arihant magazine

arihant magazine 

arihant magazine Published this article page no  35  These are examples how hip-hop artists redefine the negative characteristic of being materialistic by showing examples of how this materialism is prevalent in the majority class, and often created within that class. Sex And the final debated stereotype of the hip-hop social class is that they are sexually promiscuous, often leading to disrespectful treatment towards women. The poets also attempt to redefine this stereotype by blaming the core of the problem on society. In “Pussy Galore”, the Roots claim that the country’s obsession with sex is pushed by sexually-driven marketing campaigns: Lookin’ out the limo window up at the billboards 200 miles, she was the only thing I saw Promotin’ everything, from the liquor to the nicotine Cell phones, anti-histamines, chicken wings You gotta show a little skin to get them listening For real yo, the world is a sex machine In this example, the poet retells a personal experience in which he saw sex advertisements as “promotin’ everything.” And in order to “get them listening”, he claims, “you gotta show a little skin.” In “Get By”, Talib Kweli blames this sexual obsession on what we view on television: The TV got us reachin’ for stars Not the ones between Venus and Mars, The ones that be readin’ for parts Some people get breast enhancements and penis enlargers Here, the poet expresses his belief that television creates a misconception of what people should be sexually, and that contributes to the promiscuity that is being blamed on the hip-hop movement. Hip-hop artists have used their lyrics and poetry to influence the rejection and reconstruction of the gangster identity that plagues their social class. This is accomplished through the redefining of negative characteristics assigned by the majority class. In most cases, these redefinitions include pointing to the majority class as the real holders of these negative characteristics. The redefining of these “gangster-like” images through hip-hop lyrics helps to reconstruct the gangster identity by questioning “gangster-like” behaviors and which social class actually has these behaviors. So the question presented is: Who exactly are the gangsters? Works Cited / Discography 2 Pac. 2Pacalypse Now. Jive Records, 1991. Black Star. Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star. Rawkus Records, 1998. Coates, Jennifer. Women, Men and Language. Longman Publishing, New York: 1993. Dr. Dre. The Chronic 2001. Interscope Records, 1999. Eminem arihant gk  buy.

arihant magazine 

arihant magazine

arihant magazine 

arihant magazine Published this article page no  34  In “Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangster”, the Geto Boys fully redefine the negative characteristic of drug distribution by accusing the President of being a drug dealer, and therefore, a gangster: And now, a word from the President! Damn it feels good to be a gangsta Getting’ voted into the White House Everything lookin’ good to the people of the world But the Mafia family is my boss So every now and then I owe a favor gettin’ down Like lettin’ a big drug shipment through And send ‘em to the poor community So we can bust you know who These examples show how hip-hop artists redefine the image of being drug dealers and users by again pointing to the majority class as the creator of the drug problem in this country. Materialism Hip-hop music is also seen by the majority class as a genre dominated by materialism. Again, artists point back to the majority class in an attempt to redefine this negative characteristic. In “Respiration”, Black Star points to all the wealth surrounding urban areas, and how it absorbs the lower class in materialism, making them want parts of that wealth: Where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips For profits, thirsty criminals take pockets Hard knuckles on the second hands of workin’ class watches Skyscrapers is colossus, the cost of living Is preposterous, stay alive, you play or die, no options Here, the poet talks about various materialistic aspects of the majority class, and how the lower class must “play or die” to “stay alive.” In “All Falls Down”, Kanye West actually blames this materialism on American society: It seems we living the American dream But the people highest up got the lowest self esteem The prettiest people do the ugliest things For the road to riches and diamond rings In this example, the poet blames the “American dream” for materialism, saying it causes people to “do the ugliest things” for “riches and diamond rings.” In “Los Angeles Times”, Xzibit also blames this materialism on the majority class, claiming that is what the youth are taught coming up in urban environments: Welcome to L.A. Where you can see the whole city burning Cause the cops got Uzis and the dealers keep serving And your kids ain’t learning it, except this Sex power and wealth, forget everything else Here, the poet expresses his belief that certain aspects of materialism, including “power and wealth” are taught to children through occurrences in society arihant gk buy.

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