https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eXvBjCO19QY
The song "Changes" by 2pac was written in 1998 and discusses many dominant ideologies in nowadays societies, pointing out the issues of society. 2pac is considered to be one of the greatest hip hop/rap artists of all time and he clearly demonstrates that here. He discusses racism in society and how many African Americans are discriminated against. "I'm tired of being poor and even worse I'm black, my stomach hurts so I'm looking for a purse to snatch, cops give a damn about a negro, pull the trigger kill a nigg*, he's a hero." In these lyrics, they don't discuss much of the ideologies we discussed in class, BUT it clearly shows the social injustice that many believe there is in the country. He basically says that if you're African American you're looked down upon and/or they get to the point in their lives where they struggle enough where they get to the point of robbery to survive. What 2pac clearly wants is just equality in society and it doesn't seem like he wants much more.
"I see no changes all I see is racist faces, Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races, We under I wonder what it takes to make this, One better place, let's erase the wasted"
"And still I see no changes. Can't a brother get a little peace?
There's war on the streets and the war in the Middle East.
Instead of war on poverty,
they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.
And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do.
But now I'm back with the facts givin' 'em back to you."
Once again, 2pac points out that STILL in society we are dealing with racism. Erase the "wasted" potential and people because of their color and allow everyone to have an equal shot at succeeding. All this hate happens for no reason, just the way people happen to be brought up in their upbringing. He tries to explain that the world needs a change and we'll never get to the point where we want to be at, unless we are all willing to accept each other for one another's skin color. I see this quote in a way, relating to individualism as well. If everyone focused on their own actions, thoughts, etc we could all be much happier and live in a world full of peace and equality.
"I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy way. Sellin' crack to the kids. "I gotta get paid,"
Here 2pac is explaining to the listeners that someone made a g/1000$ today, but made it in a dirty/bad way selling drugs to kids on the streets. The worst part about it is that they knew what they were doing, but had to do it to get paid and keep a living. That was how and society is for some people nowadays, and that's the sad truth about it. There will always be people willing to do different things for $ to survive.
"I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere
unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin' changes.
Learn to see me as a brother 'stead of 2 distant strangers.
And that's how it's supposed to be."
All this man wants is world peace and we can't do that for him?!?!? Start by making yourself a better person and then work on the people around you. MAKE CHANGES FOR SOCIETY, look at one another as a family(human race) as opposed to enemies. We will never be able to get to our master potential as people AND a race if we don't learn to share and work with one another.
Overall, this song demonstrates that racism is an ongoing problem in this country and won't end until every individual makes it a point to stop. Racism/ prejudices occur every day without people even noticing, we need to all come together as the human race as opposed to split up because of color! WE MUST BE UNITED! We must stand together as the human race to get positive things done rather than hurt our own kind by committing or prejudicial acts. The life that Tupac lived in the ghetto was rough, as you can see by what he says here, but he got through it and made it to the top!(Rags to Riches) One thing about Tupac that I find extremely interesting is that not only did he make it to the top with just the money and fame, but he brought his past along with him. His past caused him many issues in the future and basically lead to his death, the gang violence and drugs was always surrounding him. Many rappers come up to the top, and break off with their own crew, 2pacs crew clearly wasn't the right crew to be around and he probably didn't do something that promoted change that caused him to die either lol.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
Dancing With The Devil Provides an Immortal Hell
First off, if you know Immortal Technique you know he raps about some serious sh*t. I’ve decided to break down one of his most popular songs: Dance With The Devil. In this hit he explains a man's life named William (usually referred to as Billy) and everything he has experienced due to his inconsiderate actions that lead up to his death. Throughout his life William prized machismo (to project a strong sense of manliness around others). He believes this will prove to his “friends” that he can be as tough as them and can commit the same acts they do. One day, they ask him to take lead in a very brutal act. After he finishes, the outcome changes his life forever. Immortal technique has worked on this song for about 3 years. The record is known to have every listener feeling a certain type of way afterwards. This song WILL provide you the chills, just a fair warning. If it doesn't then damn you're tough as hell!
(the music video wasn't available through video inserter)
One of my favorite lines in this song is when Immortal describes Billy as a “ feeble-minded young man with infinite potential, the product of a ghetto breed capitalistic mental”. He’s explaining here that many people who want to become a gangster/felon usually have lots of potential and can really make something out of themselves, but don’t see it/choose the thug life instead.
As you can see, Billy believes in the ideology individualism (belief in independent thought or actions) since he creates his own way in life. I believe the start of his rebellion was due to the absence of his father and his mother being so dependent on drugs. He has only seen chaos throughout his young years, and believes he is living to cause more. For a while he was selling marijuana on the streets until he got caught, and ratted out whoever provided for him. This created a reputation and had others not look at him as a real criminal, which was his aspiration. His goal in life was to prove he can commit real felonies, so he really started destroying his reputation by selling harder drugs, robbing people, starting random fights, etc. 
By perpetrating these actions he believed he would gain more respect from the local criminals, “but when he tried to step to 'em, n****s showed him no love, they told him any motherf***ing coward can sell drugs”. This was only motivation to Billy, so he requested what would make him a real thug.
They stated he must murder and rape someone in order to create himself a title.
This refers back to the ideology patriarchy (males are believed to hold power, women are looked at as sexual objects), since these men believe raping and murdering a woman is not horrific in any way whatsoever. So what does Billy do? Well of course he goes through with the plan. Billy is now guaranteed a spot in the crew, and this makes him feel more welcomed than he has ever felt before in his life. As he is about to murder the victim, he takes one last look at them and realizes it is the most important person in his life. In this moment, his life is ruined forever. He feels all the remorse in the world, and feels his only way out of the situation is by committing suicide. Immortal causes tension at the end of the song by stating he was part of this whole situation, and to this day he regrets committing such an act.
Chorus:
Everyone trying to be trife never face the consequences
You probably only did a month for minor offenses
Ask a nigga doing life if he had another chance
But then again there's always the wicked that knew in advance
Dance forever with the devil on a cold cell block
But that's what happens when you rape, murder and sell rock
Devils used to be gods, angels that fell from the top
There's no diversity because we're burning in the melting pot Priscilla Z
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Pictures Speak Louder Than Words
Pictures Speak Louder than words
This is the Album of the song ‘She Belongs to the Game’ by Troy Ave. One look at the cover of this album and you can determine what some of these songs are going to be about. As you look at the cover you see a half naked woman, The words She Belongs to The Game, and Dollar signs on the half naked woman’s eyes. From this image you can already tell that this song is going to be about sex and money. This is showing
patriarchy because the cover itself is showing a degrading image on women.
Link to the song:
That's just the way that it go
Too real nigga in the feel nigga
Where you at, who you with, whole lotta questions
H-O-S-T at the crib, power
Jet jacuzzi, we gettin' dirty in the shower
In the opening line of these lyrics they say “I don't be cuffin' these hoes I just be bustin these hoes.” Which mean he doesn’t want to marry or settle down with a girl, he is more worried about having sex with a girl. This has become a common theme in the hip hop music industry to portray girls as items to use in a sexual way. Because hip hop music is so popular this is how most girls are portrayed now in today’s society. The Lyrics “she just wanna roam” are referring to women wanting to go out and have sex with multiple guys. This is another example of how men and society think women are whores and are used for sex. Most men think women are only important for sex, and when women don’t give out they are looked down on. This is showing consumerism of women.
From the dollar signs on the woman on the cover of this song we know that Troy Ave is also writing about himself having a lot of money. In the lyrics “Porsche 911 with the wood grain creeper, Drop top boy I ain't tryna save money” he is trying to show that he has a lot of money. He is basically saying that he drives a fancy car and doesn’t care about how much money he spends since he “ain’t tryna save money.” Just like women are being portrayed through hip hop we also see how money is power in most hip hop music. In the song he is showing how he has all this money and at the same time he is talking about how a girl should get with him and not someone else. You get the sense that he thinks the girl should be with him because he thinks he is better than anyone else. We see this is the lyrics “Let her come out and fuck with a real g.” In my opinion from this song he thinks he is better because he has all this money which in today’s world means you have power. Since he has money and power he thinks he can have anything he wants and can get with any girl he wants.
Verse 2:
I'm that punk
Hit it with that good ol' long hard erection
When you come home there's no food still you fed
Up get it, up live it
You reach for the booty and she tell you don't touch her
You put the pillow on your face and yell 'Oh brother'
She don't like flowers or movie dates
She like my dick in her mouth and gun on my waist
One shot empty it out she lovin' the taste
That's the shit to put a smile on her face
Once again in this verse we have Troy talking about having sex with a girl. In this verse we have him telling us how he is sleeping with another man’s girl and he made her happier because “Your girl sound asleep cause a real nigga fucked her.” He is saying how he “fucked’ her better so he thinks he is better than him and thinks that he made her happier. In this verse he is also again portraying that women are whores and not only want sex but will cheat on their man. He also hints at the fact romance doesn’t exist anymore and that women don’t want dates they just want sex. Which once again because of this type of music people think that this is true. Women these days get treated this way because of what people are listening to in music.
Also in this verse we have Troy mentioning drugs and being in jail. He uses the lyrics Most hip hop artists use this as another common theme when they are referring to themselves. This sets another example of how the world today is being portrayed. This is showing you that you can do drugs and go to jail and still be successful. Even though you did those terrible things society thinks it’s okay because it’s coming from the music and these hip hop artists have money and are powerful.
Verse 3:
Thought you had a wife huh
Busy trickin' tryna change that whole life huh
But that don't stop her from creepin' every night huh
Shoulda knew that that bitch wasn't right bruh
How could you wife her
Hov done had her
Ab done had her
We all hit it player you ain't the only batter
Yeah you her man but you don't even matter
If you knew the shit we did you'd probly stab her
Then turn around and take her back anyway
Knowin' we could have that bitch any way
Misisionary, doggy style, any day
Don't worry, crack a smile, you'll be OK!
In the last verse he is still talking about having sex with another man’s girl. This time he is putting down the other man for trying to change his life around. This is showing that trying to change your life doesn’t matter if your girl is out sleeping with other men. Instead of putting him down for only caring about his girl he is putting him down for her sleeping around. Troy is saying that it is the man’s fault because he wasn’t giving his girl enough attention. This is portraying the fact that he thinks when girls don’t get the attention they want they go and sleep around.
By: Madison Wronko
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