Ladies: Would you Prefer a Minute Man?

Back in the 90s and early 2000s many rappers and singers had NO chill when it came to singing about sexual experiences. They believed in detailing their lyrics as much as possible to grab people's attention. Missy Elliott, a famous rapper and recording artist, is known for the explicit content she sings about. In my opinion Missy is GENIUS for doing this because it got people to constantly be talking about her appearances and music. This made her career only grow stronger and has left an everlasting impression on her fans and society. One of the first songs I ever listened to was “One Minute Man” which featured Ludacris (hip-hop artist) and Trina (rapper). This single completely blew me away by the profound lyrics they sing. When listening to the tune you may feel different emotions based on what they’re singing. I think most of us can assume what the hit is about by just reading the title alone. One minute you may laugh, cringe, or catch yourself jamming out in your room all based on the lyrics and instrumental. This song is just an example of how straightforward musicians were in the past, and the comfort they found in making music considering they loved to sing whatever they wanted.

So basically, Missy Elliott isn’t fond of men who don’t last long while having sexual intercourse. This brings her a feeling of dissatisfaction and frustration. I believe we can all agree that many women feel this way, but Missy took one for the team and wrote a song about it. What I find funny about her lyrics is that she completely sh*ts on the idea of patriarchy. Missy also flips the meaning by instead claiming a man can be seen as a sexual object by a woman.

Ludacris is the only male in this song so you can assume his verse has a strong sense of machismo. He claims “I'm big dog, havin women seein stripes and thangs; they go to sleep, start snoring, countin sheep and sh*t” explaining to the listeners that he is very experienced when it comes to sex, and the advantages that come along with it. The message he is projecting is to NOT provide a bad performance to a lady you’re interested in. He believes if a man shows courage and masculinity to a woman they will build attention towards them...but the best way to keep them around is if you please their sexual needs in a proficient way.

Trina provides the same message that Missy does, but also shows how overconfident she is and what she expects from a guy. She’s straight-forward and to the point in her verse because she wants men to know what women as a whole are looking for as well. For example, Trina claims “but if I put this thing on ya, can you stay hard? If not, you better keep your day job; cause I'm looking for a man to make me say God”. In my opinion, Trina may be trying to make certain men think deeper about this type of topic. By her being so demanding in her verse, this may be intimidating and will make a man want to rethink their ways in the bedroom.

All 3 artists are claiming it’s the cultural norm to be good at sexual activity. This may make people feel doubtful and self-conscious about themselves, but maybe the singers thought the song would be motivational to these types of people. It is interesting that music today is not nearly as explicit as this example. Personally, I believe the more straight-forward a song can be, the more eye-opening it is to a person. Overall, props to these artists for expressing their feelings to the public about one of the most controversial topics our world will never stop talking about:

Priscilla Z.

Evolution of Cultural Hegemony in Hip-Hop

Hiya everybody, how ya doin? Good? Good.

I bet you've all heard many, many people talk about how hip-hop "just isn't the same anymore," and while, with the limited knowledge I have on the subject, I agree, I feel like that's such a broad statement that can be compressed into one main idea: Hip-hop's roots in cultural hegemony have changed. 

I think it's pretty fair to say that hip-hop has noticeably gone from a generally counter-hegemonic genre of music to an extremely hegemonic genre within the last few decades. I'm aware there are artists or, more specifically, songs that still hold true to the counter-hegemonic messages that were so popular when the genre really picked up on talking about social issues in the 80's (political hip-hop, sub-genre, truly inspiring stuff). Now some of the most popular songs by hip-hop artists of this generation completely oppose the starting point. 

The focus on social and political issues and reform was a huge part of what made hip-hop what it was. Artists questioned everything with heavy lyrics loaded with clear messages. It was used as an outlet for those feeling and being oppressed; they called for action with their music and others sharing their feelings responded. They made points that sadly still ring true today.

One of my personal favorite examples of this are these lyrics from Public Enemy's "Welcome to the Terrordome,"

"How to fight the power, cannot run and hide

But it shouldn't be suicide."

Here, Public Enemy discuss the importance of fighting for their rights and going against the grain in an attempt to better the social situation but they also address the fact that doing so was basically a suicide mission, which it shouldn't be. No person or group of people fighting for their rights should be targeted at all, let alone targeted so much that it was common knowledge that the possibility of getting killed in doing so was that high. These are messages that still hold true 27 years later.

Fast forward those 27 years and enter the realm of 2017 hip-hop. As with most originally counter-hegemonic things, times change and so are the way these counter-hegemonic things are perceived. We live in a world where anything that goes against social norms can somehow find a home in the cozy little world of cultural hegemony. The genre has evolved into something so mainstream it can be heard in almost every store and on almost every radio station. Like I said earlier, there are artists and songs that still hold true to the beginnings of the genre, and with the current political and social climate perhaps we'll see an increase in mainstream political hip-hop. Despite that, right now, the only mainstream hip-hop that graces the airwaves are songs that hypersexualize women, put more importance on money and material items than they ever could on topics of substance such as the evident racial tensions not only in cities but nationwide. 

When you take a super mainstream Drake song like "Started From The Bottom," with such repetitive lyrics like:

"Started from the bottom now we're here

Started from the bottom now my whole team fucking here

Started from the bottom now we're here

Started from the bottom now the whole team here, nigga

Started from the bottom now we're here

Started from the bottom now the whole team here, nigga

Started from the bottom now we're here

Started from the bottom now the whole team fucking here"

that promotes such hegemonic ideologies like machismo, rags to riches, and more with a music video containing items worth more than everything I will own in my entire life combined and compare it to one that isn't as commonly heard on regular radio or by people that may not be that pre-exposed to any kind of hip-hop like "6PM In New York," which has some hegemonic ideologies but much more heavy lyrics like:

"And I heard someone say something that stuck with me a lot

Bout how we need protection from those protectin' the block

Nobody lookin' out for nobody

Maybe we should try and help somebody or be somebody

Instead of bein' somebody that makes the news

So everybody can tweet about it

And then they start to RIP about it

And four weeks later nobody even speaks about it"

it makes almost zero sense as to why one is played more than the other. Is it because lyrically, "6PM In New York" is too "#edgy" for mainstream radio? Yes, because police brutality and race on race crime are two things no one has ever heard of; it's not like it's been spoken about almost constantly for years on almost every mainstream news channel...OH WAIT. Educate the masses and let the music with social and political messages be heard. If you're going to try and normalize a genre of music that was never meant to be mainstream, at least do it by bringing back the idea that maybe the people with opinions might be on to something. That maybe a call to action might create a response, might create a change.


Julissa G

The "6OD" Josh

      Recently, on March 18th one of the greatest artists to live and breath,  Drake,  released yet another album, titled 'More Life,' while people are quick to say that the album wasn't good or that Drake really isn't that great of an artist, they're quick to forget about all of the other incredible pieces of music that Drake has put together throughout his entire career as an artist in the industry. In 2014, Drake released a single titled Scheming Up,  featuring OB O'Brien and P. Reign, turning out to be an instant classic. This single touches upon all different types of dominant ideologies in nowadays societies.

         
                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq-PyeE7vU0
Blue- Machismo
Red- Individualism 
Pink-Consumerism
Green- Patriarchy
Yellow- Rags to Riches
Orange- American Dream  

Verse 1:
All my niggas so hungry, man they just eat what they kill
I like convertible Bentleys and houses deep in the Hills
I might tell the whole crew come through
My squad gotta roll through come through
Tell the young high school kids keep dreamin'
Because they sure do come true
Then I say, this that fuckin' mob shit,
this that fuckin' player shit
This that shake a bottle up and bust the top and spray the shit
Bitches gettin' dugout like where all the fuckin' players sit
And like you just got traded
Girl you don't know who you're playin' with
Oh yeah, oh yeah, my sound is what up right now
I've been down, but I'm up right nowNigga been backstrokin' and breaststrokin'
Through that lane that you left open
Man I don't give a fuck right now
Let a nigga swim in the pussy on the low
'Bout to go drown in the cup right now, holla at me


      Throughout the course of this song, you'll find that Drake demonstrates and gives off some sort of machismo with the lyrics used in his songs. He goes to show you that anyone can make it to the top if they set their sights far enough and stay dedicated to your goal. He wants everyone to shoot for the stars, so some people could finally say one day that they truly made it just like him. 

Verse 2:

    Passin' up on pretty women everyday (We do that shit!)

I like getting money I love getting paid (You knew that shit!)
Bitches tell me that I look like 40 everyday (for sho)
That's OK, I'll go and fuck them forty minutes straight (hey!)
Hey, showing' up to 40 forty minutes late (alright, alright!)
Just send forty to The H and put forty in the safe (alright, alright!)
Damn, I got forty on my neck and wrist (right!)
OVO Sound boy, got 40 on the mix (sound, mix!)
Mix, all I do is mix (mix!)
All my tings are mixed (mix!)
And I make 'em mix (mix!)
That means I make 'em kiss, I make 'em pop, I make 'em strip (alright, alright!)
TOPSZN, I just sprinkle with my fingertips (last 4 lines could account for Individualism as well) 

No Money Manziel, the game is at a stand still
How am I the man still? How am I the man still?I might, I might call up Pam still
Tell em bring a can still brr-brr-brr still

Tell them bring the rider, get my roll on
Big timer tingle get your roll on
Tell them basic bitches they can hold on
I'm at the Hazey in the lobby with my robe on

Bring you to Habibiz, get your smoke on
I been going Hamilton for so long, yeah
This ain't a joke ting
I want the whole thing
I want my new ting, to meet my old ting
Let them get well acquainted, let them get hella faded
I'm halfway through the race and I'm already celebrating
I'm on that Y shit, I'm back on my shit
I ran the game so long I should be wearing Dri-FIT
Oh yeah I'm poppin' again
And it kills me to yell out free Baka again
But free Baka again, and free Greezy one time
Shout out Sammy and Peezy one time, you know what it is

      Drake's hard work and dedication in the music industry only led to more and more success for the young artist. The hard work that Drake put into his music, led to the fans, the fame, the money, and all of the women who have fallen in love with the Canadian born artist. One thing that I absolutely love about Drakes lyrics is the fact that with every song he puts out, you get the feeling that he has so much confidence in his music and that he is the shit/the man. Everything will work out one way or another, the way his life has progressed, it already has-so far, the rest of the building blocks will continue to stack in what seems to be, his favor.

Hook:

Yeah, I got two tings comin' through
And they do whatever I want 'em to
Yeah, we call that schemin' up
We call that schemin' up, we call that schemin' up foreal
I used to drive the Acura to school
Now I don't touch the wheel unless it's new
Yeah, we call that schemin' up
We call that schemin' up, we call that schemin up foreal

      Drake can get whatever girls he wants to come over and spend time with, whether it's one girl or two girls or whether she's a 5 or a 10. He has came from being an average teenage boy driving an average car, to making it to a certain point in his life where he is now able to say that he doesn't even touch the wheel in the car unless it's new, goes to show how much someone's life can progress in such little time!

Verse 3: 

We the stars, in the six, we the gods
Found the guns I'll beat the charge,
I left the court screaming fuck the law,
these hoes and all, I'ma star
Like that steak nigga way too raw
Run the streets I hate the beef cause I take that shit way too far, yeah
OVO the clique, I told Drake when we were kids
I'll ride with the 45 until the day we run the 6
Tell them niggas don't play it, someone tell Flex drop a bomb cause we made it
Hop on the jet and fly over to Haiti
Just so you know I was high when I made this, Run up

      What's crazy to think about is the fact that Drake is so much more successful than he could have ever imagined..... and he doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. He's literally a 6 god and is looked up to by majority of Toronto being on his side. He is capable of taking any trip at any time due to his success and can do what he wants, when he wants. Drake is one of the greatest hip hop artists of all time and has the potential to be the greatest of all time.  He touched upon only a few of the main 5 ideologies we discussed in class, mainly machismo, American Dream, and Individualism. Drake is a "6od."

Who's Nikki?

Hey hi hello, how are you guys? Hope you're all doing okay. I don't know how to start off my blog post so the logical thing for me was to ask how you're doing. Speaking of LOGICal, I'm here to talk about Logic's song, "Nikki." I normally don't listen to much rap or hip hop, but my friend got me into Logic a while ago and "Nikki" really hit me, so I want to share it with you.

I really hope you're listening to the song right now because it was really hard for me to figure out how to make the video thingy work. Anyways, let's get started! Before "Nikki" came out, there were a lot of questions as to who Nikki was. Logic made a few references to Nikki, like in his song "Growing Pains |||":

"I need Nikki, where is Nikki
Baby girl please come and get me now"

Logic had his audience thinking that Nikki was some girl he knew, or maybe she was a girlfriend or whatever! It's hard to think that Nikki isn't some girl; he really does a good job lyrically making Nikki seem like she was someone he REALLY knew throughout his life, especially when we listen to the song "Nikki" itself. For example:

"All these other bitches on my dick but I can't fuck with that
You the only girl I need I gotta have you back" 

Or...

"I love it when you're fresh
I love it when I take your top off and we share the same breath" 

Ha, okay bud. Seems like you're getting pretty intimate there, huh? I mean what else could you possibly be referring to when you talk about bitches on your dick or taking a top off? But, as we listen to more of the song, Logic catches us off guard:

"But lately I've been feeling like a slave for the nicotine
Said I'm a slave for the nicotine
I'm a muthafuckin slave ya
Nikki, Nikki slave for ya"

Ha! Turns out Nikki isn't some girl; Nikki is a reference to nicotine, an addictive stimulant, which is in tobacco (cigarettes). In an interview, Logic talks about how he never got into any hardcore drugs, but he's been addicted to cigarettes ever since he was young, which we could probably figure out from listening to the song. He thought that the song would seem corny since not people smoke cigs and it's looked down upon. So he made it in a way where his listeners would be thrown off. He purposely made the first part of the song seem like he was talking about a girl because he wanted people going through breakups to relate to it. The second part was relatable to anyone with an addiction.Logic stated, "I wanted to make it sound so that if anybody struggling with crack addiction, cocaine, heroin, weed, alcohol, fuckin pills, ANYTHING, could listen to this song and go, 'That's my Nikki.'"

When I first heard the song, I had goosebumps. I personally have never been addicted to anything, but I thought it was really clever as to how he constructed it. After taking another look, I thought, "how could I classify this song?" Is it counter hegemonic? Or does it fit into cultural hegemony? For those of you who don't know what cultural hegemony is (I mean we've been talking about it in class for weeks idk how you wouldn't know), it's basically the status quo or social norm. The main theme in "Nikki" is addiction and what we thought was a breakup. Is addiction hegemonic? Drugs and alcohol obviously have to be bought, unless you can somehow make your own alcohol or produce your own drugs. If you can, kudos to you. But those people who do have to buy their drugs or alcohol kinda give the economy an advantage. So with this in mind, addiction would fall under the dominant ideology of consumerism. Consumerism is pretty much the concept that the consumption of goods is helpful for the economy. It's mostly emphasized by marketing things into everyday life. So, I guess the concepts in "Nikki" would fit into American cultural hegemony.

Besides consumerism, there was only one other ideology that I could connect to "Nikki": machismo (aka the male ego). What's the cool thing that our society likes to promote to men? Other than having sex, I'd say that partying, drinking, and doing drugs is a very strong presence in our society, especially when it comes to men. Sure, it's the "cool" thing to do. But when does it stop? Drinking or doing drugs consistently makes it hard for people to stop, aka addiction.

I still love "Nikki" even though it contains hegemonic ideologies like consumerism and machismo. I have a lot of respect for the creativity Logic uses and how it's so personal to him. Plus, my best friend was the one who showed me this song so I'll always connect it to her. Anyways, I hope that you liked the song as much as I did. And make sure that you don't end up being a slave for the Nikki.

Maia M.