The reading assignment (p. 256-270):Trisha Rose, “Flow, Layering, and Rupture in Postindustrial New York,” 1994.
The lecture video was cut off abruptly due to technical issues, so the instructions for the assignment is given in writing at the bottom of this page.
In the comments section:
- Write original lyrics for a rap song *OR*
- Post a link to a video of you rapping.
They think that I’ve been cocky lately, huh can you tell?
G-A-O-T I’m like huh can you spell
like oh well
I don’t take Ls
Every rapper I’ll see them in hell
You’re on that boring demonic stuff
I listen and I’m like oh well
I’m on the charts but not talking excel
I am a junior but feel like a freshmen as well
See me on XXL
I got the class and you’re all getting expelled
I hope you all caught that NFL
Call me Odell
Choppin it up like Pharrell
That’s how I feel and how I felt
Was this too much maybe Oh well
This is family business
And this is for the family that can’t be with us
And this is for my cousin locked down, know the answer’s in us
That’s why I spit it in my songs so sweet
Like a photo of your granny’s picture
Now that you’re gone it hit us
Super hard on Thanksgiving and Christmas, this can’t be right
Yeah you heard the track I did man, this can’t be life
Somebody please say grace so I can save face
And have a reason to cover my face
I even made you a plate, soul food, know how Granny do it
Monkey bread on the side, know how the family do it
When I brought it why had guard have to look all to it?
As kids we used to laugh
Who knew that life would move this fast?
Who knew I’d have to look at you through a glass?
Nael,
Nice lyricism, I liked the fact that you didn’t try to make every line rhyme or else it would’ve sounded a bit corny. Your rap goes to show how powerful the genre is as a method of self expression. I also commend you on dedicating this rap to someone you know (whether it’s true or you just wanted to do the assignment, you did a good job). Overall, bars, bars, bars!
I appreciate the story here. Family is one of my favorite themes in storytelling. Thank you for expressing such vulnerability in this piece. It makes you wonder if our lives are made up of our very own memories? Or are our lives made up of memories of other people’s lives?
It’s a difference for me
people coming for me
I gotta show them that heat
so they regret how they be
They take advantage of me
and I’ma put them to sleep
You never shit where you eat
when you was eating for free
I really say what I do
ain’t got nothing to prove
It may have pasted
but I know that it’ll last
I may not be the richest
but I’m not the poorest
I may not be a Christian
but I won’t worship satan
I may not like you
but I have to love you
because may I not be your right-hand
I’ll never bite your left-hand
life always kicks me both ways
but I’ll always follow my ways
I’ve you got to taste it
that’s it
Very hard-hitting. I love it. Being unapologetically yourself is guaranteed to make others uncomfortable. I feel like in this piece you don’t want people to get too comfortable with you. Comfort comes from a sense of knowing, but it seems people don’t know you enough to understand that you don’t tolerate nonsense. In this piece I feel like your saying no one who speaks ill on your name should be comfortable.
Told her it’s my last time
Wish it was the last time
Wish it was the last time
Turn you to a pastime
Now I have a bad time
Wish It was the last time , yeah
I don’t really have the time, yeah
Wish it was the last time
Wish it was the last time
Now I have a bad time
Wish it was the last time, yeah
I like how you used repetition and also it sounds like these lyrics can go with a call and response approach.
There is only one in whom I believe
The Everlasting, Wonderful Counselor
Merciful Savior, G O D
He’s a redeemer, and had redeemed me
I had found Him when I was lost
it was before I could reason the Cross
Look at me, a kid entering VBS
8 years of age and I didn’t even know
what a mess I was and how much needed Christ
Growing up in a secular household had taught me to value my faith
Taught me to hold it close to my heart, and to keep it nice and safe
Though that’s not what the Word of God had said for me to do
Look at the Christian ministries like InterVarsity and Cru
They advance the Gospel across the world
Which is called for both me and you
love how you related your lyrics to how you feel and your upbringings whether it was true or not. But this is exactly what rappers do, they use music to express their feelings essentially to tell a story. And that was deep Jackie
I really like the structure of your rap and the substance of it. You can learn a lot about you from this rap. It is not long but it speaks volumes. I think its great because like Stanley said its what rappers do, express their emotions through their piece.
people come and go like the seasons
this is the last time you’ll be able to speak to me
call it spoken reasons
don’t act like I didn’t know you were scheming
you only needed me when it was convenient
bridges burned and now the tables have turned
I turned my lessons into blessings
all that stressin’ and depressin’
you can keep it
I don’t need it
okaaaaay very lyrical.
On this rainy day
I’ve made a few mistakes
Some may never fade
I’m lying on ground
Blocking out the sound
With no one around
i don’t believe it if it comes from you
So what do I do?
How many more bridges do I have to watch burn?
How many people do I gotta watch mourn?
I’m nothing more than torn
Give me a moment
Your name is echoing inside of mind
Can you write me story?
One with glory?
So I can find my way home
and wake up from this dream
Without a scream
So I can see another day
In this lifeless may?
As the days gets old The night grows cold
As the night moves on all fear is gone
The sun is up big bright and bold
To save you from your fright and cold
The day is long your heart is warm
The day is like your happy song
But In your head you think ahead the sun is soon to be dead
Night it creeps slowly sweeps Over those sky blue skies
Once again night is here with all your fears don’t close your eyes
I aint wanna do it to em
But since you asked for it amma have to do it to em
Rapping aint easy because it comes From the Heart
To many issue where do i even start.
Battle Scars but yeah thats what makes us who we are.
regardless to the pain i aint gone cry
because i have lost so many real ones i cant trust anybody
So many hating i dont even know em, cause i just be getting money
they broke and it aint even funny.
The technique you used in the beginning “I ain’t wanna do it to em” is how a lot of rap will start to show superiority of the rapper amongst other rappers. I like that you made that decision to include that. Overall I would say that this is a classic rap that you would listen to regularly.
As day by day pass;
My morning to nights go by fast.
During this pandemic;
my days got so hectic.
From waking up to babysitting
from babysitting to work;
my sleep schedule is so berserk.
Let’s not get started on my schoolwork
ahhhh I can feel my headaches start to Lurk.
Welp, that’s the end of my rap;
Now on to Chemistry and my lab.
In recent days the world is in a craze
No one knows what to believe
peace is what we want to achieve
False information spreads faster than wild fire
and people eat it up faster than their dinner
The past two months have past in the blink of an eye
so quick yet
its hard to remember a time that was not like this
and its even harder to think of a time where things are
“back to normal”
what even is normal and what will it be in two months from now?
We’re living in a time of uncertainty
more than most of us have ever known
I like how you used the lyrics to describe what’s happening now. The goal of rapping is to express your emotions and depict what’s happening in society as we know it, I think you did a great job doing that.
the rap conveys a message for whats going on and really makes you think about what relevant to us today
I know that the world is weird now
cuz all we do is sit down
Fear of the people can taint the soul
its not enough to clean it with lysol
Being away from the world can make a person go mad
just like me working out being a chad
Procrastination is a danger to our craft
like my brother and me playing minecraft
Everyday feels like we are cornered
but for now the light is there when we move forward.
I also like how a lot of the lyrics chosen have been about what is going on right now in the world. I think that that is the foundation of a great song, and it is cool to see everyone’s thoughts on what is happening.
At first it was nice
Being inside
But as I sit longer I realize
that it’s like ice
When left in a room for too long
It will melt,
like my mindset I have felt
Falling to rubble, but in my own bubble
With the help from others I have learned to cope
Finally seeing the face of hope