Forest Hills Drive: A Poem Analysis

This first stanza from the poem, explains the journey of a man driving through a sawmill town and his observations. Murray describes his journey through a small sawmill town in New South Wales whilst using strong, vivid imagery and emotive language.

Towards the end of the book when Cole does his anger dance, he says the words “I forgive you” for the first time in his life. “At that moment, words he had never been able to speak before welled up inside him. ‘I forgive you’, he cried loudly. ‘I forgive you’” (194). The thematic statement says to forgive someone you have to forgive yourself. In this passage Cole forgives himself for the first time in his life.

This song has a remorseful and gloomy mood incorporated in it. Early in the song J. Cole depicts himself as selfish and trying to keep to himself. “I like to write alone, Be in my zone,” here J. Cole is explicitly telling us that he would rather do what he does, which is making music, alone. “Until they snatched it from my mama And foreclosed her on the loan I'm so sorry that I left you there to deal with that alone I was up in New York City chasin' panties, gettin' dome Had no clue what you was goin' through,” J. Cole explains to us how he was blinded by sex, money, and fame. He tells us that he was too busy getting panties to care about his mother having her home for closed. Not only was it her home, but the only place he called home throughout

The decade of hip-hop is what some may call it. Tupac, Naz, Biggie Smalls, as well as other artists, were major contributions. Not only for the people who are trying to find their footing, but Buck as well. Throughout the book various lyrics were embedded in order to create a better understanding for its readers. In addition, this book is based upon a 90s lifestyle within Philadelphia, which included drugs, gang activity, crime, hip-hop, and havoc. Malo was directly in the center of everything, the girls, the fights, the guns. His experiences shed light towards what it’s like to as an African American individual living in or near the hood. Not everyone realizes what people go through while living there, but now it gives some readers an image of what goes on. Though times have changed, not all previous feelings

Why? Because I enjoyed how I felt when Cole was changing right on the page in front of me. Cole grew into this incredible person and I loved watching that and see how he started as a big failure and turned out to be a huge success, this story proves that if you really want to change, you can. At first, Cole wanted to make a fool of everyone and he thought that life was just a big game. “Cole forced himself not to pull away from Garvey’s hand. ‘I really do want to change,’ he said, using the innocent childish voice that had served him well countless times before. . . . After Garvey left the detention center that day, Cole jabbed his fist into the air. ‘Yes!’ he exclaimed. The world was made up of suckers and fools, and today Garvey was at the top of the heap” (Mikaelson 12-13). Cole is saying that life has no purpose, and everyone is a sucker and a fool. “‘You’re right; you can’t change what you did to Peter,’ said Edwin, his voice softer. ‘But you have changed.’ He studied Cole, whose cheeks glistened with tears. He laid a gentle hand on Cole’s shoulder. ‘Whatever happens, you have changed here on the island. Both Garvey and I know that, and we’re very proud of you.’ Before leaving that day, Edwin asked one more question. ‘Would you be willing to stay longer if it meant helping Peter?’ ‘I’d stay my whole life if that’s what it took’” (Mikaelson 207-208). Cole has changed, he thinks life has a purpose now and

Although Hozier’s song seems to be a simple love song, it has a deeper meaning that encourages the listeners to think about relationships. After Hozier states, “I’m so full of love I can barely eat”, the singing and methodical rhythm pauses.

In the essay, “Hip-Hop’s Betrayal Of Black Women”(221), by Jennifer McLune, she vents her feelings regarding hip-hop songs that are rhythmically diminishing the value of black women. She provides example on how the lyrics are being voiced and how hip-hop artists do not seem to care. Kevin Powell in “Notes of a Hip Hop Head” writes, “Indeed, like rock and roll, hip-hop sometimes makes you think we men don’t like women much at all, except to objectify them as trophy pieces or, as contemporary vernacular mandates, as baby mommas, chicken heads, or bitches” (221). There have been apologizes for what the rappers have said but nothing to resolve the dehumanization of black women. McLune informs the readers that hip-hop singers belittle black women and make them invisible. Jay-Z, a popular hip-hop artist is brought to center stage by McLune. The essay shows the example of a part of Jay-Z song that says, “I pimp hard on a trick, look Fuck if your leg broke bitch hop on your good foot” (222). This lyric is a perfect example of how hip-hop artist have no remorse in the words they sing. The hurt feelings and loss of self-esteem black women suffer, is of no concern to the rappers. McLune expresses that those who are underground hip-hop artist follow the footsteps on being sexist and using crude words in their lyrics just because they yearn and dream of being in the spotlight. Upcoming rappers want to be loved like Jay-Z and other famous notorious rappers.

J. Cole tends to tell stories about life subjects through his lyrics, while also utilizing a repetitive beat and hook. The songs that fall into this category are “Power Trip” and “Love Yourz”. He is also known for the song “Nobody’s Perfect”, which is about the troubles and hardships that all relationships and couples go through. Although “Crooked Smile” are similar to those songs, it has a different message other than about love and relationships. He created it to uplift everyone, especially women.

" We are living in a material world." This famous line in one of Madonna's songs entitled "Material Girl" will never outgrow itself. Ever since the beginnings of monetary means, the main focus of living is getting more money and to be as successful as possible. This became a huge issue during the 1920's. In this era, people made money from the stock market, illegal bootlegging and so forth. With these people hitting the jackpot, this then created a new rank called `new money'. This rank, however, never overpowered `old money' the most wealthiest, well-known and respected class. The possession of material wealth however, can't bring true happiness. Love is an important factor in this equation; when you don't have love, it is hard to say

This song goes to capture the love and can be relatable to other couples. Both artists wove their crazy love together to create this work of art that is currently at number two on iTunes top Hip Hop chart. “Mama Always Told Me” and “No Less” describe true love and fresh compromises for romance bring a more uplifting feel on the album. Then, the plot twist with his song “Fly Away” goes further to reflect on a breakup leading to his substance abuse with a much more darker feeling.

The life events that Kid Cudi went through as a teenager and young adult is shown in the lyrics of his songs. For example, on “Soundtrack To My Life”, he raps,”Since my father died, I ain’t been the right since”. It was important for Kid Cudi to mention his father because he has played a major part of why who he is today. Also, this also explains why Cudi is this character and why he thinks and moves in life. This songs allowed him to finally release all those emotions that he has holding in for so many years. This also came as a shock for the Hip-Hop community as they were finally able to listen the effects of an absent father, but not due to the usual father abandoning the family. In the same song, Kid Cudi raps, “I was close to go and trying some coke And a happy ending would be slitting my throat”. Kid Cudi pretends to to not know the sad truths, or that he rather not know these truths that will effect him. The reason why is that he’d feel better about things that he didn’t know about. Also in

The connection that is drawn between the formerly economically challenged rapper and the child whose parent works two jobs, and can’t pay his child’s college tuition is paramount in making this point. The illusion of the American dream is set through many hip-hop songs. The picture of the evolution of the rags to riches story is set by many rappers in current hip-hop culture, this picture is the basic premise

The song "Neighbors" by J cole is a song about how he feels people in the world today view the black community and how they are treated by authority and civilians. One of the lines that he raps is "Travon kind of fate," this line obviously referring to the death of Trayvon Martin; the young black boy viciously murdered by a white man. Another line that hits home with a lot of his fans is the line, "cops bustin down the door with army guns no evidence of the harm we done," this line referring to the treatment of blacks throughout the country by police officers. I feel that this song really speaks out about the current situation we are dealing with in this country with lingering racism and inequality.

Today many people feel compelled to buy anything or everything with an expensive price tag. This includes Expensive designer clothes, latest gadgets, expensive vehicles and many other similar things. This form of consumerism has embedded itself in today’s society; where it's encouraged to invest in such materialistic possessions. Kanye West is an African-American rapper, producer, and entrepreneur, who articulates his struggle with consumerism and the struggle for those around him in his song “All Falls Down.” West, utilizes puns, rhyme, and juxtaposition to highlight the issues surrounding materialism that can be interpreted differently by different listeners such as African Americans and White Americans.

Though John Legend wrote this song for his fiancée, the audience could be mature adults that can understand love and commitment. The song “All of Me” is for Chrissy Teigen, but John Legend is projecting his feelings and thoughts about her. These mature adults are targeted because of their newfound love and ability to commit to someone