Initial response Cyber-Assignment due: October 4
Think about Hurt's argument(s). In a short response (250-500 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 the PBS.org 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.
At the PBS.org 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.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 10:39 AM
27 Comments:
Wei Zhang
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8:00-8:50
10/3/2012
Response to Hurt`s argument
From the film Hurt presented that the commercial rap is misogynistic, violent, and promotes a negative stereotype of black manhood. I agree with this extremely. In my opinion Hip-hop is a kind of music that include glorifying violence, misogyny and homophobia. I found a song that can evidence this perspective”She was born into a world that over looked her, eye brow treatment, no one ever took her serious enough to even listen to opinions that she felt, the feelings that she felt were killing confidence iside herself.”
Although I have the similar viewpoint about the hip-hop music as Hurt, I do not disgust these content adding into music. Without a doubt, music is the best way to do that. The society is really complex and filthy, so we human beings need a method to express our real thinking. We can use our own ways to say what we want to say. Actually there are privilege, injustice and grade classification in this liberal democracies country, so why we can not say shit to the things we are angry with.
In my opinion, hip-hop is a kind of marvelous way that can express the singer`s initial and original feeling about a story or experience or any other things, and it can also bring audience a astounding effect which make them entering into the singer`s heart. If the audience pay attention to the lyric of a hip-hop, they can receive another kind of feeling from it that is like a short story.
Wichita, Ks.Small. http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/songs_details.htm?811
Merrick Stone
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8:00-8:50
10/4/2012
So in English class we're learning about hip hop culture. Today we discussed how the foundation of what is acceptable in hip hop themes and lyrics involves talk of gunplay, portraying aggression, Acts of violence, emasculating other men, success, and for Loss of a better word, whorifying women. So, in light of this I decided to write my own lyrics in respect to it after unexpectedly finding peculiar inspiration. Here they are:
You're trying to have this cat emasculated.
But while I was out with your girl, you sat and masturbated.
You're fat and saturated.
That exacerbated
fellow traumatized by thoughts that dwell of homicides.
Flat exasperated until the melodrama dies.
No peace, you get blown to bits in the midst of
combat and lacerated.
Then left to lie in your own blood-spat and macerated.
Your infectious wounds,
splat and maturated.
Your dying words,
flat and aspirated.
I do not condone, promote nor assossiate my character with these lyrics, but I thought I would give it a try. In context.
Wai Man (Remy) Tang
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50 AM
4 October 2012
Hip-Hop: Beyong Beats and Rhymes Reflection
In the film, Hip-Hop: Beyong Beats and Rhymes, by Byron Hurt, commercial rap is seen as misogynistic, violent, and promotes a negative stereotype of black manhood. I agree with his view. In the film, he showed music videos that clearly displayed the community's obssession with guns and women's roles as nothing more than sex toys. I was disapointed to learn that the music industry encouraged new rappers to sing about this things instead of other positive topics. Rappers have no choice in choosing their topic if they want to get a record deal. Since music is a form of art and art does not lie, rappers sing about what they see in their communities. Young people who have not yet formed their own way of thinking look to those rappers as role models. Consequently, more people think the world portrayed in the music videos is normal and how reality should be. No one sees how violent and misogynistic they are becoming and the ones that do see do not speak up. People in the Afican American communities have no power to change their own situations, they can only work with what they have. That is their bodies and their words. Gangs are formed so they can give themselves a better chance of survivng the now even if it shortens their lifespan. Rap was formed to vent their anger and frustrations, and tell the world about how they have to live. Their actual personalities might not be what their appearances and actions suggest, but they have no choice but to conform to society.
Sam Everett
Professor Sabir
ENGL 1A 8-8:50
4 October, 2012
Hurt Movie Free Write
I agree with the argument Hurt made in his film Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes. Hip Hop has always been used less of a form of expression, and more of a means to make money or prove masculinity. Hurt claims that American culture has a positive view on the hyper masculine people and things. For example athletes, violent movies, wars, and of course musical artists. Hip hop culture has thrived in response to oppression and neglect, situations where hyper masculinity is needed. Unfortunately, hyper masculinity does not leave hip hop when it is not needed. Artists try to make themselves appear as more dominant in order to be accepted as a legitimate musician. Someone who doesn’t have the traits that American Society would describe as masculine would not be accepted by hip hop, and instead be called things like “faggot”, or “pussy”. Hyper masculinity is not only harmful to “non-masculine” men, it also hurts females. Society views the masculine as men who don’t show respect for women. Because of this, hip hop artists must portray women negatively through their music and videos in order to be accepted as masculine. Women are referred to as “bitches” by artists in order to show that the artists have no respect for women. This is only expression, but the harmful lyrics can still cause real harm. Not everyone who listens to hip hop understands that the lyrics shouldn’t apply to real life. In order to prove masculinity, some people may openly abuse, or sexually assault women. Hip hop has declared this to be more then acceptable, hip hop encourages this action. Even though hip hop is a creative means of expressing ideas and emotions, it is extremely harmful to those who aren’t accepted into its culture.
Joseph Carlo O. Tolentino
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 8:00 – 8:50
4 October 2012
Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes
Rap music had always been up for debate, and most of the time it’s because they prove themselves to be rather violent, sexual, or inappropriate. In Byron Hurt’s film, Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, he portrays how rap music, although entertaining for most teens, are filled with hate, masculinity and sexisim. One such rap music “Oochie Wally”(1) objectifies women and the rapper continues to be surrounded by scantily clad women with their moans present in the background non-stop. Not only does this show rap music is misogynistic, it also shows how women are objectified as pleasure toys rather than human beings worthy of respect.
Hyper masculinity is also an issue brought about by rap music. I personally agree with Hurt as in all the music videos that I have seen so far, there was always this image of a strong black gangsta like man who doesn’t know how to cry or will never be sensitive and always goes against the law. Their strong insults make use of men acting like women and are obvious by comments like “bitch ass nigga” or “pussy.” Not only is this an insult to once manhood, it also degrades women, which connects once more to misogynistic views.
Personally this gives me the appearance of boys with low self-esteem who never grew up, not only is this so petty, it is downright childish. I’ve seen 4 year olds who act more mature than rap musicians.
Why oh why can’t people just learn about how their words/songs impact the people listening to them? Rap musicians are eradicating all the positive characteristics left among black culture and are showing the world that their race is always violent, promiscuous, undisciplined, bad, idiotic, simple-minded, animalistic, barbaric, and many more negative aspects.
References
1. http://theurbandaily.com/854555/10-misogynistic-rap-songs-that-women-love-nsfw/
2. Hip-Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes
Keelan Sunglao-Valdez
Professor Sabir
English 1A
11:00-11:50
October 4, 2012
Response: Hip-Hop- Beyond Beats and Rhymes Reflection
Byron Hurt’s goal with his documentary Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes Reflection was to reveal and discuss the negative aspects and messages of today’s hip-hop. Hurt’s argument is that, Hip-Hop has suffered and been confined by negative themes of violence, masculinity, misogyny, homophobia, and media literacy. Many of these problems have been influenced by society, and have trapped hip-hop into a highly stereotypical label. It is a horrific dilemma that our society has grown comfortable with these themes, and are being published in the media as a norm.The arguments made in the film reflect on the problems these themes create- whether it be on race, sexuality, or gender.
I believe Hip-Hop today has changed and lost its message of purpose and goals. These exploitations of violence, sex, and hyper masculinity have become the profit of today's media. Society’s view on Hip-Hop has become a craving for eye-candy and extremes. We see these images of money, sex, and power and it feeds our imaginations, creating icons and ideas of what success should look like. All these images are, are false illusions fed to us by money mongers trying to find what sells- no matter the negativity it produces. Sadly, sex and violence has become a large staple of the american media. This form of censorship has hindered us from obtaining new knowledge and messages through forms of song and art.
Work Cited
Hip-Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes
Virginia Tan
Professor Sabir
Eng 1A 8:00-8:50
4 October 2012
Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes Free write
In the film, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, I agree with Hurt’s argument and at the same time I also disagree. Honestly, I don’t listen to rap music but I think it is okay. Sometimes I don’t understand what are the rappers are rapping because they went too fast.
In my opinions, there is good hip hop music out there but on the other side some are rapping about violence. Half of the time the lyrics is about killings, guns, sexism or yelling at people. For example, the music video that was show in the film guys had their shirt off and women are half naked. However, there are some rappers who keep their lyrics clean and positive. This will send a good message to the audience instead of a negative.
In the film, the rappers mention that hip hop is a way to their toughness. Also it’s a way to encourage themselves and a way they show respect. I pretty much agree with them.
The youtube video was taken down, so here's the film on google video.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2020029531334253002
Rachel Avalos
Professor Sabir
English 1A
8-8:50AM
4 October September
Short Response
The film “Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” examines the rap culture revealing that rap music is a negative stereotype of black manhood, this stereotype is degrading and so main stream that others follow suit without critically thinking about their actions or lyrics. I agree with Hurt that the image presented by the media and by commercial rap music is misogynistic, violent, hateful and is a negative stereotype. Throughout the film Hurt talks to rappers, plays rap music, and shows music videos that portray black men as violent, strong and treating women like objects. He also shows how this stereotype has perpetuated the culture and created the norm of men having to act extremely masculine, violent, rap about killing people and disrespecting women. The film shows statistics about how young black men are more likely to be killed than other people, and how black women are more likely to be sexually assaulted; these statistics drive home the message that the stereotypes created by the commercial hip hop scene are negatively impacting black culture. Like Hurt, I believe that the artists need to change themselves and what they are willing to let the music companies tell them to rap. The artists themselves are the only ones who can break out of the “box”, the companies only want them to create music that sells and currently only violent, stereotypical hip hop music sells. The only reason why hyper masculine music sells is because the entire American culture promotes the image as men having to be violent, having to dominate women, kill people, put down other men and never show weakness of any kind. Unfortunately, none of the rap artists show signs of wanting to change this image, perhaps because they are worried about damaging their highly successful careers.
Jeannae Williams
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50am
4 October 2012
As a viewer of the film presented by Hurt, I coincid with assuming commercial rap is exceedingly violent. in the film were discussions of aspects pertaining to black manhood and disputes on why African American males in the hip-hop generation need to portray an image of toughness, being in control, mobster attitude, gun play, killing othe men, and putting fear into other men hearts. The standard of one's behavior of reasoning was because all men in this world want respect; to consider deserving of high regard. Men in general feel as if being in control is what being a man is. They want power. For that reason, with power comes money and who does not want money? Most of these behaviors come from the street life, incarceration, and just the life these fellow lives or lived. Movies can also be the blame of why guy's act the way they do as far as manhood. Alot of movies are male actors and they play many roles of how A man should act or be; gangster motion picture. It all boils down to a neggative stereotype of black manhood being that these men are existing as imposters rather than being real individuals, except for the fact, it does not have to be that way. These men fail to realize that being a violent character is not a sufficient way to be considered as a man. Their perspectives are not in the proper place. All because, if one is willing to try a different approach without violence being involved then man will succeed and live up to being a man.
1.Hip-Hop Beyound Beats and Rhymes
Emily Lam
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50am
4 October 2012
Response to Hurt’s Argument Film
I have recently watched a video called Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes by Bryon Hurt. After watching the video and hearing Hurt’s arguments about how hip-hop and rap can be violent and makes people look at women in a negative way, I started to agree more and more about what Hurt’s thoughts were. One of Hurt’s arguments was that African American men likes to rap about women and makes it sound like women are just sex objects. It looks like the way it seems when he showed part of the music video that the black manhood was in. That just shows how black manhood could be misogyny and how violence was against women because there were women shaking their butt while wearing bikinis and having African American men singing while having physical contacts with them. Hurt also filmed a couple of women talking about their feelings and I actually agree with what some of the women said. Some of the women said that just because they rap about these negative things about women does not necessarily mean that men could touch women inappropriately. They feel that it makes them uncomfortable and unwelcome which I strongly agree. I do not think men should feel the right to touch women just because they are wearing shorts or tank tops when it is on a very hot day. When I was watching the movie, it does shows that a lot of men love to rap about things only because they know that other people likes it and is willing to listen to it. That includes rapping about girls, money, sex or nothing that is good or positive which could benefit the next generation. I was very shocked once I have watched the part when Hurt interviewed a man on the streets rapping with a bunch of other guys and he said that he could rap about growing up to become a doctor or perhaps become a police officer and protect the people, but he said that no one would want to listen to that. I also agreed that the way how African American men raps and how they represent themselves shows homophobia. The reason why I agree with him is because when Hurt was talking about when rappers starts to film their music videos, majority of the men are naked, sags their pants, and wears big chains on their neck. A lot of the music video where when the artist sings, they like to take money out and throw it right in front of the camera. That just shows how misogynistic it is and it gives people the symbol of a negative stereotype of black manhood.
Work Cited
Hurt, Byron, writ. HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes. 2008. Film. 5 Oct 2012. .
Messi Chaib
Professor Wanda
English 1A
10 October 2012Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes Free write
The commercial rap is usually made by people who do not have any principals, their only goal is money and nothing other than that so they use any words, any images, any videos just to entertain and influence people without thinking about the bad image they give to children and adolescents. Hurt used arguments that are really important and enough to explain the inconvenience of commercial rap like those people saying nasty words, talking about killing, rapping, and women nicked which are things that leads people to violence and hatred of women . The women who were dancing and turning on the public are just sluts giving up their bodies for money. On the other hand, all the rappers who were singing using the nasty words, talking about drugs, guns, they are just those people who life left them behind and they do not coast more than those words they say. I completely agree with Hurt because whatever it was in the videos is not human, saying those nasty words, dancing without cloths at front of the camera or talk about guns and drugs are extremely degrading for me. At the time where those rappers think that showing guns, dancing with nicked ladies and smoking drugs at the front of the camera is an expression of manhood, other people see them far from humanism which is very degrading for them. I heard somebody on the video saying , ”Journalists like you come to night clubs with beautiful ladies and don’t even look at us.”, and my question for this man is why do not you go to school, study and find a job like them, then you will get a lady and enjoy your life?, or because it is demanding, it is not like buying a $500 gun then steal, kill or putting terror into weak people. Those people for me are just cowards and unsuccessful.
Hurt."The Flim- Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes." PBS. Independent Television Service, 20 Feb. 2007. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. .
Thany Ouk
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
5 October 2012
Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes Freewrite
After watching the film "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes," I agree with Burt's argument on Hip Hop. He defines how hip hop is a show of violence, misogyny, homophobia, and media literacy. The hip hop songs that are displayed now involve music videos with women revealing their body, gun involvement, showing off money, etc. It seems that the type of things that are shown nowadays is to catch people's attention. Hurt explains how the art of hip hop has shifted the minds of men to making them feel even more masculine compared to women.
Hip hop has changed over the years from it being music to enjoy and having a fulfilling meaning into music that present violence, misogyny, the money domination, etc. This influences others to continue this "new meaning/thought" of hip hop.
Hurt, Byron. HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes. 2008. Film. 5 Oct 2012.
Abiodun Apata
Professor Wanda
English 1A 8:0-8:50am
4 October, 2012.
Hurt’s Argument.
Hurt’s point of view about commercial rap as being misogynistic, violent and promotes a negative stereotype of black manhood. “HIP-HOP: Beyond Beat and Rhymes, a riveting documentary that tackles issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today’s hip hop culture” shows the degree of my agreement with Hurt’s view. It’s the truth and it cannot be over-emphasized that hip-hop rap should be corrected.
Hip-hop music is a representative of misogynistic to the world. Mistreatment, mistrust, dislike and object of sex are all women are been painted in this culture. No respect for women than subject of nudity and sometimes forced to have sex. Consequently, abuse of women still remains in existence till this day. Rap should try to refocus on hatred for women especially for the coming generation.
Unlike United States of America where everybody is allowed to carry fire arms which enhance violence and furthermore makes rappers to be violent. Sometimes, I wonder the type of neighborhood most rappers live due to the fact that they like violence. The young rappers believe that rap and violence are inseparable. They want to kill who? Carrying weapon is part of rap culture which should be discontinued.
Negativity of the stereotype of black manhood has greatly been promoted by hip-hop music which is an issue that should be addressed as soon as possible. This culture tends to display how a black male should live and the type of life style which is highly emulated by the black folks. Every black male see hip-hop culture as way of life for them. This should be corrected and can be corrected by the hip-hop artist themselves.
Hip-hop is a culture that should be educating and full of game of life and how to play it but not in a violent, misogynistic or promoting negative stereotype of black manhood. It should tend to promote peaceful life, love unity, future and so on.
Hurt, Byron. HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes. 2008. Film. 4 Oct 2012
Gabe Shalaby
Professor Sabir
10/06/2012
English 1a
8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
Free Write
I’m glad that we had the opportunity to watch this quick documentary. It brought up many great points that should be talked about when referring to modern mainstream Hip Hop. Sometimes however it seems that Byron takes things a little too seriously. Some might feel that I’m just being stubborn or overlooking points, but like Jadakiss points out in the film, it’s just entertainment.
In the book that we’re reading now Dyson brings up the point that this mainstream gangster rap made by the thugs isn’t necessarily for the thugs. If you live and breathe that hard life then you know what that life is about, why do you have to listen to the stories when you experience it anyway? For many of the artists the music is an escape from their reality and a way to get their emotions out and felt by other people. For others rapping is a way to write stories for the entertainment of others in exchange for their money. Rapper Marshal Mathers (a.k.a. Eminem) explains this concept in his song “Criminal” explicitly, at the end of the final verse of the song he says, “You motherfucking chickens ain't brave enough/to say the stuff I say, so just tape it shut [*tape unrolls*]/Shit, half the shit I say, I just make it up/To make you mad so kiss my white naked ass.” If you are familiar with Eminem’s lyrical content you are aware that he is one of the most controversial rappers of all time. Byron is like Tupac in a sense that he puts no limits on himself relating to what he can and can’t say to the world. He openly speaks his mind about politics, misogyny, drugs, suicide, homicide, parenting, etc., using a multitude of styles to do so. Occasionally his chosen style takes these themes to an extreme, challenging society’s boundaries on subjects to be discussed and how we should go about discussing them. In this excerpt he shows us that he utilizes a lot of this hyper violent and “evil” imagery simply to challenge us. He likes to push the envelope on what we see as acceptable. I associate this concept with Byron’s emotional responses in the film to what is presented to him because while I recognize that these images can be offensive and hurtful to society on a whole I also don’t see what the huge fuss is about all the time. It’s sort of like Tupac who, according to Dyson didn’t learn to pick his battles and had to fight all of his battles full force.
Antionette Armour
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8:00-8:50
3 October 2012
Freewrite: Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes
In Byron Hurt’s film, Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, on Hip-hop and its effect on black manhood and the black community was very thorough and well presented. I agree with Hurt’s argument on the premise that commercial rap presents a lot of negative connotations and negative images of black women. On the other hand, he presents evidence and interviews of rap’s origination and how it promoted positive messages and gave the black community a sense of belonging. Growing up I listened to rap from the 80s’ and 90s’ but as I got older I stop listening to commercial rap because most of it put down ‘soft’ African American males and talked about killing the next black male. Commercial rap has many misogynist songs about African American women, which allows many youth in the black community to disrespect many of them and touching women inappropriately in public.
In reality many rappers have much more respect for women, such as Tupac Shakur who have many poems and interviews expressing his love and respect for the women in his love but apparently disrespects women in his song Holler 4 A Hustler, “Why plant seeds in a dirty b**ch, waitin’ to trick me? Not the life for me" (Holler 4 a Hustler, Line 12-13). Many of these rappers are making these songs because it is what the majority wants or what their record label wants them to make (who are mostly white male). These songs have a negative effect on the black manhood who falls short of an education or the effects that comes with living in low-income community because they listen to these songs and they want to have a persona like many of these rappers are rapping about or are presenting to the public. Not knowing that most rappers have a degree, love to read, or was raised in a family with good foundation, many listeners of rap believe that they can become famous like the rappers or live their lifestyle by behaving a manner that more rappers present to have.
Although commercial rap is the rap that is mostly heard by the public, there are many rappers who have rap about consciousness, politics, and offers many advice about changes that many improvised or unfortunate people should make to build a better community.
HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes. Dir. Byron Hurt. 2008.
Shakur, Tupac. "Holler 4 A Hustler." Rec. 1995-1996. Amaru, Death Row, Interscope, 1999. CD.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amanda Lara
English 1a
8:00A.M.-8:50A.M.
In Byron Hurt’s film, Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes he explains how hip hop and rap have been used promote, violence, masculinity, and refer to woman as bitches. In most hip hop songs women are referred to as sluts, hoes are just referred to as useless. It is very disappointing as a woman to see how women let themselves be on those music videos just for fame in my opinion practically naked and being called names and it's ok because that's not them. As if they had no self respect. He also talks about how nelly a famous hip hop artist gives back to the community, and how one music video changed how they saw him due to him slapping some girls butt and how she was exposed. A lot of music artist give back to the community and so do other famous artists. A lot of these music artist just put up a front, for publicity or to seem more manly or hard on the streets. For example we have read a lot of poems and read about Tupac and we have learned to see how he gives credit to woman in his poem black woman and in dear mama. A lot of these artist also promote violence by wearing bullet proof vest and showing guns. Is that really necessary in music videos? Do they not realize what the crime rate is and how many people are killed? Is this the culture for rappers? It's all about power and to seem like they are tough. In the film fat joe expresses how when one goes to the club now it's not about going and getting drunk and having fun. It's about showing up with your biggest bling and looking tough. That is not the type of atmosphere that should be brought. There is more gun violence now than there was decades ago and it's a lot because of media and the promotions of guns and violence. Not all hip hop music is bad, there are songs that talk about growing up with struggles and being successful as well as songs with politic feedback.
Amanda Lara
English 1a
8:00A.M.-8:50A.M.
In Byron Hurt’s film, Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes he explains how hip hop and rap have been used promote, violence, masculinity, and refer to woman as bitches. In most hip hop songs women are referred to as sluts, hoes are just referred to as useless. It is very disappointing as a woman to see how women let themselves be on those music videos just for fame in my opinion practically naked and being called names and it's ok because that's not them. As if they had no self respect. He also talks about how nelly a famous hip hop artist gives back to the community, and how one music video changed how they saw him due to him slapping some girls butt and how she was exposed. A lot of music artist give back to the community and so do other famous artists. A lot of these music artist just put up a front, for publicity or to seem more manly or hard on the streets. For example we have read a lot of poems and read about Tupac and we have learned to see how he gives credit to woman in his poem black woman and in dear mama. A lot of these artist also promote violence by wearing bullet proof vest and showing guns. Is that really necessary in music videos? Do they not realize what the crime rate is and how many people are killed? Is this the culture for rappers? It's all about power and to seem like they are tough. In the film fat joe expresses how when one goes to the club now it's not about going and getting drunk and having fun. It's about showing up with your biggest bling and looking tough. That is not the type of atmosphere that should be brought. There is more gun violence now than there was decades ago and it's a lot because of media and the promotions of guns and violence. Not all hip hop music is bad, there are songs that talk about growing up with struggles and being successful as well as songs with politic feedback.
Hurt, Byron. HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes. 2008. Film. 5 Oct 2012
Fermin Carrera
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8:00-8:50 am
October 7, 2012
Hurts Argument:
I definitely agree on Byron Hurts’s argument that in today’s hip pop, it is misogynistic, violent, and promotes negative stereotypes of black manhood. In Byron Hurt’s video, he breaks down the modern culture of hip pop and by doing so, he reveals that hip pop is violent is many ways. One of the most common themes in Hurts’s video is that men are dominant and will continue to be dominant towards women. Since women are looked down upon, men then have the tendency to treat them they wish. For example, men usually call women in their music videos either bitches or hoes. As men or rappers of the music video state that women are bitches and hoes, then it all sums up to verbal domestic violence against women. Taking into consideration that hippo has become very popular, what is seen on TV impact s the younger kids to basically do the same to women. To either call them bitches or hoes. If they don’t show their dominance to women, they are considered a bitch nigga, described in Hurts video, “HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes.” Hippop has become very egotistic with the domination of men. All there is in the rap I videos is money, guns, drugs and “bitches”. For those who it the most is pretty much considered dominant among the others. These are the reasons why I agree with Byron Hurts arguments.
Hurt, Byron. HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes. 2008. Film. 5 Oct 2012
Pablo R. Hernandez
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50am
7 October 2012
Hip-Hop: beyond Beats and Rhymes Free-write
After watching the movie “Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” I can say my eyes were open to how similar hip hop and the country is. Byron Hurt brings up the idea that rap/hip hop reflects the same values the country has. I agree with this notion because manhood is defined as having a lot of women, having guns and using them to kill other men. The U.S is exactly the same as rappers describe themselves, to change the values of rappers the country needs to change its values. An artist interviewed in the film asked Byron Hurt what kind of movies he watched, after Hurt asked him why was rap so violent. I fully I agree that movies and shows are never judged the same way as lyrics from music do, all the things wrong with the hip hop and rap are included in all entertainment.
Misogyny was a big issue brought up during the film which helped to explain the thoughts of young aspiring rappers on women. Rappers were quick to call women “bitches and ho’s” but were dumbstruck when they were asked to describe a real woman. I agree that misogyny is a big issue because throughout history women have been pushed down. All I hear from youth now a days is that women are all “bitches and ho’s” rarely do I hear different words used. For youth to be “hardcore” they have to stay in the loop by oppressing women among other things. Women were oppressed but often women participated in music videos and let themselves be degraded. Are some women willing to sacrifice respect for money and popularity? I believe some women would do anything for success but that does not give rappers the right to call women derogative words.
HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes. Dir. Byron Hurt. 2008. Film. 6 October 2012
Bianca Hsueh
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
7 October 2012
"Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes" Free-write
I agree with Hurt’s premise that commercial rap is misogynistic and promotes a negative stereotype of black manhood and women. Hurt supported his argument regarding misogyny with music videos that hip hop artists shot. In all of the music videos, we could see women wearing nothing but bikinis while dancing like a stripper. The song lyrics itself also berate women with inappropriate words.
Ultimately, commercial rap degrades women in order to make the rapper more masculine. As Hurt discussed in his documentary, rappers want to display to the world that they are masculine by talking about using guns, having sexual relations with numerous women and how much money they have. In the rap songs and the music videos, rappers brag about how many women are willing to sleep with them and how many women want to have a relationship with the rapper. While this scene makes the rapper seem masculine, the women in the video who represent the female sex give viewers the notion that all women are slutty and willing to sleep with any man.
After hearing the lyrics of the songs shown in Hurt’s documentary, I found that the violence that was included in the songs was a way the artists were trying to show their masculinity. The rappers feel that in order to show that they are real men, the need to rap about how they have the power to hold a gun and shoot people.
In a way, I do not blame the artists for including violence and misogyny in their songs; it is the only way they can sell their songs in the industry. Through his documentary, Byron Hurt found that the people who ultimately control the rap industry were White businessmen who made it so that the only subject rappers could mention in their songs was violence, negative stereotypes of black manhood and misogyny. All of these topics implied that Black rappers were ultimately dangerous and violent people; this image was eventually passed on to Black people in general. Michael Eric Dyson also discussed this in his book, “Holler if You Hear Me” when he talks about how the older generation of African Americans are now in conflict with the newer generation of African Americans because of the messages that the new generation are putting into their songs. Through the rap songs, the artists are confirming the Black stereotypes that have lived on in America for decades.
Works Cited
Dyson, Michael Eric. “Holler If You Hear Me.” New York, NY: Basic Civitas, 2001.
HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes. Dir. Byron Hurt. 2008. Film. 6 October 2012.
Kovida U
Prof: Wanda Sabir
English 1A
Oct 4, 2012
Initial Response Cyber-Assignment Due: October 4
In “Cover your eyes as I describe a scene so violent” Byron Hurt finds hip hop “suffused of violence” in a conversation with Eric Dyson, the hip-hop music is discuss as a form of social and cultural phenomena. Hip-hop tends to represent strong male, violence and possibly the thrill of violence, good life and women. Black men, says Dyson, are victim of their willingness of supremacy and patriarchy (p. 107) making them worse.
I do agree that hip-hop very often expresses anger, sadness, violence, sex and negativism. Guns as Dyson said are a symbol of “paraphernalia of American masculinity”.
Masculinity, hipermasculinity a real man that obtains things with violence. Anothern aspect that I do see in the videos and in the lyrics of hip hop is this idea of dominating women.
Nelly in his music was the tip of such sexist aspect of hip-hop against women that can be traced back to black female body slavery as Dyosn mentioned (p. 110) is consider the most sexist or misogynistic rapper. An interesting point that was brought up by Dyosn is that black women did not react as quickly as the public might have expected but Dyson notices that the black female are devoted and loyal to black men and probably I will say it is more an act to always stand together and support them selves as always it has been for African American people. Also at fault says Dyson are the black women who should be “blamed for their limitation that male society imposes on them” p. 108 as well later he says that sometimes economic constrains might have brought these women to search a way to get to the hip-hop world by accepting any role given to them
Very important is the discussion of Victims and victimize (Dyson response p.106) The contradiction raised by Hurt on dealing with hip-hop music and the way how male perpetuate a sexist attitudes against black women is the same if thinking that they are still vitctim of racism. Dyson clearly states that everybody with no race different lives in a society that tries to fight racism but at the same time in some way we tend to be as well racist in other aspect or situation. Further more the word racism has became a term that is misused and often people will used it talk about “black”, “brown”, “yellow” etc…
Music has a great influence on young people. I do agree that very often hip –hop expresses violence, but it is also true that there singer who uses hip-hop to express messages of love like “Dear Mama” by Tupac. Because music plays a major role in our culture and it is mediums used to shape our minds and in particular young mind, who often refuge themselves in music to escape from troubles, singers should produce music that express positive sentiments. Everybody should be free to express their opinion in music but there are different ways and above all in a more respectful way.
Kovida U said...
Free Writing: of "How long will they mourn me"
Kovida U
Prof: Wanda Sabir
English 1A
Sep, 13, 2012
"How long will they mourn me" it refers to the lost of close friends, homies. When loosing somebody close the grief is great but he wonders for how long this grief will last and he asks himself when this will happen to himself for how long people will mourn him. In this song it is express the sentiment of loosing somebody that is consider as a brother as it is expressed in the verse "Tell me Lord, why you take big Kato?”, loosing a friend is like going crazy as he says "I can't take it, I'm losin' my fuckin' mind". Tupac in this songs recognizes that what happen to his friend will also happen to him in fact in the following verse he says:
"See you in the crossroads real soon
For now let me pour out some brew
I'll be always thinkin' of ya homie
Rest in peace"
In fact at the end Tupac dies after living a life that was successful but as well turbulent. I believe that Tupac choose to live the life that he wanted to be.
Work cited:
Shukur, Tupac Amaru. "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" Thug Life: Volume 1. Out Da Gutta/Interscope/Amaru, 1994.
Dyson, Michael E. "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" in Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur. New York: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print.
1:56 PM
Davian Grant
English 1a
Wanda Sabir
8:00 – 8:50
October 8 2012
I agree that rap promotes violence. Rap culture in America is all about emasculating other men, which always leads to violence. Anything gained must be done so through the way of which a “real man” would. Real men don’t show any other emotion apart from anger and hyped up mentality of what other men should be. The usual response to these kinds of accusations are full blown violence in which the other men end up dead or injured. It is stated in “ “ that the elder black community are loathsome of the younger generation because they are more prone to violence. Violence inspired and promoted by American rap culture. I believe that rap culture is the source of a lot of violence in the States. And what many fail to see is how many of the people who sing about it, don’t actually live that life. In my opinion however, hip hop is a way for many of these people to express their anger and frustration. While most some of them actively call for arms, and for people to actually disregard females and the elders, most of them just simply tell a story.
Kovida U
Prof: Wanda Sabir
English 1A
Oct 4, 2012
Initial Response Cyber-Assignment Due: October 4
In “Cover your eyes as I describe a scene so violent” Byron Hurt finds hip hop “suffused of violence” in a conversation with Eric Dyson, the hip-hop music is discuss as a form of social and cultural phenomena. Hip-hop tends to represent strong male, violence and possibly the thrill of violence, good life and women. Black men, says Dyson, are victim of their willingness of supremacy and patriarchy (p. 107) making them worse.
I do agree that hip-hop very often expresses anger, sadness, violence, sex and negativism. Guns as Dyson said are a symbol of “paraphernalia of American masculinity”.
Masculinity, hipermasculinity a real man that obtains things with violence. Anothern aspect that I do see in the videos and in the lyrics of hip hop is this idea of dominating women.
Nelly in his music was the tip of such sexist aspect of hip-hop against women that can be traced back to black female body slavery as Dyosn mentioned (p. 110) is consider the most sexist or misogynistic rapper. An interesting point that was brought up by Dyosn is that black women did not react as quickly as the public might have expected but Dyson notices that the black female are devoted and loyal to black men and probably I will say it is more an act to always stand together and support them selves as always it has been for African American people. Also at fault says Dyson are the black women who should be “blamed for their limitation that male society imposes on them” p. 108 as well later he says that sometimes economic constrains might have brought these women to search a way to get to the hip-hop world by accepting any role given to them
Very important is the discussion of Victims and victimize (Dyson response p.106) The contradiction raised by Hurt on dealing with hip-hop music and the way how male perpetuate a sexist attitudes against black women is the same if thinking that they are still vitctim of racism. Dyson clearly states that everybody with no race different lives in a society that tries to fight racism but at the same time in some way we tend to be as well racist in other aspect or situation. Further more the word racism has became a term that is misused and often people will used it talk about “black”, “brown”, “yellow” etc…
Music has a great influence on young people. I do agree that very often hip –hop expresses violence, but it is also true that there singer who uses hip-hop to express messages of love like “Dear Mama” by Tupac. Because music plays a major role in our culture and it is mediums used to shape our minds and in particular young mind, who often refuge themselves in music to escape from troubles, singers should produce music that express positive sentiments. Everybody should be free to express their opinion in music but there are different ways and above all in a more respectful way.
Kendra Jones
English 1A 8:00-8:50 AM
Professor Sabir
3 October 2012
Response to Hurts Agrument
Despite the many positive aspects of Hip Hop, the media chooses to focus primarily on the negative, seldom revealing the many positive affects of the Hip Hop culture to the world. A lot of people see Hip Hop strictly as a genre of music consisting of shallow and violent nymphomaniacs and lechers producing vulgar and explicit lyrics about misogynistic views, sex, murder, drugs, money, and the derogatory exploitation of women. The reason this is so, is because the media chooses to focus on these negative aspects, downplaying the culture of Hip Hop. The media chooses what is exposed based on its importance, but even more so, based on what sells. The media controls what society knows about the world and it is the media's selections of what to show that leaves the world ignorant to everything else out there. In the film, HIP HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, Professor Mark Anthony Neal discusses the dilemma of young rappers, “What they are hearing from the record companies and what the record companies are hearing from these video stations is that there are only certain examples of blackness that we are going to let flow through this space…. We want to see… the hard core thug performing hip-hop, we want to see booties shaking in the background, and when hip-hop videos don’t fit into those conventions, they don’t get played.”
The media is very good at displaying negative images on television for personal and global entertainment. At times I sit and wonder if the media bases its success on promoting negativity, and destroying positive images. In mainstream society hip-hop is now looked upon as the number one negative kind of music displayed in the urban community. The media does a good job of portraying rap artist as killers, thugs and criminals. Media messages, or rap song themes are not authentic, the main focus is on entertainment and not on other aspects of the artist lives. Hip-hop music in the media only has a few specific themes, parties, cars, etc. not on the artist family for example. Another explanation of the commercial palatability of conventional hip-hop is that it plays into stereotypes of race, gender and class. White consumers—who make up the majority of commercial hip-hop consumers—buy into stereotypes of blackness based on violence and caricature, while people of color also consume images of black manhood commoditized as one-dimensional and devoid of social responsibility. Plenty of men in the hip-hop industry, do not fit that mold. A lot of these rappers have degrees of success. Others are married, have children, and hold down full time jobs (one or even two).
According to the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA), rap music accounted for over a billion dollars in sales again last year. As long as rap music is profitable without rappers having control or power in the industry, rap artists will continue to be underpaid compared to other artists, mistreated by certain managers and some record companies, exploited by anyone who can profit from them, and abused by the media (not to mention the added frustration of being a person of color in America, which includes the majority of rap acts).
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