PHOTO ESSAY
BY: BLAKE ALCON
4/26/15
INTRODUCTION/THESIS STATEMENT
• Creating an identity for yourself is something that everyone strives to accomplish. People want to live
great life and achieve goals so they can create a name for themselves. Everything around us has an
impact on how we create our name. The movies we watch and even the music we listen to all have an
influence on how we create our self. When we have an interest for something we enjoy, it’s easy to start
taking parts from it and putting it into our lives. Music is a perfect example. The Underachievers are a
rap duo who’s music can influence people by their lyrics and style of music. Lyrics have the most
influential part in music but it’s on the listener to get the message.
Music has a big part in our lives. It’s a source for entertainment and connection. The girl in the picture is
enjoying what she is listening to. The lyrics of a song are the important part because that’s where influence
comes from.
Music can influence someone's way of thought, their attitude, or even the way they dress. In a lot of rap
songs, the brand Gucci is talked about. When someone hears their favorite rapper rap about something like
this belt, they will want it as well. It gives off the symbolism of wealth.
Issa Gold (left) and Ak (Right) form The Underachievers. These two rappers are from Flatbush, New York.
Together the two influence people by their style of music. The lyrics are to inspire and motivate the youth
and that can be achieved through making music. Unlike other rap artist the underachievers lyrics contain
spiritual messages.
Watching an interview will help to understand The Underachievers and their music. During this interview
the two discuss the meaning behind the music and how people can be influenced by them. The songs created
contain spiritual and motivational lyrics that people can take and morph it into their lives.
The picture is one of The
Underachievers albums. This album
cover gives a detail about the rappers
interest and what their music could
contain. The pyramid in the back
connects to spirituality just like the
title “INDIGOISM”.
Spirituality is something that is discussed in The Underachievers music. This
subject can split up into other little subjects like in the picture above. This can
influence someone's way of thinking and what they believe in. Spirituality can
connect with the attitude towards each other and how we see each other.
Changing the way we think changes our identity in a way.
This picture helps to represent the
Third Eye. The Underachievers rap
about third eye consciousness and
that can be a power influence if
someone allows it. Third Eye can be
connected with spirituality and
positivity.
This picture is straight forward to
represent knowledge. AK and Issa
Gold promote knowledge and self
awareness in their songs. Knowledge
can help achieve greatness and
understanding. In an interview Issa
Gold gave a list of books to read. A
fan could have done it and been
influenced by the books message.
This picture contains lyrics as well as
The Underachievers. The lyrics give an
idea of the influence people can take
from the song. Being positive and going
for goals is an identity changer.
Sometimes people look up the lyrics
and from that they can understand it
better.
In the picture Issa Gold is looking
down at an angle at a concert. Issa
talks to the crowd at a point during
the concert to motivate them. Having
an icon encourage individuals can
impact each one of them.
Issa Gold and Ak are standing with a group of people behind them. This picture shows that their music has
gotten peoples attention. The people in the back in someway have been touched by the music that is made
by The Underachievers. Music be used to create yourself and help build the type of person you want to be.
The people in the back are using this music to express their self.
CONCLUSION
• People use music to identify themselves just as much as to enjoy it. The music that is loved by an
individual may influence their personality or even the way they dress. Rap music is a popular genre in
music and even though profanity is contained in the lyrics there are the few artist that seek to influence
people with deeper meaning. The Underachievers use rap to influence young generations into being
knowledgeable and to achieve their dreams. Lyrics can motivate people and even change the way people
think. A lot of rap today contain violent lyrics and in a way show off wealth and fame. The
Underachievers rap about knowledge and spirituality. People can be impacted in a bad way by music but
this duo means to influence. Listeners use music to express themselves and help form the kind of person
they are. When artist seek to influence the masses there will be a greater impact on peoples identity.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Bennett, D. (2010, May 2). Guiding Lights: How Soap Operas Can Save the World. Signs of Life in the
USA Bedford/St. Martin’s. Retrieved April 20, 2015 from Signs of Life in the USA (349-355)
•
Soap operas have an influence on the people that watch it from actions to way of thinking. Bennett
discusses how people can model themselves and take after characters that they love. Soap operas have
done just that in certain areas of the world. I can use this to help factor in that people mold themselves
after characters they like.
• Cooper, B. (2013, December 6). The Surprising Science Behind What Music Does To Our Brains.
Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.fastcompany.com/3022942/work-smart/the-surprisingscience-behind-what-music-does-to-our-brains
• This Article helps explain how music impacts the brain and our emotions. Different music has an impact
on how we act. Some of music has to do with our personality. Cooper gives different examples for how
music can affect us. Some don’t really have to do with my topic but I can use a little bit of information.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Hickey, A. (2012, December 18). Interview: The Underachievers - ACCLAIM. Retrieved April 20, 2015,
from http://www.acclaimmag.com/music/interview-the-underachievers/
• Andrew Hickey does an interview with The Underachievers and from this, information about their songs
and style are given. The Underachievers seek to inspire the youth and the younger generations. The
music they create influences and is to impact the people listening. I will be using their ideology to
discuss how their music influences people’s identity.
• Isenberg, D. (2013, February 20). Who Are The Underachievers? Retrieved April 22, 2015, from
http://www.complex.com/music/2013/02/who-are-the-underachievers/
• This is an interview but also a background story about The Underachievers. This information helps to
understand who this musical group is and their ideology. The interview part helps understand some of the
songs and their lives. This will help to explain the purpose of the songs and my topic.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Jackson, N. (2015, January 27). What Influence and Effects Does Rap Music Have on Teens Today?
Retrieved April 22, 2015, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/1005065-influence-effects-rap-musicteens-today/
• Nakia Jackson gives a few examples of how rap influences teens from violence to sexual behavior. The
lyrics are a big part of what impacts the listener. Sexual lyrics may be a cause for sexual behaviors of
young people. This article will help me discuss in what ways teens are influenced by music.
• Kochmer, C. (n.d.). What is the Third Eye? - Exploring Your Vision. Retrieved April 22, 2015, from
http://personaltao.com/teachings/shamanic/about-visions/what-is-the-third-eye/
• The third eye is a sense that everyone possess. The article discusses just what the third eye is and how it
can help. The third eye can impact how we look at life and ourselves. This concept is rapped about by the
underachievers and is promoted by them. I will use this to explain how it can influence people and how it
has to do with race, gender, and sexuality.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Stigall, R. (2010, March 31). How Does Music Influence the Individual? SparkNet. Retrieved April 20,
2015, from http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Does-Music-Influence-the-Individual?&id=4033139
• Rebecca Stigall explains how music can influence an individual and the different theories about
identities. Some people change how they act and look based on the artist. One important thing Stigall
said was that it’s unclear if music is designed to influence people or if it is the listeners themselves. Both
ideas will be used in my project to help explain the lyrical impact on people’s identities.
IMAGE SOURCES
•
Woman headphones listening music .Music teenager girl dancing against isolated white background [Online image].Retrieved April 25, 2015 from
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-128935232/stock-photo-woman-headphones-listening-music-music-teenager-girl-dancing-against-isolated-whitebackground.html
•
Gucci Belt. Retrieved April 25, 2015 from http://www.beltsforsale.org/gucci-products-gucci-belts-aaaa-c-55_10.html
•
The Underachievers [Online image]. Retrieved April 25, 2015 from http://respect-mag.com/the-underachievers-break-down-indigoism-beast-coast-newfreestyle/
•
Grotto, V. ( 2013, February 25). The Underachievers - A Short Documentary by Verena Stefanie Grotto. Retrieved April 25, 2015 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsfbVZWhjbA
•
Indigoism Album cover [Online image]. Retrieved April 25, 2015 from http://www.theualifestyle.com/
•
Spirituality [Online image]. Retrieved April 25, 2015 from http://www.mindfueldaily.com/livewell/spirituality-from-a-z
IMAGE SOURCES
•
Third Eye [Online image]. Retrieved April 26, 2015 from http://lethow.com/health/open-third-eye-technique/
•
Knowledge on books as staircases [Online image]. Retrieved April 25, 2015 from http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-wordknowledge-books-as-staircase-image19567509
•
Issa Gold [Online image]. Retrieved April 25, 2015 from http://blog.a3cfestival.com/post/news/issa-gold-rise-of-au-new-music
•
The underachievers lyrics. [Online image]. Retrieved April 25, 2015 from https://www.tumblr.com/search/the%20underachievers%20gif
•
The Underachievers with crowd behind them [Online image]. Retrieved April 25, 2015 from http://thissongissick.com/blog/2015/theunderachievers-amorphous-portugal-the-man-music-video/#sthash.8qQ6868r.dpbs