Poetry and Music as Social Commentary: Hip Hop and Tupac

Kool Herc - Father of Hip Hop and Rap Born Clive Campbell in Kingston, Jamaica in 1955, he is credited with first extending the breaks in songs by using two turntables playing the same song.

Kool Herc - Father of Hip Hop and Rap His block parties in the Bronx, New York in the 1970’s were legendary. His style included rhyming over instrumentals as well as Jamaican toasting which directly influenced modern rap dj’s.

Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper's Delight” was first mainsteam rap hit, reaching #36 on Billboard Music Charts in 1979. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6gD_CwF5YM

The Message by Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five was the first rap record to openly address socio-economic and political issues. Watch the video on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3kRuJhIVIo

It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder How I keep from going under Broken glass everywhere People pissing on the stairs, you know they just don't care I can't take the smell, I can't take the noise Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice Rats in the front room, roaches in the back Junkie's in the alley with a baseball bat I tried to get away, but I couldn't get far Cause a man with the tow-truck repossessed my car Don't push me, cause I'm close to the edge I'm trying not to loose my head It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder How I keep from going under

Kurtis Blow, the first rapper to appear on national television (Soul Train), released "The Breaks" on Mercury Records in 1980. The record went on to sell more than a million copies.

If your woman steps out with another man (That's the breaks that's the breaks) And she runs off with him to Japan And the IRS says they want to chat And you can't explain why you claimed your cat And Ma Bell sends you a whopping bill With eighteen phone calls to Brazil And you borrowed money from the mob And yesterday you lost your job Well, these are the breaks Break it up, break it up, break it up

After the success of early rap artists, rap became a profitable cultural influence: Hip Hop. Record companies like Def Jam and artists like Run DMC, the Beastie Boys allowed it to become a permanent part of mainstream American Music.

Since the late 1980’s, Hip Hop and Rap have influenced Since the late 1980’s, Hip Hop and Rap have influenced language – def, dis, aight clothing – throwback jerseys tv - CRIBS

Hip Hop and Rap are Known For: Gangsta Rap Self-pride Renewed Activism Sampling Music Misogynistic Lyrics Unifying Cultural Force

Tupac Shakur:

Lesane Parish Crooks was his birth name Lesane Parish Crooks was his birth name. He was born June 16, 1971 in Brooklyn New York Married briefly; no children

Born after his mother successfully defended herself against federal charges. Attended Baltimore School for the Performing Arts where he excelled in acting and dancing. While still a teen, his family relocated to California. He drifted into gang life and was arrested nearly 20 times before he was 20 years old.

In 1991, he became a dancer for the group Digital Underground and soon released his groundbreaking cd, 2 Pacalypse Now. Throughout his life, he was shot a number of times, served time in jail for assault and for sexual assault. He also starred in the movies Juice and Poetic Justice.

In 1996, Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight secured his freedom from his prison sentence with a 1.4 million dollar bond. Tupac died Sept. 13, 1996 at University Medical Center, in Las Vegas, NV after being shot.

Since his death, Tupac has sold over 60 million records and had at least 10 movies made about his life.

"If you walked by a street and you was walking on the concrete and you saw a rose growing from the concrete, even if it had messed up petals and it was a little to the side you would marvel at just seeing a rose grow through concrete. So why is it that when you see some ghetto kid grow out of the dirtiest circumstance and he can talk and he can sit across the room and make you cry, make you laugh, all you can talk about is my dirty rose, my dirty stems and how I am leaning crooked to the side, you can't even see that I've come up from out of that."

1. What kind of cultural influences impacted the life of Tupac Shakur? 2. What about the significance of the rumors surrounding his death? Does this add to his influence as a poet and literary figure?

3. What about the self-fulfilling prophecy in his lyrics about his death? 4. Were his lyrics a positive or negative influence on youth and the hip hop culture? Elaborate and give examples.

Look at the lyrics for “Brenda’s Got a Baby Look at the lyrics for “Brenda’s Got a Baby.” What are some poetic elements that the song contains? Be specific and give examples. What is the theme of the poem? What are some details we learn about Brenda’s life? Why is it significant that he calls her Brenda? Watch the video on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrvTjleqF1w

I hear Brenda's got a baby But, Brenda's barely got a brain A damn shame Tha girl can hardly spell her name (That's not our problem, that's up ta Brenda's family) Well let me show ya how it affects tha whole community Now Brenda never really knew her moms and her dad was a junky Went in death to his arms, it's sad Cause I bet Brenda doesn't even know Just cause your in tha ghetto doesn't mean ya can't grow