"Rap is a medium with a message, usually one of protest"

[lightningandsnow]

This is from an assignment sheet my younger brother got - he has to write a rap as part of a poetry project.

My question is, um, what are they smoking?

Here are some of the wonderful messages of protest in modern rap music:

"This is why I'm hot.
This is why I'm hot.
This is why, this is why,
this is why I'm hot.
I'm hot because I'm fly.
You ain't because you not.
This is why, this is why,
this is why I'm hot."

And this gem:

"Now just throw your hands in the motherfuckin air
And wave the motherfuckers like ya just don't care
Yeah roll up the dank, and pour the drank
And watch your step (why?) cuz Doggy's on the gank
My bank roll's on swoll
My shit's on hit, legit, now I'm on parole, stroll
with the Dogg Pound right behind me
and up in yo bitch, is where ya might find me
Layin that, playin that G Thang
She want the n**** with the biggest nuts, and guess what?
He is I, and I am him, slim with the tilted brim
What's my motherfuckin name?

Snoop Doggy, Do-owww-ohhhh-oggg (the bomb)
Snoop Doggy, Do-owww-ohhhh-oggg
Snoop Doggy, Do-owww-ohhhh-oggg (the bomb)
Snoop Doggy, Do-owww-ohhhh-oggg (Dog)
Da-duh-da-da-dah
Do-do-do-do, doo-doo-doo-da-dahhh! (the bomb)
Da-duh-da-da-dah
Do-do-do-do, doo-doo-doo-da-dahhh! (Dog) (the bomb)
Bowwowwowyippyyoyippyyay, bowwowwowyippyyo (the bomb)
Doggy Dogg, Doggy Dogg, Doggy Dogg
Bowwowwowyippyyoyippyyay, bowwowwowyippyyo (the bomb)
What is, his name? Snoop Dogg, and the Dogg Pound
(Dog) (the bomb)
Ohhh, Snoopy Dogg, Snoopy Dogg, Snoopy Dogg (the bomb)
Yeah yeah (Dog) I know his name
C'mon Snoopy, c'mon Snoopy (the bomb)
And the Dogg Pound
Snoopy Dogg (the bomb) Snoopy Dogg
Snoopy Dogg (Dog)
(Dog, nasty dog, doggy dog)"

Protest, my ass.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

1. Do you just listen to the crap on the radio?

Ever heard of Public Enemy? N.W.A.? Mos Def? Blackalicious? KRS-One?

Those are just some of the REAL hip-hop artists out there who have produced true protest songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uPlIaF65PM

One of the best protest songs you'll ever hear, hip-hop or otherwise.

[lightningandsnow]

2. Yeah...old-school rap is awesome.

I was refering to the crap they have on the radio now.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

3. Okay, here's a modern rap song that says something:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTJCksVSkhg

[Danger Mouse]

21. Aesop Rock...awesome!

:D

[Starbucks Anarchist]

30. Fuck yeah!

:toast:

You like A Tribe Called Quest? I had a mini-marathon with their stuff recently.

[AlCzervik]

6. hey!

The track Change clothes-that is just awesome.

:hi: :loveya:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. Ha, it just popped in my head now.

:rofl:

[DS1]

4. Aww, I like Snoop.

:shrug:

[lightningandsnow]

8. Some of his stuff is fun, I'll admit that.

Still, it would be hilarious if a bunch of 12-year-olds start presenting "SUPERMAN DAT HOE!!!" in their English class.

[DS1]

13. the people behind souljaboy need murdering

:puke:

[JVS]

10. Rollin down the street smokin endo sippin on Kool-aide

[DS1]

12. laid back

[JVS]

14. With my mind on my money and my money on my mind

[Canuckistanian]

5. Mostly protesting a lack of recording contracts

Because once they're "in", there's not a lot of protesting going on.

[HuskerDU]

9. They could at least come up with slang that is younger than

I am. Fly? The early 70s want that one back. (or was it the late 60s?) Wave your hands in the air and wave 'em like you just don't care? Yup, from Rapper's Delight in the mid-70s.

[AlCzervik]

11. what part of Snoop's message are you missing?

it doesn't always have to be a political message. There is tons of good rap and hip hop out there.

[pokerfan]

15. Ice-T

I got my black shirt on.
I got my black gloves on.
I got my ski mask on.
This shits been too long.

I got my twelve gauge sawed off.
I got my headlights turned off.
Im bout to bust some shots off.
Im bout to dust some cops off.

Im a cop killer, better you than me.
Cop killer, fuck police brutality!
Cop killer, I know your familys grieving, (fuck em!)
Cop killer, but tonight we get even, ha ha.

I got my brain on hype.
Tonightll be your night.
I got this long-assed knife.
And your neck looks just right.

My adrenalines pumpin.
I got my stereo bumpin.
Im bout to kill me somethin.
A pig stopped me for nuthin!

Cop killer, better you than me.
Cop killer, fuck police brutality!
Cop killer, I know your mommas grieving,(fuck her!)
Cop killer, but tonight we get even, yeah!

Die, die, die pig, die!

Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!

Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police! Yeah!

Cop killer, better you than me.
Im a cop killer, fuck police brutality!
Cop killer, I know your familys grieving, (fuck em!)
Cop killer, but tonight we get even, ha ha ha ha, yeah!

Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!

Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Break it down.

Fuck the police, yeah!
Fuck the police, for darryl gates.
Fuck the police, for rodney king.
Fuck the police, for my dead homies.
Fuck the police, for your freedom.
Fuck the police, dont be a pussy.
Fuck the police, have some muthafuckin courage.
Fuck the police, sing along.

Cop killer!
Cop killer!
Cop killer!
Cop killer!

Cop killer! whaddyou wanna be when you grow up?
Cop killer! good choice.
Cop killer! Im a muthafuckin
Cop killer!

Cop killer, better you than me.
Cop killer, fuck police brutality!
Cop killer, I know your mommas grieving,
(fuck her!)
Cop killer, but tonight we get even!

[AlCzervik]

16. Ludacris

Runaway love


Now little lisa is only 9 years old
Shes tryin to figure out why the world is so cold
Why shes all all alone and they never met her family
Mamas always gone and she never met her daddy
Part of her is missin and nobody will listenin
Mama is on drugs gettin high up in the kitchen
Bringin home men at different hours of the night
Startin with laughs--usually endin in a fight
Sneak into her room while her mamas knocked out
Tryin to have his way and little lisa says 'ouch'
She tries to resist but then all he does is beat her
Tries to tell her mom but her mama don't believe her
Lisa is stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothin else to do but some get some clothes and pack
She says shes bout to run away and never come back.


Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love


Little nicole is only 10 years old
Shes steady tryin to figure why the world is so cold
Why shes not pretty and nobody seems to like her
Alcoholic step dad always wanna strike her
Yells and abuses, leaves her with some bruises
Teachers ask questions she makin up excuses
Bleedin on the inside, cryin on the out
Its only one girl really knows what she about
Her name is lil stacy and they become friends
Promise that they always be tight til the end
Until one day lil stacy gets shot
A drive by bullet went stray up on her block
Now nicole stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothin else to do but some get some clothes and pack
She says shes bout to run away and never come back.


Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love


Little erica is eleven years old
Shes steady tryin to figure why the world is so cold
So she pops x to get rid of all the pain
Cause shes havin sex with a boy whos sixteen
Emotions run deep and she thinks shes in love
So theres no protection hes usin no glove
Never thinkin bout the consequences of her actions
Livin for today and not tomorrows satisfaction
The days go by and her belly gets big
The father bails out he aint ready for a kid
Knowin her mama will blow it all outta proportion
Plus she lives poor so no money for abortion
Erica is stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothin else to do but get her clothes and pack
She say shes about to run away and never come back.

[lightningandsnow]

17. I've heard that song before. Pretty cool.

I take it back - not all rap on the radio sucks.

[madrchsod]

18. old school

this stuff now-crap
got to back to the 60`s and early 70`s for the beginning

[YellowRubberDuckie]

19. Rap hasn't had a message since the 90s....

Unless that message is "Look at all the money I got! Look at all the gold diggers who want to have sex with me! Look at my ride!" It's freaking ridiculous.
Duckie

[Danger Mouse]

22. A lot of good underground rappers out there with a message.

You just have to know where to look.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

26. I thought we were talking about mainstream rap....

I'm sure there are underground rappers keeping the original idea of rap alive. In fact I really hope there are. I miss NWA and the old school dudes.
Duckie

[Danger Mouse]

28. For the most part mainstream rap is garbage.

I just hate to see the whole genre knocked because the good stuff is underground.

[Deja Q]

23. "Gangsta rap" has a message...

One nobody in their right mind would want to acknowledge because of how vile it is.

[flvegan]

25. The Beastie Boys have consistently had a message.

Anti-war, anti-racism, anti-bigotry...just to name a couple.

I lurves them.

[HuskerDU]

27. And they were pro-partying.

It was their fight that secured the right for ALL Americans... to party!:patriot:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

33. I will give you that.

They are amazing.
Duckie

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. Yes, but, if it is true that "the medium is the message", then the message is crap.

While you pointed out the truth that much of the message itself is crap, even a good message wrapped in a crap medium is crap.

[Danger Mouse]

24. If you want to check out some REAL hip-hop...

then check out Aesop Rock, El-P, Sage Francis, Buck 65, and Madvillain.
There's some good, stern shit there.
Not all modern hip hop is bad, it's just that the good stuff is harder to find.

[jmm]

29. Most music on the radio is crap regardless of the genre

You won't hear lyrics like this from "Bin Laden" by Immortal Technique f/ Mos Def on any top 40 stations but it's modern protest rap at its best-

This shit is run by fake Christians, fake politicians
Look at they mansions, then look at the conditions you live in
All they talk about is terrorism on television
They tell you to listen, but they don't really tell you they mission
They funded Al-Qaeda, and now they blame the Muslim religion
Even though Bin Laden, was a CIA tactician
They gave him billions of dollars, and they funded his purpose
Fahrenheit 9/11, that's just scratchin' the surface

[Danger Mouse]

31. Here's some protestin' from Sage Francis from 2007...

From the song "Hoofprints in the Sand"

"The dyslexics breathe easy
The people in the top tax bracket just keep looking for freebies
Thumbing their noses at those in need of handouts
I'm talkin' panhandlers with secondhand clothes, living hand to mouth
Camping out on Capitol Hill
The fat cats are still insisting reparations be a jagged little pill
Today there's free vaccinations at the walk-in clinic
If you're lucky, you won't just be a guinea pig
Call me a cynic
I find it interesting how certain epidemics spread
More specifically – where they don't and who isn't affected
Yeah, I'm infected with a curious nature
The welcome mat said, "God bless this home," not "God damn thy neighbor"
They can repeat history but can't recycle paper
They don't see the forest or the trees, just skyscrapers
Towels of Babel in a town full of cattle
When I question brand loyalty, the crowd is bedazzled
But I'll never be hoodwinked, I'm mindful of the footprints
The shape of the hoof, the way the path in the wood splits
The author of the book, the origin of the crucifix
The waitress looking for tips and the place where the cook spits"

[Starbucks Anarchist]

32. And a great anti-Bush song by 40 del Tren:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1026712833501347667&q=Supadubya

[GoddessOfGuinness]

34. Protesting respectful civility? Protesting English grammar maybe?

:shrug:

[appal_jack]

35. Check Boots Riley and the Coup

The problem is that hip-hoppers with something good to say don't serve their corporate-label-masters as well as the 'bling-bling-money-ho' spewing fools, but there is some really conscious, amazing hip hop out there. In addition to all the good folks already cited here, check 'The Coup' who have some of the tightest, most info-dense raps I have ever encountered. I don't always agree with Boots' hard-line Marxism, but I respect where he is coming from, and the man is a genius.

Here are lyrics from the 1993 track 'Dig It.' How many other songs (of any genre) can pack-in references to police brutality, political prisoners, the FBI's war against US citizens (CoIntelPro), the stupidity of mainstream 'bling-bling-money-ho' rap, and a million other relevant things besides, all in under 4 minutes? The way the lyrics are written below (I just copied and pasted) are awkward, but hearing Boots rap 'mouth, say tongue' and 'Mao Tse Tung' all at once is rather awesome, even to this non-commie white guy.

-app

The Coup Dig It! Lyrics

Presto, read the Communist Manifesto
Guerillas in the Mist, a Guevara named Ernesto, so
(E-Roc: 'What a brother with a afro know?')
Yo, go and flow for the mack and be the hoe
so grow cause the lynchin brothers might get hung
Better rip through em from the tip of my mouth/Mao, say/Tse-Tung/tongue
Deficit (money spent) catch the glint
(E-Roc: of my nine as they cut welfare twenty-five percent)
And I dissent, as I clench and raise my fist
(We did away with, that) so you could get with this
Here's a twist cause we'll overthrow like Kwame N'Krumah
Spread around the wealth as if it were a, vicious rumor
Pam, cuts a record like a surgeon cuts a tumor from a brain
(E-Roc: We're all cooped up so feel the pain)
from four hundred years of exploitation
Anesthesia provided by your local TV station
Patience is not a virtue (I ain't waitin)
Turn this shit over like Bush did a boatload of Haitians

*DJ Pam cuts and scratches 'Dig It!'

How now Brown Cow I'm down with the Mau Mau
Clown downtown tried to put us in the dog pound
like H. Rap Brown with the situation
(Won't get no callouses) cause I'm spittin dialectical analysis
So how is this, we never had no Funk
until you found out that I turned to revolutionary hunk
(Chump!) Bump you over like dominoes, rat
(E-Roc: So free Geronimo Gi Jaga Pratt!)
Lyrics hear it fear it can't get near it
got a sample didn't clear it
Point Blank says, 'Fuck five-oh!' That's the spirit
Cheer it, spat out, the fat that I consumed
Knew that I was doomed since my date of birth
to be the wretched of the earth, never had a Dream that was American
(The golden ?leg to chair again?) Despair again
(But that ain't nuthin new) Told the streets were paved with gold
Whoever paved that shit got minimum wage too!

*DJ Pam cuts and scratches 'Dig It!'
'Do you understand, the metaphoric phrase?' (repeat 3X)
'Do you understand, do you understand...'

(E-Roc: Gunned us, stunned us) exploited and they hung us
I'd like to take a moment to say, 'Fuck Columbus!';
(Millions off my back) the black on black crisis is a myth
The crack that did this to us (was the one from the whip)
The record skip, the record skip, the record ship *SCRATCH*
The record skips, cause my voice is kinda scratchy
from yelling, 'Oh shit!' when the five-oh comes to harass me
They never pass me, no one to go and tail bro
(E-Roc: Trying to kill the movement with the new CoIntelPro)
Leaders they killed, if I said it, it would threaten em
They only see my back because I'm three steps ahead of em
We're not fallin in the slot you slated
(E-Roc: We realize that our power's nickel-plated)
Masses move as well as asses do, class is through
Our time is over, past it's due
(And you still wanna know) the origin of the flow
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA NINE-FOUR-SIX-ONE-OH

*DJ Pam cuts 'Dig It!'

(Yeah, The Coup, comin at you in ninety-three!)
Yeah, and we out y'all...