An artist in particular who was an advocate for tolerance and an end of discrimination was the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson wrote a song called “Black or White” after undergoing a skin surgery. Before the surgery he had black skin and then after the surgery he had white skin which made many start to act hostile towards him and his change. The world perceived him as someone completely different however he was trying to prove that he was still the same man he was prior to the surgery. It promotes the idea that no matter what skin color or race one is, we are all human beings and should all be accepting of each other’s differences.
Macklemore tries to point out how it happens a little too often and how comfortable people have gotten with using words. Wanting to let many know he is aware and he is all for it equal rights, “I might not be the same, but that 's not important / no freedom 'til we 're equal, damn right I support it” (lines 51-52). Macklemore wants to let everyone know whether he is or is not gay, he will keep fighting for equal rights for Gays. Hoping that others will follow in this protest of equality for the ones being effected. Giving awareness by speaking on this social
Missy Elliot, Eve, and MC Lyte all have one thing in common they all have impeccable delivery and amazing storytelling skills (Bobbitt). From MC Lyte’s song titled “Cappuccino” to Eve’s song titled “Love is Blind” they both exemplify the artists amazing storytelling skills while showcasing prominent issues the African American community such as drug abuse and domestic violence. MC Lyte impacted the music industry significantly more than just these two artists it is widespread. Many male and female artists respect what MC Lyte has done musically for Hip
As #OscarsSoWhite, #BlackLivesMatter, and police brutality circulate newspapers and social media, people mention- or rather shout- the evidence of white privilege again and again. In response, Macklemore released a sequel (White Privilege II) to his earlier White Privilege in which he uses powerful, inclusive phrases paired with a reverent tone, repetitive figurative language, and rhythmic sentence structure to expose and emphasize unconscious racial biases in society. He also questions how his position as a popular white rapper influences black culture appropriated by society. Towards the middle of the song, he becomes assertive in questioning the motives behind much of the white support of the movement through lyrics, "are you marching for
Royalty cant buy you loyalty, tell me if I lose everything would you be over me? Hip-Hop, according to Dictionary.com is defined “The popular subculture of big-city teenagers, which includes rap music, break dancing and graffity art. Kodak Black, Kevin Gates and Lil Uzi Vert greatly contributes to this genre. Kodak Black greatly contributes to Hip-Hop. According to Wikipedia.org, Kodak Black’s music is frequently about “previous and future criminal misdeeds”, and he stated that he’s been influenced by rapper Boosie Badazz and Chief Keef.
Thousands of songs have been made in the fight for racial equality since the beginning of the slave trade. As the years go on songwriters and performers have shifted their songs to focus on the issues plaguing humanity at the time in which the song is being released while also reflecting on the past and hoping for a better future. Common’s 2016 song “ Black America Again” featuring Stevie Wonder is a recent example of a song made in support of racial equality. Common mentions many of the problems Black people face in the fight for justice in his song such as mass incarceration, the wage gap, gentrification, and voter suppression. Throughout the song Common makes his stance evident, he wants to rewrite the Black American story that we know today, instill a sense of pride in Black people across the nation, and reclaim the life and culture that was taken from Black people.
This film claims to that there is white privilege in music. The film says that in the history of soul music there is an advantage for the blue eyes singers over the black soul singers. He gives the example, Adele and Sam Smith are both British artist who are well in control of the genders instead of the Jazmine Sullivan . Because there is a myth about today's black artist. The myth is that there is not enough Black artist, that they are not trying hard enough, and they are not writing or making enough soul music.
Kendrick Lamar addresses the Harlem Renaissance topic of what it means to be African American in his song, HiiiPower. During the Harlem Renaissance, a question that was frequently asked was what it meant to be African American. In Lamar’s song, HiiPower, there are many powerful lines, although, throughout the song, one line that really strikes
For my ethnomusicology project proposal, I have chosen to focus on the history of Rap Music in New York. My reasoning for choosing the state of New York was mostly in part because of the demographics pertaining to the people who live there. Life has not been easy for many African Americans and other minorities, especially early on during the birth of Rap Music. This leads to the stories of struggles and hardships, which makes Rap Music personally favorable to myself. Another reason for wanting to do my ethnomusicology project on Rap Music in New York is because some of the biggest names in Rap Music have gotten their start in New York.
We all know that the power of the Black community in America came from deep in their soul. Their strength and will to fight segregation , and their love can be felt in the civil rights movement. Their ability to express their minds in a non- violent way connects to the soul music that James Brown created. James Brown’s music was a mixture of R&B and gospel. Which in a way connects to what Dr. Martin Luther King was trying to do during the civil rights movement.
The music industry over the past several decades has been transforming, as well as the artists. Musicians have become more politically involved and their music focus on controversial topics that are happening in America. The song “White Privilege II”, by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Jamila Woods is a song that focuses on white privilege, cultural appropriation, and racism in the perspective of Macklemore. Ben Haggerty, also known as Macklemore a white rapper from Seattle The song mainly focuses on Macklemore’s perspective and how artist in the music industry appropriate Black Culture and do not acknowledge what is going on in the nation through representation.
Hip Hop was the wildfire that started in the South Bronx and whose flames leapt up around the world crying out for change. James McBride’s Hip Hop Planet focuses on his personal interactions with the development of Hip Hop culture and his changing interpretations of the world wide movement. Many of his encounters and mentions in the text concern young black males and his writing follows an evolution in the representation of this specific social group. He initially portrays them as arrogant, poor, and uneducated but eventually develops their image to include the positive effects of their culture in an attempt to negate their historical misrepresentation.
This song is very memorable to Macklemore because it speaks of his past, a past that many people can relate to as a teenager or a young adult. In the song, it says, “Wish I made it to homecoming, Got up the courage to ask her out.” Many people can relate to this lyric because, as teenagers, people are often afraid to do such
Macklemore acknowledges that he will never know how it feels to be in the position of a gay person, but he will go on to proudly fight for equal rights for homosexuals. Through this song, Macklemore intends to argue that gay people should
It is important to understand the historical implications of this song so that this racist way of thinking is never socially accepted
