Rap music is reaching a new level of positivity. it has gone from speaking on materialized subjects such as sex, drugs, money, violence and a fancy lifestyle everyone can't live.
The Irrelevance
The Art
A song by Lamar called "i" was a song with the message saying the world may be a dark place, but if you love yourself first you can learn to love the rest of it. Just look at what the artwork for the single suggest. Two individuals from different gangs coming together representing hearts with their hands to show that self love over powers all over madness.
Another great song is a song by J. cole called "Love Yourz" with a message telling people to appreciate and value your life because if you don't who else will? The chorus sings "No such thing as a life thats better than yours" its a great song for anyone who forgets just great they're life really is no matter what you have or don't have. The song was so powerful it actually save the life of someone who was going to commit suicide.
“Always gon’ be a bigger house somewhere, but nigga feel me
Long as the people in that motherfucker love you dearly
Always gon’ be a whip that’s better than the the one you got
Always gon’ be some clothes that’s fresher than the ones you rock
Always gon’ be a bitch that’s badder out there on the tours
But you ain’t never gon’ be happy till you love yours”
Long as the people in that motherfucker love you dearly
Always gon’ be a whip that’s better than the the one you got
Always gon’ be some clothes that’s fresher than the ones you rock
Always gon’ be a bitch that’s badder out there on the tours
But you ain’t never gon’ be happy till you love yours”
Another great song that has the most positive influence is a song called "complexion". This song is speaking on the ways african americans degrade themselves by defying each others skin complexions instead of just accepting the beauty of our skin no matter what the color is.
"Black as brown, hazelnut, cinnamon, black tea....And it’s all beautiful to me.....Call your brothers magnificent, call all the sisters queens We all on the same team, blues and pirus, no colors ain’t a thing!"
Much praise to Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole for using to they're influence to spread positivity back into the community. I wish a lot of other rappers would use this tactic. Give small children something to truly look up too and follow. Kendrick and J.cole are being leaders for the kids who don't have anyone to look up to. They're music really makes you think about the decisions and lives we are really living. It is a true wake up call and is inspiring to anyone who wants to make a difference in the world. This needs to be used more in the genre of hip-hop. Imagine the amount of positivity big rappers can really spread that will stick with people in the long run.
I would like to close on a quote Kendrick reads at the end of his album. I feel like everyone is a Caterpillar at some point in their lives thats just trying to blossom into a butterfly.
“The caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it. Its only job is to eat or consume everything around it, in order to protect itself from this mad city. While consuming its environment the caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive. One thing it noticed is how much the world shuns him, but praises the butterfly.The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness, and the beauty within the caterpillar, but having a harsh outlook on life the caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak and figures out a way to pimp it to his own benefits. Already surrounded by this mad city the caterpillar goes to work on the cocoon which institutionalizes him. He can no longer see past his own thoughts. He’s trapped. When trapped inside these walls certain ideas take roots, such as going home, and bringing back new concepts to this mad city. The result? Wings begin to emerge, breaking the cycle of feeling stagnant. Finally free, the butterfly sheds light on situations that the caterpillar never considered, ending the internal struggle.
Although the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different, they are one and the same.”
Although the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different, they are one and the same.”
Kendrick Lamar has certainly left a profound effect on rap music. He has used his voice in a positive manner, and has brought us nothing but great music over the years. Most mainstream artists like Drake won't even consider a deeper thought than money or talking about himself. Kendrick has analyzed the world around him, and has provided a positive perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe quote at the end ties everything together which is great. The whole time while I was reading your article I was thinking about what Kendrick really meant by "To Pimp a Butterfly". The positive impact that Kendrick is making and still trying to make on the world shows in your article. I love how you have your opinion in it. I think that it would be interesting to have other peoples reactions to Kendrick's album in your blog post just because I'm interested in how others may react. This is a really great blog post!
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite rap album of the year so far. I can not imagine anything coming close to its achievement. Except maybe a new Macklamore album...kidding. All jokes aside where do you think this album ranks. You obviously think of it very highly. Do you think it is to early to call it a classic? Where do you think it will rank compared to other rap albums?I wont say one way or another. However I think someday my children will be analyzing this album in school. That alone says a lot.
ReplyDeleteReplying to Ethan- This is for sure the best album i rank TPAB and then 2014 forest hill drives right behind. but this album is a classic and should be brought back to surface for future generations to listen to
ReplyDeleteI would agree that Kendrick takes rap music to a whole different level when it comes to lyrics and meaning. He takes a meaningful message and puts it into a song, and that isn't easy. It is hard to hear people generalizing rap artists saying all they rap about is sex, money, gangs, and drugs when you have artists like Kendrick who go so much deeper in his songs, J cole too. Another album like TPAB is 2014 forest hills drive, one of my personal favorites. I just love how they go so much deeper into the song, but it is sad that some people are oblivious to the messages behind music like that.
ReplyDeleteI really like the quote at the end and all of your media. They both tie everything together and I really like your insightful ideas behind the songs. I've heard his music before but I never really put much thought behind his songs and I don't really put much thought into much music at all. I think it's sad how oblivious I could have been to the very positive ideas behind his and others music.
ReplyDelete