Post-reading week 13

If the motivation for incarcerating people isn't to stop crime , what is it?

The motivation for incarcerating people is to enslave them . The major of the people who are being incarcerated are African Americans and Latinos .  Back in day when slavery was banned, people could have African American prisoners work for them without any consequences . Once you are incarcerated , you lose a lot of privileges such as voting . So, instead of African Americans and Latinos being discriminated against and denied the right to vote , they are just unfairly judged and put  into prison so they can’t vote .  People who have been incarcerated find it harder to get jobs , and they are denied food stamps and public housing . I feel this is just another way to keep African Americans and Latino on the bottom of the hierarchy . For example , the increased police surveillance in urban neighborhoods . The main reason why African Americans and Latinos are caught or arrested for crimes is because there is a large amount of police surveillance in their neighborhood. In a predominantly white neighborhood , you might not find any police officers . There are also police officers in high schools , arresting students for having fights . The police officers usually be in predominantly African American and Latino school as well . So if students get into a fight over something small they might get arrested and it will go on their record , restricting them from being able to vote , get a job , etc .

The motivation for incarcerating people is also to make money off the prisoners .  Prisons receive 19 dollars for every prisoner they have . There are also private prison businesses that contract prison labor . Prisons have prisoner working on supplies such as desk and chair . They also have prisoner working as the phone operator to receive money from large companies who would rather pay the prisoners a low amount of money , then hire an employee who demands minimum wage . Private prison make money for how many prisoner they have , and how long they stay there . I feel the economy would be a lot better if the government would use the money they spend on prisons , on something more important. For example the state only pays 4 dollars per student compared to 19 dollars per prisoner. If the money went to schools it would be one less problem in this economy.

Word Count:422

Pre-reading week 12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIWlazCvwi0

Please find a youtube video of an artist that you believe is using hip-hop in a more conscious matter and post it on your blog. Explain your reasoning behind choosing this video.

The video that chose was ”Diary” by Wale. I chose this video because the artist is not talking about the things that are usual talked about in hip -hop music , such as sex, and money. He is talking about a girl that has been hurt in her life by other man , which causes her to think all men are the same. The artist talks about how he wants to get to know her , but she will not give him a chance because she learned all men are untrustworthy . The artist said, “Every problem you ever had with another man I gotta face”, which means he will always be considered a cheater because he is a man.  The artist explains how he wants to give her everything she needs, and how she deserves to be treated like a queen.  However, the girl is scared to be vulnerable again , because of her past heartbreak .

I also chose this video because the women are not being degraded in it. Instead of having a lot of females dancing half naked in the video, it is very respectful, and doesn’t objectify women as sex objects. I feel this song is meaningful because the artist is actually expressing the way he feels , which is what I think artist in hip hop , and in of other genres of music should do. This artist is talking about treating women with respect, other artists do not . Many other artists talk about how many girls they can get, or got. They also talk all thing women do for them, but never what they do for women. Also , in their music videos, women are presented as sex symbols. They are seen in videos with reviling clothes on, and dancing inappropriately.

Even though this video is different compared to other , it could be another way for the artist to get more fans. He could just be trying to direct his music toward a different audience. The artist just might be rapping what he thinks female want to hear, like being told they are beautiful , and that they deserve everything . Although this may be true, the video isn’t as problematic as the rest.

Word Count: 405

Post-reading: week 11

What was the most interesting thing you learned from the video? Did it make you change how you thought about hip-hop?

The most interest thing I’ve learned from this video is that hip hop is exaggeratedly accused of being too violent in this society. The video pointed out that America is very hyper masculine and hyper aggressive nation. We watch movies and play videogames with the same type of violence in it. We also see this same type of violence and masculinity in the sports culture and the military culture.  The video also talks about women being portrayed as sex object in this hip -hop culture. It pointed out that hip -hop was not the only thing that was objectifying women as sex object either. We see women in the hip-hop culture, but we also see them being objectified in magazines, advertisement, and on TV as well.  

Another thing I found interesting was how the society defines a man as being powerful, dominate, in control, and having the respect of your peers. A man has to be strong to be worthy of power, and if they are not , there are other ways to display  their power, such as financial power. Men have money do not have to be as physically power as men who do not have money. In order for the rappers in the hip- hop industry to gain respect or their street credibility they have to present themselves as “ hard ” even though they are not. They rap about what they think people want to listen to, and what they think would make them the most money. Many of the rappers do not even live the lifestyle they talk about in their music. Men who think this type of behavior make them a men is wrong, and it causes many problems. When men try to defend their manhood, they may end up getting into a conflict that leads to something more serious.

The video has changed the way I view about hip- hop, because I felt hip- hop was an expression of how artists felt. It turned out to be just entertainment. I also caused me to listen to the lyrics, and analyze what the artists are actually saying instead of just listening to the beat. Artists talk about how they have a lot of women, and they degrade women in their music. Even if music is just entertainment, artists should not have to degrade or objectify women as sex objects.

Word Count: 415

Pre-Reading Questions Week Eleven

Are their artists or songs that don't employ the more problematic aspects of hip-hop? What are they? Why are they different?

There are many songs and artists that do not employ the more problematic aspect of hip-hop . For example , the song “ Airplanes ” by B.O.B . In this song , the artist talks about following his dreams . He also talks about how hard work and determination pays off. Another example , “ Ambitious Girl” , by Wale. This song talks about the artists dream girl, and how she is independent and trying to make something of herself . He talks about how she would rather chase her dreams than chase after men , then at the end of the song he explains how he work the song to support working women. I feel B.O.B and Wale are good artists because they actual express themselves through their music. Other artists , such as Common , and Eminem are artist that express themselves. These artists try to tell a story through their music.

These artists are different because unlike the other hip- hop artists , they use their songs to poetically express themselves. Instead of rapping to get rich , and talking about what they think people want to here , they talk about what they feel in their music . Most of the hip- hop artists in this generation usual rap about money, sex, and being the best. Back in the 70’s - 80’s when hip - hop music originated , rapper talk mostly talked about meaningful thing .  Hip- hop music has an impact on a lot of people, so once the rappers started rapping about getting money and disrespecting women, it created a problem because the people, especially the younger generation, who looks up them began to want money and a lot women. They also began to disrespect women, by calling them out of their names and treated them like they’re worthless . I feel some of the hip - hop artists of this generation let the fame and the money get to their head, causing them to make music that they feel will make them the most money. By doing this, they make music that degrades women and creates problems within the society .  Activity like this is frowned upon , which cause people to think that all hip - hop songs , and artist are corrupt.

Word Count:403