Hip Hop Reader Chapter 4

Chapter 4 pg 182 Should Ice Cube's Voice be Chilled?

This article touched a lot upon the degradation of others through the words in rap songs and how they can prevent society from prospering. The article talks about how Ice Cube spoke out recklessly regarding people he did not like and things in society he did not agree with.

The article critiques Cube's album entitled "Death Certificate" and how it is split into the two sides. The death side was about sex and guns and violence and the life side was all about politics. He writes lyrics that are deemed raw and uncensored were criticized publicly by activist groups, newspapers, radio stations and other MC's as well.

I think it is okay for Ice Cube to have written such raunchy lyrics that have the potential to stir controversy. That was what music was created for, to tell stories and send messages, like griots. On the contrary I believe it is wrong to criticize his lyrics because the White man did that all throughout history and suddenly you give a black man the power to do the same and it becomes an issue.

Criticism of Lupe Fiasco's "Words I never Said" Part II

This song is extremely political. Lupe refers to Obama and the governments reforms a few times throughout the song. He talks about the Gaza strip which is a known controversy in politics. He talks about budget cuts and education. He spits truth in his lyrics and especially about what he's feeling.

The video is also extremely thought provoking. All the people in the video have something that looks almost like a muzzle restraining them from their right to speak their mind. The atmosphere is gray and dark and lacks any form of hope. A woman is being dragged out by force and Lupe Fiasco later faces the same fate.

Lupe follows a usual rhyme scheme for some rappers. It seems as though he latches on to one word and rhymes with it for a few lines and moves on to a new word. It follows A, A, A, A, B, B, B... however he writes more than four lines that rhyme together.

Criticism of Lupe Fiasco's "Words I never Said"x

"Words I Never Said"
(feat. Skylar Grey)

[Skylar Grey]
It’s so loud Inside my head
With words that I should have said!
As I drown in my regrets
I can’t take back the words I never said
I can’t take back the words I never said

[Lupe Fiasco]
I really think the war on terror is a bunch of bullshit
Just a poor excuse for you to use up all your bullets
How much money does it take to really make a full clip
9/11 building 7 did they really pull it
Uhh, And a bunch of other cover ups
Your childs future was the first to go with budget cuts
If you think that hurts then, wait here comes the uppercut
The school was garbage in the first place, that's on the up and up
Keep you at the bottom but tease you with the uppercrust
You get it then they move it so you never keeping up enough
If you turn on TV all you see’s a bunch of “what the fucks”
Dude is dating so and so blabbering bout such and such
And that ain't Jersey Shore, homie that's the news
And these the same people that supposed to be telling us the truth
Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist
Gaza strip was getting bombed, Obama didn’t say shit
That's why I ain't vote for him, next one either
I’ma part of the problem, my problem is I’m peaceful
And I believe in the people.

[Skylar Grey]
It’s so loud inside my head
With words that I should have said!
As I drown in my regrets
I can’t take back the words I never said
I can’t take back the words I never said

[Lupe Fiasco - Verse 2]
Now you can say it ain't our fault if we never heard it
But if we know better than we probably deserve it
Jihad is not a holy war, wheres that in the worship?
Murdering is not Islam!
And you are not observant
And you are not a muslim
Israel don’t take my side cause look how far you’ve pushed them
Walk with me into the ghetto, this where all the Kush went
Complain about the liquor store but what you drinking liquor for?
Complain about the gloom but when’d you pick a broom up?
Just listening to Pac ain't gone make it stop
A rebel in your thoughts, ain't gon make it halt
If you don’t become an actor you’ll never be a factor
Pills with million side effects
Take em when the pains felt
Wash them down with Diet soda!
Killin off your brain cells
Crooked banks around the World
Would gladly give a loan today
So if you ever miss a payment
They can take your home away!

[Skylar Grey]
It’s so loud inside my head
With words that I should have said!
As I drown in my regrets
I can’t take back the words I never said, never said
I can’t take back the words I never said

[Lupe Fiasco - Verse 3]
I think that all the silence is worse than all the violence
Fear is such a weak emotion that's why I despise it
We scared of almost everything, afraid to even tell the truth
So scared of what you think of me, I’m scared of even telling you
Sometimes I’m like the only person I feel safe to tell it to
I’m locked inside a cell in me, I know that there’s a jail in you
Consider this your bailing out, so take a breath, inhale a few
My screams is finally getting free, my thoughts is finally yelling through

[Skylar Grey]
It’s so loud Inside my head
With words that I should have said!
As I drown in my regrets
I can’t take back the words I never said

Book of Rhymes #5 "Truth Is" by Black Ice

So in essence, they still floodin the streets with the thugs, drugs and the killing
They just usin these record labels to do it
Takin our hearts off demos, puttin us in limos
tryin to fuck up divine direction
But, young black men have been trained to chase money
and pussy, so we fall victim to our own erection
And begin to convince ourselves we're on our way somewhere where we're not goin
But ignorance is bliss and niggaz love this so, niggaz take pride in not knowin
We not growin, nigga I give a fuck how slick you flowin
if you ain't showin nuttin to these kids or addin nuttin positive to the earth
Black Ice been destined to touch the world ever since I was born
To be real, fuck a record deal, God gives me what I'm worth


I love this poem and Black Ice is one of my favorite poets. He speaks out in this poem about how black people have been oppressed even through the music industry and how they are driven to "fucked up shit" because of what America tells you you can be.


Ice uses an A,B,C,B,D,B flow. Constantly going back to that one rhyming word in the beginning, direction-erection. Then he quickly changes over into an A,A,A,B,C,D,C flow. The quick changes in his flow is what separates him from other rappers, he is a spoken word artist and he proves that with the way his words are not enslaved by a beat or a certain rhyme scheme.


He is very straight forward with his words and knows exactly what sort of audience he targets. He brings his depictions to eye level and enlightens his listeners to the harsh realities of the black experience through a fast paced, loud pitched voice and flow.

Hip Hop Reader Chapter 3

Chapter 3 p 107 Your Momma’s a Mack Daddy: Gender Construction in Hip Hop

I think that as sad as this article is, there isn’t much of a home for females in the hip hop industry. Women have not paved much of a path for themselves and “kept their seats warm” between artists. Back in the day there were a few who held the throne for a while. Artists like Foxy Brown, Missy Eliot, Lil Kim, Eve, Trina and etc. really did pave a road for females in the rap industry in general however the road hasn’t been kept up and now looks a little faded when a female who tries to make it in the rap industry gets to that road. She now has to continue in her path, cleaning up the “look” and “feel” of that road as she goes along, and some roots refuse to be pulled and some dirt sticks hard to the road. Women need to get together and start a movement where respect is dealt to a woman trying to make it in the industry. The whole issue of “video whores” and “sleeping your way to the top” needs to be looked down upon by strong, influential women so that weaker women follow. Women need to be lead by example, by the powerful, and any radio station you turn to, tv channel or magazine you see is women flaunting their bodies. If that changes, then women will think differently and prioritize their beliefs differently.

Hip Hop Reader Chapter 2

Chapter 2 p 93 Rap’s Embrace of ‘Nigger” Fires Bitter Debate by Michel Marriott

I really enjoyed this article, especially the mention of Paul Mooney because earlier today in my Introduction to Black Studies course we mentioned him and watched a few of his videos. I think he puts a comical twist to the word “nigger” and its refreshing and interesting.

The article in its entirety was interesting as well. There were many different viewpoints about the use of the word that I had never considered before. I use the word as frequently as I want to because no one can tell me what to say when to say it. I believe that if black people can use the word, then so can I. I never once thought about the older people who were around and marched for the rights they own now. I only thought, ‘hey, no one will tell me what to say because I am white’.

I don’t think that saying “nigger” over and over will strip it of its racial connotation, like many of the rappers and other people who supported that movement. I do believe that the continuous use of the word will desensitize it and allow for les fights over who said the word and why, and less stress and focus on the “racist” aspect.

Hip Hop Reader Chapter 1

Chapter 1:

The Ghostface Killah article was pretty interesting. I enjoyed reading about the different styles that Wu Tang Clan started off with and how Ghostface was able to incorporate his own style with his group’s style in his own solo albums. Although there were 10 members of the Wu Tang Clan and they came out with countless albums and even a manual that explained their own methods behind their unique sound. Instead of repetitive hooks and electro beats, Wu Tang and Ghostface included many new and different aspects into their music and beats. Ghostface sampled old songs, used noises recorded from machines and even yelled to provide a completely different experience for the listener.

I thought it was interesting when the author said that Ghostface’s 5^th album was a surprise because he was 35. I never thought that rap had an age cap and that artists would somehow “expire” at a certain point. I appreciated the breakdown of his lyrics and that even though most of the Wu Tang Clan members went on to do movies and other projects, Ghostface stayed true to his colors and wrote on and created more works of art.