Pre-Reading Week 13

In my opinion, the connections between race and crime are all based on racial profiling. African Americans and other minorities have always been seen as more likely to become criminals. There has been a a great racial divide since slavery began, making white the superior race and every other race ranking somewhere below them on the social totem pole and this has carried on to society today. We can see this great divide in the incarceration rates. As shown in a bar graph by Prison Policy, the incarceration rates of white people compared to black people were more than quadruple the numbers. Minorities are more likely to become victims of racial profiling then white people are. But I don't believe that the incarceration rates are just solely based on racial profiling and racism. I, myself, am mixed. Japanese, Black, and White. So growing up I have been able to see the different environments that each race grows up in, the type of behavior the engage in, and how they choose to live their lives. Unfortunately enough all of my cousins on the black side of my family are either involved with drugs, selling drugs, involved with some type of gang, or has been to jail multiple times, as well as all being high school drop outs. But when they were arrested, they were not arrested "just because" there was definitely probably cause behind these arrests for one reason or another and I would definitely have to say that the main reason for the great racial divide in incarceration would have to do with environment. My father (who is African American) grew up in East Oakland, his mother was a prostitute, and his father was nowhere to be found. Soon he started dealing drugs and getting involved with the wrong people. While I was growing up he was constantly in jail. But one day he decided to change his environment. He moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, remarried, and now he owns his own business and has left his old ways behind. His brother on the other hand was the same way, and is still the same way, living in the same environment. I believe that it is more environment than anything because I do have other Family members that are African American, yet grew up in the suburbs as opposed to the projects who have grown up to live very fulfilling lives, becoming lawyers, doctors, and professional dancers.


Word Count: 407

Post Reading - Week Twelve

Yes, Lupe Fiasco's video for "Bitch Bad" is definitely an example of music that attempts to be more critically conscious. Fiasco makes an analysis on hip hop music today and critiques on what he thinks needs to change in the industry. He chose to address the issue of the disrespect that is targeted towards women in the lyrics of many rap songs. Lupe is not sly about the message he is trying to get across and especially after making that video, his point was very clear. Although his critique may not have been given in the best way, this is definitely a step in the right direction. Some arguments that people made against this were that the men of hip hop, or the men that have this mentality were not looked down upon, but it was rather the ladies that listen to hip hop or respond to it in a positive way that were critiqued, and blamed in a way. So, yes it was definitely an attempt at making hip hop more conscious and I believe that is more hip hop artists put themselves in this mindset then a definite change could happen, but Fiasco cannot be the only one. The only problem with this is the fact that it probably won't happen in the near future, music such as Fiasco's "Bitch Bad" is not as popular as other hip hop songs out there today. I looked at the popularity bar for "Bitch Bad" on iTunes, and the downloading rates for that were extremely low compared to say "Bandz A Make Her Dance" by Juicy J, which is all about money and women. Something drastic has to happen, both men and women, artists and consumers alike have to make a decision that this is no longer okay and no longer what they want to base their music off of.

I believe that hip hop has placed more responsibility on itself to be socially responsible. The reason being is because, although other genres of music may "degrade" women and talk only about violence and money, these characteristics are more what hip hop is known for. They have created a image for themselves and now that is what they are known for, so in order to get away from these stereotypes they need to venture away from the "norm" of hip hop, such as Fiasco did in his video for "Bitch Bad. Hip hop is notoriously known for being degrading and materialistic, and with being one of the biggest and fastest growing genre of music they definitely have a large social responsibility.

Word Count 430

Pre-Reading Questions Week Eleven

I believe that Hip Hop is so popular because during the time that it came out, it was seen as extremely different and controversial, a different sound with intoxicating beats that brought people together. It was also something that was not seen as the norm which deterred some people from the genre, but as history has shown time and time again, the youth is attracted to things that are seen as controversial in society, and with Hip Hop and Rap becoming more and more controversial it has remained largely popular, and a huge attraction as far as music goes.

In Chris Rock's comedy bit he talks about how he is tired of defending rap music. He feels as though he needs to defend this genre of music because there are some hip hop/rap artists out there that make degrading and inappropriate music, thus causing the general public to not consider hip hop/rap music art. Because of the inappropriate nature of these songs he feels as though he needs to justify why he listens to it and why it should still be considered art which is tough in some situations. Rock talks about how hip hop/rap has seemingly gone downhill with time, listing off rappers in the past and comparing them with the rap music that comes out now. Rap and Hip Hop used to be mostly about telling a story and coming up with original beats to put behind the lyrics but now Rap music has become increasingly materialistic and degrading towards women, therefore making it harder to defend and to justify as "art".

Jay Smooth thinks that in order for Hip Hop to become healthy again, that both arguments stated in the video need to come together and acknowledge each other. If neither side chooses to hear the other side of the argument and accept it then no progress will be made and the argument will continue to go "in circles". The two arguments in the hip hop discussion are that one relies on an individuals decisions on whether they listen to and participate in the rap that is put out today, and the other argument is that it is a worldwide problem that people need to come together and fix.The flaws he finds in each argument is that, if it is a problem on a bigger scale, then people don't really take personal responsibility of it. Rather than looking at the bigger picture as well as looking at themselves, they would rather choose to look outwards rather than inwards. But if it is just an individual looking in on themselves than they tend to loose the bigger picture and don't look at the problem as a whole. There are bigger issues that need to be addressed and if they are not then the cycle will just continue onto each generation.

Word Count 473