How to Synthesize

Prophets of the Hood by Imani Perry

Argument: In the introduction to the book Prophets of the Hood, Imani Perry argues that hip hop is an extremely powerful


Key Terms of Perry

  1. Reunion - the way that hip hop brings together the “respectable” and “rough” elements in Black culture and politics, refusing previous divides

  2. “Open” Discourse - “Expression is more important than the monitoring of the acceptable”. “Anything might be said


Key Terms of Alim

  • Black language

  • White public space

  • White MainstreaM English

  • Gentrification

  • Linguistic supremacy

  • Linguistic equanimity

  • Styleshifting

  • Battlin


Key Terms of Fried

  • Aversive racism


Key Terms of Quinn

  • post-Fordism

  • Survival culture


Key Terms of Rose

  • Hidden politics

  • Hidden transcripts

  • Public transcripts


Two Questions on Synthesis Paper:

  1. Why do White mainstream listeners misunderstand hip hop as violent, particularly when it circulates in White public space?

  • Where is the idea of violence coming from, and why is there this notion of violence?

  • The mainstream media’s public transcripts about Black stereotypes, in addition to hidden politics that negatively represent rap, encourage the White mainstream to view hop hop as violent

  • Misunderstanding of hidden transcripts (encouraged by hidden politics) lead to misinterpretations of rap

  • Aversive racism of the White listening public makes it more likely that they will miss hidden transcripts


  1. Why does hip hop include violent content?

  • Yes there are lyrics that are violent in hop hop, but why is that?

  • Survival culture - they use violent experiences or stories as a resource to create gangsta rap

  • Hidden transcripts - they are representing stories or perspectives that are misconstrued or ignored in the mainstream, including violence (and esp in Black communities)

  • Discursive space - openness of the discursive space of hip hop allows for frank discussion of violence outside of “moralistic gaze” (5)

  • Black youth used hidden transcripts and hip hop’s discursive space as resources within survival culture

  • Using previous musical traditions, combined with hip hop’s open discourse, as resources to create gangsta rap through survival culture

  • Don’t have to just use key terms - can see if there are any other resonances

  • Battlin may include violent lyrics, but actually operates as a form of expression


Assignment

  • Thesis Due: Tuesday, October 7th @ 11:59 PM

  • Thesis, two body paragraphs, might cut the peer review

  • First full draft review

  • Second full draft view

  • Compose an essay of 2.5-3 pages (around 700 words) - look at page count rather than word count

  • Two texts at a time (A and B) so DONT do both of the A’s together

A: Alim and Perry 

B: Tricia Rose, Quinn, or Fried 

  • Pick the prompt 

Why does hip hop often include violent content 

How might the circulation of hip hop in White Public Space cause listeners to (mis)interpret it as violent?


Notes about Perry:

  • First paragraph is a throw-away (not necessary to the argument)

  • Media is not addressed so don’t address it

  • Takes place in 1992