ENGL 1101 - Fall 2020 - Hip-Hop Reader - PEASE

Chantell Harden

Visual Analysis Essay Final Draft 

Song: Drake- Laugh Now Cry Later (ft. Lil Durk)

ENGL 1101

9/17/2020

                 The video begins with a sign hovering over some trees that says “12:00 am Nike Headquarters”, that eventually shows a Mansion. Throughout the video he is doing sports related activities, but it shows his success as well as his fails, which relates to the to the title of the song “Laugh Now Cry Later”.

       The title of the song was inspired by Biggie who said “Laugh Now Cry Later” on Long Kiss Goodnight. Drake has been taking a lot of inspiration and ideas from Biggie and used samples of Biggie in a few of his songs like Lotta 42 and Omerta. In Rap Music by Tricia Rose, se mentions “Using multiple samples as dialogue, commentary, percussive rhythms, and counterpoint,” helped DJ Flash achieve a level of musical collage. Drake used samples and familiar phases from legends that came before him that gained attention from fans.

              The message of the song to me is everyone has trouble succeeding and sometimes it’s hard, but you have to appreciate the good times and be grateful for what you do have and accomplished. When analyzing the video he shows himself failing at sports like football and basketball, but it also shows him after the game laughing and having a good time with his friends. Not only does the video give an inside look at Drake’s high-life as he showers his girl with bags upon bags of new Nikes, it also illustrates just how bad the 33-year-old is at playing sports. The clip shows the emcee getting blocked and ripped in a 1-on-1 with Durant and his route running with Odell Beckham Jr. ends with an out-of-blue tackle from Lynch. Not to mention, we also get to see Drake shed a few tears in the video — a befitting touch for such a bittersweet song.  Throughout the video, his lyrics related to the video. The 5-minute Dave Meyers-directed visual sees the rapper shutting down Nike World Headquarters in Oregon and features special appearances by Kevin Durant, Marshawn Lynch, and Odell Beckham Jr. My favorite scene in the song was definitely when him crying and the man coming to ask him if he was okay and wanted a tissue. I thought that seen was very funny and well placed in the video.

      Drake is one of the best rappers out today. The rap industry is dominated by men. “Today’s studios are extremely male- dominated spaces” – Tricia Rose. Even though there are a lot of female rappers out today that have made it big like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Nicki Manji, I do strongly believe since he is a man it was easier for people to acknowledge him than if it was a female. He is one of my favorite rappers but considering the female rap industry is not that wide it shows how dominate men still are today.

           In this song, Drake collaborated with Lil Durk, a rapper that is not as big but is growing in the industry. In Tricia Rose’s Rap Music, she mentions collaborations related to how DJs and artist use to come together and made, produce, share, and sell music with each other, which helped them both make money. When collaborating with another artist the goals is to earn more fans through their platform. Even though they are considered competition, when they come together, they both can benefit. The fans would feel connected to you because you’re in a song with someone they already enjoy listening too, which adds to your platform, and earns you money when they listen to the song and watch the video. If they love the song and love the artist, they will continue to listen to the artist as individuals.

     Laugh Now Cry Later is like a victory song to me. In Rap Music, it mentioned “right to write”, which says “to inscribe one’s identity on an environment”. The song talks about how hard it has been for him and how he has had troubles making it as big as he has, but still struggles, showing it in the scenes. He mentions some other artist that didn’t not support him through his career, causing buzz around the subject. He voiced how he feels and his process of becoming such a big, world-wide known name.

      When putting together all the information, talent, technology, and etc and relate it back to Tricia Rose - Rap Music, it shows how hip hop and rap has evolved and became has big and an everyday activity people do today. Still to this day, Hip hop has become part of daily routines and had changed lives. Drake’s song specks a lot on how important it is to enjoy the good and be grateful for all you have even when there’s change and troubles. The hip hop world changes every day, and like Tricia Rose said, “Hip hop is black urban renewal”.

Chantell Harden

Figurative Lang. Analysis Essay

English 1101

10/20/2020

Song: Crooked Smile by J. Cole ft. TLC

   I have decided to do my essay on “Crooked Smile” by J. Cole. He released the song in 2013. He is one of the best lyricist known in the industry. In the song, J. Cole uses multiple figurative language terms to explain inner beauty, and not changing for someone else or because society makes you feel a certain way. The song tackles the issues of unrealistic expectations of women.  He also speaks on racial issues during the song that black people really related to.

  “Crooked Smile” is a metaphor for any imperfection. This happens to be Cole’s flaw; he has accepted the imperfection and embraces the attention that he receives from it. For another person, a “crooked smile” could be weight, height, or hair color. Anything that makes an individual feel insecure. J. Cole said when he was writing this song, he wanted to speak on topics important and that empowered society. Uplifting lyrics, “I can tell you ain’t laughed in a while, but I wanna see that crooked smile” help people understand they are beautiful no matter the flaws.

  At the beginning of the song, it has a beautiful chorus sung by TLC. The first figurative language used is a simile used in the chorus. “You're the one that was trying to keep me way down. But like the sun know you know I found my way back round”. It has a similar meaning to the common phrase if I fall, ill get back to you again. He’s saying that even though that person or thing was trying to knock him down and wanted to see him fail, he remained strong and determined. In reality, there is always going to be an enemy that wants to see you fail even if they claim to be your biggest supporter.  It's up to you to continue to move forward and succeed.

  In his first verse, he says “We ain't picture perfect but we worth the picture still” which is a form of figurative language. This song is about self-acceptance and self-worth. In the phrase, the uplifting lyric means that the person is important and worth more than they may think. In society, I do believe people only want to see the fake. The fake hair, boobs, butt, nails, etc. Those changes do not be one hundred percent real. But people find “attractive” and “entertaining” to see and watch. I am a believer that you should feel like your best self and if those things make you feel beautiful then do so but you should not do those things if you are not doing it strictly for your own benefit because you are beautiful with and without it.

  A metaphor he used was “Look at the nation, that’s a crooked smile braces couldn’t even straighten.” That phrase means that even the nation we live in, and support isn’t perfect either. The full Phrase is “Look at the nation, that's a crooked smile braces couldn't even straighten, Seem like half the race is either on probation or in jail, Wonder why we inhale, cause we in hell already, I asked if my skin pale, would I then sell like Eminem or Adele?” This country has had problems with police brutality and racial equality. People have and continue to speak on the law and injustice system flaws, but they have not changed yet. Recently we have had multiple questionable police shootings, where innocent people have been killed for absolutely nothing. And this issue has resulted in multiple riots and marches with people wanting justice. Another Figurative language use is characterization when spoken about this topic, “Seem like half the race is either on probation or in jail.” People have put a stereotype on black men. Not all black men are bad and end up in jail. The stereotype is rude and disrespectful towards black culture.

In the song, the irony is used “A perfect smile is more appealing but it's funny how my s*** crooked look how far I got without it.” He's saying you don’t need to be physical perfection to make it in the world. J. Cole has a bad smile and he is very successful and didn’t change who he was to get there. The meaning of the song as a whole is to be yourself and you don’t have to change your personality or physical appearance to get where you want to be in life.

Even though Drake and Lil Wayne have become well known for working together and being friends in the industry people have said there is a big and noticeable difference between the two artists.  Both artists have built a career rapping about their lives and etc for the public to hear and see. Both are legends in their own ways spending years working on their crafts as artists. But people are quick to see the difference between the two. One of the main differences that people notice is that drake is considered the "softer" rapper. The rapper has been known to express his emotions, whether they were happy or sad. Releasing songs like "Marvins Room" and "Teenage Fever" gave him the reputation that he is soft and some would say a cry baby. While Lil Wayne is considered a "hard" or "aggressive" rapper, being considered one of the best rappers also. He is one of the most influential rappers of all time and has an eye for talent handpicking Drake and Nicki Minja who have made an imprint. He is best known for his aggressive and impressive lyrics. Releasing songs like "Going in" and "uproar"  and many more giving him the reputation on a hard, aggressive rapper that has great word play/flow. 

     Over time, music has been put into many different categories, such as pop, hip-hop, country, and so many more. One category  I've noticed but never gets mentioned to often was grouping soft and hard artists. I consider a soft artist an artist that gets you in your feelings, like make you sad. While a hard artist can make you feel angry, excited, or even empowered by the words. There are many artists that are "soft". For example, Drake, Lil peep, XXXTENTACION, Post Malone, and more. Their music can make you feel sad and depressed. Whether the song is about heartbreak or their personal life story, they will make you feel sympathy when listening to the lyrics and the sound of the beat. "Hard" music has a very upbeat sound to it that can cause the opposite of "soft" music. Hard music can make you happy, angry, or even feel empowered. Artists like Lil Wayne, Cardi B, Nicki Minja, NBA Youngboy, and more, have a reputation for being very aggressive rappers. They release music that is very upbeat and causes a lot of excitement. Whether it's a song about making money or killing someone, the song has an intriguing beat that attaches people. 

Chantell Harden

Compare and Contrast essay

ENGL 1101

11/30/2020

Chantell Harden

Compare and Contrast Essay Rough Draft

ENGL 1101

11/30/2020

     Over the years, music has become an outlet and like therapy for a lot of people, including myself. Many people listen to certain music based on their moods. There are certain types of music that correspond with how your feeling at that moment. For example, sad versus happy. Or soft verses hard music. Most people usually listen to sad music when they are sad and happy music when they are happy. Even angry music can be a category.

     Apps like Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and even Youtube have music playlists based on how you feel. The playlist is either created and shared by the users of the app or the creator of the app allows you to pick your category. I find it helpful to pick a playlist based on your mood. According to research, people who are sad and emotional often listen to songs that are sad and have the mood they relate to at that moment. I am one of those people that listen to music based on my mood. If I am happy, I listen to music that makes me happy and when I am sad, I listen to music that comforts me in my emotional phase.

     According to researchers, the music we listen to based off our moods and emotions is because of brain dopamine regulation – a neurotransmitter strongly involved in emotional behavior and mood regulation. Evoking emotion is the main point of music. Music can calm or excite; it can motivate, uniting worshipers in peace and devotion, or driving people into battle with the sound of drum and bugle.

      Just like songs can be placed based on how it makes you feel, the mood can be placed based on the type of artist you are listening to. Two opposite categories that relate to moods are sad which in rap is known as “soft” versus tuff/aggressive known as “hard” rappers. A “soft” rapper makes you feel sad and emotional. A sad artist is known for making music that is about heartbreak, depression, and sometimes their life stories containing their hardships and what they been through in their life. The songs give an image of them being sad and upset about something that has happened to them. The event has made them feel pain and they share that in their music. Fans relate very well to “soft” rappers because they feel their pain and can relate to how they are feeling because of personal experience or sometimes it's just because they express how they feel so well that it makes them feel emotional.

     Most soft rappers are not considered REAL rappers. Since most rappers rap about money, cars, killing, or doing/ dealing drugs if a rapper does not rap about those things the most they are considered soft.

     Drake. Drake has a reputation for being a “soft” artist in the past. Making songs like “Marvin’s Room”. The lyrics in the song make you very sad and even depressed. “Talk to me please don't have much to believe in. I need you right now, are you down to listen to me?” The lyrics to his song have been known to make his honest feel sad and very emotional listening to it. The song is about his girlfriend leaving him and moving on to another guy. He still loves her and wants to be with her since he is having a hard time with his emotions. Even though she has moved on he believes she still thinks about him and that she can do better with her choice of being with the other man. The song makes you feel said if you can relate to what he is feeling or going through during that time. The mood of the song is sad and makes you emotionally connected to the song.

     People have called drake soft for many things. Even the city he is from makes him considered soft. Most of the best and hardest rappers today are from places like Atlanta, Detroit, New York, or Los Angeles. “Since he emerged on the scene in 2007, he has been involved in several rap beefs, and the reason rappers keep picking on him is that they think he's soft and an easy target.” He is soft because he does not make a lot of songs about killing someone and he didn’t have a terrible traumatic background that he grew up in like other rappers. The biggest reason he is called soft is that he sings more than he raps. As a rapper, people have an issue with him not being a full hard-core rapper since that is his profession but some of his music that he raps/sings makes you sad. His style and taste do not fit in the “hard” rapper category.

     An example of a hard rapper is Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne is one of the greatest rappers known. He is known for being a very lyrical but aggressive rapper. He uses a lot of profanity and does not care what he says when he is rapping. He fits with the “hard” rapper image people love to judge rappers on. His lyric, flow, and background match the “hard” rapper image.  Lil Wayne has mostly songs about his life and making money or songs that disrespect women and objectifying them. He does not have a lot of songs that are on the more emotional side, or “soft” side in other words. He has had a reputation for drug use, having sexually transmitted diseases, and going to jail. Lil Wayne also does not write what he raps. He goes into the booth and freestyle. His lyrics are very explicit and usually speaks on getting money and relate to “street-level” phrases. One of his most famous songs is called “A Milli” where he speaks on money, references his career, and the female he is dating. “Damn, I hate a shy bitch, Don't you hate a shy bitch? Yeah, I ate a shy bitch, She ain't shy no more. She changed her name to My Bitch”. A writer on the New York Times wrote these words on his blog to example Wayne’s music style. “Another distinctive part of his style is that he takes street terminology and matches it with the King's English dictionary version of a word that does not have the same meaning that it does on a street level. He makes it complex and simple at the same time so that everybody gets it, but is creative enough that it's witty”.

    Even though this is a male-dominated profession, there are “soft” female rappers. Which most people expect from a female rapper. Tink is an example of a soft female rapper. “Trinity Laure'Ale Home, better known as Tink, started her career as a rapper and singer in 2011. She received a lot of buzz after the release of her mixtape, Winter’s Diary 2: Forever Yours in 2014.” Even though she does label herself as a female rapper she does have a few people who say her album has more of an R&B feel. Nonetheless, she still brings out emotions when listening to her music. She speaks on love, heartbreak, and mental issues that she has dealt with. “Much of the lyrical content in her music deals with complex emotional issues that are geared toward a primarily teenage demographic.”

     Cardi B is known for her song “WAP” has a very nice upbeat sound and makes people want to dance and along to the song. “From the top make it drop that’s some wet, wet, wet.” Lyrics have started a trend nationwide on the app TikTok. The Dance trend went around for weeks and is known to make women feel good about their bodies and what they have to offer. The song is very empowering and makes people feel confident. people listen to it when they are happy and in and good mood. I have played the song working out, doing homework, and even when I’m just sitting in my room because it makes me feel confident as a woman. Cardi B has been known, like most rappers, to rap about her life and hardships. But the majority of her songs are hyped up and about, making money and shaking butt. Like her song “Money”. “I got bags in the coup bussing out the roof.” “Shake a Lil ass get a Lil cash.” She has always been open with her fans about her past and the mistakes she has made in her life. She also has been known to voice her opinion on most things that have happened in the world as while as in her life. Which most women respect her confidence and like how vocal she is. She is a rapper that had dominated the game having that rapper lifestyle and background that I have mentioned before.

    There are so many categories of music out there based on moods. Creating soft and hard rappers to be a category as well. As a result, there’s a category for every mood you feel even if it’s more than once in the same day.