Assignment
1. Initial response
Think about Hurt's argument(s). In a short response (250 words), discuss the evidence Hurt presents in the film and whether or not you agree with his premise that commercial rap is misogynistic, violent, and promotes a negative stereotype of black manhood. Here is a link to Part 1 of 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8YpcN7oKIM&feature=related
At this link there is further information about the issues Hurt raises divided into categories: masculinity, misogyny, homophobia, or media literacy. http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/issues.htm.
Also visit http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/ for background information on the film and director. In your essay cite a song which supports Hurt's claim(s) or refutes it. You can include the URL in your essay as the reference.
2. After reading the Dyson interview with Hurt. Due Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011
Bring in an expanded freewrite or entirely different essay discussing Hurt's claims made in his film and to Dyson in the interview. In a 3 page essay (750 words min.), using citations from Dyson's interview, Holler and Hurt's film talk about Tupac's work in light of Hurt's critique. How would Tupac hold up?
Use lyrics from at least two songs to support your argument re: Tupac Shakur's contributions to the genre and the industry both positive and negative.
Bring the essay to class electronically on Thursday for a peer review. I will give you a Initial Planning Sheet tomorrow and we will talk about thesis statements, signal phrases and block quotes on Tuesday. I am going to be looking at introductions in this essay and conclusions, the two bookends of an essay.
The next essay will look at signal phrases and how well students integrate sources into their work.
Students will have up to five citations: 1 film (B. Hurt), two rap songs, one article (from Michael Eric Dyson's Know What I Mean? Reflections on Hip Hop, one book (Holler)
The citations need to be: 1 block quote, paraphrases, and shorter citations.
Students will turn in an Initial Planning Sheet with the essay and an outline. We'll practice on Tuesday-Wednesday.
Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes
Directed by Byron Hurt
From http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/
Filmmaker Byron Hurt, a life-long hip-hop fan, was watching rap music videos on BET when he realized that each video was nearly identical. Guys in fancy cars threw money at the camera while scantily clad women danced in the background. As he discovered how stereotypical rap videos had become, Hurt, a former college quarterback turned activist, decided to make a film about the gender politics of hip-hop, the music and the culture that he grew up with. “The more I grew and the more I learned about sexism and violence and homophobia, the more those lyrics became unacceptable to me,” he says. “And I began to become more conflicted about the music that I loved.” The result is HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, a riveting documentary that tackles issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today’s hip-hop culture.
Sparking dialogue on hip-hop and its declarations on gender, HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes provides thoughtful insight from intelligent, divergent voices including rap artists, industry executives, rap fans and social critics from inside and outside the hip-hop generation. The film includes interviews with famous rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D and Jadakiss and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; along with commentary from Michael Eric Dyson, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Kevin Powell and Sarah Jones and interviews with young women at Spelman College, a historically black school and one of the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions.
The film also explores such pressing issues as women and violence in rap music, representations of manhood in hip-hop culture, what today’s rap lyrics reveal to their listeners and homoeroticism in hip-hop. A “loving critique” from a self-proclaimed “hip-hop head,” HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes discloses the complex intersection of culture, commerce and gender through on-the-street interviews with aspiring rappers and fans at hip-hop events throughout the country.
Hip-hop has been accused of glorifying violence, misogyny and homophobia, and at the same time has been lauded for its ability to simply “tell it like it is.” Such controversial debates over forms of expression can rarely be boiled down to a simple case of wrong versus right. Instead, they are complex and multi-layered and must take into account the larger cultural context.
HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes goes beyond polarizing arguments to explore hip-hop’s most contested issues. How do limited perceptions of masculinity play into a culture of violence? What roles do misogyny and homophobia have in hip-hop culture—as well as in wider mainstream cultures? And are the media and music industries really to blame?
1. Initial response
Think about Hurt's argument(s). In a short response (250 words), discuss the evidence Hurt presents in the film and whether or not you agree with his premise that commercial rap is misogynistic, violent, and promotes a negative stereotype of black manhood. Here is a link to Part 1 of 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8YpcN7oKIM&feature=related
At this link there is further information about the issues Hurt raises divided into categories: masculinity, misogyny, homophobia, or media literacy. http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/issues.htm.
Also visit http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/ for background information on the film and director. In your essay cite a song which supports Hurt's claim(s) or refutes it. You can include the URL in your essay as the reference.
2. After reading the Dyson interview with Hurt. Due Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011
Bring in an expanded freewrite or entirely different essay discussing Hurt's claims made in his film and to Dyson in the interview. In a 3 page essay (750 words min.), using citations from Dyson's interview, Holler and Hurt's film talk about Tupac's work in light of Hurt's critique. How would Tupac hold up?
Use lyrics from at least two songs to support your argument re: Tupac Shakur's contributions to the genre and the industry both positive and negative.
Bring the essay to class electronically on Thursday for a peer review. I will give you a Initial Planning Sheet tomorrow and we will talk about thesis statements, signal phrases and block quotes on Tuesday. I am going to be looking at introductions in this essay and conclusions, the two bookends of an essay.
The next essay will look at signal phrases and how well students integrate sources into their work.
Students will have up to five citations: 1 film (B. Hurt), two rap songs, one article (from Michael Eric Dyson's Know What I Mean? Reflections on Hip Hop, one book (Holler)
The citations need to be: 1 block quote, paraphrases, and shorter citations.
Students will turn in an Initial Planning Sheet with the essay and an outline. We'll practice on Tuesday-Wednesday.
Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes
Directed by Byron Hurt
From http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/
Filmmaker Byron Hurt, a life-long hip-hop fan, was watching rap music videos on BET when he realized that each video was nearly identical. Guys in fancy cars threw money at the camera while scantily clad women danced in the background. As he discovered how stereotypical rap videos had become, Hurt, a former college quarterback turned activist, decided to make a film about the gender politics of hip-hop, the music and the culture that he grew up with. “The more I grew and the more I learned about sexism and violence and homophobia, the more those lyrics became unacceptable to me,” he says. “And I began to become more conflicted about the music that I loved.” The result is HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, a riveting documentary that tackles issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today’s hip-hop culture.
Sparking dialogue on hip-hop and its declarations on gender, HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes provides thoughtful insight from intelligent, divergent voices including rap artists, industry executives, rap fans and social critics from inside and outside the hip-hop generation. The film includes interviews with famous rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D and Jadakiss and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; along with commentary from Michael Eric Dyson, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Kevin Powell and Sarah Jones and interviews with young women at Spelman College, a historically black school and one of the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions.
The film also explores such pressing issues as women and violence in rap music, representations of manhood in hip-hop culture, what today’s rap lyrics reveal to their listeners and homoeroticism in hip-hop. A “loving critique” from a self-proclaimed “hip-hop head,” HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes discloses the complex intersection of culture, commerce and gender through on-the-street interviews with aspiring rappers and fans at hip-hop events throughout the country.
Hip-hop has been accused of glorifying violence, misogyny and homophobia, and at the same time has been lauded for its ability to simply “tell it like it is.” Such controversial debates over forms of expression can rarely be boiled down to a simple case of wrong versus right. Instead, they are complex and multi-layered and must take into account the larger cultural context.
HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes goes beyond polarizing arguments to explore hip-hop’s most contested issues. How do limited perceptions of masculinity play into a culture of violence? What roles do misogyny and homophobia have in hip-hop culture—as well as in wider mainstream cultures? And are the media and music industries really to blame?
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 10:18 AM
19 Comments:
Sebastian Chastang
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11am-11:50am
26 September 2011
"Freewrite on Byron Hurt's Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes""
I agree with Hurt's point of view on how the image of the music videos today are very direspectful toward women and homosexuals. Also, I believe, in agreement with Byron, that the manhood image is misrepresented by the males in the industry. The males of the music industry are obviously misinformed and misguided. The best way for things to be turned around in this aspect is to have those who have a different point of view, to voice it in a gentle manner explaining the pros and cons of each mindset and attitude being portrayed.
Lena Chhit
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1a 11am-1150am
26 September 2011
Free write on Byron Hurt’s “Beyond Beats and Rhymes”
In the video, “Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” Byron Hurt addresses the many controversies concerning Hip Hop. Some of those included misogyny, hyper-masculinity, homophobia, and violence. Hurt talks about how many Hip Hop artists’ videos contain images that objectify women with songs that are just as degrading by referring to women as “bitches” and “hos.” He also addresses male masculinity in Hip Hop.
Most of the men in Hip Hop, usually rappers, feel the need to prove that they are “hard”; that they are to be respected and feared. Most of rappers prove this by rapping about guns, rape, and any kind of violence that will instill fear. Some believe to be feared is to be respected. Hurt also addresses the issue of homophobia in Hip Hop. There is a wide acceptance of homophobia among the Hip Hop culture where most rappers will not even explore the issue. For instance, when asked about how he felt about homophobia the rapper Busta Ryhmes responds that what he represents “culturally doesn‘t condone it.”
Byron Hurt does a good job at bringing these problems into light. Violence, misogyny, homophobia, and the negative stereotypes of masculinity should not be the norm or accepted within any community or culture. Hurt also relates these issues in Hip Hop to American culture in general. This video is a great tool for society to get a better understanding about what the message we are really are sending of ourselves as a nation.
Nina Pesco
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50am
26 September 2011
Free write on Byron Hurt's "Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes"
In the film "Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes" filmmaker Byron Hurt tackles issues within the hip hip world, such as masculinity, misogyny, and homophobia. I do think that based on the video and the evidence the filmmaker presented, I absolutely think that hip hop and commercial rap is very violent and is very degrading to women. In the song "Tip Jar" by Nelly, he talks about how women are disposable and can be bought and sold. Many times when rappers talk about guns, drugs, violence and sex, they claim they are just "keeping it real" but by glorifying this, rappers are saying it is ok to rape women, commit murders and crime. According to Hurt, Homicide is the second leading cause of death among males ages 15-24 and black males ages 18-24 have the highest homicide victimization rates, and also make up of 40% of gunshot victims. I'm not saying that hip hop is the sole nor the leading reason for all of this destruction, but I do agree that hip hop has had a negative impact on society to some degree. I'm glad I watched this film because it gave me much more insight into the hop hop world and it opened my eyes to the issues and injustices that we are facing today.
Referrence
www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/
Stephanie Kiick
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
26 September 2011
Response to Byron Hurt's "HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes"
In Byron Hurt's, “HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” Hurt does an excellent job of putting hip-hop, today, in a nut shell. Hurt argues that hip-hop has become the black man stereotype: a stereotype despised by most. Hip-hop and rap have become the misogynistic, violent, and machismo icon of today's culture. Setting aside ignorance, I believe anyone would agree with that. In the beginning of the film, Hurt describes the contradiction in hip-hop artist's as themselves and who they have to be. This is the contradiction that has destroyed many artists mentally and physically.
To begin with the misogyny in hip-hop culture, Hurt points out an almost good reason. In Hurt's interviews with men and popular hip-hop artists, they pointed out that the reason for the disrespect toward women was their promiscuity and clothing choice. They distinguish between “sisters” and “bitches.” One man that stood out in his interview to me said, “see these women,” (referring to a group of women in shorts and bathing suit tops), “sisters don't dress like that.” This argument sounds reasonable, yet that would be saying that by the way women act and the way they dress, they're asking to be disrespected. For Hurt to attack this flaw in the hip-hop culture, I believe is completely justifiable and necessary. Hip-hop music and culture was not the beginning of this treatment. Yet because of the way this flaw is flaunted, and the influence music has on society is becomes an extremely important issue to everyone.
The next aspect of hip-hop and its culture, that almost seems as a foundation to hip-hop, is the violence. Hurt asks many hip-hop artists in interviews and Michael Dyson, “why?” The common response that shocked me was, “I don't know.” Dyson points out that it is ultimately what America is based on. This is something I have never questioned or looked at, yet is very true to me. From representations of the Frontier and freedom, to Hollywood movies, to war, to many cultural beliefs, to music; America is built on violence. This violence that has been built up for so many years is the same violence that has destroyed and killed for so many years. As musics popularity increases, so do their motives and views.
It is the sickening cycle that rap, hip-hop, and American culture thrive on; violence, misogyny, and many other degrading concepts that lead to the control by men and stereotypical views. In the threat to loose popularity and money, this culture increases the intensity, danger, and “hardness.” Byron Hurt questions the motives and the answers look increasingly threatening to the healing of violence, misogyny, and masculine dominance.
Works Cited
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/film.htm
Edwin Peabody
Professor Sabir
English 1A
26 September 2011
I agree with Hurts argument that commercial rap is misogynistic, violent, and promotes a negative stereotype of black man hood. Black male rappers in today’s society don’t rap about positive things because it is viewed as a weakness. Black males are rapping about death, violence, women, sex, and drugs. They are totally misinformed and misguided. Hurts mentions how Black males give black women no respect, treat black women like toys, calling them bitches and hoes. He discusses how Black males worship violence and also promote black on black crime through their music. Throughout rap black males are feminizing other black male through beef disputes.
Hurt mentions that in hip hop, Being a black male is often defined as having power and respect. And in order to gain that respect, black males cant show weakness. They must not care about the world, not be afraid to die, not be afraid to take another mans life. In hip hop, if a black male does not show these features, they are considered a faggot, bitch ass nigga, pussy, sucker, and a weak male. Hurt also argues that there is a lot of homophobia in hip-hop. In the interview with Busta Rymes, hurt asks Busta his feelings toward homosexuality and Busta Rymes answers by saying he doesn’t condoned it and it is unacceptable.
Sean Newton
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
26 September 2011
I was very impressed with this short documentary about the relationships between hip-hop. These relationships being hyper-masculinity, homophobia, violence, and sexism. The documentary shows a man by the name of Byron Hurt interviewing many amateur hip hop artists along with some professionals, asking them questions on why hip-hop portrays so much violence. They tried to explain the reason behind so much masculinity and violence in hip hop is because of American culture (e.g. Hollywood movies, U.S. military) and heritage reaching as far back as to the days of the wild wild west. Any sort of media that tries to identify why things in society are this way or that way, really interests me.
In the movie, someone stats that "Every male wants respect" and that "Hip-hop is a very egotistical thing". I feel that the respect trait has to do with our instinct to survive, and that if we want to survive we must be respected by our fellow species. So are a lot of hip-hop artists trying to earn respect through their hyper-masculine lyrics and music videos in order to survive? It's a possibility. It's interesting to think about is it not? Is it in male nature to step on males that are not as masculine as them or males that are homosexual? Is this an instinctive trait to survive? Throughout the ages males have called other males sissies, girls, and other feminine words. I like movies that make me think about what cause people to act a certain way, you know? I love to think.
Quincy Taylor
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11am – 11:50am
26, September 2011
Free write on Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes”
The documentary Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes by Bryon Hurts is a fantastic story about the hip-hop culture and what’s happening during concerts and spring bling, and behind the music. Byron hurts thought that he knew what was necessary to be a real man in America. He was a college student a great football player, a ladies man and loved hip hop music; but he had lots of questions about todays Hip-Hop. In hip hop today theirs violence, misogyny, and homophobia. He isn’t trying to criticize Hip-Hop he’s trying to get us as men to look at ourselves. Hurts says that that In the Hip-Hop game, the rappers are in a “Manhood box,” and that box contains, strong, tough, have money, have girls/ player, be in control, dominate other me and other people just all these things. Get this if you don’t then people will call you soft, pussy, faggot, or chump, and no one wants to be any of those things so everyone stay where in the “box.”
This documentary will give you a different overview about Hip-Hop. His interviews comes straight to the source people that are into the rap game and that are higher up in the hip hop culture, like Dr. Michaela Eric Dyson, Dr. James Peterson, Kevin Powell, and many Hip Hop artist. Dr. Jelanli Cobb of Spelman College was saying that they are denying their own frailty basically being two faced about who they really are. He asked why are the inspired rappers are projecting an image of toughness in everyday Hip-Hop Mos Def was saying that it’s a matter of getting respect “you can’t let no one punk you.” Jadakiss made a really great point in his interview, he said that that images that are partridge in the hip hop culture was happing before hip hop even started. Games movies even government are even showing this violent images. Chuck D said “black death is a money maker the cooperation has been pimped by black death.” I agree that if the rappers are calling women Bitches they should get offended, like Hurts said, if George Bush called you a Nigga you wouldn’t take offence to it.
Busta Rymes, his reaction to when Hurts tried to talk to him about homosexuality was so wrong of him. That was very ignorant of him to not even have a word to say to Hurt. It one of his best friends, family member brother, and sister could be homosexual. Its just wrong. There could be a homosexual rapper remember they are putting on an image.
Marcel Rollock
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50am
27 September 2011
Free write on Byron Hurt's "Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes"
"Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes" is a documentary focusing on the many underlying issues that plague the hip hop culture, issues such as masculinity, misogyny, homophobia and violence. Bryon Hurt, the creator of the documentary, argues that hip hop is sending out the wrong messages to society though song lyrics and music videos that promote guns, rape and drug use. I agree with Bryon Hurt’s arguments but at the same time I believe these same messages of drug use, guns and rape that hip hop promotes is being advertised in countless movies, sports and even the military. Masculinity in hip hop was a major theme of the documentary. Most rappers try to display their manhood by being surrounded by half naked women in video clips and saying violent things in songs. I find it interesting that in hip hop culture if you are not seen as tough and mean you are automatically thought of as being a, punk or a sissy. Yet there are hip hop artists and groups that do not portray this macho man attitude and have been extremely successful, I wonder if they get respect from others in the industry? I found this documentary very interesting because it challenged the ways an entire culture thinks and behaves and it really got me questioning hip hops role in society.
Melody Webster
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
27 September 2011
Freewrite response to "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes"
In Byron Hurt’s documentary, “Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes” he discusses the controversial topics that afflict the hip-hop world today; these include, misogyny, violence, hyper-masculinity, and homophobia. He discusses how the media portrays the hip-hop world, and how that in turn promotes stereotypes and stigmas. Unlike old school hip-hop, the genre is no longer concerned about getting points across and promoting positive change; nowadays, the only successful hip-hop artists rap about topics that will make them seem “hard,” or respected and feared. Topics such as violence and rape are among the most common that are rapped about, and therefore promoted to the scene. Moreover, in the videos that are being produced, images of “scantily clad” women dancing in the background, or being groped by the rapper promote the misogyny that is on the rise in the hip-hop scene. Hurt relates all of these topics to problems with the media in America in general, and how they can manipulate what is shown to the public to increase stereotypes, and stop questioning. For example, Hurt goes around at a hip-hop convention and asks many aspiring young rappers why they promote violence, and why it is that violence is acceptable/successful; most began to answer, but then could not come up with any viable reason. It has become the social norm for gangster rap to contain these horrible messages because it is the only way to be successful in the field. Many of the people that Hurt interviews also comment upon the fact that those in the big corporations who inevitably decide what will make it and what won’t are white males, who have never experienced most of what rappers are trying to get across. Therefore, they can manipulate what is put out there and keep the stereotypes of the hip-hop world. This documentary was extremely informative, and proved many good points about commercial rap that I feel are very correct.
Kyle Tay
Professor Sabir
English 1A
27 September 2011
Reflection, "HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes"
In Byron Hurt’s documentary “Beyond Beats and Rhymes”, he brings attention to the pressing controversial issues that have come to plague Hip-Hop music of our generation. Through a series of interviews with underground and mainstream rappers, Hurt examines the effects hip-hop has on listeners and questions the industry’s recent intent to promote hurtful themes such as violence, homophobia, hyper-masculinity, and misogyny.
Like Hurt, I am also disappointed and somewhat offended that the music industry has come to this point. Big time music industries capitalize on the fact that violent and sexual themes sell well among the vulnerable population, but at the expense of tainted youthful minds, the oppression of blacks, and the subordination of women. In rap and hip-hop, women are almost always referred to as “bitches”. At first glance this may not seem so horrible due to the over usage of the word, but over time it has come to carry a heavier meaning. Referring to a woman as a “bitch” objectifies her and strips her of all humanistic recognition. This can be seen in the majority of rap and hip-hop videos unfortunately, where the sole purpose of a female appearance is to suppress the raging hormones of over egotistical artists and listeners alike.
This raises another issue; the objectification of women in the music industry suggests that there is a common masculine insecurity among most artists. Beginning in our vulnerable maturing years, various forms of media within our culture have us convinced that violence, homophobia, misogyny, and lack of emotion are all parts of what makes one masculine, in turn, forcing a young vulnerable mind to believe that these forms of hate are acceptable. When we turn on the T.V. or go to the movies, we see male figures that are predominantly rough, tough, and like to shoot things up all the time. Every once in a while well even see a man slap a woman around, and think nothing of it. Unfortunately, this form of manufactured entertainment has bled into our reality, and more noticeably, into our music. Whether or not a hip-hop artist derived from a violent or hateful origin, he still feels obliged to insert these controversial themes into his music as a way to legitimize his plastic masculine ego and live up to his super star hype.
Darrin Webster
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50 AM
28 september 2011
I agree with Hurts argument about todays hip hop. It has become increasing violent and disrespectful, promotes negative stereotypes and a host of other things that effect not only hip hop but african american culture as a whole.I think the worst part about this is that its all in the pursuit of money and none of the big name rappers have seriously took a stand and I tried to promote something different. Although hip hop isn’t negative as a whole. Some rappers do positive things outside of the camera lens like rapper Bun B. who is an assistant professor at Rice University. My biggest question and concern here is why isn’t this side of hip hop ever shown? Why does the media only focus on the negative and often destructive parts of hip hop culture? I think these questions are very well answered in Bryon Hurts Documentary. The image “manhood” that is portrayed in hip hop today is totally misleading and doesn’t show whats going on behind all the cars and jewelry (that are likely only rented and not owned by the rappers), the girls (surprisingly, a lot of rappers are married and have kids) and the “gangster” image. I think that the sheer amount of facade that has become a staple in hip hop runs completely contradictory to the authenticity that rap promotes. How are you “keepin it real” when most of the stuff you do and say in the public eye, is nothing more than a front?
Jesse Pinkney
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00Am-11:50Am
28 September 2011
Hip Hop as been used as a scape goat for a long time. Truth is the Hip Hop culture til this day has not taking responsibility for the experiences we help create and shape. No one wants to be a role model but we all want to sell millions of records that will influence the buyers to participate in whatever the rapper is writing about. Until the Hip-Hop culture can admit it's faults we will continuously see fantasy rap at a all time high, school drop out rates, and low literacy skills. This is a culture of blame everybody but me. Blame the white man, police man, rich man, educated man, Hollywood, and etc... We have been degrading our women and creating wimps out of men and no one wants to take responsibility for it.
Hip-Hop use to be diverse, now even the underground rappers talk about the exact same subjects as the main stream artist. Women, sex, ego's, and why he is better than the next man. One thing Hip-Hop will teach you is how to waist your time. It will give a detailed description on how not to be successful and a one way ticket to the grave.
Hurt's argument is on point. Minority women are looked at like they are stupid, money hungry, uneducated, and like they want to be violated. Rappers have stamped our women bitches and hoes and lots of young women except these terms and use it amongst each other. I am not the biggest Tupac fan but he hit it on the nail when he said "I wonder why we rape our women, take from our women, do we hate our women?" The crazy thing is most of these rappers were raised by women yet they all more masculine than sensitive. The Hip-Hop jail culture as made the culture that was once said to lead this nation and erase racism worst on the youth who practice these lyrics everyday.
Sebastian Chastang
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11am-11:50am
28 September 2011
Lyrics to my song "My Testimony"
Artist: Sebastian Chastang
Genre: Gospel Rap
Lyrics:
INTRO:
TO ALL LISTENERS THIS MY TESTIMONY
GOD BROUGHT ME THROUGH IT ALL
SEEN ME THROUGH THE UPS AND THE DOWNS
AND DIDN’T LET ME FALL
THIS MY TESTIMONY
SHOOT…………………………………
VERSE 1
LORD, I NEED YOU TO LEAD AND GUIDE MY STEPS
HELP ME TAKE MY TIME HELP ME REACH MY DEPTHS
‘CAUSE I CAN’T DO A THANG WITHOUT YOU BEING THERE
I SWEAR I’M SO SCARED WHEN I DON’T FEEL YOU NEAR
WHEN I BE PRAYING LORD I KNOW YOU HEAR MY PRAYERS
I KNOW YOU SEE MY THOUGHTS ‘CAUSE THEY ARE BRIGHT AS FLARES
AND WHEN I’M ON THE STAIRS ON THE WAY TO HEAVEN
I DON’T FEAR FOR A SECOND THAT I’MA SEE YOU THERE
HIGH ON YOUR THRONE REIGNING IN YOUR CHAIR
AND YOU ARE NOT ALONE ANGELS WATCHING EVERYWHERE
I JUST THANK YOU GOD FOR ANOTHER CHANCE
I DIDN’T HAVE TO BE THE MAN LIFE THAT YOU SPARED
WHEN I WAS IN THE WORLD YOU COULD’VE LEFT ME THERE
BUT YOU BROUGHT ME OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE DEVIL SNARES
WHEN I WAS AT MY WORST YOU SHOWED THAT YOU CARED
AND DIDN’T LET ME GO THROUGH NOTHING THAT I COULDN’T BARE
VERSE 2
I AINT COME IN THIS WORLD WITH A SILVER SPOON IN MY MOUTH
SOMEDAYS I PLOTTED ON ROTTEN WAYS I COULD MAKE IT OUT
MY DAYS WASN’T ALWAYS SUNNY SOME WAS RAIN AND CLOUDS
PAINS AND SMILES BUT NOW I’M THANKING GOD FOR MY TRIALS
HE DIDN’T HAVE TO BRING ME THIS FAR HE COULD HAVE LEFT ME
BUT GODS’ MERCY WAS SHOWN HE REALLY BLESSED ME
AND WHEN I THINK OF THEM LONG NIGHTS WHEN I WAS LIVING THE WRONG LIFE
I DIDN’T TAKE A SECOND TO THINKOF THE POWER OF GODS’ MIGHT
LIKE FOR INSTANCE DID I THANK GOD FOR WAKINGME UP
OR PROVIDING FOR ME MAKING SURE I HAD ENOUGH
OR FOR TAKING THE VEIL OFF OF MY EYES SO I CAN SEE
‘CAUSE I WAS BLIND WALKING IN PLACES NOBODY SHOULD BE
AND WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT TODAY THAT I COULD EVEN TALK ABOUT IT
WITHOUT GOD I KNOW I WOULDN’T HAVE WALKED UP OUT IT
NOW I CAN SHOUT ABOUT IT THANK GOD HALLELUJAH
ALL PRAISES TO THE KING ‘CAUSE IT AI’NT OVER
VERSE 3
I WAS RAISED IN THE CHURCH AND STILL RAN FROM IT
BLIND TO THE DEATH AHEAD LIKE I COULDN’T SEE IT COMING
SHOULD HAVE SEEN ME RUNNING LOOK I WAS CHASING
ONLY IF I WOULD HAVE KNOW THAT IT WOULDN’T AMOUNT TO NOTHING
I PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE WASTED ALL THAT TIME
IN THE STREETS GETTING HIGH PLOTTING ALL THAT CRIME
JUST IMAGINE IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED ALL THAT TIME
FOR REAL CHRIST THE ONLY REASON I AIN’T LOST MY MIND
AND I AINT LOST MY GRIND I JUST STARTED PUTTING CHRIST ON
‘CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY HE THE ONE THAT KEEP MY MIND STONG
HE THE ONE I PUT MY TRUST IN LIGHTS ON
NOW I RAP FOR GOD I HEAR MORE THAN A NICE SONG
HIS FAVOR OVER MY LIFE I SAY RIGHT ON TIME
DEVIL BE TRYING TO DISCOURAGE ME I SAY KEEP ON LYING
‘CAUSE I’MA KEEP ON FLYING I THANK GOD FOR THIS LIGHT I CAN KEEP ON SHINING
I’MA KEEP ON SHINING
This discussion on Hurt's film is really enlightening so far. Don't forget to respond to a classmate's post.
Brianna DeGrano
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
2 October 2011
Response to Byron Hurt's "HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes"
In Byron Hurt's, “HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” Hurt does an incredible job of analyzing and bringing forth the controversies of modern day hip-hop. Although he does not propose a solution to any one of the issues mentioned, he brings up what otherwise would not be talked about. I admire his passion for the art and his dismay as a result of the modern day artists. I also really appreciate the fact that he questions the artists themselves on the controversial topics headlined in current hip-hop music. The one topic that stood out to me most was that of violence and disrespect towards women. I feel as though women and men should not be degraded in the way that they are in hip-hop music. I feel that while hip-hop my not be the leading cause in domestic abuse, rape, or violence towards women, it is quite possibly a contributing factor currently. I found it very surprising that when asked about why these controversial topics are so prevalent in their music, many artists did not have a solid or concrete answer.
Works Cited http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/film.htm
Chantha Khiev
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
3 October 2011
Freewrite Response on “Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes”
I understand that Hip hop has come a long way and the dynamics what it used to be. I do love hip hop because music is what I grown up listening too. It has such an impact of my life and I listen to it everywhere I go. In some extensive I do agree what Bryon thoughts about Hip hop has negative images; how can we fix the negative to a positive way? So far, there is no solution yet. I just think that in hip hop world is a different culture. But, at the same time, we don’t know what the artist motive is: whether it is negative or positive view. I just think entertainment is part of the game they are promoting: like showing off female and money and etc. This how they want we to perceive in the hip hop world. I just think hip hop can balance it out. In the book called “Holler Me Back” by Michel Eric Dyson. He mentions that hip Hop has different category like the hard core.etc. Sometimes, we just have differentiated between categories like hard core to gangster rap to the no side one on page 138.
Debanique Kemp
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1a 11am-1150am
3 october 2011
Free write on Byron Hurt’s “Beyond Beats and Rhymes”
In the Documentary, “Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” Byron Hurt Explores the elements of hip hop. Hurt forces his audience to take a deeper look into the hip hop culture; in hopes to better understand the connection of misogyny, violence and the image that rappers strive to obtain. When hip hop first started, artist focused on encouraging fans to do the right thing, and what it really meant to be successful. Now day’s rappers feel like you have to be hard, have a lot of money, and a bunch of hoes in order to be successful. When interviewing aspiring artist it was revealed that hip hop portrays this image because sex, money and demanding respect is what sells. In order to get a deal you have to let go of your values and beliefs and conform to the image. As a result it is almost impossible to become a successful Gay rapper, because the two components completely contradict each other. I believe that the media is the reason for the image of hip hop. They are the ones that pay top dollar for what sells.
Javier Flores
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1a 11am-1150am
26 September 2011
Free write on Byron Hurt’s documentary “Beyond Beats and Rhymes”
In the documentary, “Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” Byron Hurt speaks on the many social issues concerning hip-hop today. The main topics Hurt covers in his documentary are homophobia, misogyny, masculinity, and violence. In one scene of the documentary a group of famous rap artist refuses to speak on the subject of homosexuality. Some of the people in said group were artist that called themselves conscious rapper. Hurt also talks talks about how Hip Hop videos contain objectify women with videos of rappers swiping their credit card down a girls ass. Hurt also addresses male violence in Hip Hop.
Rappers feel the need to prove that they are “thugs”; that they are the manliest of men. Many rappers rap about guns and killing people and this sometimes leads to diss songs like Tupacs “Hit Em Up” song . Byron Hurt does an excellent job at showing America the issues with certain part about hip hop today. He makes a good parallel between Hollywood and the music industry and how they both do the same exact thing.
Samuel Yihdego
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
12 October 2011
Response to Byron Hurt's "HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes"
In the video ‘’Beyond Beats and Rhymes” Byron hurt discuss many controversial but also informative topics such as hyperactive masculinity, homophobia, misogyny, sexism and violence. He portrays hip-hop culture via his interviews with different black male rappers, admitting that they are often rapping about guns (violence) and rage, including disrespect toward women. However, these images are manipulated by the media such as movies in increasing stereotypical views against black men.
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