Tuesday, May 10, 2011

NEW COVER LETTER

Rufus Osby
750 Beythe Ln.
Vacaville Ca. 95688
707-628-6501

GRIN Publishing GmbH
Marienstr. 17
80331 Munich
Germany
+49 89-550559-0
info@grin.com
To whom it may concern,

I am seeking publication for an essay I wrote titled “Hip Hop Revolution.” The essay is written by I, Rufus Osby and consist of 2,083 words. This essay was written to produce knowledgable information on the genre Hip-Hop. Also, this essay was meant to enlighten people of the power in the art form Hip-Hop. The work I am presenting to you is for publication only. I think my article is a great piece of writing that gives the reader broad in depth explanation of the genre and also explains the maturation of Hip-Hop through the process of globalization.
My essay “Hip Hop Revolution,” explains the origins of the genre and also gives a brief explanation of the founders and co-founders of this art. Enlightening people on the evolution of Hip-Hop and how it has given people throughout the world the power to express themselves. In the U.S Hip-Hop started as something that was fun and vibrant, but slowly grew into something representing self-hatred. In other countries Hip-Hop may not represent self-hatred, but still contains the same element in the power of expression.
After writing this essay, the feedback I received was positive and also critical on the corrections that were needed. Carla a previous reader of my article stated,” I was pleased with how the writer used examples and quotes from other sources to give the reader a better understanding of the information presented”. Through this publication I would like to enlighten the readers on the genre Hip-Hop, hoping to get people to see the art in its true fashion.
First, I would like to thank you for your time and consideration. Second, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to spread my knowledge of this beautiful art that has been used as a means of self expression and communication in the previous decades. Also it's accepted as a great opportunity to present to you this essay. If you have any questions or feedback please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Rufus Osby
750 Beythe ln.
Vacaville ca
(707)628-6501
Rufus.osby@yahoo.com

COVER LETTER

Rufus Osby
750 Beythe Ln.
Vacaville Ca. 95688
707-628-6501

Adam Haupt
04 Mount Auburn Street, 3R
Cambridge MA 02138
617.384.8340
ahaupt@fas.harvard.edu

Dear Adam,

       I am seeking publication for an essay I wrote titled “Hip Hop Revolution.” The essay is written by I, Rufus Osby and consist of 2,083 words. This essay was written to produce knowledgable information on the genre Hip-Hop. Also, this essay was meant to enlighten people of the power in the art form Hip-Hop. The work I am presenting to you is for publication only. I think my article is a great piece of writing that gives the reader broad in depth explanation of the genre and also explains the maturation of Hip-Hop through the process of globalization.
       My essay “Hip Hop Revolution,” explains the origins of the genre and also gives a brief explanation of the founders and co-founders of this art. Enlightening people on the evolution of Hip-Hop and how it has given people throughout the world the power to express themselves. In the U.S Hip-Hop started as something that was fun and vibrant, but slowly grew into something representing self-hatred. In other countries Hip-Hop may not represent self-hatred, but still contains the same element in the power of expression.
       After writing this essay, the feedback I received was positive and also critical on the corrections that were needed. Carla a previous reader of my article stated,” I was pleased with how the writer used examples and quotes from other sources to give the reader a better understanding of the information presented”. Through this publication I would like to enlighten the readers on the genre Hip-Hop, hoping to get people to see the art in its true fashion.
       First, I would like to thank you for your time and consideration. Second, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to spread my knowledge of this beautiful art that has been used as a means of self expression and communication in the previous decades. Also it's accepted as a great opportunity to present to you this essay. If you have any questions or feedback please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Rufus Osby
750 Beythe ln.
Vacaville ca
(707)628-6501
Rufus.osby@yahoo.com

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Rufus Osby

5-1-11

Eng 4

Mr. Stein


                                                   Hip hop Revolution Outline

  1. INTRO:
A. When Hip Hop was first created in the inner city no one could have imagined the impact that it has had on the world today. A fun a vibrant style of music has emerged from the streets to millions of people and cultures around the world. A single person or group can hold the power to grasp the attention of thousands of people through the art of music.
B. Hip-Hop is a style of popular music of U.S. Black and Hispanic origin, featuring rap with an electronic backing. Hip-Hop has transformed from a fun and vibrant hobby to a highly recognizable culture that represents violence, integration, abandonment, alienation, self hatred and yes; a ticket out of poverty. Hip-Hop is a form of expression that finds its roots embedded deep within ancient African culture and oral tradition. Throughout history here in America there has always been some form of verbal acrobatics or jousting involving rhymes within the Afro-American community. Today, two groups exist that are proven pioneers of their craft. Global entertainers such as The Black Eyed Peas have positively effected the lives of many different cultures around the world, while Black Noise pioneered the art of Hip-Hop in South Africa's Cape Town.
BODY:
A.”Hip-Hop is a form of popular music that originated in the inner-city amongst the African American youth in the 1970's, drawing on rap, funk, street sounds, fragments of melody and rhythm borrowed from the previous recorded sources.”(Sharon Anderson) Across the globe Hip-Hop is being used self expression, communication, and self identity. In South Africa during a time where legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party of South Africa, a group of south African began to use hip hop as a form of coded communication, self expression of how they felt about what was happening to them and a way to have something in common to identify with. Because of the continued struggle for Africans in South America the origination of hip hop stays intact and the form of its use stays closely related to the underling foundations and origination of the US hip hop.
B. In the US hip hop has become an image of flashiness, bi g chains, expensive cars, women, and a way to go from rags to riches. It has also incorporated rap violence and self hatred.
  1. Although some may seem hip hop as a main stream culture that promotes violence and fast money there are other who use thesis form of music as self expression and political and culture awareness.
  2. Examples of hip taking on a negative image within the US would be the academy award winning song being “it hard out here for a pimp,”. Another example is the use of music in conception with negative images and violence on media devices
C. According to political figures especially those from other countries feel that hip hop is used as a slang language that has no meaning and not significance to the South African people.
  1. The world. H, I, P, H, O, P, Highly Intelligent People, Healing Our Planet. Is the philosophy of South African who sue hip hop to communicate and remain strong through the struggle of slavery, poverty and political dictatorship.
  2. In the year of 1985 to 1990 hip hop was used as a tool to help deal with and communicate how they felt about Nelson Mandela and his freedom.

D.The Black Eyed Peas Hip-hop group consists of four members, Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, and Fergie. Together these four unique individuals forged together their talents to form one of today's most successful Hip-Hop groups that reached an international audience.One brainy leader, one breakdancer/martial artist, one Filipino MC, and one rock chick ex-meth addict.Like a true visionary Will flipped these deficits into a global domination scheme.(Rollingstone pg.25) The Black Eyed Peas set out to make music that was pumping excitement,dance music, and a message of peace and love.(Chuck Norris)

E.In South Africa's Cape town the Prophets Of The City(POC) are known for being one of the pioneering goups that established hip hop in South Africa. They are composed of about eight members, though the exact membership fluctuates frequently; these include Ishmael Morabe (vocals), Mark Heuvel (dance), Shaheen Ariefdien, Ramone and DJ Ready D. Their style uses elements of hip hop musicreggae and traditional African rhythms.(Wikipedia) After their first release OUR WORLD The Prophets hit the road, so to speak, and never looked back. Album after album, tour after tour, local and international acclaim and recognition saw them become South Africa's first genuine popular music export and definitely the most successful and recognised Rap / Hip Hop outfit this country has ever produced.They toured against Drugs, played Nelson Mandela's Inauguration, performed alongside James Brown, The Fugees, Public Enemy, Quincy Jones and countless others.(www.music.org.za)
CONCLUSION:
A.Hip-Hop is a style of popular music of U.S. Black and Hispanic origin, featuring rap with an electronic backing. Hip-Hop has grown from a fun exciting hobby to a form of music that represents violence, sex, drugs, and self-hatred. Hip-Hop Is a form of self expression that is embedded deep within the African culture and tradition. Throughout history here in America there has always been some form of jousting or verbal rhyming used as a form of self-expression. Today there is two Hip-Hop groups that have perfected the craft of international entertaining; The Black Eyed Peas, and Prophets Of The City (POC). These two culturally different groups used the power of music and self-expression to impact and effect the lives of millions of people.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Revised Hip Hop Negative Effects

Rufus Osby
03/07/11
English 4
Mr. Stein
Hip Hop Negative Effects

I made a sharp left turn, And there was my crew lookin’ for a def jam in order to rock/ Because it’s gonna hit the fan at twelve o’clock/ Then there was this fly girl, she said she wanted to know/ Why are you all dressed up with no place to go? She said she’d take us to place where we could hear some hip-hop/ But little did we know she meant the house that rocked; (Grand Master Flash).

This is how hip-hop was stated on the streets and in the neighborhoods of urban America. When Hip Hop was born and wrapped by the founders, I bet they would have never imagined that it would be where it is today. What fueled their creativity was pure passion for an art-form that they themselves created, something many of today’s artist can’t relate to. For example in 2006 the academy awards-winning song was, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”. The lyrics are, “It’s hard out here for a pimp, when you tryin to get the money for the rent, with the Cadillac and gas money spent, it’s a whole lot of women jumpin ship;” (Three 6 Mafia and Cedric Coleman). Lyrics such as these are what has become the norm in today’s Hip-hop culture. It’s as if artists that are the most regressive are the ones that are being highly regarded these days. It has transformed from a fun and vibrant hobby to a highly recognizable culture that represents violence, integration, abandonment, alienation and elf-hatred. Very few have held on to the expression and art that it was intended to represent.
There are many definitions and thoughts on the origination of hip-hop. According to Source Magazine’s 2009 September issue titled “Hip-Hop is dead” hip-hop is a culture and form of ground-
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breaking music and self expression. If the words of “hip-hop” are taken apart, one may grasp a better understanding of the meaning. Hip means to know. It’s a form of intelligence; to be “hip” is to be up-date and relevant. Hop is a form of movement. You can’t just observe a hop, you have to hop up and do it. Therefore, hip-hop is more than music, it is knowledge and movement working as one to produce intelligent and/or relevant movement through expression. The origins of the term hip-hop are questioned, but many attribute it to the late Cowboy of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five due to the fact that they were the first and only hip-hop group ever to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; (Ricks 34).
In today’s times, hip-hop has changed its face in society and the meaning that it holds. In today’s popular culture, hip-hop is typically perceived as a form of rebellion. One of the major ways that this genre is used to portray this message is through movies. In the film Heat starring Al Pacino and Val Kilmer, there is a specific shooting scene that’s quite intense. As it leads into the bank robbery scene, a consistent thump coming from a slow melodic hip-hip instrumental can be hear. The Instrumental ability to slow and speed up changes the mood of the film. However, what changes the emotions of the viewer is the type of music that is playing and what that music represents. When a bank robbery is taking place, the director of the film does not play up-lifting music such as gospel. Rather, he adds hip-hop music to help exude what he believes the viewers will perceive as violent, ultimately creating a more believable scene. According to Greg Tate in a 2005 article The Village Voice, “like me and those disturbed by the violent, misogynistic and self-destructive lyrics in hip hop’s music,” (64). Since the hip-hop culture has developed the image of violence and self-hatred, it will be hard to convince the producers to use other genre in their scenes if they want to make the scene and the movie appealing to the viewer. According to Spike Lee in Vibe magazine’s 2010 June issue, “Using hip-hop or rap in a movie is not to betray the violence that is occurring, but to appreciate the art of music and film coming together. The art of both elements completing each other is an appreciation; not a depreciation
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and representation of the violence or degrading content in the fictional film;” (53). He also goes to talk about the hip-hop music and the genre in which it comes from is an area for mass interpretation of the listener. More over ,violence and negative images hip-hop has represented throughout the media and in movies can also be seen on T.V. I find this to be unfortunate for current and future generations.
Its almost as if hip-hop was given to humanity as a gift, but somehow it ended up in the wrong hands and has caused a widespread misconception of a misrepresented culture. In today’s urban American culture, music videos have mad a dramatic change. They’re going backwards instead of progressing in terms of modeling a sustainable lifestyle. The music used to be about making things better. Once the gangster revolution hit, the culture flipped and everything changed. It used to talk about a lot of the same subjects: survival, love, friends, but in a different way. Survival used to be about the struggle from poverty and oppression. Today, it represents survival form gangs, violence, and drugs. Love is not about family anymore, but more about the love for money care and “bitches”. Friends are not friends from school, but rather friends from the block or the jail cell. Each music video exploits this. It gives a false sense of hope to the viewer of what life is really like, and how they should feel about it. This is important because studies show that music has a very profound affect on ones mood. Music, according to Donald F. Roberts in the book The Effects of Violent Music on Adolescents state, “For most young people, music use is driven primarily by the motivation to control mood and enhance emotional states. Music’s ability to communicate emotion and influence moof has been widely noted; even preschoolers and infants as young as eight months can reliably discriminate ‘happy’ and ‘sad’ music,” (4). If this is the case, watching this type of music on television changes the mood of each viewer to a place of violence and the degrading of one’s character.
Why is watching it a bigger impact than listening? It’s because when one listens to lyrics it leaves room for interpretation and the visual images and narratives of music videos clearly have more potential to for attitudes, values, or perceptions of social reality than does the music alone. Because
osby 3
they add additional information and rely less on imagination, watching and not merely listening means that music video viewing needs less intelligibility and interpretation can vary across different listeners, much less interpretation is needed to understand a violent image. Even if the word that is used is not understood like “my heat,” which will normally be understood but it’s difficult to miss such visual standbys as threatening displays of weapons or fighting. The meaning of the song as shown in the video can become self-reinforcing---if the viewers listen to the song after seeing the video, they are likely to flash back to the visual images from the video. All of these combined affects have a huge impact in the less monitored sectors of media such as the World Wide Web.
The use of Hip-Hop on the web almost ties exactly into the use of Hip-Hop in T.V. and movies. Internet is a data base and source for many projects and albums streaming and video website. Sites like Youtube, Pandora, and WorldStarHipHop allow artist throughout the world a chance to be seen and heard. As a personal example, a simple search on Youtube will bring up a Rap video I shot in 2007. It created a buzz around town and even throughout the entire California Central Valley. After the word spread that I had good lyrics and could hold a crowd, I began to get shows. With the Internet being so uncensored, it can many affects on the individual audience members. Mixing the violent language and the visual images reinforces the negativity, violence and rebellious nature of the genre. However, due to the vast size of the Internet, it has become more possible to find hip-hop in it’s positive form. On sites such as SaveTheMusic, hip-hop is used as a positive light, giving people the opportunity to express themselves through music and create positive emotions and feelings to those watching. Although if researched there are just as many positive hip-hop artists as there are negative ones, due to the main stream culture and the revenue created that is created from playing negative hip-hop, positive artists have an up-hill battle trying to get film and/or video time.
Hip-Hop has transformed for being a fun vibrant hobby to a highly recognizable culture that represents violence, integration, self hatred, and self-destruction. They way Hip-Hop is used in relation
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to film and action scenes portrays an image of violence, sex, or drugs. In reaction, the media and t.v. shows continue to play music videos that exploit these negative images to the public. The Internet continues to give artists marketability exposure and networking; a road that can lead to riches and fame. The Internet also streams some the most graphic uncensored videos in the Hip-Hop genre. Saying that, no matter if hip-hop is the essence of your soul and being which carries all of your emotions and life to the world to hear and experience, or if it is the way to get rich quick by joining the mainstream and creating music that depicts violence and drugs. Each song and video is the image of someone’s story. Maybe instead of trying to hide the negative, we should embrace it and realize that some people do live these lives and are merely expressing what they had to go through to make it where they are today. 







Reverse Outline

Rufus Osby
04/08/2011
English 4
Mr. Stein
Reverse Outline

I. Introduction:
A. The roots of African-American music are buried deep within the music of the African continent. The history and evolution of African-American music is as rich and complex as the history of African Americans themselves. The essence of African-American music lies in its expression of the human experience. Although the different styles vary widely in their tone, topic and the tools used to produce them, African-American music has the ability to cross all color and culture lines. Styles such as the blues, jazz, gospel and hip hop have spread their influence all over the world. Although music in ancient Africa varied widely by location, it was an important part of African culture. Africans who came to the Americas during the slave trade brought much of their African heritage with them. This included their musical traditions. In many parts of West Africa, from which many slaves were taken, music was very rhythmic and incorporated a heavy use of drums. Most slave owners did not permit slaves on their plantations to use drums. They feared that the slaves would use the drums as a means of communication in order to plan rebellions. As a result, slaves had to adopt European instruments such as the fiddle. Nevertheless, African American slaves used music to help them make it through the horrors of slavery. "Work songs" and "field hollers" were sung by slaves while doing hard labor in the fields. These songs incorporated the "call-and-response" style used widely in Africa, where the lead singer calls out a phrase. Since then, African-American music has continued to evolve, even into the modern day.


Osby 1
Many elements of previous plantation songs, the blues, jazz and gospel have found their way into the newer forms of African-American music such as hip hop. Hip hop began in the Bronx during the late 1970s. Like most of its predecessors, it developed out of a need for young African Americans to express themselves and the world around them. Unlike earlier African-American music forms, hip hop places a heavy emphasis on both rhyming lyrics and beats. Like the blues, it is a form of storytelling used to reveal the harsh realities, hopes and dreams of everyday life. It also resembles jazz music in its more upbeat tempo and emphasis on dancing. Instead of traditional live instruments, hip hop artists tend to utilize modern equipment. (lee 45).
B. Nowadays if you ask most people to give a definition of "rap", they're likely to state that it's the reciting of rhymes to the best of music. It's a form of expression that finds its roots imbedded deep within ancient African culture and oral tradition. Throughout history here in America there has always been some form of verbal acrobatics or jousting involving rhymes within the Afro-American community. Signifying, testifying, Shining of the Titanic, the Dozens, school yard rhymes, prison 'jail house' rhymes and double Dutch jump rope' rhymes are some of the names and ways that various forms of rap have changed and formed over time. (lee 57).Hip Hop music is generally focused around one or more rappers who are telling their story. Storytelling is the foundation of hip hop music. To tell the story in an entertaining way, rappers use the same techniques as successful poets, utilizing alliteration, assonance, and rhyme to carry the message to the audience. One of the famous example of using hip hop to story tell is during introduction of the fight between Muhammad Ali and Sunny Liston, Muhammad Ali says,
                                             Clay comes out to meet Liston
                                             And Liston starts to retreat
                                              If Liston goes back any further
                                              He'll end up in a ringside seat.
                                                                                                                                                         Osby 2
                                              Clay swings with a left,
                                              Clay swings with a right,
                                              Look at young Cassius
                                              Carry the fight.
                                              Liston keeps backing
                                             But there's not enough room
                                            It's a matter of time... (Ali 1965)
This example shows that those that produce hip hop music, that music is their way of communicating a message. For those that listen to hip hop music, it is both an escape from their lives, and a dream, many hip hop songs represent success, overcoming adversity, and ultimate survival. Even if the listener has not gone through what the rapper has, they can still respect what the rapper is saying. In essence, hip hop music has also become a telescope into a culture that many would never see without the rappers lighting the way. However, there is much more to hip hop music than meets the eye.

      1. According to Source magazine, hip hop is a form of ground breaking music that involves deep rooted culture and self expression. Deep rooted culture meaning in rich with purpose and history from many previous generation who have used music to overcome adversity and bring change. Self expression meaning a way to claim self identity and ones interpersonal struggles. Therefore hip hop words and meanings often change with the struggles and self expression that is needed for the time period in which it is created. Hip hop has inspired many different countries around the world, South Africa being one of them. Although the music styles are different, United States and in South Africa rap music has remained the same. Although the styles may vary as they do from person to person the underlining foundations of a chance to freely express one self remains the same. This was basically the same reason why any of the aforementioned verbal/rhyme games manifested themselves in the past. More importantly, it was an art form accessible to anyone. One didn't need a lot of money or expensive resources to rhyme. One didn't have to invest in lessons or anything like that. Rapping was a verbal skill that could be practiced and honed to perfection at almost anytime. Both culture rooted there struggles and expression with in each note and underlining phrase.
                                                                                                                                                         Osby 3
II. Body:

            A.Hip hop music is comprised of rapping, which is a quick delivery of clever, rhythmic vocals, and DJing, which is the musical composition. Rappers create varied instrumentals by sampling music, using turntables (to create a “scratch” effect), beatboxing, or using live instruments. Beatboxing is the art of creating beats, rhythms, and even melodies using just the mouth. Beatboxing can be pretty complex, ranging into singing, vocal scratching, and the simulation of horns, strings, and many other musical instruments. Rappers get creative in order to replicate so many different sound effects. Hip Hop is known as a form of popular music that originated among inner city African American youth in the 1970s. When Hip Hop was first created in the inner city no one could have imagined the impact that it would have on the world today. A fun a vibrant style of music has went from the streets to millions of people and cultures around the world. According to Urban Statistics in Source magazine, "over 50 percent of the US population listens to some form of HIp Hop music," (brooks 32).

                        i. In the US hip hop has become an image of flashiness, big chains, expensive cars, women, foul language and a way to go from rags to riches. It has also incorporated rap violence and self hatred. Although many critics say that this image amount the youth is not betraying a good message and that the music should be changed to a more positive out look. Hip hop artist and supporters that hip hop music has to be that way; it is a reflection of the harsh environment

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that the rapper has overcome. Toning down the lyrics would take away the reality that the rapper has gone through and overcome, therefore insulting him or her.

                        ii. Examples of hip hop taking on a negative image within the US would be the academy award winning song being “it hard out here for a pimp,”. Another example is the use of music in conception with negative images and violence on media devices                     
                        iii. Although some may seem hip hop as a main stream culture that promotes violence and fast money there are other who use it as a form of music as self expression and political and culture awareness.

iv. An example of self expression would be a concert by Wyclef to promote peace, aid   awareness, and to raise money for poverty. Self expression by music talks about culture, struggle and the community of the person who is bringing forth the music.

                B. Just as hip hop music is everywhere, many people from all walks of life listen to hip hop music. This may sound surprising, as a common view is that hip hop music is only for African Americans and Hispanic people. In the United States, it is thought that over 70% of rap music is bought by non African Americans. Those that listen to rap music aren't even confined to American inner cities, many live in well off suburbs and towns. Everyone from those living in Hawaii to those living in Iceland listen to rap music. Hip hop music is a popular form of music worldwide, and as time goes by, has only grown in popularity. Each region has made hip hop unique to their environment, but the fact remains that many people listen to hip hop music, not just a select few. Across the globe hip hop is being used self expression, communication, and self identity. In South Africa during a time where legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party of South Africa, a group of south African began to use hip hop as a form of coded communication, self expression of how they felt about what was happening to them and a way to have something in
Osby 5
common to identify with. Because of the continued struggle for Africans in South Africa the origination of hip hop stays intact and the form of its use stays closely related to the underling foundations and origination of the US hip hop.

                C. According to political figures especially those from other countries feel that hip hop is used as a slang language that has no meaning and not significance to the South African people.

                D. The world. H, I, P, H, O, P, Highly Intelligent People, Healing Our Planet. Is the philosophy of South African who sue hip hop to communicate and remain strong through the struggle of slavery, poverty and political dictatorship.

                   I. In the year of 1985 to 1990 hip hop was used as a tool to help deal with and communicate how they felt about Nelson Mandela and his freedom.

E. hip-hop is rooted in the post-Civil Rights Movement, when it was fuelled by racial tensions and the economic climate. Real culture of hip-hop is not what is on the radio, but what lies within the artists of the underground. Underground hip-hop is a massive cultural phenomenon; it has the power to change nations, overthrow governments and inform consumers, and it contains the creative freedom of expression. It has become a global phenomenon that offers voices to those all over the world that are in marginalized circumstances. Hip-hop is becoming more and more popular in Arab and Muslim countries, due to the social and political injustices found there. Though the words may be different and the language not the same the underline meaning is one. Overcoming the social structure that one may have been bind with.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Final Outline for Essay #3

Rufus Osby 
3-23-11
English 4
Mr.Stein

Outline
I. Intro:
            A. When Hip Hop was first created in the inner city no one could have imagined the impact that it would have on the world today. A fun a vibrant style of music has went from the streets to millions of people and cultures around the world.
            B. Nowadays if you ask most people to give a definition of "rap", they're likely to state that it's the reciting of rhymes to the best of music. It's a form of expression that finds its roots imbedded deep within ancient African culture and oral tradition. Throughout history here in America there has always been some form of verbal acrobatics or jousting involving rhymes within the Afro-American community. Signifying, testifying, Shining of the Titanic, the Dozens, school yard rhymes, prison 'jail house' rhymes and double Dutch jump rope' rhymes are some of the names and ways that various forms of rap have changed and formed over time.
            C. However the changes may occur with in the United States and in South Africa rap music has remained the same. Although the styles may vary as they do from person the person the underlining foundations of a chance to freely express one self. This was basically the same reason why any of the aforementioned verbal/rhyme games manifested themselves in the past. More importantly, it was an art form accessible to anyone. One didn't need a lot of money or expensive resources to rhyme. One didn't have to invest in lessons or anything like that. Rapping was a verbal skill that could be practiced and honed to perfection at almost anytime. Both culture rooted there struggles and expression with in each note and underlining phrase.
II. Body:
            A. Hip Hop is known as a form of popular music that originated among inner city African American youth in the 1980s. According to Source magazine, hip hop is a form of ground breaking music that involves deep rooted culture and self expression.
                        i. In the US hip hop has become an image of flashiness, bi g chains, expensive cars, women, and a way to go from rags to riches. It has also incorporated rap violence and self hatred.
                        ii. Although some may seem hip hop as a main stream culture that promotes violence and fast money there are other who use the=is form of music as self expression and political and culture awareness.
                        iii. Examples of hip taking on a negative image within the US would be the academy award winning song being “it hard out here for a pimp,”. Another example is the use of music in conception with negative images and violence on media devices                     
                             iv. An example of self expression would be a concert by Wyclef to promote peace, aid   awareness, and to raise money for poverty. Self expression by music talks about culture, struggle and the community of the person who is bringing forth the music.
                B. Across the glob hip is being used self expression, communication, and self identity. In South Africa during a time where legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party of South Africa, a group of south African began to use hip hop as a form of coded communication, self expression of how they felt about what was happening to them and a way to have something in common to identify with. Because of the continued struggle for Africans in South America the origination of hip hop stays intact and the form of its use stays closely related to the underling foundations and origination of the US hip hop.
                C. According to political figures especially those from other countries feel that hip hop is used as a slang language that has no meaning and not significance to the South African people.
                D. The world. H, I, P, H, O, P, Highly Intelligent People, Healing Our Planet. Is the philosophy of South African who sue hip hop to communicate and remain strong through the struggle of slavery, poverty and political dictatorship.
                   i. In the year of 1985 to 1990 hip hop was used as a tool to help deal with and communicate how they felt about Nelson Mandela and his freedom.
                   ii. C-A
                        iii. Examples
E. hip-hop is rooted in the post-Civil Rights Movement, when it was fuelled by racial tensions and the economic climate real culture of hip-hop is not what is on the radio, but what lies within the artists of the underground. Underground hip-hop is a massive cultural phenomenon; it has the power to change nations, overthrow governments and inform consumers, and it contains the creative freedom of expression. It has become a global phenomenon that offers voices to those all over the world that are in marginalized circumstances. Hip-hop is becoming more and more popular in Arab and Muslim countries, due to the social and political injustices found there. Though the words may be different and the language not the same the underline meaning is one. Overcoming the social structure that one may have been bind with.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Final Draft

Rufus Osby
03-01-11
English 4
Stein
Hip-Hop's Negative Affects
I made a sharp left turn, And there was my crew lookin' for a def jam in order to rock Because it's gonna hit the fan at 12:00 o'clock
Then there was this flygirl, she said she wanted to know
Why are you all dressed up with no place to go? 
She said she'd take us to a place where we could hear some hip hop
But little did we know she meant the house that rocked. (Grand Master Flash)
This is how hip-hop was stated on the streets and in the neighborhoods of urban America. When Hip Hop was born and wrapped by the founders, I bet they would have never imagined that it would be where it is today. However, things have changed. For example in 2006 the academy award winning song was, “It’s hard out here for a Pimp,” the lyrics are, “it’s hard out here for a pimp, when you tryin to get the money for the rent, Cadillac and gas money spent, it’s a whole lot of women jumpin ship,” (Three 6 Mafia and Cedric Coleman). Hip-hop has transformed from a fun and vibrant hobby to a highly recognizable culture that represents violence, integration, abandonment, alienation, self hatred. Very few have held on to the expression and art that it was intended to represent.
There are many definitions and thoughts on the origination of hip-hop. According to Source
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Magazine 2009 September issue titled Hip –Hop is dead, hip hop is a culture and form of ground breaking music and self expression. If the words of hip hop are taken apart one may grasp a better understanding of the meaning. Hip means to know, It's a form of intelligence; to be hip is to be up-date and relevant. Hop is a form of movement, you can't just observe a hop, you have to hop up and do it. Therefore, hip-hop is more than music it is knowledge and movement creating intelligent or relevant movement through expression.  The origins of the term hip-hop are questioned, but many attribute it to the late Cowboy of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. (Ricks 34)
In today’s times hip hop has changed its face in society and the meaning that it holds. In popular culture today hip hop is a form of rebellion that inbreeds violence, self hatred and alienation. One of the major ways that this genre is used to portray this message is through movies. In the movie Heat starring Al Pacino and Val Killer there is a specific shooting scene that is very intense in. As it leads into the bank robbery scene you hear a consistent thump coming from a slow malahtic hip hop instrumental. The instrumental ability to slow and speed up changes the mood of the film. However, what changes the emotions of the viewer is the type of music that is playing and what that music represents. When a bank robbery is taking place the director of the film does not play up lifting music such as gospel. Rather he adds hip hop music in the back because he knows that hip hop represents violence and that when this music is playing it will create emotion in the viewer that makes the scene believable. According to Greg Tate in a 2005 article The Village Voice, “like me and those disturbed by the violent, misogynistic and self destructive lyrics in hip hop’s music,” (page #). Since the hip hop
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culture has developed the image of violence and self hatred it will be hard to convince the producers to use other genre in their scenes if they want to make the scene and the movie appealing to the viewer. Using a different genre would not only lose its appeal and feeling to the viewer. However, according to Spike Lee in Vibe magazine 2010 June issue, “Using hip hop or rap in a movie is not to betray the violence that is occurring but to appreciate the art of music and film coming together. The art of both elements completing each other is an appreciation not a depreciation nor representation of the violence or degrading content in the fictional film,” (53). He also goes to talk about the hip hop music and the genre in which it comes from is a area for mass interpretation of the listener. More over violence and negative images hip-hop has represented throughout the media and in movies can also be seen on t.v.
In today’s urban America culture music videos have made a dramatic change. They are going backwards instead of forwards. Hip-hop music used to be about making things better, then the gangster revolution came around and the culture changed. It used to talk about many of the same types of subjects: survival, love, friends, but in a different way. Survival used to be about the struggle from poverty and oppression. But now it represents survival from gangs, violence, and drugs. Love is not about family but about the love for money cars and “bitches”. Friends are not friends from school but rather friends from the block or the jail cell. Each music video exploits this. It gives a false sense of hope to the viewer of what life is really like, and how they should feel about it. This is important because studies show that music has a prefunding affect on ones mood. Music, according to Donald F. Roberts, Peter G. Christenson, and Douglas A. Gentile, in the book The Effects of Violent Music on
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Children and Adolescents state, “For most young people, music use is driven primarily by the motivation to control mood and enhance emotional states. Music’s ability to communicate emotion and influence mood has been widely noted; even preschoolers and infants as young as eight months can reliably discriminate ‘happy’ and ‘sad’ music,” (4). If this is the case watching this type of music on television changes the mood of each viewer to a place of violence and the degrading of one’s character. Why is watching it a bigger impact than listening? It’s because when ones listen to lyrics it leaves the room for interpretation, however, when one listens and see the act taking place at the same time they have less room for interpretation and the visual images and narratives of music videos clearly have more potential to form attitudes, values, or perceptions of social reality than does the music alone. Because they add additional information and rely less on imagination, watching and not merely listening means that music video viewing needs less intelligibility and interpretation can vary across different listeners, much less interpretation is needed to understand a violent image. Even if the word that is used is not understood like “my heat,” which will normally be understood but it’s difficult to miss such visual standbys as threatening displays of weapons or fighting. The meaning of the song as shown in the video can become self-reinforcing—if viewers listen to the song after seeing the video, they are likely to flash back to the visual images from the video. All of these affects and impacts play a huge role in the behavior that is displayed on less monitored sites such as the World Wide Web.
The use of Hip-Hop on the web almost ties exactly into the use of Hip-Hop in t.v and movies. Internet is a data base and source for many projects and albums streaming and video websites. Websites like Youtube, Pandora, and WorldStarHipHop.com allow artist throughout the world a chane to be seen
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and heard. Rich or poor, famous or an unsigned hype, these websites give artists accessability to market themselves. For example, “When I shot my Rap video and uploaded it to Youtube in 2007 it created a buzz around town and even the central valley of california. After the word spread that I had good lyrics and could hold a crowd I began to get shows.” Also, with the internet being uncensored it has many affects on the viewer as the videos. Because the internet is uncensored it has as many affects on the viewer as the music videos. Having the violent language mixed with visual images reinforces the negativity, violence and rebellious nature of the genre hip-hop. However, even though you can find some of the most explicit material in relation to hip-hop on the web you can also find hip- hop at its posit form. Onsite like save the music. Hip-hop is used as a positive light. Given people the opportunity to express themselves through music and create positive emotions and feeling in those that are listening and watching. Although if researched there are just as many positive hip hop artist as there are negative ones, because of main stream culture and the revenue that is created from playing negative hip-hop, positive artist don’t get radio, movies and or video time.
Hip-Hop has transformed from being a fun vibrant hobby to ahighly recongnizable culture that represents violence, integration, self hatred, and self-destruction. The way Hip-Hop is used in relation to films and action scenes portrays an image of violence, sex, or drugs. In reaction, the media and t.v. Shows continue to play music videos that exploit negative images to the public. The internet continues to give artists marketability, exposure and networking. In which can lead to riches and fame. The internet also streams some of the most graphic uncensored videos in the Hip-Hop genre. Saying that, no matter if hop is the essence of your soul and being which carries all of your emotions and life to the
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world to hear and experience, or if it is the way to get rich quick by joining mainstream and creating music that depicts violence and drugs. Each song and video is the image of someone’s story. Maybe instead of trying to hide the negative we should embrace it and realize that some people do live these lives and they are merely expressing what they had to go through to make it where they are today.