings and loose the thinking mentality..what if they laugh @ me?...what if some people think I'm a fool?...you'll be alright;-).

There was something about her overall swagga that was appealing. She was confident in everything that she was discussing, yet I did not get that sense of cockiness.That's what I like, a woman that knows her stuff and is not afraid to express her thoughts{hi-5 to ya girl!!}

Clap up to professor G. for bringing this speaker into class.....{Anticipating on the nxt surprise=-) }

BLOGGING ON COBB 2 & 3

Chapter 2:

"Hip Hop artists have more musical knowledge than any generation before us because the nature of hip hop is to sample and loop and build on the past. And the more you get invested in hip hop the more you know about music in general"
-- Talib Kweli

This passage here really explains the true essence of what hip hop is. Its not just about wanting to become the original/exclusive rapper and/or Dj with the great sense of creativity. Its about taking piecs of history and remixing it to have a greater sense of meaning to the present and future generation. Hip Hop is about exploring all genres of music and finding a connection between the two. Overall hip hop is not just about head bangn beats, hip-hop is a knowledgeable resource. Hip hop is the triumphant tool used to empower the minds of youth and create a stronger sense of well-being.



Chapter 3:

"In hip hop respect is the ultimate medium of exhange, in battling the rapper is gambling with the most valuable commodity available:one's rep and the respect that flows from it"
-- Jelani Cobb


What is the one main thing that artists yearn to have and demand to keep? RESPECT......The high level of respect a rapper receives after he rhymes his lyrical flow is what fuels him to create more. Respect is what hip hop thrives from, creating a culture were the contributors learn to repect each other skills.Yes there are a few that go against and disrespct{diss} others rappers in the industry. But that creates a survival of the fittest atmosphhere within hip hop. Rappers and MCs discover witty and victorious ways to reclaim their level of respect and re-establish their rep within the rap game.The audience of hip hop has an high anticapation of what will be done next, who will try to reclaim the triumphant trophy? This is what attracts so many observers to hiphop, and eventually motivates the observers to become participants; the battle of RESPECT and the maintenance of one's Rep.

Assignment 8{Revised Literacy Questions}

Title :Beat This! A Hip Hop History(3/6)
URL :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5onR7VZQgPk&feature=related
Date added: 2008 March 08
No. of Ratings :10
No. of Views :2,624
No. of Video Responses :1
No. of Comments :7
Category :People & Blogs
Tag 1: Hip Hop
Tag 2:Documentary
Tag 3: DJ
Subscribers: 202
Channel Views: 3,074



1.Who sent this message? What is the message that commenter think is being conveyed?
This message was sent by BoomBapArchive.Commenters feel that this video shows the origin of Afrika Bambaataa in the Hip Hop industry and how the zooloo nation connects to hip hop.

2. What technologies (visual, linguistic, kinetic or electronic) are used to attract viewers attention?
One technology that the video uses to catch the viewers attention is the narrator, he rhymes while he is the talking about what is taking place in the video.This gives the audience a little taste of rapping,mixing(turntables) and dancing{all important components of hip hop}. Also Afrika Bambaataa dress code definitely catches the viewers attention, his unique style is intriguing and captivating.

3. How are other users understanding this message different than you? Quote 1-2 specific examples and attribute user name and location.
One user Stepasaur from the united kingdom said that 'the video shows the culture of hip hop, but many in today's generation are not into that'. I have a different viewpoint in the matter of our generation and hip hop history. Yes, we may not be interested in how hip-hop was formed and who were the pioneers of hip hop. Yet we do give interest in old school hip hop to apply the different techniques used, put out little twist on it, and create something more enticing to the audience. When you ask current rappers who there inspirations were, nine times out of ten they mention rappers and MCs from the old school segment of hip hop. So the present generation is not totally oblivious to the culture of hip hop,we just take different important aspects of it and build our knowledge, instead of embracing the whole time-line and many contributors.

4. What values/lifestyles are represented in or omitted from this video and how?
The cultural value of hip hop was represented in this video,hip hop was a way to fight yet create peace. People fought back in their lyrics, dancing battles , turntables wars. They no longer used the actual notion of violence to physically express their anger. They instead channelled that anger to something more productive and creative.

5. How does this video convey ideals or aspects of hip-hop that you have been reading about in this class?
This video portrays the Zooloo nation concepts{Knowledge,Wisdom,Understanding,Fun}, which are all ancetdotes to violence.Creating a environment where the youth can gain knowledge and be entertained or entertaining was critical to decrease the violence that was taking place within so many neighborhoods.