Jay Z's Black Pathology Paper

The chapter also delves into the counterproductive culture of rap and violence, in which black identity is ensnared into the stereotypical, fueling a vicious cycle of incarceration. Armstrong argues that rap operates as a contemporary iteration of the minstrel show, in which a warped black identity is offered up for white entertainment. This entails the proliferation of negative behavior through certain media image-making which is designed to pander to a false sense of superiority among whites. Alexander concludes the chapter by offering a remedy in which embracing the person and critiquing the counterproductive behavior is salient. It could be argued though that Armstrong underplays instances of successful re-integration, thus underestimating the possible influence and efficacy of resilience and individual effort.

Many people will allow others to act in oppressive way, and even more if it means they can avoid being fired or hurt. George Packer, who earned a degree from Yale, wrote “Sam Walton/Jay Z” and in both talks about Sam Walton and Jay Z’s early life and how they got where they got. Sam Walton wanted to create a company for people who do not earn much money and where everything is affordable. How Walton’s impact changed companies today by lowering the prices, causing an effect on social classes. Jay Z always chased after power, leading him earning a ton of money selling drugs and decided to start rapping and see how far he could get with that. While Jay Z finding ways to make money and acquire power on the streets by doing it multiple ways, on

When a major social or political movement is occurring, popular figures that get involved or talk about those subjects serve as an influence for the public. An example of an entertainer that had influence would be Paul Robeson. Although Jay-Z and Robeson are known for their artistry and business reputations, the glaring difference between the two is political influence. When prominent leaders were needed, Robeson was involved with political activism during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s. The issues brought forward by those leaders were broader and more easily seen. In his music, Jay-Z talks about the obstacles he faced while growing up in the streets of New York. Poverty-redden ghettoes are present today, but there is not much being

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

I do not agree with Cynthia Tucker’s views of thug culture, nor do I agree with her argument that it is the source of the incarceration, deaths, or her demonization of Hip Hop music. The thug image, or culture, stems from the need to present one’s self in a manner that separates the mind, and individual, from the obstacles and oppression around them. Essentially this was developed by black males to “harden” themselves against the racism, oppression, and prejudice they experience in their day to day lives. Tucker points out that“This so-called music and the lifestyle it glorifies is a malignancy destroying black America”, but after this statement she provides no proof, no factual evidence to support her exaggerated claim. Some factual claims to support that this “lifestyle” is the “boogey man” of black American and that it’s the reason behind most, or all, of the ill befalling the black youth, is completely wrong are easy to present.

“We ain’t thugs for the sake of just bein’ thugs. Nobody do that where we grew at N___, duh! The poverty line we not above. So I come in the mask and gloves ‘cause we ain’t feelin’ the love. We ain’t doin’ crime for the sake of doin’ crimes. We movin’ dimes ‘cause we ain’t doin’ fine. One out of three of us is locked up doin’ time. You know what this could do to a N___ mind? My mind on my money, money on my mind. If you owe me ten dollars you ain’t givin’ me nine! Ya’ll ain’t give me 40 acres and a mule. So I got my glock 40 now I’m cool.” –Jay-Z

This is a way for African Americans to use hip hop as a full-time job instead of as leisure for themselves. The benefits, according to Chung, is that now there is an “achievement of black national acceptance … to become professional, productive, labors” (Chung, 129). Given the platform, blacks want to reshape the urban poverty and improve economic situations through hip hop and widespread of black culture. Another reason for improving black’s conditions, not only comes from hip-hop, but also white behavior, meaning that blacks who grew up in rough times have been looked at in stereotypical views of pathological behaviors, and drug users. But ABDC allows these young men black men to given a new identity and inclusion through the use of hip-hop rather than the premature neoliberalism view of African Americans in which they are looked at as

Jay Gatsby and Eminem both have unstable backgrounds and came from rural areas in the Mid-West (“Eminem”). They both started out at the very bottom working their way to the top. They knew the only way to get a new life was to leave their hometowns and try to make it

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

Social inequality issues can be revealed by different kinds of artworks such as literature and songs. One of the most famous hip hop artists Tupac Amaru Shakur (Stage Name 2Pac), who experienced shooting and incarceration, produced most of his songs which revolved around controversial issues such as crime, drug and racial discrimination in the inner cities in America society in the 1990s. The rap song “Changes” that was released in 1988, two years after Tupac’s death, reflected the social discrimination towards African American under the aspects of racial prejudice and crimes. The lyric of the song demonstrated the concept of Underclass stereotype towards African Americans by Abelmann and Lie, and Wilson realistically, which provided a more comprehensive explanation for understanding Pager’s argument of the negative influence of the interaction of race and crime towards black people.

Music and society have always been closely related. For years now music has been apart of people’s everyday lives all around the world. Having so many different genres out there, it makes it easy to be appealing to so many different ethnic backgrounds. However, one type of genre in particular has seemed to grab the attention of a younger generation. Rap music has undoubtedly had its utmost impact on African American youth, since many of the performers themselves are African American. An overtly masculine culture dominates rap music and creates gender stereotypes that become abundantly popular to the youthful audience. Three constant themes that are found within the rap culture are encouragement of violence, the misogynistic representation of women, an extreme hatred of homophobia. Each theme plays a detrimental role in the process of defining black masculinity as well as shaping the values, morals, and beliefs that its younger audience adopts after tuning into this “gangster lifestyle”.

The rest of the chapter talks about the similarity of minstrel images in 1990s hip-hop, as evidenced by the defining characteristics of greed, violence, hyper sexuality and pathos in “gangsta rap” (a sub-genre of hip-hop further defined in chapter two). Ogbar balances this landscape with challenges to what he calls “neo-minstrelsy” from both inside and outside the hip-hop community, including discussions of the Spike Lee movie, Bamboozled, underground conscious hip-hop groups such as The Roots and Little Brother, and the activist “Stop Coonin’ Movement”, to name a few. Throughout the book, Ogbar explains how rappers strive for authenticity by “keepin’ it real”. And that is defined by how they rap, walk, talk, and make their

There is little question that he came from the streets, but this had been a growing comparison among the correlation of hip hop and the crack generation. “Not only did black teenagers in similar situations relate to what Eazy was talking about, but white suburban kids fantasized about being in his situation” (Eriewine).

Becoming one of the wealthiest rappers and entrepreneur is the type of success Jay-Z envisioned growing up. Although he grew up in a poor neighborhood and household, Jay-Z’s surroundings didn’t deter him from success. He took part in the street life involving illegal activities selling drugs, but never allowed the street life to consume him. Jay-Z grew up in the projects of Brooklyn and was raised by a single mother. Jay-Z took his early childhood struggles and turned them into motivation. He wasn’t afraid to dream big. He went from living in the projects to living in penthouses and mansions. He was a rare success living in the infamous Marcy Projects, a place consumed by poverty, violence, and drugs. Jay-Z is now one of the most successful entertainers of the 21st century. Brooklyn produced a hip-hop icon in Jay-Z. As a result of his numerous milestones and accomplishments, he should be recognized by the city of New York. He is very arguably the face of New York. He represents Brooklyn like no other. Jay-Z deserves to be recognized with a monument because of his musical and entrepreneurial success, as well as never forgetting where he came from.

Music helps define character and allows self expression in a more unique matter. For instance, folk music, this type of music originates in traditional popular culture and is typically of unknown authorship. Most rap artists nowadays write about drugs and making money but others are just using it as a reflection of what’s going on around them. There is a rap artist named J Cole who particularly raps about real life problems and what’s going on around him in the city where he’s from. To people who don’t live in the ghetto or a poverty struck area, living in the “hood” isn’t as bad as it seems, but for people that live there, it’s terrifying real. J Cole takes elements of what’s going on around him, what he grew up around and personal experiences he’s faced. In addition there is a song called Immortal by J Cole which was released on his new album 4 Your Eyez Only. In the song, Jermaine (J Cole) “examines the gravity