MC Stylist: Finding your Voice-Tashana Shields

     According to the Book of Rhymes, "MCs often talk about style like it is a possession, a lyrical fingerprint distinguishing one MC from all others." This is nothing far from the truth; the way in which a artists can easily distinguish him or herself from the crowd as being unique and a seeming breathe of fresh air is by creating a style that is unlike any other in the conforming music industry. When an artists can achieve this task of establishing ones unique style then they are an MC to be remembered such as idols and legends like Biggie or Tupac who has a style that current rappers strive to embody.
 

 

 VS         

Style is more than the way in which an artists dresses or carries oneself, it is the swagger and aura of that MC that makes them seem to hold lyrical ingenuity. It can then be argued that are artists today trying to fit a mold of being labeled under a certain style. For instance, a majority of readers can identify and quickly point out the style of lets say Kanye West or even a polar opposite, 50 Cent. It is not only the style of a n artists that can be distinguished but also the "stylistic differences between Miami rap and Atlanta rap, Brooklyn style and Queens style." Style is a way in which the music industry tries to sell an new upcoming artist. If new artists cannot set themselves apart they quickly become swallowed and spitted right back out by the industry. After all, no one wants to see the same style of rapping over and over.

It is the few fearless individuals who dare to venture out beyond rap that make it the interesting industry that it is. But the inquiry in question is whether the music industry puts too much emphais on an artists being distinct. Every where we look in the media is a new artists claimign to be the realest of real or the new of the new. Its artists like Ty Dolla Sign and Rich Homie Quan who are fresh to the game who show their "swagger" as being hood or street glamorous. But at the end of the day every artist models themselves after another before their time. It is easy to point out just how similiar the flow of lets say The Weeknd is to Micheal Jackson. Or perhaps more popular artists sushc as J.Cole embody a fresh face of Drake. Either way you look at it; there is no such thing as a new style to hip-hop or rap it is all recycled and then given a new twist. New without being original.

 

Sources:

 https://www.sodahead.com/entertainment/eminem-vs-
page=3&postId=21410005#post_21410005http://youtu.be/FXT1oKrgq0o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXT1oKrgq0o

Analyzing What We Say & Why We Say It

Lyrics in hip-hop music are often a controversial issue in today's society. Artists' raps often degrade women or contain explicit and violent language that tend to upset some listeners. However, it's important to be able to look past the vulgarity and see the story or message each artist is trying to send. In 2010 Interscope Records released Eminem and Rihanna's hit "Love the Way You Lie" speaking out against domestic violence. The song warns and breaks down the cycle of abusive relationships and sends a message to take a stand. People often times don't consider hip-hop lyrics a factor in changing culture or politics, but in reality it has the ability to totally shift our understanding of what is normal or accepted.

           

Even though at times the explicitness and vulgarity of hip-hop lyrics can be shocking, artists often find it necessary in order to get their message across. In order to get people's attention, they aren't going to sugar coat their lyrics. Those that rap and explain their struggles growing up in the ghetto and poverty want to provide their listeners with a vivid picture and give them a true understanding of the obstacles they went through. This won't be accomplished by sensoring lyrics or leaving out the violent or disturbing descriptions. Rapper Immortal Technique demonstrates this with his song "Dance With the Devil". The song describes the struggles growing up in Harlem involving gang culture, drugs, and the inescapable violence. The lyrics are very detailed and at one point describing a woman getting gang raped.  Though the lyrics are unsettling, this is Immortal Technique showing the reality of his childhood. He uses the lyrics to create these harsh images to give listeners a real idea of what growing up in the ghetto is like.

 The harshness and explicitness in many hip-hop songs can be a turn off for many, but it's important to understand that many artists feel that it is necessary in order to give listeners a true understanding. In many cases their songs are their stories and personal experiences and they know best how to get their messages across.

Who's A Sellout? Going Mainstream

Whos A Sellout? Going Mainstream 

 : Max Pallot

         A very big topic of debate each year in the Hip-hop and Rap game is definitely which of the artists has sold out on their own style and gone “mainstream”.  Some names that come to mind right off the top of my head would have to be guys like Lil Wayne, and b.o.b, their styles have done a complete flip in what they sound like from their first few albums and mixtapes to what they are putting out with their music now.  A lot of the time people argue what is considered to be mainstream, whether it just a song that is played on the radio to much, or whether it is similar sounding to today’s popular music.

            In my opinion mainstream would be the type of music that is played on the radio stations or played a lot amongst people.   There is nothing wrong with that kind of music, but seeing an artist change his style to fit that genre is when it becomes a problem.  An artist goes mainstream I believe it is when their style of music changes in order to fit that radio sound or appeal to a much larger audience.

            Lil Wayne I think is one of the best examples of a sellout, Tha Carter 1, 2, and even 3, were one style of Rap by being lyrical, while Tha Carter 4 was very poppy in a way, something that really fits what is heard on the radio.  Also it had very radio friendly features on it as well like T-Pain and Bruno Mars.  I Am Not A Human Being and Rebirth also were completely different styles that Lil Wayne brought out, they were very rock based, something that a lot of people did not like.  When someone like Lil Wayne changes up his style and people start talking about it whether they hate it or love it is what an artist looks for.  The media’s attention is sometimes the best thing. 

            B.o.b is another great example of a sellout. In an early mixtape the song Generation Lost talks about basically how radio songs suck and that it’s good to be underground and what not, while in the present day b.o.b is coming out with songs like Magic and Airplanes that clearly were made for radio hits.  He just sounds so hypercritical when saying one thing and then once he finds the money in another style he jumps to that.  We see him in commercials for Adidas now as well, something that you really would not see out of an underground rapper.

         

   I do feel that underground has been becoming more popular these days.  We are starting to see more guys that are sticking to the “underground” label.  Artists like Chance The Rapper, Macklemore, and Hopsin, although becoming very famous have stuck to their own style and staying away from a major label.  Being independent is becoming more and more popular, although some guys that become big immediately go for the money and sign to a major label.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhr_-FM8yRo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfYcOYMNuXM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnYj9c3eMys&feature=kp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq-NShfefks

Draft 2.3 is Due Thursday, March 20th Right?

right?

Backpack Rap: Writing for the Subculture

Backpack Rap: Writing for the Subculture

What is Backpack Rap?

According to Urban Dictionary:

" "backpack rapper" is a phrase usually given to a young aspiring musician who's lyrics are deep and dictate life experiences, often his own, or those of a social group to which he feels a strong association. The iconic "backpack" is literal, referring to the backpack in which many aspiring rappers carry as they travel. In urban settings many young musicians focus on the meaning of their raps, and tend to not bloat with pop cultural references"

One of my personal favorite backpack artists is Chance, The Rapper.

Chance is a rapper from Chicago, Illinois.

Chance dropped his first mixtape, "10 Day" after a 10 day suspension in spring of 2011.

On April 13, 2013, Chance released his second, critically acclaimed mixtape: "Acid Rap"

Acid Rap, in my opinion, was the best mix tape of the year. With features like Childish Gambino, Twista, Vic Mensa, and many others, the production along with the lyrics create an excellent mix tape. Chance creates a psychedelic rap mix tape, and it definitely shows. All the talk of LSD and acid, and what its like to "Taste Paper" show how different this artist and this type of artistry can differ from the norm. If you haven't heard of Chance the rapper then I highly recommend that you check out "Acid Rap", it is incredible, and you will be hooked from the intro...

Chance is also part of a hip hop collective known as the "Save Money Crew"

for more information about them I suggest you check out this guide:http://www.refinedhype.com/hyped/entry/save-money-guide

Having seen Chance live this past weekend, I was blown away. He was so energetic and bouncing all over the stage. He is a surprisingly good dancer and really did a great job opening and setting the stage for J Cole. I expect many great things from Chance in the future.