Homework
Besides completing the SPHE package pp. 330-347.
The hip hop community responded strongly to the plight of citizens in the South. Some of the more famous songs to come out of this embarrassing moment in US history's worst natural and man made disaster was Kanye West's George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People and another by Papoose called Mother Nature, featuring Razah.
For homework find an artist who had a similar response and analyze the song or art to come from this moment. How has the artists changed society and what measurable results have come from this response to Katrina? What needs to be done now? (Read coverage this weekend re: Hurricane Katrina 4 years later.)
Mother Nature - Papoose
I Got A $250,000 Personality
I Got Another Quarter Mil Mentality
Im in the $500,000 Mood
I Cant Loose, Damn I Feel Like A Million Dollars
How Can i Rap about my life and claim honor?
When people out in new orleans don't have water
I Dedicate this to the sons who lost fathers
A Tribute to mothers who lost daughters
Because they pump chemical fumes into the atmosphere
They put toxic fumes into the atmosphere
They even launch aircrafts into the atmosphere
They keep this up than somethings gonna happen here
Mother nature gotta clean her frame
So she forms a clycone full of winds and rain
This process has a name its called cleanin the atmosphere
The government calls it a hurricane
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
They say wave water bore the children (cant understand him here)
They say gods gonna tumble the water
But when a tsunami happens in troublesome waters
The president aint hesitate to cross that border
He took a hole army wit him when he came to war
But when he traveled to new orleans he came with his dog
Is he indirectly trying to call us dogs?
Or just traveling with his pet i aint sure
A grown man cry how pitiful it is
His whole house split in half nowhere to live
He said I held my wifes hand i tried i did
But she let go and said take care of the kids
Alotta property was lost crushed by the trees
Evacuated the city they was forced to leave
They was forced outta their homes they would never leave
So why the media keep callin em refugees
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
Natural disaster look at the aftermath
They use it as an excuse to raise the price of gas
We worry about things like gettin the last laugh
But your mind state is half fast
Everybody wanna get the last laugh
But when somebody die cuz, the laugh never comes last the cry does
People searchin for food they call it lootin
Marshall law the cops shootin
So now hungry people on the run
They say this aint the time to point fingers
Tell em This aint the time to point guns
Donatin money thats thug love
But people dying over there donate some blood
I dont mean physically, I Mean spiritually
Donate some of your time out lyrically
Make a song that could reach somebody seriously
People who lost their lives your all livin through me
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
http://www.hiphop-universe.com/underground/lyrics/7314-mother-nature-papoose.html
Besides completing the SPHE package pp. 330-347.
The hip hop community responded strongly to the plight of citizens in the South. Some of the more famous songs to come out of this embarrassing moment in US history's worst natural and man made disaster was Kanye West's George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People and another by Papoose called Mother Nature, featuring Razah.
For homework find an artist who had a similar response and analyze the song or art to come from this moment. How has the artists changed society and what measurable results have come from this response to Katrina? What needs to be done now? (Read coverage this weekend re: Hurricane Katrina 4 years later.)
Mother Nature - Papoose
I Got A $250,000 Personality
I Got Another Quarter Mil Mentality
Im in the $500,000 Mood
I Cant Loose, Damn I Feel Like A Million Dollars
How Can i Rap about my life and claim honor?
When people out in new orleans don't have water
I Dedicate this to the sons who lost fathers
A Tribute to mothers who lost daughters
Because they pump chemical fumes into the atmosphere
They put toxic fumes into the atmosphere
They even launch aircrafts into the atmosphere
They keep this up than somethings gonna happen here
Mother nature gotta clean her frame
So she forms a clycone full of winds and rain
This process has a name its called cleanin the atmosphere
The government calls it a hurricane
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
They say wave water bore the children (cant understand him here)
They say gods gonna tumble the water
But when a tsunami happens in troublesome waters
The president aint hesitate to cross that border
He took a hole army wit him when he came to war
But when he traveled to new orleans he came with his dog
Is he indirectly trying to call us dogs?
Or just traveling with his pet i aint sure
A grown man cry how pitiful it is
His whole house split in half nowhere to live
He said I held my wifes hand i tried i did
But she let go and said take care of the kids
Alotta property was lost crushed by the trees
Evacuated the city they was forced to leave
They was forced outta their homes they would never leave
So why the media keep callin em refugees
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
Natural disaster look at the aftermath
They use it as an excuse to raise the price of gas
We worry about things like gettin the last laugh
But your mind state is half fast
Everybody wanna get the last laugh
But when somebody die cuz, the laugh never comes last the cry does
People searchin for food they call it lootin
Marshall law the cops shootin
So now hungry people on the run
They say this aint the time to point fingers
Tell em This aint the time to point guns
Donatin money thats thug love
But people dying over there donate some blood
I dont mean physically, I Mean spiritually
Donate some of your time out lyrically
Make a song that could reach somebody seriously
People who lost their lives your all livin through me
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
Ohh child things are gonna get easier.
Ohh child things will get brighter
http://www.hiphop-universe.com/underground/lyrics/7314-mother-nature-papoose.html
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 11:34 AM
22 Comments:
Anaya Odom - Response
Lil Wayne - "Tie My Hands" ft. Robin Thicke
We are at war with the universe, the sky is falling
And the only thing that can save us now
Is sensitivity and compassion
[Singing]
Daa da da, da da da daa da da
Daa da da, da da da daa da da
[Talking]
But I know one thing's for sure
I'm gonna get my kicks before it all burns down
[Lil Wayne]
Yeah
Some say tragedy's hard to get over
But sometimes that tragedy means it's over
Soldier, from the academy league of rollers
I deny being down though they seem to hold us
My, shoulders are strong I prove 'em wrong
I ain't doing nothing but moving on
Let the truth be known
But they talked that freedom at us
And didn't even leave a ladder, damn
[Robin Thicke]
I work at the corner store
We all got problems, problems
No one's gonna fly down low
No one's gonna save us now
How you feel you're not alone
We're all just jealous, jealous
We don't reach the sky no more
We just can't overcome, no
[Chorus: Robin Thicke]
You tie my hands what am I gonna be?
What have I done so bad?
What is my destiny?
You tie my hands what I am I suppose to see?
What have I done so bad?
What am I gonna be?
[Lil Wayne]
I, knock on the door, hope isn't home
Fate's not around the lucks all gone
Don't ask me what's wrong ask me what's right
And I'ma tell you what's life, and did you know?
I lost everything, but I ain't the only the one
First came the hurricane, then the morning sun
Excuse me if I'm on one
And don't trip if I light one, I walk a tight one
They try tell me keep my eyes open
My whole city underwater, some people still floatin'
And they wonder why black people still voting
'Cause your president still choking
Take away the football team, the basketball team
And all we got is me to represent New Orleans, shit
No governor, no help from the mayor
Just a steady beating heart and a wish and a prayer
[Robin Thicke]
These friends they come and go
But I got family, family
These kids so fast they grow
They learn so quickly now
That there's nowhere to go
That there's no future, future
Don't make this here so low
And we can't overcome, no
[Chorus]
[Lil Wayne]
And if you come from under that water then there's fresh air
Just breathe baby God's got a blessing to spare
Yes I know the process is so much stress
But it's the progress that feels the best
'Cause I came from the projects straight to success and you're next
So try they can't steal your pride it's inside
Then find it and keep on grinding
'Cause in every dark cloud there's a silver lining
I know...
[Lil Wayne talking outro]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
See right now we just riding on love
A shot in the dark
We ain't tryin to do nothing but hit the heart
We need love
That's all y'all, that's all
[Chorus x2]
Yeah, Born right here in the USA
But, due to tragedy looked on by the whole world as a refugee
So accept my emotion
Do not take it as an offensive gesture
It's just the epitome of my soul
And I must be me
We got spirit y'all, we got spirit
We got soul y'all, we got soul
They don't want us to see, but we already know
I think this song changed society, because they saw a popular hip-hop artist stand up and speak out on what he felt about the situation. This song probably made some people feel more closer, or connected with the artist. They saw that he was going thru the same things as them, being a more fortunate victim of Hurricane Katrina. Four years later, i feel like it is still alot of work to be done their, but with the world in a recession everybody needs help. On the other hand though, being that this happened four years ago, you would think they would have made it an effort to restore it all of most of the city. They have had plenty of time, and money being spent on other things. I think that is why alot of people said that George Bush did not care about black people. I also agree with the statement.
Audioslave- Wide Awake
You can a look a hurricane right in the eye
1200 people dead or left to die
Follow the leaders, we're in an eye for an eye we'll all be blind
Death for murder and this I'm sure in this uncertain time
So come pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of a crime, of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
Down on the road the world is floating by
The poor and undefended left behind
While you're somewhere trading lives for oil
As if the whole world were blind, hey
So come pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
Come pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
Wide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake!
The song "Wide Awake" by Audioslave speaks out about the lives lost during Hurricane Katrina. They go further to say that it should be looked on as a crime for leaving so many people stranded and left to die. I believe that this song has changed society because it allowed people to see how wrong the government was for not going and helping its own people. This is because the were to busy being greedy and trying to get oil. The song also revealed how the government was trying to cover up the fact that the were not aiding these helpless people. What needs to be done know if for people to learn from their mistakes. Next time they should not hesitate to react to a situation such as this. This is something that should not be forgotten because as soon as we do it allows the same thing to happen all over again.
Erik Del Nero
The music band U2 helped by having a contribute concert for the survivors. Many other musians attended the concert as well. With all the musians they raised over $2,436,900 which was fantastic. The U2 band also had some auctions on some of their equimptment. The money was sent down to New Orleans to help the survivors rebuild their homes and cities. Their main goal was to raise money to help the hurricane survivors.
Katie Atkinson 8/30/09
The Little Things Give You Away
Linkin Park
Water gray, through the windows, up the stairs
Chilling rain, like an ocean everywhere
Don't want to reach for me do you?
I mean nothing to you
The little things give you away
And now there will be no mistaking
The levees are breaking
All you've ever wanted
Was someone to truly look up to you
And six feet underwater I do
Hope decays, generations disappear
Washed away, as a nation simply stares
Don't want to reach for me do you?
I mean nothing to you
The little things give you away
But now there will be no mistaking
The levees are breaking
All you've ever wanted
Was someone to truly look up to you
And six feet underwater I do
All you've ever wanted
Was someone to truly look up to you
And six feet underground, now I
Now I do
Little things give you away
(All you’ve ever wanted)
Little things give you away
(Was someone to truly look up to you)
Little things give you away
At just under six and a half minutes Linkin Park’s “The Little Things Give You Away” is a poignant response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. The song’s opening beats mimic the sound of rainfall and the relentlessly gentle guitar creates the ideal backdrop for the lyrics. The music swells as the song reaches a haunting acapella of the song’s primary refrain, “the little things give you away” entwined with “all you’ve ever wanted was someone to truly look up to you.” Both lyrics seem to allude to President George W. Bush, the first in the sense of the oversights he committed during the aftermath of Katrina and the second in the sense that he was always trying to prove his worth as president relative to his father’s and his brother’s legacy as governor. The lyric about “the levees are breaking,” is both a literal reference to the levee breach and to the idea that ordinary citizens are not going to tolerate any more ineptitude from the government.
The Members of Linkin Park established “Music for Relief,” a charity organization devoted to aiding Hurricane Katrina victims. “Music for Relief” has raised more than $2.5 million for victims of hurricanes Rita and Katrina since its establishment in 2005. “Music for Relief” coordinated a charity performance to assist with the Gulf Coast relief effort.
The article I read is from the Sunday, August 30, 2009 Times-Picayune. It is called “There Are Many Ways to Remember Katrina.” Writers Michelle Krupa and Bob Warren discuss the way different residents of New Orleans honor and “remember” Katrina. Many of the survivors are still in the early stages of reconstruction. Many local parishes hold memorial services for the deceased. Some people commemorate the day with music and picnics, while still others prefer to move on, “put Katrina behind them.” There is a lot to be done before New Orleans can return to its former self. President Barack Obama asserted that the memory of Katrina will not be forgotten and that he will try to undo the wrongs of the previous administration.
The first time I went back to New Orleans after Katrina my father drove through the 9th ward and I witnessed some of the devastation. There was graffiti covering houses, signs of the looting that had taken place, spray painted markers on houses to show how high the water had reached in certain areas. Business in the French Quarter, New Orleans’ main tourist attraction, was reduced to almost nothing and at times I was reduced to tears to see what had become of New Orleans. We helped in the ways that we could, spending money to stimulate the local economy, donating our time and money to the rebuilding effort. Some of my own extended family had been trapped in the Superdome. The government’s failures with Katrina are unforgivable and the first thing we need to do as a nation is look at why they took place and what we can do to prevent them from happening in the future.
Here is the link to the article at the Times-Picayune
www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1251609822268020.xml&coll=1
Peace Lyrics by R Kelly
(Peace) it's what I prayer for
(Peace) oh my
(Peace)
(Peace) all around the world
(Peace) it's what I prayer for
(Peace) oh my
(Peace)
(Peace) hurry
Come on in this house children
The war has started
Light the candles right now
It's about to be darkness, oh yeah
There's no telling when the sun will shine again, no
When it's over there's a question asked
Who wins? Who wins?
Spirit
Through the land
Spirit of peace
Oh yes
Spirit move
Oh move
Oh yeah
Heaven send down
(Peace) it's what I prayer for
(Peace) oh my
(Peace)
(Peace) all around the world
(Peace) it's what I prayer for
(Peace) oh my
(Peace)
(Peace) hurry
Turn your head, close your eyes
There's people out there dying, oh
With so much wealth in the land
Why is this land starving?
As I look over this place
There's so much hatred
If I could I'd pack my bags
And hitch hike to heaven
Spirit move
Oh move
Spirit move
All through the land
Won't you move
Oh move, oh move, oh move
Oh move, yeah
This is what I prayer for
(Peace) for peace
(Peace) all around the world
(Peace) woah
(Peace) I prayer for peace
(Peace) oh peace
(Peace) oh peace
(Peace) heaven shine your light
(Shine your light on me)
(Shine your light on me) let it shine
(Shine your light on me) oh
(Shine your light on me) shine your light
(Shine your light on me) on me
(Shine your light on me) for the World
(Shine your light on me) to see (pray for me...)
(Shine your light on me) let it shine
(Shine your light on me) real bright
(Shine your light on me) through the day
(Shine your light on me) through the night
And send us your peace
(Peace) that's what I prayer for
(Peace) oh my
(Peace) oh
(Peace) all around the World
(Peace) it's what I prayer for
(Peace) peace
(Peace) peace
(Peace) all around the World
(Peace) peace for the children
(Peace) peace for the land
(Peace) peace for all women
(Peace) and peace for all men
(Peace) put peace in our hearts
(Peace) let us know you care
(Peace) take the storm away
(Peace) send your peace everywhere (shine your light on me)
(Peace) in the valleys (shine your light on me)
(Peace) on the land (shine your light on me)
(Peace) in the homes (shine your light on me)
(Peace) oh yeah (shine your light on me)
(Peace) in Solamia (shine your light on me)
(Peace) Liberia (shine your light on me)
(Peace) Etheopia (shine your light on me)
(Peace) all of Africa (shine your light on me)
(Peace) our soldiers (shine your light on me)
(Peace) prisons (shine your light on me)
(Peace) the nations (shine your light on me)
(Peace) religion (shine your light on me)
(Peace) the churches (shine your light on me)
(Peace) the community (shine your light on me)
(Peace) justice (shine your light on me)
(Peace) peace (shine your light on me)
(Peace) then ourselves (shine your light on me)
(Peace) peace for wars (shine your light on me)
(Peace) peace in relationships (shine your light on me)
(Peace) peace in the brother hood (shine your light on me)
(Peace) oh peace (shine your light on me) (for heavens)
(Peace) oh peace (shine your light on me)
(Peace) oh peace (shine your light on me)
(Peace) oh peace (shine your light on me)
(Peace) oh peace (shine your light on me) (for heavens)
(Peace) oh peace (shine your light on me)
(Peace) oh peace (shine your light on me)
(Shine your light on me) oh heaven (send your peace down to me)
(Shine your light on me) your peace
(Shine your light on me) for heaven (send your peace down to me)
(Shine your light on me) your peace
(Shine your light on me) your peace
(Shine your light on me) for heaven
I really like this song because it's comming from someone that sings a lot of rap music but yet has a sofer side to his music. R kelly is a great singer, he has this other song called " Shine your light on me" and that song is great too, it just blows me away how his music can touch a lot of people.
Tiffany Cruces
Brendan Tietz 8/30/09
Public Enemy "Hell no we aint alright"
Chuck D (flavor flav)
People are dying..
They don't have homes..
They don't have jobs..
The city of New Orleans will never be the same
Now let's get off your asses and let's do something
and let's fix the biggest goddamn crisis in the history of this country
Guess it gotta come down to this..
In order to see things for what they are and what they is..
We still may not be free up in this piece or treated very equally as
far as I can see.. now if you saw what I saw
And see what I see on the TV that lead me to write this song
after talking to my father..
But the anger in this song seem to write it's damn self...
Hell No We Ain't Alright
(It's your boy Son of a Bush. Hahaha.)
Now all these press conferences and breaking news alert [this just in]
While your government looks for a war to win..
Claim for the blame game, names where I begin
Walls closin, need to get some help to my kin
While the rest of this Bush nation stands
the drama unfolds as we the people under the stand
Fifty percent of this Son of a Bush nation
is like hatin on hatin aspect of assassination
Ask Pat Robinson, quiz him
[Smells like terrorism]
Racism in the news, still one sided views..
Sayin whites find food
Pray for the National Guard who be ready to shoot
because they be sayin us blacks loot
Now them violence is quick, tsunamis, I don't mean to scare
Wasn't this written somewhere?
Disgraces, all I been seein is hurtin black faces
Moved out to harm in far away places
[Emergency] statements, corpses, alligators, and snakes
Big difference between this haze and [the little diamonds on the VMAs]
Betta look what's really important, y'all under the sun
Especially if you are over 21
(This ain't no TV show) ain't no video (this is really real!)
Y'all hearin the same old keep it real
Posin for TV stars, havin big rim cars
[But these streets be bloody, b] no matter where you at no gas
Driving a luxury (urgency)
Don't y'all know? (It's in a state of emergency)
Show somebody's government is far from reality
Somebody's government is far from reality!
(RESPONSE)
Hip Hop responding to tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina is a very positive thing in today's society. Most youth (me being one of them) are disconnected from a lot important events such as hurricane Katrina. I think many more young people need to be interested in what is going on in our world, especially tragedies such as this one that happened right next to us. It killed and effected millions of people across the united states. If you asked a lot of teenagers I don't think they could tell you many details on the tragedy. What Hip Hop artist have done, such as public enemy with the song hell no we ain't alright, is brought the event of Katrina to light. The song speaks about our governments embarrassing efforts to bring aid to the people in need of New Orleans as well as to how people were effected and traumatized by this event. This is one of the most positive things the Hip Hop artists of our community could do. Almost all youth in some way are inspired or influenced by Hip Hop in some way or form, so when an artist such as public enemy makes a song like this one it makes youth listen to what is going on. This connects to the youth in a way the media or news could never connect to them. These songs give kids a reason to be interested in Hurricane Katrina and not just hear about it in school. It provokes positive impact among all teens and kids to get active in learning about the tragedy that hit New Orleans and to have them want to help or at least learn about the U.S.'s mistakes. Public Enemy achieved a great deal by influencing our teens and children to be interested in Katrina. There song "Hell no we ain't alright" was in the top five influential songs about Katrina at "About.com". We need more artists in the hip hop community to contribute work like this for the sake of inspiring teens.
Any Other Day - Wyclef Jean Ft. Norah Jones
Today is, not like, any other day
This one is runnin, turn a darker shade of grey
What, will, I, have, left (tell me tell me)
(Somebody tell me now)
When, this, hard, rain's, gone away
There is a safe place, that I used to know
It's the only place, that I want to go
Where, else, could, I (tell me tell me)
(Somebody tell me now)
'Til, this, hard, rain's, gone (ah-ah-away)
Grandma, grandpa, mother, father
Sister, brother, Lord
Please help the child
I heard the preacher say it's okay, I heard the preacher say
I see the airplane
I hear the engine on the boat
But y'all can't see me wavin the flag
Somebody please wave the flag
What, will, I, have, left (tell me tell me)
(Somebody tell me now)
When, this, hard, rain's, gone away
Today is, not like, any other day
So I'm gone, I have to find, my own way
(People, we gotta find another way!)
Can, you, tell, me, how
When, the, hard, rain's, gone (ah-ah-away)
I see them wavin the flag
Tell the chopper over here man we wavin the flag
I see them wavin the flag
Tell the boat over here man we wavin the flag
Man I'm wavin the flag
Tell the chopper over here man we wavin the flag
Man I'm wavin the flag
Tell the boat over here man we wavin the flag, wavin the flag, wavin the flag
These two has changed society because this song reflects on the people involved with Hurricane Katrina. I think there are a lot of emotions when these artists make songs of a tragic event. Not only did the artists feel a certain way, but they seem to know how others involved in this event felt, too. It speaks about how people have lost their homes, personal belongings and other things that could not be replaced.
- Bettie Nguyen (Tram Nguyen)
English 1A
Jay Z "Minority Report"
People was poor before the hurricane came
But the down pour poured is like when Mary J. sang
Every day it rains, so every day the pain
But ignored them, and showed em the risk was to blame
For life is a chain, cause and effected
Niggas off the chain because they affected
It's a dirty game so whatever is effective
From weed to selling kane, gotta put that in effect
Wouldn't you loot, if you didn't have the loot?
Baby needed food and you stuck on the roof
Helicopter swooped down just to get a scoop
Through his telescopic lens but he didn't scoop you
The next five days, no help ensued
They called you a refugee because you seek refuge
The commander-in-chief just flew by
Did he stop? No, he had a couple seats
Just proved jet blue he's not
Jet flew by the spot
What if he ran out of jet fuel and just dropped
hu,That woulda been something to watch
Helicopters doing fly-bys to take a couple of shots
Couple of portraits then ignored 'em
He'd be just another bush surrounded by a couple orchids
Poor kids just 'cause they were poor kids
Left 'em on they porches same old story in New Orleans
Silly rappers, because we got a couple Porches
MTV stopped by to film our fortresses
We forget the unfortunate
Sure I ponied up a mill, but I didn't give my time
So in reality I didn't give a dime, or a damn
I just put my monies in the hands of the same people that left my people stranded
Nothin' but a bandit
Left them folks abandoned
Damn, that money that we gave was just a band-aid
Can't say we better off than we was before
In synopsis this is my minority report
Can't say we better off than we was before
In synopsis this is my minority report
This song came as a direct response right after the Hurricane Katrina hit. The lyrics are self explanatory and pretty much self hit the nail right on the head. I really respect the artists that took time out to speak out about the incident and/or lend a helping hand right after the situation even when our president at the time did not. I feel like with 9-11 a time like this which was unfortunately tragic brought Americans back together.
"Minority Report" by Jay-Z
People was poor before the hurricane came
But the down pour poured is like when Mary J. sang
Every day it rains, so every day the pain
But ignored them, and showed em the risk was to blame
For life is a chain, cause and effected
Niggas off the chain because they affected
It's a dirty game so whatever is effective
From weed to selling kane, gotta put that in effect
Wouldn't you loot, if you didn't have the loot?
Baby needed food and you stuck on the roof
Helicopter swooped down just to get a scoop
Through his telescopic lens but he didn't scoop you
The next five days, no help ensued
They called you a refugee because you seek refuge
The commander-in-chief just flew by
Did he stop? No, he had a couple seats
Just proved jet blue he's not
Jet flew by the spot
What if he ran out of jet fuel and just dropped
huh,That woulda been something to watch
Helicopters doing fly-bys to take a couple of shots
Couple of portraits then ignored 'em
He'd be just another bush surrounded by a couple orchids
Poor kids just 'cause they were poor kids
Left 'em on they porches same old story in New Orleans
Silly rappers, because we got a couple Porches
MTV stopped by to film our fortresses
We forget the unfortunate
Sure I ponied up a mill, but I didn't give my time
So in reality I didn't give a dime, or a damn
I just put my moneys in the hands of the same people that left my people stranded
Nothin' but a bandit
Left them folks abandoned
Damn, that money that we gave was just a band-aid
Can't say we better off than we was before
In synopsis this is my minority report
Can't say we better off than we was before
In synopsis this is my minority report
In this song "Minority Report" Jay-Z talks about how little effort the government had to try and help the victims of Katrina. He also takes a shot at himself saying that he should of helped out more by giving his time instead of just donating money. Jay-Z is a very influential artist and when he came out with this song he was able to shed a lot of light on what was really going on down there.
Andrew Yuen
Crystal Cervantes
S.S.T. by Prince
Who will b a guest in Ur tent?
Certainly not the ones who don't wanna repent
And keep giving guns 2 the poorest of our nation's sons
Who is gonna call U by name?
With no confusion, trinity or preacher's vain?
Who says that everytime
and opens up the eyes of the blind?
Who will b the 1 in his bed?
certainly not the 1's who put thorns on his head
and wished him dead while they took his daily bread.
Which 1 is of value to U?
The 1 depleting the oil supply
or the One that renews it
And keeps the peace...
Like the groove in Sade's sweetest taboo.
Who will b a guest in Ur tent?
R U gonna b happy with how Ur life has been spent?
Did u have open arms 4 each and everybody U met
Or did U let them die in the rain? Endless war, Poverty or hurricane...
It's time 4 another groove...
Like Sade's Sweetest Taboo.
RESPONSE
I think the point the artist tries to make is that the higher power is very selfish. Also that there main focus was on the oil while there were people in need.And that there is a lot of corruption in the system and not every ones needs are being meet.Lastly it questions how the selfish people can live with themselves knowing there is poverty,war etc because of there actions.
Shelter In The Rain lyrics
by stevie wonder
eng1a nick rafter
When the lights are down
And the stage is bare
And no more magic's in the air
There's not a friend in sight to care
Your tears no one will share
I'll be your comfort through your pain
I'll be your shelter in the rain
When your sad is bad and your bad is worst
And there's no who to turn to first
When you've done everything you can
No one's there to take your hand
I'll be you comfort through your pain
I'll be your shelter in the rain
When you've looked around
And haven't seen me anywhere
Though when you were down
I lifted you up from there
There isn't a thing you can ask of me
I won't do
Just you put your trust in me
My love will see you through
When the final candle's flickered out
"Why me" is all you can think about
When all your joy has disappeared
Your future isn't clear
I'll be you comfort through your pain
I'll be your shelter in the rain
When all the odds say there's no chance
Amidst the final dance
I'll be you comfort through your pain
I'll be your shelter in the rain
I'll be you comfort through your pain
Yes, I'll be your shelter in the rain, rain
I'll be your shelter,
Be your shelter, be your shelter in the rain
this song is about people being there for each other through hard times. its always good to have some one there supporting you, and i think " ill be your shelter in the rain" is away of saying "im there for you".
Evacuation- Pearl Jam
Vedder, cameron
The sirens scream wanton attention.
Time to take heed and change direction.
Time to take stock and make omissions.
Evacuation. evacuation.
Time to take leave all formal functions.
Time to plant seeds of a reconstruction.
No time this time to feign reluctance.
It’s like your waiting for a diamond shore to wash your way.
Bets put aside you’re evil. lets crawl into your face.
A vision vague or not raising a frightful wake you up.
Time for evacuation. evacuation. evacuation. evacuation.
Evacuation. evacuation.
There was a solemn man. watched his twilight disappear. in the sand. Altered by a falling eagle. a warning sign. sign.
He sensed that worry could be strength with a plan he said, time for evacuation.
Evacuation...
I really liked this song because while it was kind of talking about the impending doom, it also gave lots of consideration to the people. t kinda makes me put myself in the people's situation, all of a sudden the government is telling you to leave your home and just forget about everything since a big natural disaster is gonna happen. And I also guess that a lot of people were just like, "Hey, this is my hometown and I think all you guys are tryng to do is get rid of me because of my race." Which again, makes me put myself in the situation where as an "innercity" person, the government doesn't usually care about me, hell, they are the ones mostly trying to put me in situations where I have no choice but to be subjugated to their blind (but funny enough not color blind) judgment....
-Fatima Duran
These are great songs! Great research students!
kAlexandria
kaitlynn "Alexandria" eoff
Minority Report by Jay-Z
You Tube Link for Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWy_i4cSB5U
Lyrics:
[Intro: News Excerpts]
The damage here along the gulf coast is catastrophic.
There's a frantic effort under way tonight to find
survivors. There are an uncounted number of the dead tonight...
People are being forced to live like animals...
We are desperate...
No one says the federal government is doing a good job..
And hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people...
No water, I fought my country for years..
We need help, we really need help..
In Baghdad, they they drop, they air drop water, food to people..why cant they do that to their own people?
The same idiots that can't get water into a major American city in less than three days are trying to
win a war...
[Verse 1 - Jay-Z]
People was poor before the hurricane came
But the down pour poured is like when Mary J. sang
Every day it rains, so every day the pain
But ignored them, and showed em the risk was to blame
For life is a chain, cause and effected
Niggas off the chain a cause they affected
It's a dirty game so whatever is effective
From weed to selling kane, gotta put that in effect shit
Wouldn't you loot, if you didn't have the loot?
Baby needed food and you stuck on the roof
Helicopter swooped down just to get a scoop
Through his telescopic lens but he didn't scoop you
The next five days, no help ensued
They called you a refugee because you seek refuge
The commander-in-chief just flew by
Did he stop? No, he had a couple seats
Just proved jet blue he's not
Jet flew by the spot
What if he ran out of jet fuel and just dropped
hu,That woulda been something to watch
Helicopters doing fly-bys to take a couple of shots
Couple of portraits then ignored 'em
He'd be just another bush surrounded by a couple orchids
Poor kids just 'cause they were poor kids
Left 'em on they porches same old story in New Orleans
Silly rappers, because we got a couple Porches
MTV stopped by to film our fortresses
We forget the unfortunate
Sure I ponied up a mill, but I didn't give my time
So in reality I didn't give a dime, or a damn
I just put my monies in the hands of the same people that left my people stranded
Nothin' but a bandit
Left them folks abandoned
Damn, that money that we gave was just a band-aid
Can't say we better off than we was before
In synopsis this is my minority report
Can't say we better off than we was before
In synopsis this is my minority report
kAlexandria
kaitlynn "alexandria" eoff
I really like "Minority Report" by Jay-Z because it's one of those songs, as well as music videos, that just eats away are your heart.
Its been quite some time since Hurricane Katrina, I still feel sorrow for it's vicitims but when watching this music video and listening to the lyrics I broke down in tears of sadness and complete anger towards our government for not being there when we as American's needed them most.
Debbie Lee
Hurricane Katrina Lyric Song
(Similar to the Hurricane Katrina Occurrence)
J. Miller-Hurricane Katrina Song-We Will Be There
Water All Around
looking For Higher Ground
sons Without Mothers
sisters Without Brothers
were Did They All Go?
maybe They Will Never Know
*chorus
we Must Band Together
and Show Them We Care
after The Waters Are Gone
we Will Be There
till The Sick Have Been Cured
from The Tragedy They've Endured
we Will Be There
people Are Looting
while Others Are Shooting
just Help My Dying Mother
i've Already Lost My Brother
where Did Everyone Go?
maybe We Will Never Know
*chorus
we Must Band Together
and Show Them We Care
after The Waters Are Gone
we Will Be There
till The Sick Have Been Cured
from The Tragedy They've Endured
we Will Be There
we Need Your Help
we Need Your Love
we Need Our Faith In God Above
can You Hear Us?
give Us A Sign
tell The Children They Will Be Fine
*chorus
we Must Band Together
and Show Them We Care
after The Waters Are Gone
we Will Be There
till The Sick Have Been Cured
from The Tragedy They've Endured
we Will Be There
we Look For Help
there Is None In Sight
as Night Turns To Day
and Day Into Night
someone Must Know That This Isn't Right
we Will Continue To Fight
*chorus
we Must Band Together
and Show Them We Care
after The Waters Are Gone
we Will Be There
till The Sick Have Been Cured
from The Tragedy They've Endured
we Will Be There
*chorus
we Must Band Together
and Show Them We Care
after The Waters Are Gone
we Will Be There
till The Sick Have Been Cured
from The Tragedy They've Endured
we Will Be There
Lil Wayne an artist from the South was one of the first musicians to put out
a record in response to Hurricane Katrina. Being as big as he is in this era tons
if not millions of people have heard this song. Alot of sympathy has come from this
record. Lil Wayne himself has donated 200000 dollars to those who have been
affected by Hurricane Katrina. I think the government should be doing alot more
to help those in need. Many lost everything that they cherished. Some even lost lives.
I think as a nation there is still alot to be done and if we come together we can help
rebuild what has been lost. President Bush should feel embarrassed to have the blame of Hurricane Katrina placed on his head.
Lil Wayne-Georgia Bush
This song right here, is dedicated to the president of the United States of America
Y'all might know him as George Bush
But where I'm from, lost city of New Orleans... we call him this
[Ray Charles sample:] Georgia.........
Now
This song is dedicated to the one wit the suit
Thick white skin and his eyes bright blue
So called beef wit you know who
Fuck it he just let him kill all of our troops
Look at the bullshit we been through
Had the niggas sitting on top they roofs
Hurricane Katrina, we should've called it Hurricane (Georgia) Bush
Then they telling y'all lies on the news
The white people smiling like everything cool
But I know people that died in that pool
I know people that died in them schools
Now what is the survivor to do?
Got to no trailer, you gotta move
Now it's on to Texas and to (Georgia)
They tell you what they want, show you what they want you to see
But they don't let you know what's really going on
Make it look like a lot of stealing going on
Boy them cops is killers in my home
Nigga shot dead in the middle of the street
I ain't no thief, I'm just trying to eat
Man fuck the police and president (Georgia) Bush
So what happened to the levees, why wasn't they steady
Why wasn't they able to control this?
I know some fok' that live by the levee
that keep on telling me they heard the explosions
Same shit happened back in Hurricane Betsy
1965, I ain't too young to know this
That was President Johnson but now
but it's president (Georgia) Bush
[Chorus - 2X]
We from a town where (Georgia)
Everybody drowned, and
Everybody died, but baby I'm still praying which ya
Everybody crying but (Georgia)
Ain't nobody tried, there's no doubt on my mind it was (Georgia) Bush
Now
I was born in the boot at the bottom of the map
New Orleans baby, now the white house hating, trying to wash away like we not on the map
Wait, have you heard the latest, they saying you gotta have paper if you trying to come back
Niggas thinking it's a wrap, see we can't hustle in they trap, we ain't from (Georgia)
Now it's them dead bodies, them lost houses, the mayor say don't worry 'bout it
And the children have been scarred, no one's here to care 'bout 'em
And fash out, to all the rappers that helped out
Yea we like it they calling y'all, but fuck president (Georgia) Bush
We see them Confederate flags, you know what it is
A white cracker motherfucker that probably voted for him
And no he ain't gonna drop no dollars, but he do drop bombs
R.I.P. Tay cause he died in the storm, fuck president (Georgia) Bush
See us in ya city man, give us a pound
Cause if a nigga still moving then he holding it down
I had two Jags, but I lost both them bi-tch-es
I'm from N.O. the N.O. Yea!
AdameDebbie
Lil Wayne - "Tie My Hands" ft. Robin Thicke
You can a look a hurricane right in the eye
1200 people dead or left to die
Follow the leaders, we're in an eye for an eye we'll all be blind
Death for murder and this I'm sure in this uncertain time
So come pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of a crime, of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
Down on the road the world is floating by
The poor and undefended left behind
While you're somewhere trading lives for oil
As if the whole world were blind, hey
So come pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
Come pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
Wide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake!
This song talks about how many people are suffering consequently dieying because money is wasted on unuseful resources that could benifit and help the peoples lifes, thats would help them suceed and bring their family up. In Katrina many people died because they werent being help rightaway, thus they had to seek for help far way that led to many to commit unthoughtfull consequenses that led to a tragedies that were disasteres. Many people didnt see it coming because they wherent aware, notified and even awaked during the depressed time. Now people are strugling to succed in life because of economic issues that they are facing because money is being used on unsuccesfull resources that are not benefeting the people and their families.Consequently a lot of them could not return back be cause of facing fear and strugling to get back on their feet. Regardless they can not recopurate their belongings, not they can not continue to get their educating because they have to work to get back on their feet. money is been used on worthless things suchs as oil that consequently oil is not getting eny cheaper!
Aralisa Samaniego
Lil Wayne - "Tie My Hands" ft. Robin Thicke
We are at war with the universe, the sky is falling
And the only thing that can save us now
Is sensitivity and compassion
[Singing]
Daa da da, da da da daa da da
Daa da da, da da da daa da da
[Talking]
But I know one thing's for sure
I'm gonna get my kicks before it all burns down
[Lil Wayne]
Yeah
Some say tragedy's hard to get over
But sometimes that tragedy means it's over
Soldier, from the academy league of rollers
I deny being down though they seem to hold us
My, shoulders are strong I prove 'em wrong
I ain't doing nothing but moving on
Let the truth be known
But they talked that freedom at us
And didn't even leave a ladder, damn
[Robin Thicke]
I work at the corner store
We all got problems, problems
No one's gonna fly down low
No one's gonna save us now
How you feel you're not alone
We're all just jealous, jealous
We don't reach the sky no more
We just can't overcome, no
[Chorus: Robin Thicke]
You tie my hands what am I gonna be?
What have I done so bad?
What is my destiny?
You tie my hands what I am I suppose to see?
What have I done so bad?
What am I gonna be?
[Lil Wayne]
I, knock on the door, hope isn't home
Fate's not around the lucks all gone
Don't ask me what's wrong ask me what's right
And I'ma tell you what's life, and did you know?
I lost everything, but I ain't the only the one
First came the hurricane, then the morning sun
Excuse me if I'm on one
And don't trip if I light one, I walk a tight one
They try tell me keep my eyes open
My whole city underwater, some people still floatin'
And they wonder why black people still voting
'Cause your president still choking
Take away the football team, the basketball team
And all we got is me to represent New Orleans, shit
No governor, no help from the mayor
Just a steady beating heart and a wish and a prayer
[Robin Thicke]
These friends they come and go
But I got family, family
These kids so fast they grow
They learn so quickly now
That there's nowhere to go
That there's no future, future
Don't make this here so low
And we can't overcome, no
[Chorus]
[Lil Wayne]
And if you come from under that water then there's fresh air
Just breathe baby God's got a blessing to spare
Yes I know the process is so much stress
But it's the progress that feels the best
'Cause I came from the projects straight to success and you're next
So try they can't steal your pride it's inside
Then find it and keep on grinding
'Cause in every dark cloud there's a silver lining
I know...
[Lil Wayne talking outro]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
See right now we just riding on love
A shot in the dark
We ain't tryin to do nothing but hit the heart
We need love
That's all y'all, that's all
[Chorus x2]
Yeah, Born right here in the USA
But, due to tragedy looked on by the whole world as a refugee
So accept my emotion
Do not take it as an offensive gesture
It's just the epitome of my soul
And I must be me
We got spirit y'all, we got spirit
We got soul y'all, we got soul
They don't want us to see, but we already know
My response:
By just reading the lyrics I felt intrigued but it wasn't untill I downloaded the music video and hear the mesmorizing beat that i opened my heart. I can feel the melancholy within every verse and it pounds within the beat. LIl'Wayne does an expertise job in representing the grief of that community and those of us including myself that feel the gloom as well.Now with four years gone,the community is still left with scars of the event. The goverment can replace buildings,schools,and such but the lives lost are irreplaceable.I feel like a tribute should be paid to the people that lost their lives within Hurricane Katrina's fury.
Vannary Bun, Eng1A
Pearl Jam - Evacuation
The sirens scream wanton attention.
Time to take heed and change direction.
Time to take stock and make omissions.
Evacuation. evacuation.
Time to take leave all formal functions.
Time to plant seeds of a reconstruction.
No time this time to feign reluctance.
Its like your waiting for a diamond shore to wash your way.
Bets put aside you're evil. lets crawl into your face.
A vision vague or not raising a frightful wake you up.
Time for evacuation. evacuation. evacuation. evacuation.
Evacuation. evacuation.
There was a solemn man. watched his twilight disappear. in the sand.
Altered by a falling eagle. a warning sign. sign.
He sensed that worry could be strength with a plan he said, time for evacuation.
Evacuation...
Raphael Saadiq : Big Easy Lyrics
[Verse]
Somebody tell me
What's going wrong
I aint seen my baby
In far too long
Somebody please tell me
What's going wrong
They say them ladies broke
And my baby's gone
Listen
It's been a couple of days
And real dark nights
I miss my only child
I aint seen her since that night
She left home about eight
And never to return
Our body's floatin' -- Floatin' into that river
[Chorus]
I gotta know
What's going wrong
I aint seen my baby
In far too long
Somebody please tell me
What's going wrong
I aint seen my baby
In far too long
[Verse]
I been searching all around
Day and day and night
Somebody please tell me
I need to feel somebody
So many souls crying
How could it be?
'Cuz every step I take
I can't think
[Chorus]
Somebody tell me
What's going wrong
I aint seen my baby
In far too long
Somebody please tell me
What's going wrong
I aint seen my baby
In far too long
Please somebody tell me
What's going wrong
I aint seen my baby
In far too long
Somebody please tell me
What's going wrong
I aint seen my baby
In far too long
I've decided to choose these two songs - Evacuation by Pearl Jam and Big Easy by Rapheal Saddiq- to talk about. Evacuation made it on the top ten songs dedicated to Hurricane Katrina. The musicality of this song was on the punk rock song. It matches the message of the song very well. It has extremely low notes played throughout the song. The song title speaks for itself "Evacuation". It's basically saying that its time to leave and start over. Its telling us not to take our time and just hurry and leave. The faster you leave the sooner you can start over/reconstruction. As for Big Easy by Rapheal Saddig, the title doesn't really tell the story of the song. You'll think of it as something that doesn't really have hardship but it does. Big easy, is a song talking about someone who is in search of there loved one. They talk about how they're wondering where they are and/or if they're ok. This song is something everyone who lost someone special can relate to. The musicality is really good.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sha'Quea Pratt
English 1A
August 30,2009
"Georgia... Bush"
This song right here, is dedicated to the president of the United States of America
Y'all might know him as George Bush
But where I'm from, lost city of New Orleans... we call him this
[Ray Charles sample:] Georgia.........
Now
This song is dedicated to the one wit the suit
Thick white skin and his eyes bright blue
So called beef wit you know who
Fuck it he just let him kill all of our troops
Look at the bullshit we been through
Had the niggas sitting on top they roofs
Hurricane Katrina, we should've called it Hurricane (Georgia) Bush
Then they telling y'all lies on the news
The white people smiling like everything cool
But I know people that died in that pool
I know people that died in them schools
Now what is the survivor to do?
Got to no trailer, you gotta move
Now it's on to Texas and to (Georgia)
They tell you what they want, show you what they want you to see
But they don't let you know what's really going on
Make it look like a lot of stealing going on
Boy them cops is killers in my home
Nigga shot dead in the middle of the street
I ain't no thief, I'm just trying to eat
Man fuck the police and president (Georgia) Bush
So what happened to the levees, why wasn't they steady
Why wasn't they able to control this?
I know some fok' that live by the levee
that keep on telling me they heard the explosions
Same shit happened back in Hurricane Betsy
1965, I ain't too young to know this
That was President Johnson but now
but it's president (Georgia) Bush
[Chorus - 2X]
We from a town where (Georgia)
Everybody drowned, and
Everybody died, but baby I'm still praying which ya
Everybody crying but (Georgia)
Ain't nobody tried, there's no doubt on my mind it was (Georgia) Bush
Now
I was born in the boot at the bottom of the map
New Orleans baby, now the white house hating, trying to wash away like we not on the map
Wait, have you heard the latest, they saying you gotta have paper if you trying to come back
Niggas thinking it's a wrap, see we can't hustle in they trap, we ain't from (Georgia)
Now it's them dead bodies, them lost houses, the mayor say don't worry 'bout it
And the children have been scarred, no one's here to care 'bout 'em
And fash out, to all the rappers that helped out
Yea we like it they calling y'all, but fuck president (Georgia) Bush
We see them Confederate flags, you know what it is
A white cracker motherfucker that probably voted for him
And no he ain't gonna drop no dollars, but he do drop bombs
R.I.P. Tay cause he died in the storm, fuck president (Georgia) Bush
See us in ya city man, give us a pound
Cause if a nigga still moving then he holding it down
I had two Jags, but I lost both them bi-tch-es
I'm from N.O. the N.O. Yea!
My Responce:
I chose Georgia Bush by Lil Wayne because i feel that lil wayne is really expressing himself openly and letting a lot of things be known. This is mostly because he doesn't care about how people feel or think about him; he will speak what's on his mind. From this, i chose one of New Orleans actual residents, lil wayne, because he explains th cars he got from being successful and the people he knew that he lost. He's only mad because people he knew died in the water because they had no help from the government. On the other hand, there are others who did survive but have no where to go and the government isn't helping. Lil Wayne says that things were even put on the news that were lies, and he's upset because of that.
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