Term
| what is a cipher and how is it interpreted in the history of hip hop? |
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Definition
| A circle. In hip hop it represents a symbol with a different meaning. It can also mean zero |
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Term
| In Cornel west's summary of black music, how does he interpret the meaning of the spirituals? |
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Definition
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· First greatest outbreak was in condition of slavery
o Spirituals- forging a connection with a biblical story
o The good news and bad news situations
o Affirmation of dignity in a society that told you you were no one and nobody.
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Term
In Cornel west's summary of black music, how does he interpret the meaning of the blues?
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Definition
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· Blues- tragic comic sensibility. Private agony and public misery
o The music itself did not allow misery to have the last word.
o By singing the song the misery was overcome- the act of the music overcomes the situation
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Term
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In Cornel west's summary of black music, how does he interpret the meaning of the Jazz?
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Definition
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- new would sensibility with the improvisation
- Important to find your own voice- like anything in life
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Term
In Cornel west's summary of black music, how does he interpret the meaning of the Hip-Hop?
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Definition
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- Greatest creative breakthrough of the late 20th century
o Combining linguistic virtuosity and rhythmic velocity
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Term
| As discussed in lecture, why was Dante's work "De Vulgaria Eloquentia" so important in the history of literature? what were the themes and characteristics of this work? |
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Definition
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- Dante, Vulgaria Eloquentia: translates to Vulgar elegance- poetry from the people. Eloquence of the people- common expressions and slang'
- anti-elitist poetry used regular language instead of latin. writing in the language which people speak
- troubdours: often dealt with non religious themes, usually love
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Term
| Why is the poetic method of Ezra Pound relevant to the study of Rap? |
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Definition
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Ezra pound: entirely focused on the form: flow rhythm, etc… not interested in the content.
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Term
| What are some of the central themes of the genre of literature known as the Picaresque? |
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Definition
First novel: don quixote
· Picaresque- stories about outlaws, thugs, pimps, prostitutes etc.
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Term
| In the song The corner, by common, what does he mean by the corner? |
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Definition
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-Descriptions of living in this area- south side chicago
- the "corner" is very important to african american culture
- a monument in the urban area: taj mahal, rock of gi raltar, Stonehenge- the corners are important to their cultural and social tradition in the same way these landmarks are important social identities to thier respective cultures of orgin .
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Term
| What is the major theme of the song crossroads by bone thugs n harmony? |
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Definition
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- describe a struggle with god
- they embrace god but question suffering- ask questions
- struggles with the reality of death, and yet prayer is central
- hopeful not entirely despairing- tragic sensibility is reality of death
- hope to see you at the crossroads- that god actually has a plan
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Term
| *What are the key themes in the song "my mind is playing tricks on me" by the Ghetto Boys "geto boys" |
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Definition
- paranoia and anxiety he feels with in the life he is living as a drug dealer
- being haunted by death bc he knows he is not living right
-knows that he needs to make a change in order to gain peace in his life
-the struggle w/wanting to find spirituality and living in the inner city environment- very nihilistic |
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Term
| What is the definition of poetry discussed in lecture? |
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Definition
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- a. poetry helps one feel and understand an idea or story being told; eg suffering, death, love, joy, beauty, etc… not just describing. To make them “feel” put to beat and rhythm
- b. Pg.5 introduction- Yeats: "the rhythms of common speech in association with profound feeling." This is clearly what is in rap music- indicative of urban America. Anti elitist- speech of people with slang.
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Term
| According to ancient greeks, what is lyrical poetry? |
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Definition
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- lyrical poetry: Greeks- “poems to be sung” (Homer, the Odyssey)
- Adam Bradley in introduction: "combining the spoken word with the beat" its a dual relationship between language and beats of african origin.
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Term
| How does Adam Bradley define the key characteristic of rap music |
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Definition
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- Bradley: Rap- combining the spoken word with the beat. Dual relationship between the language and the beat.
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Term
| what are the three standards used to judge a great rap song |
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Definition
1. The Mc's voice-delivery: flow rhythm and pace
2. content: poetic themes, rhymes, harmony
3. Beat: the heartbeat of rap music |
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Term
| What is a metaphor? give example. |
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Definition
-a comparison of two unlike things.
- a representation of something that in itself cannot be represented (mysterious)
-Juliet is the sun
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Term
| what is a simile? give example: |
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Definition
A simile is a comparison using "like" or "as"
ex: I love you like a fat kid loves cake |
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Term
| *How does poetry describe the possibilities and limits of poetry? |
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Definition
possibilities:
-inventiveness of language use in new inventive ways
-shatter the boundaries and limits of common expressions and uses of language: slang
limits:
-certian experiences of life that cannot be fully described or expressed- they can only be experienced eg love and god.
- indefinable realities
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Term
| *Who were some of the key figures in the early origins of rap and what were some of their main contributions? |
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Definition
muhammed ali:
dj kool herc: Jamaican immigrant background beats, turn tables, block parties, focused on dj.
-started using the breaks in the music. Instrumental breaks w/no words were stretched out- there was just beats.
busy bee: more of an entertainer than a focused rapper w something to say
kool moe dee:introduced the battle MC w busy bee; truly a rapper
MC shan:
KRS-one:
Afrika Bambaata:
Grandmaster Flash:inserted words and language into kool Herc’s background beats….
Public enemy: was the first to develop social political criticism
NWA: fuck da police
Nas: last real nigga alive and i can -a shift towards more spirituality, · becomes more interested in social redemption- move hip hop in more positive direction
Biggie: everyday struggle stresses of every day life. struggles with death and thoughts of suicide |
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Term
What have been some of the effects of drugs on the inner cities and on the development of "gangsta rap"? |
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Definition
crack cocaine and Illegal CIA funding of gurillas in mexico and latin america
Devistated: families, caused unemployment, poverty, higher rates of violence, increased police surveillance of hispanic and black males, leads to high rates of incarceration among these groups. |
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Term
| How did the experience of prison life affect the themes and perspectives of "gansta rap" Three major consequences: |
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Definition
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§ A. Amoral and dispassionate view of violence
§ B. Social alienation and contempt for authority
§ C. sex is used for power and violence not love
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Term
*What was the social context that gave birth to hip hop? (what were the condition of the bronx during this time?) |
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Definition
-bacground of picaresque: stories of out laws
-1980s regan era: crack epidemic
people were propmted to make music based on what they see in their communities and the deteriation thereof.
- leads to materialism and nihilism |
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Term
| What does the therm nihilism suggest |
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Definition
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the belief that nothing really matters (dmx in belly- there is no point to life- its all about money) ultimately meaningless and empty. Extreme type of materialism
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Term
| What are some of the characteristics of the genre of film known as blackploitation? How did this genre influence the development of hip-hop |
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Definition
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Blaxploitation---type of film:· Glamorization of the pimp, strong black male: gaudy and loud in dress, jewels, long hair, strong sexual appeal
· Exceptional in fighting , carrying guns
- Promoted and fostered general sterotypes about the ideal black hero.this represented a significant break from the cibvil rights generation.
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Term
| Civil rights leaders and their version of the ideal black male: |
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Definition
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· Eloquence, gift of language
· Plain dress- signified humility and the well-being of the community as opposed to the individual
· Religious convictions
· Social and politicial justice
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Term
| *What were some of the other influences from the genres of film movies and sports that influenced hip-hop? |
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Definition
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Kung Fu: martial arts.
-Influenced black culture in cities
atheletics: making references to exceptional black atheleates
Jamacian clulture: reggae from jamacian slums and smoking weed.
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Term
| What was the social context for the emergence of reggae? |
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Definition
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had its orgins in the slums of Jamica
· Themes: poverty, injustice, prejudice, violence
lack of moral compass
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Term
| What are the main themes of rastafarianism as discussed in lecture (four) |
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Definition
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- a. Ganja: sacred herb: used only in religious ceremonial contexts. They outlawed alcohol
- b. Prince Ras Tafari: Ethiopian prince, 1930s he became emperor Haile Selassie
- c. He was regarded as a messiah- black messiah.He was seen as the 2nd incarnation of god after Jesus
- d. Blacks throughout the globe were the Israelites—They mean blacks and other oppressed groups
- E. Jah (Jahweh) will come and liberate people in situations of injustice and oppression.
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Term
| What are the games known as the dozens and toasts? |
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Definition
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- Dozens: games of ritual insult
- Toasts: long narrative poems, often with highlighting rebellious figures, heroic figures
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Term
| How does ralph ellison explain the meaning of african american slang? |
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Definition
| "the great body of african american slang exists precisely because blacks need words which will communicate the objects manners, and subtleties of their urban experience. |
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Term
| how does adam bradley describe the meaning of a pun? |
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Definition
-puns server as coded forms of communication, speaking to a slect group of initiates with a shared set of cultural knowledge and assumptions
inside jokes
invisible to average reader or listener |
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Term
| How does common describe the meaning of rap? |
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Definition
"hip hop has so much power, the goverment cant stop it, the devil cant stop it.
- its music, its art, its the voice of the people" |
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Term
From the movie tupac resurrection, describe some of the basic background in tupac' life
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
-Job is a man of great influence, walth and power, he is also a virtuous man.
He is innocent and suddenly, loses everything he has once had; his children die, livestock, die, loses his land and walth. He is on the brink of despair.
-He wants an answer from God:Why me? Why do innocent, good, righteous people often suffer while wiked people thrive?
-Jobs friends: Job’s suffering is a result of his sinfulness Doesn’t account for those who are innocent and good an who , nevertheless, suffer
-In job’s view, he doesn’t deserce the degree of suffering. He’s not innocent, but he doesn’t deserve this.
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