By Dani-Le Davis

CMS 298

Spring 2014

A RHETORICAL CRITICISM PRESENTATION OF: GANGSTA RAP

WHAT IS GANGSTA? • Hip-Hop is a musical genre comprised of images, fashion, and

personal style.

• Gangsta is a sub-genre of hip-hop.

• Gangsta is “composed of signs that will be read as connected to African American culture, although most of the audience that buys its music is in face not African American.” (Brummett 236)

• A genre that is mainly visual, it is presented in music videos, movies, fashion, etc.

• Gangsta says what “we” cannot. (“We” being white people.)

• “Gangsta works in racist ways, I think, because it helps its audience along to replicate in their heads a number of racist stereotypes. (Brummett 238)

THE “N” WORD

• Racist attitudes are welcomed amongst the African American community by the excessive use of the “N” word.

• In hip-hop the excessive use of the “N” word comes in the form of the word “Nigga.”

• The way it is used makes it seem like it is a socially acceptable work for any race and ethnicity to say.

• However, because of the social history, background of the word, and negative connotation it is not socially acceptable for everyone to say.

• “Yet it retains some level of racist offensiveness because not everyone may use it equally. It will likely never lose echoes of the original –er ending.” (Brummett 239)

FALSE – POSITIVES • Gangsta perpetuates false-positives about both the genre and the African American race.

• By using the term “keeping it real” it convinces listeners to believe these “false racist assumptions are real.” (Brummett 240)

• Putting up a front to portray a false identity, gangsta rap makes three major false claims.

• African American Culture is Violent.

• African American culture is overly sexual.

• African American Culture is crassly materialistic.

False claim #1: African American Culture is Violent.

• Racist ideology allows society to believe that African Americans are predominately more violent than other races.

• Gangsta music provides lyrics as an example to this idea.

• The violent and degrading lyrics are just one piece of the puzzle.

• Background noises in the songs also provide a sense of realness to this assumption.

• Police sirens, gunshots, pistol slides, etc. are common background noises in gangsta music.

• In music videos there is a predominance of violence in the images

• While these presumptions may not be true, the visuals in gangsta present a false positive for violence in African American culture.

EXAMPLES OF VIOLENCE IN GANGSTA MUSIC

• Lyrical example of violence:

• m.A.A.d City – Kendrick Lamar

• The driver seat the first one to get killedSeen a light-skinned nigga with his brains blown outAt the same burger stand, where *censored* hang outNow this is not a tape recorder saying that he did itBut ever since that day, I was looking at him differentThat was back when I was nineJoey packed the ninePack to stand on every porch is fineWe adapt to crime, pack a van with four guns at a time

• Here is a link to an explicit video for this song:

• Kendrick Lamar Music Video

Visual Examples of Violence:

FALSE CLAIM #1: AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE IS OVERLY SEXUAL

• Gangsta music makes it seem that the African American culture is obsessed with sex.

• In music videos, sex is a main focus, often times objectifying women.

• Women are often pictured wearing sexual and gaudy clothing.

• It is not just a visual representation but a lyrical representation as well.

• Lyrics talk refer to women by using the terms “bitch” and “ho”

• “So in both lyrics and images, gangsta repeats the racist ideology of sexual preoccupation among African Americans. (Brummett 243)

EXAMPLES OF SEX IN GANGSTA MUSIC• Lyrical example:

• “Whistle” – Flo Rida

• Can you blow my whistle baby, whistle babyLet me knowGirl I'm gonna show you how to do itAnd we start real slowYou just put your lips togetherAnd you come real closeCan you blow my whistle baby, whistle babyHere we go

Lyrical example from a female artist.

Partition – Beyonce

Driver roll up the partition pleaseI don't need you seeing yoncé on her kneesTook 45 minutes to get all dressed upWe ain't even gonna make it to this clubNow my mascara runnin', red lipstick smudgedOh he so horny, yeah he want to fuckHe popped all my buttons and he ripped my blouseHe Monica Lewinski'd all on my gown

Kanye West and his fiancé / mother of his daughter Kim Kardashian recently made a music video for his song call “Bound” Where they are shown in a sexual manor riding a motorcycle. Here is a link to the video Kanye West Music Video

FALSE CLAIM #1: AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE IS CRASSLY MATERIALISTIC

• Being materialistic is a characteristic that society often encourages, however, it is also encouraged to be done behind closed doors.

• Racist ideology allows society to believe that African Americans are vastly more materialistic

• Visually this is shown in gangsta music videos and photographs of gangsta artists wearing lots of jewelry, brand names, etc.

• Gangsta is a genre that is heavily packed with advertisements and brands.

• Lyrically, gangsta songs often mention expensive products, brands, etc.

EXAMPLES OF MATERIALISM IN GANGSTA MUSIC

MTV Cribs is a show that goes to celebrities (not just gangsta rappers) homes and films them while they give a tour. The gangsta rappers are often shown living in mansions, with 5 cars, movie theaters, basketball courts, and expensive pools.

Artist 2 Chainz

MY CRITIQUE • The three assumptions presented in this chapter are presented as false positives.

• The nature of gangsta music and the ideas that it portrays allows racist ideologies to exist in society and only further perpetuate them as being true.

• What we know, however, is that not all gangsta artists are violent, obsessed with sex, and overly materialistic.

• While it is true that most gangsta artists have a history of violence in their lives, it doe not mean that they are currently violent. Artists in any genre, pop, country, and gangsta, a like, write about what they know and experience. It just happens that gangsta artists know and experience violence.

• There are also examples of gangsta artists who are not obsessed with sex, in fact, most artists present themselves that way only in song and in their music videos. In public during every day life, as well as on the red carpet, they present them selves as respectable people who enjoy the company of their family, friends, and religion.

• Gangsta rappers, like any artist or celebrity has money. It is not uncommon for an artist in any genre to spend their money, talk about their money, and to publicly show their earnings off by buying expensive cars, dresses, etc.

EXAMPLES OF THE REALITY

Wiz Kahlifa is an example of a gangsta rapper who presents his wife and mother of his child in a respectful, non sexual and non degrading way.

Jay Z and Beyonce are examples of gangsta rappers who present lyrics and images that are overall positive. Although some of Beyonce’s new songs may be sexual, overall as a couple, a family, and indiviuals, the produce a positive message.

Although not technically a “Gangsta rapper” Macklemore is an example of an artist who does not care about material objects, as he is often seen wearing simple tank tops as opposed to expensive shirt and suits and raps as well as is often quoted saying things about labels and prices not mattering.

REFERENCES

• “Bound video” by Kanye West. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBAtAM7vtgc

• Brummett, Barry. Rhetoric in Popular Culture. Third Edition. Washington, D.C.: Sage. 2001

• “m.A.A.d City Lyrics” By Kendrick Lamar. Retrieved from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/kendricklamar/maadcity.html

• “m.A.A.d City video” By Kendrick Lamar. Retrieved from http://vimeo.com/72589473

• “Partition Lyrics” By Beyonce. Retrieved from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/beyonceknowles/yoncpartition.html

• “Whistle lyrics” By Flo Rida. Retrieved from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/florida/whistle.html