"Believer" by Mary Mary

During the time of slavery African Americans used religion to help the move through oppression. Believing that things would get better in the face of great odds. The song talks about holding on even when knowing something bad is going to happen, this notion encompasses the entire African American struggle for achievement. Knowing that things will get worse before they become better is a motto in most African American communities because you live to fight another day.This is also my favorite song because it was the inspiration that got me through my son's stroke he had at birth and the 2008 flood when my family lost everything.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/marymary/believer.html

"Believer"

[hook]
I'm a believer, tellin' you i really believe
I'm a believer, even though i've never seen
I'm a believer, look at my life and you will see
I'm a believer, how can you not believe?
I'm a believer, every word he says to me
I'm a believer, cuz he gave me my liberty
I'm a believer, now and forever i will be
I'm a believer, how can you not believe?

[verse 1]
We got home late one night from service
Something wasn't right, momma was nervous
She said we're staying at your auntie's house tonight
Cuz something in my spirit ain't right
Just as soon as we all went to sleep
Momma got a call from the police saying "your house is on fire"
We were sad, but alive god spared our lives

Artist: Lupe Fiasco
Song: The Cool http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#the%20cool%20lupe%20fiasco

Yeah...Yeah...the cool.
Turn me up uh-huh..yeah..

He came back In the same suit that he was buried in Similar to the one his grandfather was married in Yes... he was still fresh to death bling, two ear-rings, a chain laying on his chest he still had it cuz they couldn't find it And the bullets from his enemies sat like two inches behind it smelled the Hennessey from when his niggas got reminded and poured out liquor in his memory, he didn't mind it, But...He couldn't sip it fast enough So the liquor was just filling the casket up floating down by his feet was the letter from his sister Second Grade hand-writing simply read "I miss ya" suit jacket pocket held his baby daughter's picture right next to it one of his man's stuck a swisher He had a notion as he laid there soaking saw that the latch was broken, he kicked his casket open and he...

[Chorus]
This life goes passing you by It might go fast if you lie You go and you live then you die...O-oh-oh-ohh If life goes passing you by Don't cry If you breaking the rules Making your moves Paying your dues...Chasing the cool

Not at all nervous as he dug to the surface Tarnished gold chain is what he loosened up the earth withHe used his mouth as a shovel to try and hollow it and when he couldn't dirt spit... swallowed it Working like a.. hmm.. reverse archaeologist Except.. his buried treasure was sunshine So when some shined through a hole that he had drove it reflected off the gold and almost made son blind He grabbed on to some grass, he climbed Pulled himself up out of his own grave and looked at the time On the watch that had stopped six months after the shots That had got him in the box wringing Henny out his socks Figured it was hours because he wasn't older Used some flowers to brush the dirt up off his shoulders - so.. With a right hand that was all bones and no reason to stay Decided to walk home so he..

[Chorus]

He begged for some change to get him on a train" Damn that nigga stank", is what they complained Tried to light the blunt but it burst into flames Caught the reflection in the window of what he became A long look... Wasn't shook, wasn't ashamed Matter fact only thing on his brain was brains.. yeah And getting back in his lane, doing his thing First he had to find something to slang Next stop was his block It had the same cops Walked right past the same spot where he was shot Shocked that some lil' niggas tried to sell him rocks It just felt weird being on the opposite They figured that he wasn't from there so they pulled out and robbed him with the same gun they shot him with Put it to his head and said "You scared ain't ya?"He said: "Hustler for death. No heaven for a gangsta."

[Chorus]

These are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs by Lupe Fiasco called The Cool. It’s a Hip-Hop song about a young Black man who was shot to death. The song talks about the young man's experience and encounters after he got out of the casket. It’s about an experience that can and has happened to many African American males who lived the life that he lived. He was a gangster who sold drugs and ended up getting caught by a rival gang. This is an event or a series of events that actually occur in some neighborhoods of African American culture. I like Lupe Fiasco as an artist and feel that he one of the best Hip-Hop (not rap) artists and that his lyrics paint a picture and are as real just as they are in this song.

Favorite Song Blog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz-UvQYAmbg

Listen, babyAin't no mountain highAin't no vally lowAin't no river wide enough, babyIf you need me, call meNo matter where you areNo matter how farJust call my nameI'll be there in a hurryYou don't have to worry'Cause baby,There ain't no mountain high enoughAin't no valley low enoughAin't no river wide enoughTo keep me from getting to youRemember the dayI set you freeI told youYou could always count on meFrom that day on I made a vowI'll be there when you want meSome way,some how'Cause baby,There ain't no mountain high enoughAin't no valley low enoughAin't no river wide enoughTo keep me from getting to youNo wind, no rainMy love is aliveWay down in my heartAlthough we are miles apartIf you ever need a helping handI'll be there on the doubleAs fast as I canDon't you know thatThere ain't no mountain high enoughAin't no valley low enoughAin't no river wide enoughTo keep me from getting to youDon't you know thatThere ain't no mountain high enoughAin't no valley low enoughAin't no river wide enough

There are so many great songs to choose from. I chose an R&B/Soul song, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, because it is one of my favorites. I think that they do a great job in showing a lot of energy and movement when they perform. The lyrics do not really say anything specific about black culture or politics, but I think the way they use their voices, the tone and quality, show characteristics of African American language. It is a duet about two people that love each other. I think it's great!

Favorite Song That Conveys Black Culture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=golCPnUiKv4

They'll look you in the eyes and stone youThen turn and disown you, don't you let them take the fight outta youThey'll walk all over your name 'til they find someone else to blame, don't let them take thefight outta youSecrets hide their lies inside hidden alibis, don't let them take the fight outta youThey put the world on a hook, it's worse every time I lookDon't let them take the fight outta youI would rather take a punch than not give you a shotI'd rather find out who you are than who you're notShould have known better than to mistake business for loveShould have known better than to mistake a fist for a gloveIt will be in your honor 'til you're not needed any longer, don't let them take the fightoutta youDon't believe the headlines, check it for yourself sometimes, don't let them take the fightoutta youThe lies you live become you, the love you lose it numbs you, don't let them take the fightoutta youThey say that you've arrived but that's just a high-class bribe, don't let them take the fightoutta youThere's always someone younger, someone with more hunger, don't let them take the fight outtayouThey'll say you're the one and onlyThen straight up leave you lonely, don't let them take the fight outta youLike a transplant-patient waiting for a donor, don't let them take the fight outta youLike a half empty balloon after a party in the corner, don't let them take the fight outta you

This song is called "Fight Outta You" by Ben Harper. Ben Harper is one of my favorite artists because he has this soothing voice and his music has this "relaxed" feeling. In terms of conveying black culture, this song does a really good job of conveying their struggles through history and it shows their persistence as well. This song can be empowering to anyone if you apply the lyrics to your life situation, but since Ben Harper is an African American it makes me automatically relate it to African Americans in general. The line "They'll walk all over your name 'til they find someone else to blame, don't let them take the fight outta you" gives me the visual of whites blaming African Americans for the evil in the world when they were seen as demonic. It also reminds me of how far African Americans have come. The video also conveys Black culture when Ben Harper is on four T.V. screens in a store window like playing a broadcast of a speech from the 1950s.

-Sarah

Blog Week 10

Artist: Shad
Song: Brother
Lyrics: http://www.onlylyrics.com/hits.php?grid=3&id1026738
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87QRiAQ2sqO

I don't really have a favorite song in any of these genres. I know that hip hop music is very rich in cultural and political statements. I found this song, Brother, by the artist Shad. I really enjoyed the lyrics and music. This an excerpt of some of the lyrics:

"Many actions excused In the name of getting cash That's adversely impactin our youth With mental slavery, the shackles is loose And it's hard to cut chains when they attached at the roots So what the new black activists do For our freedom is just being them Do what you're passionate to Not confined by a sense that you have to disprove Any stereotypes, so-called facts to refute Or match any image of blackness They've established as true Perhaps we'll break thru the glass ceilings Shatter the roof and emerge From these boxes that they have us in cooped And grow to smash the bold that they casted of you I'll keep watching..."

These lyrics address the limited access for many black youth to economic freedom. Because of stereotype and perception of "blackness" many African/American youth are discouraged from pursuing academic pursuits. As Shad says, "it's either makin tracks or it's hoops." While African/American athletes seem to be the most successful and talented in the NBA and the NFL and many are successful musicians what is really obscured is that these may be the only arenas percieved as spaces for success.

Song post

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeMKM-eQPB4

Come on come onI see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myselfis life worth living should I blast myself?I'm tired of bein' poor & even worse I'm blackmy stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatchCops give a damn about a negropull the trigger kill a nigga he's a heroGive the crack to the kids who the hell caresone less hungry mouth on the welfareFirst ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothersgive 'em guns step back watch 'em kill each otherIt's time to fight back that's what Huey said2 shots in the dark now Huey's deadI got love for my brother but we can never go nowhereunless we share with each otherWe gotta start makin' changeslearn to see me as a brother instead of 2 distant strangersand that's how it's supposed to beHow can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me?I'd love to go back to when we played as kidsbut things changed, and that's the way it is[Bridge w/ changing ad libs]Come on come onThat's just the way it isThings'll never be the sameThat's just the way it isaww yeah[Repeat][2]I see no changes all I see is racist facesmisplaced hate makes disgrace to racesWe under I wonder what it takes to make thisone better place, let's erase the wastedTake the evil out the people they'll be acting right'cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonightand only time we chill is when we kill each otherit takes skill to be real, time to heal each otherAnd although it seems heaven sentWe ain't ready, to see a black President, uhhIt ain't a secret don't conceal the factthe penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacksBut some things will never changetry to show another way but you stayin' in the dope gameNow tell me what's a mother to dobein' real don't appeal to the brother in youYou gotta operate the easy way"I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy waysellin' crack to the kid. " I gotta get paid,"Well hey, well that's the way it is[Bridge][Talking:]We gotta make a change...It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes.Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we liveand let's change the way we treat each other.You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to dowhat we gotta do, to survive.[3]And still I see no changes can't a brother get a little peaceIt's war on the streets & the war in the Middle EastInstead of war on poverty they got a war on drugsso the police can bother meAnd I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to doBut now I'm back with the facts givin' it back to youDon't let 'em jack you up, back you up,crack you up and pimp smack you upYou gotta learn to hold ya ownthey get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phoneBut tell the cops they can't touch thisI don't trust this when they try to rush I bust thisThat's the sound of my tool you say it ain't coolmy mama didn't raise no foolAnd as long as I stay black I gotta stay strapped& I never get to lay back'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the pay backssome punk that I roughed up way backcomin' back after all these yearsrat-tat-tat-tat-tat that's the way it is uhh[Bridge 'til fade:]Some things will never change

I think this song is a really interesting perspective on Black culture. The way poverty is a cycle that children enter into, and that society doesn't care about then so they re-enter the cycle. Also, how the War on Drugs so unfairly targets African Americans. Drug use is often driven by poverty and I think society misses the real problem. Also, so many more black people are incarcerated for drug issues than white people who do the same things. Crime is a vicious cycle that we can only address by getting to the real issue: poverty

Blog on favorite Hip-Hop song

The song that I chose that means something important, and is reminent of early hip-hop music is U.N.I.T.Y by Queen Latifah. In the song she talks about how women, specifically black women, should stand up to the degradation and disempowerment that exists in the black community at that time. She points towards key social issues in relationships with men and how many women in the black community are treated of lesser value and this should not be tolerated. The song's title is unity and she expresses in the song how black people should stand up in unity and respect one another, and not degrade others of the same race. They need to look out for each other, instead of degrading one another based on gender. I really like the songs beat and it really reminds me of how hip-hop music has changed over time to something that I feel has lost what it was originally intended to do, expose social problems and try and create change for a better society. This song does a good job of exposing real social problems evident in black communities and Queen Latifah's message is promoting a more positive view on women. I was fortunate enough to see her in concert and her music now is in the Jazz genre instead of hip-hop. She has really emerged as an experienced and great singer in different genres. Here is the link for the lyrics of the song U.N.I.T.Y and the music video on YouTube...

http://www.lyricsdepot.com/queen-latifah/u-n-i-t-y.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prhF6LE89z4

Tennessee - Arrested Development

I feel this song is an exact reflection of the status of Black culture at the time of its release. This song is a perfect example of African American music given the progression it follows: beginning with an extremely personal confession of pessimistic feelings due to the loss of a brother and a grandmother that expands into a chorus that nearly every person can easily relate to. "Take me to another place, take me to another land, make me forget all that hurts me, let me understand your plan," portrays an incredibly broad and seemingly universal emotion felt at one point in time by any given person. Furthermore, the song evolves into a reflection of the road that was travelled in order to reach the present status of the writer through the lines "Walked the roads my forefathers walked, climbed the trees my forefathers hung from." Lastly, I feel that though the song serves as an emotional release of negative subject matter, the flow and beat of the song portray a somewhat optimistic feeling, which forces a message of hope to be taken away from the listener especially given the closing lines of "take me home" and "let me understand your plan."

Lyrics: http://www.lyricstime.com/arrested-development-tennessee-lyrics.html

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g40C6iAEHpc

Blog 9

There are really too many songs from these genres to pick just one favorite, but one that I have always liked is 2PAc's Brenda's Got a Baby. This song tells the story of a young teenager living in the ghetto who is faced with the problem of having a baby while not having the necessary resources to take care of it.  Her situation is made even more dire because of the fact that she does not have family to support her.  Therefore, this situation sends Brenda spiraling into increasing poverty and destitution that leads her to sell drugs, prostitute herself, and eventually death.  In the end, Brenda's Got a Baby is a good example of how many hip hop artists have used their music to address the problems they see in parts of the African-American community.  As is seen in Brenda's Got a Baby, the problems discussed in many of these hip hop songs deal with issues affecting America's inner cities such as teen pregnancy, poverty, and drug use.  Ultimately, by addressing such issues, these artists hope to draw attention to these problems and, as a result, cause a reversal of such a situation. 

Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/2pac/brendasgotababy.html

Video: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=brenda's+got+a+baby&aq=0&oq=brenda's

Blog about Music

Artist-Case
Title-Missing You

tanding here looking out my window
My nights are long and my days are cold
Cause I don't have you
How can I be so damn demanding?
I know you said that it's over now
But I can't let go

[1] - Every day I want to pick up the phone
And tell you that
You're everything I need and more
If only I could find you

[2] - Like a cold Summer afternoon
Like the snow coming down in June
Like a wedding without a groom
I'm missing you
I'm the desert without the sand
You're the woman without a man
I'm a ring without a hand
I'm missing you

Driving 'round thought I saw you pass me
My rearview mirror's playing tricks on me
Cause you fade away
Maybe I'm just hallucinating
Cause my loneliness got the best of me
And my heart's so weak

[Repeat 1]

[Repeat 2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Said I'm, I'm missing you

I picked the song "I'm Missing You" by Case. This is my favorite R & B song of all time because I really like love songs and I really like the flow and beat of this song. It is about a guy who is missing his girl and he just describes how much he is missing her. My favorite line is, "Driving round thought I saw you pass me, my rearview mirrors playing tricks on me cuz' you fade away". I think it is really sweet how much he misses her and wishes she was back in his life with him. Today, rap has become huge but you can't understand one word that the rapper is saying so you do not have much time to enjoy it or sing it back. That is why I like R & B because it is slow and calm and you can just sit and relax while listning to it. This is what I like to do. I like rap too, but I like R & B a lot better becasue it sothes me.

Song about Black culture

Artist: Tupac Shakur
Song: Changes

Lyrics: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/t/tupaclyrics/changeslyrics.html

First of all, I wouldn't say that this is my favorite 'black' song but that is because I really don't have one or listen to rap that much. I do like this song though. When this song was written by Tupac back in 1995 I think it did do a great job of illustrating how hard it can be growing up black and poor in a big city. This song talks about many hardships faced. For example, people dying, dealing of drugs to make money as that seemed like the only way to survive, police brutality, gang violence, and racism.

One verse in the song goes "2 shots in the dark, now Huey's dead." Tupac was refferring to Huey P. Newton who was a activist for the Black Panther Party. So, thought that was another good way how this song relates to topics we have studied in class. Of course, one can't say that this song represents the entire black community at that time but I think it does paint a good picture of the troubles faced for some.

Ryan

Favorite Song expressing black culture

Song: Struggle No More
Artist. Anthony Hamilton ft. Jaheim and Musiq Soulchild
Album: Tyler Perry's "Daddy's Little Girls" Soundtrack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMfA_Q1iezo

Lyrics to Struggle No More :
(feat. Jaheim, Musiq)

Ooh I'm Ooh I'm (sick and tired sick and tired) Ooh I'm
Ooh I'm Ooh I'm (sick and tired sick and tired) Ooh I'm
Ooh I'm Ooh I'm (sick and tired sick and tired) Ooh I'm
Ooh I'm Ooh I'm (sick and tired sick and tired) Ooh I'm

Lately It's been hard times
I'm talking about them
Financial ones aside
And they say when it rains it pours
Well it's running at my door
If it ain't one thang (one thang) it's another
And I'm so glad that we got each other
I'm so sick and tired of being stressed out
Lord please help me from this mess I'm in

Lord lift me over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna strug-gle no more
So lift me up over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna strug-gle no more

Every day every night I pray
Lord help me find the way (help me find my way)
To stay strong
And to keep my sanity
So I can provide for myself
And for my family
I'm so glad they believe in me cause the love it gives me energy (said the love gives me energy)
And with out them I couldn't make it no way
So I'ma keep pressing on on and on
Lord lift me over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna struggle no more
So lift me up over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna struggle no more

I wanna see my family
Get what they want have what they want get what they need
(I wanna see the finer things like the ???? just reminding me)
I don't wanna strug-struggle no more
I don't wanna live out here broke
(Stay on the scene with the finer things, like the spot that I got that's reminding me)

Lord lift me over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna struggle no more
So lift me up over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna struggle no more

No more no more no more
No more no more no more
No more no more no more
No more no more no more

===================================================================

This song is supposedly R&B but the tempo, emphasis on voice, and use of a background choir reveals it to be quite gospel. I think everyone can identify with this song as many of us struggle day to day to pay the rent, groceries, etc and this idea of faith in one's God to aid the righteous is a true reflection of most black Christian faiths. Growing up in the Baptist church, I was exposed to many powerful gospel performances but there times in this song(mainly Anthony Hamilton's ending part) where the singers are literally calling out to God with such conviction that one can not help but get goosebumps. The ferocity with which the men sing the lyrics emphasizes the idea of struggle and adds endless authenticity to the song.

Favorite Song associated black culture and politics...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOgfRCqT7Po
Artist - India Arie
Album - Various Songs
Lyrics - Because I Am A Queen

(oh yeah)
sometimes i shave my legs and sometimes i don'tsometimes i comb my hair and sometimes i won'tdepend on how the wind blows i might even paint my toes it really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

i'm not the average from your videoand i ain't built like a supermodelbut i learned to love myself unconditionallybecause i am a queeni'm not the average from your videomy worth is not determined by the price of my clothesno matter what i'm wearing i will always be india arie

when i look in the mirror and the only one there is me every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to beand i know my creator didn't make no mistakes on me my feet my thighs my lips my eyes i'm loving what i see

i'm not the average from your videoand i ain't built like a supermodelbut i learned to love myself unconditionallybecause i am a queen (yeah)i'm not the average from your video (woo)my worth is not determined by the price of my clothes (whoa)no matter what i'm wearing i will always beindia arie

am i less of a lady if i don't wear hose my mama said a lady ain't what she wears but what she knows but i've drawn the conclusionit's all an illusion confusion's the name of the game a misconception a vast deception,something's got to change

don't be offended this is all my opinionain't nothing that i'm saying lawthis is a true confessionof a life-learned lessoni was sent here to share with y'allso get in when you fit ingo on and shineclear your mindnow's the timeput your salt on the shelfgo on and love yourself (love yourself)'cause everything's gonna be alright (love yourself)

i'm not the average from your videoand i ain't built like a supermodelbut i learned to love myself unconditionallybecause i am a queen (yeah)i'm not the average from your video (woo)my worth is not determined by the price of my clothes (whoa)no matter what i'm wearing i will always beindia arie

keep your fancy drink and your expensive minksi don't need that to have a good timekeep your expensive carsand your caviarall's i need is my guitarkeep your cristal and your pistoli'd rather have a pretty piece of crystaldon't need your siliconei prefer my ownwhat god gave me is just fine(oh hah hah hah)

i'm not the average from your videoand i ain't built like a supermodelbut i learned to love myself unconditionallybecause i am a queen (yeah)i'm not the average from your video (woo)my worth is not determined by the price of my clothes (whoa)no matter what i'm wearing i will always be india arie

************************************************************************************

This is the first India Arie song I ever heard, and I have always liked the song. She talks about how she is not the average girl, she does things differantly, is a free spirit and does what she wants. India says she is not a girl from a video, she loves herself unconditionally because she does not determine her worth by her clothes. She then goes on to talk about how confusion is used to decieve people and that needs to change.

I think this song is anti-rap and negative black society, and instead has a positive political and social idea to love oneself, and not worry about bodily imperfections. I always just enjoyed India's voice and rythmn and when you read the lyrics it sends a powerful message to love oneself. In her music video for the song, she walks outside with her backside facing the camera and there is a sticker on her jeans saying "love oneself."

India Arie is a positive role model and advocate for the black community and uses her music to be an outlet for that emotion. I think this song gives a great message to love life, and be positive no matter the circumstances and this is why I like this song.

Our Hip-hop Music Samples For This Week

glitter-graphics.com






Hip Hop is dead - Nas


Microphone Fiend - Eric B. & Rakim

Our Blues Musical Examples

We will listen to and deconstruct these songs keeping in mind the emergence and aesthetics of blues music discussed in lecture. Thus, as you listen to these songs, try to identify the following in the lyrics and performance:

Lyrical Context:

• Blues rooted in Black, working-class consciousness
  
• Blues rooted in the politics of gender, sexuality, race, and place
  
• Blues often constitutes a personal narrative and thus may be thought of as auto-musicography
  
• Auto-musicography is an articulation of two things: autobiography and music as narrative
  
• Although blues narratives are decidedly personal, its themes are also universal
  
• Religious struggles of the secular and the profane; the supernatural
  
• Internal psychological struggles, depression, mental anguish
  
• Sexuality, inter-gender relationships
  

Aesthetics:

• Improvisation (riffs, breaks, etc)
  
• Scatting
  
• Talk-singing
  
• Voice as instrument
  
• Baritone voice tone (a sound higher than bass, but lower than tenor), timbre (distinct quality of sound that differentiates itself from other sounds), vibrato (pulsing sound; rapid variation in pitch)
  

Ester Phillips, "Home is Where the Hatred Is"
A junkie walking through the twilight
I'm on my way home
I left three days ago, but noone seems to know i'm gone
Home is where the hatred is
Home is filled with pain and it,
might not be such a bad idea if i never, never went home again

stand as far away from me as you can and ask me why
hang on to your rosary beads
close your eyes to watch me die
you keep saying, kick it, quit it, kick it, quit it
God, but did you ever try
to turn your sick soul inside out
so that the world, so that the world
can watch you die

home is where i live inside my white powder dreams
home was once an empty vacuum that's filled now with my silent screams
home is where the needle marks
try to heal my broken heart
and it might not be such a bad idea if i never, if i never went home again
home again
home again
home again
kick it, quit it
kick it, quit it
kick it, quit it
kick it, can't go home again



Johnny Lee Hooker, "I'm Bad Like Jessie James"
Spoken:
A little thing I'm going to do called
'I'm Bad Like Jesse James'

I'm bad
I'm bad
Like Jesse James, uh-huh

I had a friend one time
Least I thought I did
He come to me
Said, 'Johnny?'
Said, 'What man?'
'I'm outdoor'
I say, 'Yeah?'

I taken the cat in
Get him a place to stay
And I found out
He goin' 'round town
Tellin' ev'rybody that he
He got my wife

Then I gets mad
I goes to the cat
Like a good guy should
I said, 'Look man
'I'm gonna warn, you just one time'
Next time I warn you'
'I'm gonna use my gun'

'Cause I'm mad, I'm bad, like Jesse James

I'm so mad, I'm so mad.
I'm gonna ruin you this mornin'.
I've got three boys
Do my dirty work
Now, you don't see me
I'm the big boss
I do the payin' off
After they take care of you

In their on way
They may shoot you
They may cut you.
They may drown you
I just don't know
I don't care
Long as they take care of you
In their on way

I'm so mad, I'm bad this mornin', like Jesse James.

They gon' take you right down
By the riverside
Now four is goin' down
Ain't but three comin' back
You read between the line
We're gonna have a deal

'Cause I'm mad, I'm bad, like Jesse James.

They gonna tie yo' hands
They gonna tie yo' feet
They gonna gag your throat
Where you can't holler none

An cryin' won't help you none
Set you in the water
Yeah, the bubbles comin' up.
Whoa
Rrrrrrr
Rrrrrrr

Oh yeah, I'm so mad!

Blog Week 8

To me the aspect of African American culture that best embraces the aspect of "African" would be music. The tribes of Africa are very much unique by their select musical customs, most strongly of course is the drum. Dances, ceremonies, and just about any other large gathering can introduce one to spectacular drum beats setting the pace for what is taking place.

In today's stereotypical African American culture the first thing that probably comes to one's mind is Rap music. I don't agree with this being the first thing that comes to mind, but I'll go with it to make things easy. The thing that makes most songs, especially now, famous in this genre are the beats going on in the background. Someone like Soulja Boy can get by with saying almost nothing in his songs, but has a catchy beat that people can dance to so he's popular. The beat is set by a strong Bass (a drum) and the rest is filled in after that. The tone/pace of the song is set by the rhythm, and I think this is the part of "African American culture" today that best demonstrates roots from Africa.

Homework Question #8

Blog 8

Mos Def and Talib Kweli's Hip Hop duo Blackstar best depicts the black/African in American culture in my eyes. These men both stand as two of the most eloquent and authentic MCs in the game and their work together as Blackstar only emphasizes those qualities. Their subject matter and approach to their music is an educated and informative manner of flowing that shatters the steretypical imagery of hip hop music being a game for thugs, drug dealers, and the like. Within these tracks they attack the issues that contemporary African Americans face everyday but they also speak on the history of a culture. In a non-threateneing and poetic fashion, these men cover areas that are quite traumatic to some but they speak with an elegance and a vocabulary that makes these hip hop tracks seem more like spoken word at times. Not only is this an artistic expression but a boisterous shout that hiphop and its artists do not need to feed into steretypes of what many think of African Americans but instead instill pride and lead a people by example.

Week 8 Blog

I believe that the evolution of Hip Hop music, the artists, and their thoughts best depicts African American culture. Not only has the music changed through time as historical events have occurred, but hip hop music shows so many aspects of African American culture. Hip hop music is historical and political. It is fashionable and contrary to some belief, is not dead and will never die because hip hop music, like other genres, allows artists to speak freely about the life and culture around them.

Homework Question #8

As far as popular culture goes, I’m not quite sure which example I can use but for the main culture, I’d say the sense of community is what best depicts the Black/African in African American Culture. For all the things most people have listed as their examples, (music, dance, sports, etc) all of these things are meant to be and are most enjoyed in group settings.

Because my parents were born in West Africa, I have the ability to bring our in culture and compare and contrast it with the prominent American culture as well as the African-American culture. In class we’ve discussed the melting pot theory and its flaws several times and I agree that this idea is on the right track, but there is still a prominent Western culture present in America. I think that for a country where individualist ideas are so prominent, African-Americans have greatly resisted this and have very much retained a sense of community reminiscent of my own African traditions. Compared to American culture, Black Americans, I feel, are much more likely to dwell in and enjoy group settings, stay very connected with extended family, and to consider friends more as family. Though not a popular culture example, I feel this sense of community is best exemplified through the Black Church. Though not the case with all predominantly Black churches, I think they are much more of a group activity than churches of American cultures. Here, the congregation, choir, and person giving the sermon are all interacting and worshipping together throughout the service rather than as three distinct groups. To recall from my culture again, this type of worshipping greatly mirrors church interactions in West Africa.

Popular Culture Blog

I think basketball is an aspect of popular culture that illustrates African American Culture.  Eventhough basketball is now a very diverse sport, it has strong roots to African American culture before integration.  While watching the sport, spectators are able to witness the individual culture and attitude of each player on the court.  Although they work together as a team, each player has a specific style and role.  Many of the aspects of basketball illustrate black culture through free rhythm and reiterating the idea of black masculinity.  It is important to remember that these qualities do not apply to everyone who plays basketball or to everyone who is African American.

Vincent Grier played basketball for the University of Minnesota after a few years of playing at junior college.  By no means was Minnesota a well renowned team.  Grier brought a presence to the court that was inspiring.  His spirit, rhythm, and determination were contagious.  He quickly became the star by holding true to his identity.  Although he was a great player, Grier's fundamentals were sub par.  His athleticism and determination were what caused his success.  Grier's gestures and spirit on the court represented the newly formed ideas of masculinity.

India Arie as an Image of African American Beauty

I believe that this album cover of India Aire is a great image of Black/African American popular culture. I feel that she embodies the sultry and beauty can be anything appeal. She talks about and at times show through her music and lifestyle how important being who you are and the fundamentals of true beauty can be to women. I think at times the true beauty of African American women get ignored through mainstream media but the images of natural beauty is something that has always been a part of African American culture. The image to me is symbolic of various things I see in African American culture. The bright colors of her dress represents the various hues of African American skin. The visual of her own brown skin smooth and vibrant also makes me connect to the idea of the beauty in the dark brown tint of some African American skin that can be appreciated. She does not have a perm/relaxer showing how beautiful hair can be in its natural state. The artwork in the left hand corner makes a correlation between art imitating life the way it blends into the scenery of the beach. For African Americans much of the artwork produced dealing with racism and oppression imitates the scenes of everyday life that need to be overcome.

I feel passionate about the choice of this image because viewing just this simple album cover allows other culture the opportunity to see more into African American beauty. It gives other cultures the advantage to see more than your typical hip hop appeal to African American culture because there are many sides to view to the culture. I am not sure if I completed this task correctly but I wanted to make sure that I gave my best and honest imagery and ideas about the topic.

Blog 8

I picked an image of Michael Jordan because for me, as I grew up in a predominantly white town, the only contact I had with African American culture was through black athletes.  And like most kids I knew when I was growing up, Jordan was my favorite athlete and my hero.  I think that African-American athletes are a good representation of African-American culture because they are some of the most notable people in pop culture today and because they represent the syncretism that has historically categorized African-American culture.  Although African Americans didn't invent basketball, they developed their own unique style of play that was something all their own.  In addition, since they are so notable, African-American athletes are trend setters not only in African-American culture, but in American culture in general.  This can be seen in this picture as Jordan is holding one of his signature shoes that, over the years, have become wildly popular among all races in America. 

Pop Culture

I believe that music does the best job at depicting African American culture in today's society that focuses so much on pop culture. There are not only a variety of different genre's of African American music, but there are also many different themes to it as well. Music is already a huge part of just American pop culture so it makes sense that it is all around us to begin with. African American artists can also make iconic references in their songs that promote or teach the listener more about their culture. Music can be used to project a resounding message and some African Americans use it in this way to teach of culture.

-Sarah Pergine

Blog #8

I think that music best depicts Black culture in the world today. Hip-hop/R&B/Rap are relatively new styles of music compared to other genres, but they are some of the strongest musically and influentially. The reason I like hip-hop is that artists tell stories about their lives, it's not just writing songs about girls and dissing other artists. My favorite artist is Lupe Fiasco, but Kid Cudi is growing on me too. Lupe is great because he doesn't overuse profanities and the meaning of his songs are really deep. That's the same with Kid Cudi. They both talk about their struggles in life and rap about situations going on today. African American music is really good at telling stories from the past and discussing modern day problems, including social/political/economic issues.

My favorite Lupe song is Hip-Hop Saved My Life:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4rwye_lupe-fiasco-feat-nikki-jean-hip-hop_music

Popular Culture Blog

Music is the popular culture that I think does the best job of depicting Blacks in African American Culture. There are many different genres in which Blacks create music, which helps show the diversity even among the Black community. It shows that not all are the same, and that many people have differents ways of expressing themselves. Music is very popular in itself because it is the most interesting and expressive form of expression. Most Black artist in at least one of there songs speak about different aspects of their lives or things that they do that are considered ''Black'' or that they would probably expect most Blacks to understand.

Week 8 Blog #2

Oops, I may have answered the question wrong :)
I'm going to try again.

I think that the popular culture example that best depicts the Black/African in African American culture would be music. Today rap and hip-hop have become very mainstream. It not only can be seen through the music being produced, but also in the clothing being worn. One thing that is really interesting about rap and hip-hop in today's culture is that it is not only to entertain, but it is also used to express political/religious/cultural ideas as a form of resistance.
Here's an example of music being used as resistance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hw-4f2udFA
This is Ploylessness by muMs

Week 8 Blog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDkt-7ivp9A

I chose the opening piece "I've been buked" in Revelations by the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre to describe the Black/African in African American culture. I think that this piece really embodies what it means to be black and to have a connection with one's past, as well as move forward with the future. When the dancers lift their arms there is a sense of power and growth. Another reason why I chose this piece is because the company has been performing this dance for years (it is one of their signature pieces). This has meaning because it shows how something old an still have an impact on new viewers and new dancers within the company.

Weekly Blog

The popular culture that I think best depicts the black in african american culture is the clothing attire that they wear. This is a big style and it is a way to express themselves in their daily lives. This is shown throughout the culture whether it be baggy clothes, certain brand named items, or a style of clothing it all is a way to live and fit in with each other and their suroundings.

Professor Whaley Post: 3/11/09 Discussion

Hi Everyone,

I am posting to the blog main points of the reading and our activities for Thursday. I hope we have a fun class. You will get your midterms back after break (reading 32 eight page midterms takes time!). You may also check in with me during office hours about grade. Have a nice Spring break!

045:030: Introduction to African American Culture Discussion

(Whaley)

Catherine M. Cole

“When is African Theater “Black?”

Vocabulary:

• Proscenium-style staging refers to the area between the orchestra and the stage curtain
• Bicameral separation refers to a two part separation between performers and audience
• Spectator refers to viewer or audience of the visual
• Afro-pop is African and Western popular music styles
• Ghanaian concert party is a traveling theater minstrel troupe
• Black cultural traffic refers to the transnational circulation of Black culture
• Ghana Pan African Historical Theater commemorates the devastation of the African slave trade on Africa at Panafest


I. Intent of the Essay:

To examine if Africans identify with a transnational notion of Blackness or is it entirely a localized perception of identity.

II. Major Points of Essay:

• African theater is influenced by the West insofar as it is scripted dramas in English or European languages
• Apartheid in South African affected its theater, especially the divisions among coloured, Black, and White people
• Class continues to affect social relations in South African even in a post apartheid era
• African theater rarely identifies with a unified “Blackness,” rather, it is articulated in terms of ethnicity, gender, seniority and concerns related to national boundaries
• Africans have been fascinated with Black American culture since the 1930s and 1940s and this fascination finds its way into African cultural productions
• Sarafina the only well-known, African modern theater production in America
• Humor is irrational and therefore may be difficult to theorize as a motive for racialization

III. Forms of theater:

• Poetic literary masterpieces written in English (Soyinka)
• Improvised non-scripted shows in indigenous languages
• Traveling melodramas
• Community based skits promoting literacy
• Internationally successful South African productions
• They use fluid spatial dynamics

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the literal and figurative dynamics of space in African theater?
2. How is African theater European, indigenous, and African American?
3. Who is the audience for African theater?
4. How do we make since of the Ghanaian concert party’s minstrelsy aesthetic, that is, its incorporation of American and British Blackface into its theater productions?
5. How is “tranting” a form of “Black cultural traffic?”
6. What meaning does Blackface have in Ghana according Bampoe, that is, what are the multifarious ways it is used?
7. How do other Africans feel about it blackface?
8. Can blackface be both indigenous to African forms and offensive in American forms at the same time, or does its possible African roots in indigenous practices erase its offensiveness in the American context?
9. Given that Africans were transfixed, in some ways, by American blackface imagery, should we take at face value their intents? Can Africans engage in blackface as an excusable social drama because of their “Africaness?”
10. View the clips from a Sarah Silverman episode that airs on comedy central. What do the episodes suggest about the use of blackface and racism? Does the episode help create a dialogue about race, or does it circuitously evade the seriousness of blackface through its caricature? Is this interventionist art, parody for parody sake, post-modern pop art, or problematic? All?

• http://sarahsilverman.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml?c=vc&videoId=118606
• http://sarahsilverman.comedycentral.com/index.jhtml?c=vc&videoId=118604
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz2fhmRzCOA

11. The last Silverman clip suggests that Chapelle caricatured African Americans, and even pokes fun at his disintegration into regret and depression. What do you think she is trying to convey here? Is the aforementioned clip different from the Wayans Brothers caricatures in White Chicks? What are the historical, cultural, and social issues at stake in what all of the comedians are doing? Our article notes that Freud believes humor is a difficult form to weigh for social/political meaning because its motivations are not rationale. Do you agree?

From Ethnic Notions: The emergence of minstrelsy: