Billie Jean Stacy
Lecture Points
GLS 301
1. The Writers. In the 1980’s many people called themselves hip-hop journalists. In
general, hip-hop journalism is a reflection of rap music. Many journalists felt that
they were a mirror to the current state of rap, which had progressed into crude
individualism. Coates the village voice reporter said that black-on-black crime
was dropping, Gansta rap was no longer angry but sad, and yet America still
rushed out to buy the myth of a sinister black man. No one is sure what will
happen in hip-hop’s future but Rakim hopes in will not only rule the world but
move the crowd.
2. Fool’s Paradise. Lil’ Kim hails herself as the First King of Rap. Some people
have called Lil Kim a feminist, but the article said that Lil Kim wasn’t celebrating
her female sexuality and liberation but masking her low self esteem in “purple
pasties, blue contacts, and blond wigs.” Our culture of greed legitimates her. Lil
Kim launched her career as a sex toy so no one is really surprised by her actions.
The Village Voice said there isn’t anything womanist or even sisterly going in to”
this c.d. just ditties dedicated to the glamorous life that has no self love.
3. Writing on the Wall. The graffiti culture in New York City began with teens
spraying, and magic markering their street aliases everywhere they could. A
popular place was the train because it was a moving canvas. In the graffiti world
if two artists were constantly scratching out each others tag than they would fistfight. One writer who was 19 years old, Timothy “Spek” Falzone was killed by a
rival writer who was 20. Ricky “Foke” Mouzon. It was the first murder in the
graffiti world.
Taki 183 was a Greek man named Demetrious who stared off by tagging ice
cream trucks. He showed the graffiti world that tagging wasn’t just saying, “Hello
I was here” he was trying to be original. It showed people in the 70’s that you
didn’t have to belong to a gang- if you screamed loud enough the masses will hear
you. However, Taki belonged to a gang called the Crips, and a writer the
boundaries were blurred and that may have lead to his death.
The goal of tagging was to create words that read like abstract puzzles, it was an
art form.
4. Planet Rock. This section was about rap in various places around the world. The
article said, “Hip-hop speaks loudly to rebellious kids from Greenland to New
Zealand not because they identify with young American blacks, although they
may, but because it’s custom-made to combat the anomie that preys on adosolents
wherever nobody knows their name.” It went on to say that in Germany rap is
pure rap, which began in about 1993, is Italian-Ghani-Hatians rapping in clear
German. In places like Japan, the people rap to the best their language will allow.
5. Rhythmic hearts of the kings of Rock. This section is kind of an obituary for DJ
Jam Master Jay. He was a part of the group Run D.M.C. The article called him a
global ambassador for music. Their group was the first to perform hip-hop in
countless places around the globe. The story went on to say that he was shot
behind his left ear. The gun was so close to his head it left an entrance and exit
wound. The gun powder left burns on his shirt. The group has a long list of firsts:
The story said that they basically invented the modern hip-hop music business.
They had the first h/h gold album for the Run D.M.C, the first platinum album for
King of Rock; they were the first h/h artists to be nominated for a Grammy and
the first rappers to appear on American Grandstand and the cover of Rolling
Stone
6. Keeping it Unreal. The myth of black male violence has long past its expiration
date. The article said that you can thank 50 Cent for that. He is that artist that
returned hip hop to the streets. It continued on to say that the streets that 50
presents them brimming with shoot outs and crack addicts do not exist. Drugs
and guns are a problem but it isn’t the wild west that 50 presents. Gansta rap is
fueled by the American myth of black male violence. The article said that white
people fueled the dementia- the white had of crack cocaine. When drugs came in,
guns and violence went up. The article said gansta rap is critique of a certain time.
It isn’t meant to be an uplift narrative; it is a mirror for the black community.
7. The Professional. According to the US Census Bureau, Mary J. Blige is one of
the 63% of African American women who are part of the nation’s work force. She
not the only one in mainstream though. It story also listed names like: Oprah
Winfrey, Halle Berry, Janet Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, and Queen
Latifah. The article said that Mary is an inspiration to many because she
represents hope- the American dream come true. John Demsey the president of
M.A.C. Cosmetics said, “We chose her because she’s an incredibly strong, willful
survivor and role model. From the first time I met her I knew she was the real
deal.