Gangsta Rap

                Who would I consider to me a “gangsta rap” artist? Since I don’t normally listen to rap, aside from Dr. Dre and Eminem, I am not too sure my view would be accurate to what I feel “gangsta rap” is. When I hear certain artists on the radio, on a CD when I am in the car with friends; there is some rap that just sounds completely different from a different type of rap. I would not consider Eminem as a “gangsta rap” artist. I would consider Snoop Dogg, for instance as a “gangsta rap” artist.

                Now why do I consider him a “gangsta rap” artist? Why don’t I write about the more obvious artists out there? The main reason I chose Snoop Dogg was because I know of him better than the rest, most likely because he is more famous than the others. To answer the question to why I felt he is a “gangsta rap” artist is because, based off the material I read from Music and Culture by Anna Tomasino, he raps a lot about women, drugs, alcohol, gangsta violence, and other acts of that nature. I consider him completely different from Eminem, since Eminem talks about things that are real. What I mean from real is from personal experience. Eminem is more of a story rap, rather than just rapping about what is considered cool.

                I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that people disagree with me. Why do I say this? I say this because like I said, I am not the biggest rap listener. I don’t know much of the facts of rap. Some people might not see the difference I see between Snoop and Eminem, or people may not think Snoop Dogg is even a gangsta rap artist. All depends on the audience to whom you are speaking to. That Is why I chose to write about this. Since I would be considered someone not a part of Raps core audience, I felt it would be a good thing to write about. Depending on the type of people listen to the music, along with the type of music people listen to, makes how people label something. Now, I am not saying these labels are necessarily correct, or what the artist intended for them to be, but unfortunately that is how it is.

                Do I think Snoop Dogg would like this title I have given him, I don’t know. Based off what I know, from what I have heard through his music, I think he would agree with it. That though depends on his definition of “gangsta rap.” Another Artist who I would truly think is a “gangsta rap” artist would be 50 Cent. Would Snoop Dogg think that they are alike? That is another question I would not know. Did Snoop Dogg want to be considered a “Gangsta?” I definitely think so. That is what I hear in his music. Does his message of being a “Gangsta” in his music mean that his music is “gangsta rap”, or does that just make it rap? I would consider it “gangsta rap” based off what I read.

What really matters?

                 In my opinion, Eminem is one of the truly great rappers out there. Now would he have been less of a success if he was black? There is a great question. Many people don’t believe so. They say that he would have either been half the success or not ne at all. I personally don’t believe that. It is not his color that makes him the great lyricist that he is, or the experiences he has had as he grew to become the man he is. He like many people have had a harsh life. He wasn’t brought up in a loving house, had a single mother who was an awful one at that, and was brought up in what some people would say the slums of Detroit. The real reason to why he became such a success was completely due to Dr. Dre. No one wanted to sponsor him; no one wanted to even give him a chance in the music business. It wasn’t till Dre recognized him for his talent that he even got into the business. Dr. Dre and Eminem have made a song that completely shows this relationship they have and what it means to one another. That song is “I Need A Doctor.” In this song Eminem is trying to remind Dr. Dre who he is what Dr. Dre has done for Eminem and that is seems like it is Eminem’s turn to be there for Dre like He has for Eminem.

                Like I said, Eminem is a great lyricist, which has made up many great songs, some for fun, but most of them are usually serious. Most, if not all of them, have real life experience in them. He doesn’t try to be fake. He just does what he knows best. Unlike much of the rappers that is out there talking only about women, sex, drugs, cars, and other types of material. Eminem, from what I hear and listen to talks about the issues he has gone through, or is trying to fight. You can tell he isn’t just making music for money. He makes it to make a message, show people why he is here and how it happened, why he can care less about other people’s problems, all except for his daughter of course. He loves her more than anything and would do anything for her.

                I believe this is the reason to why he is so famous. Not because he is white, but for what he represents. In Music and Culture by Anna Tomasino, there were many quotes on to why people loved him. They said his music was “real.” I completely understand why this is. I feel the same way. There has yet been I song that I heard from him, where I feel he was not worthy of being produced, was repeating songs already sung, or it was not original. He has his own sound, and type of music that just draws people. His music attacks all type of races, types of work, and types of people, politics, government, and anything else you know. It is because of this that makes him “real”, respected, and relatable by the people who listen to his music. He definitely deserves the title’s that have been given to him. He is, to my belief, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, rappers out there.

Life Alterations

             What music artist didn’t “confound the images?” Think about it. People, from the start, have always dressed up like the famous people they have seen. These things happen because they feel like they need to copy a role model, rebel, or feel like they need a new style. The thing is people are easily molded into things. Well not all of them, some are just more easily susceptible to it than others. The Artists Flock of Seagulls had the crazy hair style, and make up, the heavy metalists have the long hair and crazy roaring into the mic, and Brittany Spears has the questionable attire that many people picked up through the years.

                Fashion is a very popular thing these days. So many people are worried what people may think of them when they leave the house. There are people out there who say opposite, so they dress a bit bizarre or unique because they don’t care. My thing is though if they didn’t care why they would go to such a far distance to make sure they stand out. Truthfully I believe they just want attention, or “secretly” they do care what people think. So when they see these artists on stage wearing the clothes they do, or the make-up that they have on, how they stand, etc. they try to copy them or look similar in order to make themselves look and feel special. If the artist is so successful wearing what they do, then why can’t the people who see and hear them be the same?

                When it comes to role models, people have a need to become, what I like to say, the shadows of that person. I have a cousin who considers me a role model and he tries so hard to become like me. He tries to dress like me, get interested in the things I do or like, and so forth. The same thing goes for the people who have musicians as role models. It’s the idea of, if you are like them then you will be in the same shoes of them eventually, or succeed like they do.

                Then there are the people who feel they need to rebel. There will be music that people’s parents don’t like, so then the children look for that music and mimic the artist to further upset their parents. Such artists may be Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, or any of our more current rappers. Rebellion is a powerful thing that many artists use to their advantage when it comes to selling.

                There re those that I consider extremists. I say this because they are the people who are daring enough to completely change their apparel. I don’t feel that there are many people out there daring enough to do that. They are usually too bored or fed up with how things are going, so when they see something that makes them feel different they will completely soak it up. Changing their outlook in life, how they dress, how they act, and so forth. There is most likely more but usually music is there when people are going through that change in their life.

                All of these are some reasons to why I say that all music artists use “confounded images” and use their lyrics to influence, or convince people to listen or become like them. There are so many factors and reasons to why it is so successful, but I felt these were some of the most basic, or ideal.

Judgment

                Negativity is all over the place, there is no where you can go where you won’t find it. Yes, there is greater negativity some places more than others, but this isn’t my point. In our current time and age people are being criticized and judge based on how we appear, what we do, and how we do it. I don’t know what it is about the people of today that make people just talk smack. Is it because they don’t understand them, they are envious of their success, popularity, or what they have, or is it they just have a view of something and since the person of thing doesn’t match with it, they just automatically don’t like it. There is a person who gets a lot of negativity, I always run into it when I say I even listen to his music. Marilyn Manson is a man who gets an obscene amount of negativity from people who don’t like him. I have yet found a person who hasn’t listened to his music not, not like him.

                I have read one of his autobiographies. The book “The Long Hard Road Out of Hell”, which isn’t confused with his song “Long Hard Road Out of Hell.” This book showed a great insight into how Marilyn Manson came the man he is now. I enjoyed this book because it gave me a better understanding of Marilyn Manson, who is one of my favorite artists. I admit I was a bit weird out by Marilyn Manson even though I listened to his music. With this book I was able to see through his eyes, and get a sense of how he sees the world. He sees it the way it is and just speaks about it with no hesitation. I have grown to respect him, rather than make him seem like a burden on society. Yes, he expresses his views in a bizarre way, but if you understood him, you wouldn’t think that way.

                Marilyn Manson is someone that many people just don’t like. I have never fully understood it. Regardless of judging him on how he looks, his music sounds pretty awesome and his lyrics are unique. Each one of his songs has a meaning. You just have to want to look for it, which isn’t that hard. Even with his success, it seems people dislike him that much more. I believe it is due to them not liking how he grew to become a success. Since they dislike how he looks, how he portrays his music, and what he sings about. It isn’t the nicest of music, but most, not all, of it is true, well that is what I believe.

                Like I have said, Marilyn Manson is a bit Bizarre and even more so if you don’t care to find out more about him. But to judge him based off how he looks and how he expresses himself, is just wrong. You are practicing something that our country has fought for many years; the right to express oneself, the right of freedom of speech, and so forth. I think it is just sad that people feel so negatively about him when he is talking about things most people are afraid to even bring up. Well I hope with this blog that you at least look into something before you decide to put negativity onto something. It is always better than just blindly hating something.

Restrictions

                Record Companies get a lot of problems put onto them. Some examples being, why do they sponsor certain type of people, or why do they make some music available? There is a question that comes up quite often that confuses me a bit though. It is the one about parental advisories on music. is it their responsibility to put it on music? People make such an issue on the type of music their children listen to, which is understandable, because during the adolescent ages they are quite moldable and easily influenced. Personally I believe that the parental advisory acts like a forbidden fruit. When you are a kid you always want to do the opposite of what your parents say because they say you are too young or what not. So when you see something like that you have curiosity that needs to be calmed. Either way, the child, if they are determined to listen to a type of music, will find a way to listen to it. So is it the record company’s responsibilities to put it on their music? Yes, but is it going to do anything but delay the same outcome as if it wasn’t there? You can’t stop people from listening to music; delay yes, bot stop no.

                AS I was saying, music is something that many people find extremely important. Whether, people buy their music, get it from a friend, steal it off the internet, or any other means, music will always land into the hand of people who want it regardless of parental advisory labels. when I was a child and I wanted a game, movie, music, or go see a movie in the theaters where I needed an adult to see it, it never stopped me. I was always able to. My parents were never worried about what I listened to, and what not. They knew I knew what was real or not. I always got their permission. Well, actually there was thing they didn’t want me to play, and that was Grand Theft Auto 3 and GTA Vice City. My mother said it was too real, but you know what…. It didn’t matter to me. I still played it, or borrowed them from my friends. I also recall that she didn’t want me listening to Marilyn Manson. She said his music was too dark, or distasteful. My brother and I didn’t really care. At that time I didn’t care what he said, even though I knew all the worlds, what I liked about his music was his sound he made. To me it was unique and just out there.

                I’m sure I’m not the only one out there who feels the same. I might feel differently when I become a parent, hopefully not, but I do, I’ll try to be more understanding since I did it too. As you read this I hope you are recalling instances like mine where you were restricted from listening to a certain type of music, or artist. If not that then something you were not able to watch or do. What was it you did? Did you abide to your parents, or did you do what you wanted and do it anyways? My prediction is that you did it, whether you got caught or not.

Mind over matter

               The youth of Today is all over the place. What is it that makes them the way they are? Is it peer pressure, the environment, how they were brought up, outside influences such as music, movies, or videogames? What is it that causes negative influences to take control of the youth of today, actually it isn’t even about the youth of today, it is actually about the youth in general. There has always been an issue about how the youth is our future, and how we need to influence them to do well. Always trying to keep them from things that would make them do bad things by keeping them from the bad girl and/or boy, making sure they don’t watch too much TV, listening to bad music or sometimes “adult” music, which some people like to call it. When you look into it, where does it all begin, what I really mean is, what is the main reason the youth either become easily influential or not? It all leads to the parents. Depending on how the child is raised, will depend on how they will become. Yes, the environment has a big impact though, but none compared to the parents.

                The reason I bring all of this up is for the reason that, when it comes to influences and how much they will affect the youth, it goes back to them. Music has always been big thing to the youth. It serves as inspiration, a mood setter, to bring people back to earth (metaphorically of course), express how one feels, then for some they are words to live by. It is there that people ask if music is a bad influence. Unfortunately, music really can be, especially now. Music today has greatly taken a step towards the “Dark Side.” No I’m not saying that there are Jedi and Sith running around using the force, but that Music is soliciting sex, drugs, violence such as fights, killing, and abuse.  Music of all genres do this, some more than others. Rap music for example talks about sex, and drugs as if there was nothing else to talk about. Country is another extreme believe it or not. I don’t really remember where I ad read this, or heard it, but there was a study that showed country was the music most responsible out of all the genres of music responsible or influential to suicides. I was actually shocked by this till I more closely listened to some country music. A lot of the music is extremely depressing and sad, and easily relatable. There are some major extremes that music is able to do with simple words, and sound. For people to go to such extremes have to already been in some kind of state prior to listening to music. Is it due how they experienced there life? Could it have been that they didn’t know how to deal or cope with their issues? There are many reasons to why people allow things to influence them , whether they are conscious how it or not.

                So what is that influences the youth? Is it the upbringing, outside sources such as music, or is it actually life experiences? I would say a mixture of all of them. I still hold that it is due to how they were brought up. For example, if you are a rich kid who knows nothing of the real world, which was spoiled by parents who just gave them whatever they wanted not caring about the child themself. Their experience or outlook of the world would be different than one who came from the projects who never had anything good. Children from there come out two ways, there are those who fight to get out and make something of themselves, or stay make a menace of things. I went a little off topic. Sorry for that, but my point is that music isn’t the reason for bad influence, it is how things were prior to the music. How people take it isn’t the music’s fault but how they were prior to it. Depending on that will determine the extent of how music will influence the youth, whether it be bad or good.

Passions

Is music everything to the youth? Do you honestly believe that people can’t have a passion for anything else? I’m sorry, but I have to say otherwise. There are so many things out there, along with people who find passion in other things besides music. Sure, music is great, and there are a good amount of people who absolutely love music and just soak their lives into it, but you can’t group all of us together.  I personally believe that if someone is nothing but music, that it is a waste of time. Now let me explain a bit before you say anything. There is a difference between a musician being soaked up in music, and someone who is just obsessed with music. If you are a musician, there is no way you couldn’t get soaked up in music because it is your life. Creating music is an art and if you create it, you have to get all into it. Now if you are someone who just listens to music I don’t believe that it should everything and anything in your life.

              If you look around, there are many examples. I have recently gone to the beach and I was there for most of the day. There were people out on the waves the entire day. They were there from dusk till done. Now I was just at one beach, if you think about it there are an extreme amount of people who find surfing to be there lives. Surfing is a beautiful sport where men and woman learn how to go with the waves in such ha way, it almost looks like they are dancing. I also have a couple of friends who obsess about going snowboarding or skiing. They have apps on their phone which show where snow has fallen and which mountain to go to. They can’t wait till there is snow on the mountains; they have taken trips around the world so they could have snow during the year instead of just during winter. I myself am in love with going hiking, or just messing around outside. My friend and I have made a couple of trips to Yosemite; it is one of the most amazing sights you could ever see. It doesn’t matter what time of the year you go, during each time there are different features that are both exciting, and beautiful. It is hard to explain. You would have to go and see for yourself. My favorite place there is by the waterfall. It is gorgeous.

              To say that the youth of our country or time is consumed by music is a great exaggeration. Yes there are some that are, but there is so much more people that haven’t been incorporated into such a statement. Due to the diversity of people, there are different passions, and different personalities. There is no way you could group everyone together as one. I have stated a good amount but that is not all. There is almost an endless list of other people’s passions. There are those in love with art, movies, photography….. My point being is that we are not all alike. So we don’t all think music is everything.