Critique 2: Hip Hop reflects black dysfunctional ghetto culture

I believe that hip hop does support black dysfunctional ghetto culture. The lifestyle the artists live in is portrayed and glorified in their music. When people hear lyrics about hoes, pimps, the black market, hustling, drugs, partying, alcohol, guns gangs and violence, and sex it does not look good to help America prosper. This lifestyle is the dysfunctional underclass and it wouldn't be dysfunctional is there was not a problem with it and it is being glorified to our kids. If we all decided that rappers make their life style look good and decided to join it, there would be bad consequences for the nation. problem areas should not be looked up to, convicts should not be idolized and the black market should not be a career choice. The lifestyle portrayed in many rap songs reflects poor education and life choices. The criminal rebel lifestyle is a threat to American culture and prosperity. These people usually rely on government aid and welfare, many of these artists grew p on these programs, but now they are rich and drive Maybachs. The message they send out is that its okay to be poor, rely on the government but hustle in the streets selling illegal items. Although they produce good music, the entire situation is not good for the country in the long run, especially if it continues to gain popularity and acceptance. The celebration of being underclass and unsuccessful goes against American social values and norms which challenges the changing attitudes and culture regarding ghetto life.

Imitation 6: (00's) Eminem, Mosh

Eminem, Mosh 2004

"Maybe we can reach alqueda through my speech
Let the president answer a higher anarchy
Strap him with an Ak-47, let him go, fight his own war
Let him impress daddy that way
No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our own soil
No more psychological warfare, to trick us to thinking that we ain't loyal
If we don't serve our own country, we're patronizing a hero
Look in his eyes its all lies"

Eminem's song is a clear critique of the war in Iraq and how Bush was handling the situation with AlQueida, Osama Bin laden, 9/11 and the Iraqi war and how he's trying to impress his father. While in office Bush send more and more troops to Iraq. The song was a message to the American voters and released prior to 2004 presidential election, warning voters not to reelect Bush. Eminem wanted his message to influence the voters and rally together to make sure Bush wasn't reelected. Today George W. Bush is still scrutinized for the way he took care of things during his two-term presidency, unfortunately Eminem did not get his way. The literary elements used are internal rhyme, end rhyme, literal meaning, lyrical poetry, tone and the rhyme scheme is ABCDEEFG.

Imitation 5 : (90's) Marianne Williamson, Our Deepest Fear

"Our Deepest Fear" Marianne Wiliamson 1992

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

This poem is a critique of the powerful, those in control that can exploit the weak or disadvantaged. The poem is in response to Nelson Mandela's incarceration because of going against the government of South Africa. The white South African were oppressing the blacks, the blacks were forced to live in segregated areas and were discriminated against. When Williamson says that "our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure" shows the responsibilities power comes with and how easily it can be abused while in the wrong hands. The audience is the owners and those who have, it is a message to them to use their power wisely and not hurt people with it. Literal meaning, line, tone and metaphor are literary elements exemplified in this poem .There is no rhyme scheme. 

Imitation 4: (80's) Grandmaster Flash, White Lines

grandmaster flash 1983:

Ticket to ride, white line highway
Tell all your friends, they can go my way
Pay your toll, sell your soul
Pound for pound costs more than gold
The longer you stay, the more you pay
My white lines go a long way
Either up your nose or through your vein
With nothin to gain except killin’ your brain

 

This rap is about 80's crack and cocaine epidemic, "Up your nose", cocaine and "through your vein", crack. Grandmaster flash is talking to young people, especially those in the inner city where the epidemic was very profound, simply not to do the drugs. He is saying how it is expensive, the longer you do it the more harm you do to your body and its overall not worth it. In the early eighties Reagan announced the war on drugs. The drug kingpins from central and south America were making and transporting cocaine and crack into the U.S. Crack became such an epidemic, in New York city especially, because it was cheaper and more potent than cocaine. This really affected places like the projects and became a major concern for the cities. In Grandmaster flash's critique of the drug problem he uses literary elements like simile, internal rhyme, the rap isn't very complex it is basic rhyme and there is no hidden meaning in what Grandmaster Flash is saying. The rhyme scheme is AABBCCDD, although there is internal rhyme as well.