Popular Music Studies: Popular Music & Power - Hip Hop II (Week 13B)

N.W.A. and the Genesis of Reality Rap

Group Composition and Identity: - N.W.A., an acronym for N* with Attitude, consisted of members Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella, and Ice Cube. - The group emerged as a response to specific socio-political conditions in Los Angeles, including aggressive racial profiling by the LAPD.
Political and Social Context: - The group's rise coincided with the elimination of various social programs and the intensification of the "War on Drugs" under the Reagan administration. - Their music and image celebrated excess, which served as a provocative counterpoint to the systemic deprivation in their communities.
Genre Definition and "Reality Rap": - While the music industry and critics eventually labeled their style as "gangsta rap," the group originally dubbed their own style "reality rap." - They utilized samples from artists like KRS-One to anchor their sound in established hip-hop tradition.
Public Reception and Controversy: - The group achieved massive commercial success, particularly among white teenagers, despite (or perhaps due to) being loathed by right-wing politicians, the police, and the FBI. - Their notoriety led to significant difficulties in securing venues for touring.
Key Work: "Fuck tha Police" ( $1988$ ): - This track stands as a direct critique of police brutality and systematic harassment within marginalized communities.

Tupac Shakur: Activism, Complexity, and Legacy

Biographical Foundation ( $1971$ – $96$ ): - Tupac's mother was a member of the Black Panthers who was arrested in $1969$ ; her experiences at the High School of the Performing Arts in NYC and her worries for her unborn child deeply influenced his worldview. - Growing up in poverty during the $1980$ s due to the cutting of social programs, Tupac eventually attended the Baltimore School of the Arts but could not afford to remain in school or pursue higher education.
The "A Complicated Figure" Identity: - Tupac famously advocated for the "THUG LIFE" philosophy, yet he was simultaneously regarded as an activist, an artist, and a visionary. - Though he was involved in acts of violence and was beaten by the police at age $19$ , he chose to pursue rap as a vehicle for change rather than joining the New Black Panthers.
Key Work: "Panther Power" ( $1989$ ): - An early recording that was released posthumously in $2000$ , the song critiques the "American Dream" as a "calculated scheme" designed to keep Black Americans in chains and deny them a future. - Lyrical Themes from "Panther Power": - The Hypocrisy of Liberty: The song describes Lady Liberty as a liar who promised freedom, education, and equality but provided only slavery and starvation. - Historical Erasure: Tupac notes that the "Fathers of our country" and "Uncle Sam" lied about history and kept his ancestors shackled. - Economic Oppression: He highlights the struggle of being unemployed while the government enjoys the suffering of his people. - Resistance: The lyrics emphasize that "panther power" is a source of strength that resides within, urging listeners not to be ashamed of their identity and to fight for freedom with their "dying breath." - Systemic Attack: He alleges the government uses ignorance and drugs as a "sneak attack" to kill unity within the Black community.

Queen Latifah and the Challenge to Hip-Hop Misogyny

Gender Dynamics in Hip-Hop: - Queen Latifah (b. $1970$ ) addressed the limited recognition of women and the prevalent misogyny within the genre. - Historical markers include Roxanne Shanté's presence in $1985$ and the $1989$ Battle Controversy at the New Music Seminar, which brought the designation of "female rapper" into question.
Inspirations and Social Focus: - Latifah drew significant inspiration from Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions (BDP), focusing her work on pressing social issues.
Key Work: "Evil that Men Do" ( $1989$ ): - Produced by BDP and featuring KRS-One, this track serves as a message to "sisters and brothers" regarding the harsh realities of urban life. - Political Issues Addressed: - Welfare and Housing: The struggle of women on welfare and the lack of a decent housing plan from the government. - International Solidarity: Recognition of the fight for freedom in Johannesburg. - The Drug Crisis: The difficulty of staying "crack free" in a neglected environment. - Societal Neglect: Comparing the ease of spending a quarter on a video game to the difficulty people have in treating a homeless person with the same human dignity. - Black-on-Black Crime: A warning that internal community violence only serves to "shackle and bind" people to a doom worse than death.

Ice-T, the Rodney King Assault, and Commercial Shifts

The Rodney King Incident ( $1992$ ): - The assault of Rodney King by police and the subsequent leadership of Darryl Gates became a watershed moment for hip-hop and civil rights. - The importance of the videotaped evidence was central; however, the trial was moved to Ventura County, leading to an acquittal and the subsequent LA Riots.
Ice-T and "Cop Killer" ( $1992$ ): - Performed by Ice-T's heavy metal group, Body Count, the song was a response to the aftermath of the King assault. - The track sparked massive boycotts and demonstrations from the NRA and various police organizations, though it received support from the National Black Police Association.
The Commercial Evolution of Rap: - In the $1980$ s, rap was often dismissed as a "passing fad," but by the $1990$ s, it had transformed into a "big business." - This shift led to a "purge" of political rappers, as labels prioritized profits over the potential for conflict with the police. - Artists like N.W.A. and Ice-T eventually shifted to smaller, independent labels to maintain their voice, highlighting the downside of gangsta rap's mainstream success.

Nas and the Queensbridge Perspective

Origins and Early Trauma: - Nas (b. $1973$ ) grew up in the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens. He was a rap prodigy mentored by Roxanne Shanté. - His early life was marked by the shooting of his brother, Jungle, and his neighbor, "Ill Will," which left him with a lasting sense of responsibility and informed his perspective on drugs, education, and violence.
Commercial Success: His debut album It Was Written reached the # $1$ spot on the Billboard charts.
Key Work: "I Wanna Talk to You" ( $1999$ ): - The track explores themes of poverty, the illicit drug trade, and a profound lack of empathy from the ruling class toward those in the projects.

Wu-Tang Clan: Anxiety and Historical Consciousness

Key Work: "I Can’t Go to Sleep" ( $2001$ ): - This song articulates deep-seated anxieties regarding the police, the FBI, and the crack cocaine epidemic, often framing these issues through the lens of conspiracy theories.
Historical and Political References: - The lyrics cite several figures who faced state-sanctioned or political violence: - Clarence 13th X: Founder of the Nation of Gods and Earths. - Malcolm X: Shot in the chest in front of his children. - Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK): Shot on the balcony while Jesse Jackson watched. - Marcus Garvey: Exported because he tried to "spark us with the knowledge of ourselves." - John F. Kennedy (JFK): Referencing Jacqueline Kennedy holding her husband's head after the rifle shots. - Medgar Evers: "Took one to the skull for integrating college."
Social Commentary: The song describes the government as "Devils" trying to keep people as slaves to "scrape our dollars," urging listeners to take control of their lives ("be a man") rather than resorting to mindless violence.

Hurricane Katrina and the Modern Political Response

The Disaster ( $2005$ ): - The flooding of the Ninth Ward in New Orleans was exacerbated by the poor state of the levees and a major storm surge. - The response was widely criticized as slow and dictated by race and class hierarchies, particularly as resources were diverted to the War in Iraq.
Media and Public Rhetoric: - Media coverage was criticized for racial bias: white survivors were often described as "foraging" for food, while Black survivors were labeled as "looters." - Survivors were frequently referred to as "refugees," a term many felt stripped them of their American citizenship.
The Kanye West Incident: During an NBC telethon for relief, Kanye West famously went off-script to state, "George Bush doesn’t care about black people," while standing next to a stunned Mike Myers.

Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) and Lil Wayne: Post-Katrina Voices

Yasiin Bey (Mos Def, b. $1973$ ): - An exception in the industry for being a politically charged rapper with strong record sales. - He famously organized the "Hip-Hop for Respect" march against NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the $1990$ s.
Key Work: "Katrina Clap" ( $2005$ ): - Also known as "Dollar Day," the song critiques the lack of aid ( $1.00$ per human being). - He calls out the hypocrisy of public figures like Bono and U2 ("If you ain't about the ghetto then fuck you too"). - Systemic Critique: He notes that since $2004$ , there have been a million more poor people, yet "illions and killions" are wasted on the war instead of reinforcing levee walls. - Performance and Arrest: Bey was arrested at the $2006$ MTV VMAs for an unauthorized performance of the song; the video subsequently went viral on YouTube.
Lil Wayne (b. $1982$ ): - A New Orleans native, Lil Wayne transitioned from party music to political critique with the track "(Georgia) Bush" ( $2006$ ).
Key Work: "(Georgia) Bush" ( $2006$ ): - Samples Ray Charles’s $1960$ version of "Georgia on My Mind" (originally written by Hoagie Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell in $1930$ ). - Lyrical Content: - Criticizes President Bush's "thick white skin" and blue eyes, accusing him of letting troops die and citizens sit on roofs. - References conspiracy theories regarding the levees, suggesting explosions were heard, similar to rumors from Hurricane Betsy in $1965$ under President Johnson. - Links the Confederate flag to those who voted for Bush and highlights the lack of financial aid ("he do drop bombs" instead of dropping dollars).