Visual Analysis

In the video for the song, “California Love”, Tupac and Dr. Dre appear at a party in Oakland that represents the California partying lifestyle. In 1995, Tupac and Dr. Dre made this song. They we're both apart of Death Row Records. The purpose of the video was to keep down the feud with the West and East coast which has died down in today’s world. They use metaphors to show he’s a gangster. They are welcoming people to the “Wild West”, using the distinct camera angles. They are zooming in on important scenes of the video. From Dr. Dre’s perspective, he’s rapping about the coast he reps which is the West and he’s representing them. The camera is steady moving onto different parts of his body trying to get the viewers to pay close attention to what he is expressing and really grasp it. The camera sits at a low point while Dre is on a barrel performing showing he has the power. When Tupac comes up there with Dre, the camera is like eye to eye with him. I think this can correlate to his album “All eyes on me”. The camera has long shots, I think it shows how isolated they were from others. The crane movement from the top of the dome acts as if the audience is swooping down from it making it feel realistic.

In 1:09 of the video, Tupac and Dre are freeing a girl from being tied up. They had stolen her from the East Coast and trying to get her back. They start dancing and rapping in a thunder dome type building just partying and celebrating how they are freed from depression and heavy negativity.

Towards the end, they move to a desert setting where there is a dust bowl and trucks riding through. East Coast are trying to battle to get their people back and to see who has what territory.

The color of the setting tells us that the world they are living in in a dark cold place, maybe even broken down. The dull colors doesn’t make anything jump out to attract your attention. Most of the lighting is natural as you can see the bomb fire. When Tupac and Dre are rapping, there is a big light above them and the camera is down low showing they have the authority and power. Even though there isn’t that much color, there’s a lot of action going on and you have to read between the lines. The people who make up the music video are in rags and today’s year and time type of armor. Let me remind you that this video was made back in 1996 , how would they know what futuristic armor would look like years from now in the new era? I find it very interesting. The cuts from the video are quick and that adds tension to that specific part, allowing the audience to understand better and makes it more interesting. The editing of the video lets readers know when a new scene is about to happen the way that the camera moves. The pathos meaning emotion that the scene gives people when the faces are fading and dissolving gives us a chill out and calm type of feel.

First and Furthermost, there are a lot of other analysis you could get out of this video. These are just the main ones that jumped out to me and caught my eye. The color, editing, location, cast members, and camera movement all plays a part in analyzing a video just like in the Rose Rap reading we read from. It creates a different style which is unique. In Rose Rap Music, she states “Nobody can develop a style, nobody can deal with a style that isn’t easily understood or erased”(Last page). I agree and I think my video is very easy to comprehend.

Aaliyah Thomas 10/11/20

Good Boy Gone Bad

Kendrick Lamar is not any ordinary rapper, he is a rapper that raps about stuff he’s been through. In this language analysis, I’ll tell you his background and the hardcore things he had to endure. Kendrick Lamar released the song “Swimming Pools” on July 31,2012 to show us the peer-pressure and the social life of his family dealing with alcohol.

First, In the first lines, he says “Pour up, drank, head shot, drank
Sit down, drank, stand up, drank
Pass out, drank, wake up, drank
Faded, drank, faded, drank”. In this stanza he uses a Assonance and a Consonance. An assonance and consonance is rhyming with similar vowels and consonant. Here he keeps saying drank and ending some of his words in up. These are also symptoms of being drunk.

Next he says “Now I done grew up 'round some people living their life in bottles” this is a personification saying people close to him for (ex).mom, dad, aunt, or etc. are constantly drinking and burying their lives in a bottle. As we move down, he says “I was in the dark room loud tunes”. This is imagery. You can picture the music being super loud and the room being pitch black. It’s kind of a scary scenery. Then in the third stanza/verse he says “All the girls wanna play Baywatch”. This is a allusion. All the girls are lifeguards standing around the swimming pool watching him drown in alcohol and they aren’t saving him. In Kendrick’s scenario, I figured his neighbors or the outside people looking in are the lifeguards not saving him from all the harm and danger he had been exposed to. He then goes on to say “ freedom is granted as soon as the damage of vodka arrived”. This is a simile comparing freedom and the damage of vodka. How when your free from parents or free from the world, your likely to get influenced by drinking and it can ruin your life. “Some people like the way it feels
Some people wanna kill their sorrows” it sounds like internal rhyme. Internal Rhyme is when you have a rhyming word in the middle of the first case and near the end. In Kendrick’s case the rhyming words are some and more. “Pool full of liquor Ima dive in it” is imagery. You can picture someone diving in a pool of liquor even though it’s unbelievable. Lamar is drunk in this whole verse. He is talking to his conscious and it’s warning him that he’s going to drown into some poison “alcohol”.

Then, he says “why you babysittin' only two or three shots”? This is a personification referring to Lamar not drinking a lot. He’s barely getting drunk or taking a sip of his drink already as is. “I wave a few bottles, then I watch 'em all flock” is a allusion. The bottles aren’t really flocking, I assume they are just falling to the ground. The sound of the song makes you think up a uplifting beat.

This song analysis has a lot of meaning to it once you dig deeper than just hearing it.

Aaliyah Thomas 10/11/20

Good Boy Gone Bad

Although, the audience of this analysis may not have knew any of this information the purpose behind it all is still unique and provides lots of detail. When he tells us that “ All I have in life is my new appetite for failure” to me I took this as he is drinking to much and can’t seem to stop. He makes an allusion to the bottle and his relief. He says that he feels relieved when he’s drinking and all his problems are care free. He says “I know that you are nauseous…”. He’s nauseous because he’s drunk and alcohol makes you feel like vomiting.

As the end comes near, Lamar, his friends, and his rivals have a shoot out causing Lamar’s brother/close friend Dave to die. His adds foreshadowing to the song because we don’t know what’s going to happen next. The imagery of the scene captures a lot of catastrophe moments because Lamar is drinking under peer pressure. When Dave is shot, it adds a whole new feeling/vibe to the song. It goes from being mellow and on beat to it being symbolic. This way it allows the readers to feel the heart ache he felt. The video shows us pictures of bottles of liquor while trying to manipulate(control) his liquor intake. The gang image in the end shows us that they were affiliated in gang violence. I didn’t see this happening. It creates suspense for the reader because they don’t know what’ll happen next.

This song analysis has a lot of meaning to it once you dig deeper than just hearing it. It opens up new ideas and allows you to see stuff more clear while still focusing on the central idea that drinking is bad and you shouldn’t let anyone pressure you.

Lil Baby Vs. NBA Youngboy

Today I am going to compare two rappers that I think rap about the same context in this culture. The two I am comparing is Lil Baby and NBA Youngboy. Lil Baby is a rapper from Atlanta. He’s was influenced by a lot or rappers, One I’m very familiar with is Young Thug. He hung with the wrong crowd and went to prison for two years which takes us to today. Today he is one of the best male rappers compared to NBA Youngboy. NBA Youngboy is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a a child, NBA roke his neck which his neck brace lead him to have permanent scars in his forehead. The background of the two rappers leads you to understand why the two are in competition with each other.

First, Lil Baby is a lyrical artist. He talks about the struggles he had to dwell on to get where he is today. In a lot of his songs he talks about the people who doubted him and the type of support system he had. As soon as he got out of prison, he jump started his music career and drop so many albums while collabing with others. NBA raps about the pain he’s feeling or had to go through when he was younger. Both of the rappers undergoeth some tough hardships while growing up, but that’s what makes their music interesting. You have to put yourself in their shoes and think about their lifes as famous artist.

Compare and Contrast Analysis

Feminist in Today’s Society

In my essay, I’m referring to Imani Perry’s article, “ The Venus Hip-hop and the Pink Ghetto”. Since female artist have been rapping, they have been a target to feminism. It’s been a battle for female artist to make a name for themselves without being criticized by men for them doing the same thing they do, It’s gender bias. Materialism, Misogyny, and Masculinity plays a role in feminism. Materialism in this case is when artist are in their music videos or even in lyrics showing off their luxury cars, jewelry, multiple houses, and multiple beautiful women. Men love showing off their wealth and power. Misogyny has taken shape in many different ways. It’s the hatred of women. Women are still being mistreated and dogged out to this day. Gender Equality is needed here. Masculinity is the strength and boldness, economic independence, toughness, authority, and the interest in sexual relationships. These elements help people see that all the media really cares about is selling women for profit rather than actually being interested in their talent.

First, Cardi B and Beyonce. Cardi B is an American songwriter, actress, and actor. She’s been in the music industry for some time now. Before the fame, she was a stripper and we can still see it in today’s society through her songs. She has a most recent album called “Invasion of Privacy” which came out in 2018. Ever since then, she’s been off the charts. She’s done shows, music videos, solos, and singles. She carries herself not so well in my opinion compared to Beyonce. Beyonce is a well-dressed intelligent women. She has high standards for herself. She hasn’t made an album since 2016 called “Lemonade”. She still makes songs to this day, it’s just she’s lowkey. Cardi and Bey both have children of their own which they care for so deeply. The way women carry themselves is the way men are going to see them, as sex and property.

Although, Beyonce and Cardi both have their differences they both are great artist. Artist that are like Beyonce and have more respect for themselves are Rihanna, Ciara, Queen Naija, and so many more. People that follow Cardi’s behavior and doesn’t mind being body shamed is Ms.Mulatto. Megan the Stallion, Nicki Minaj, and etc. All these female artist have similarities and things in common. Whether it’s the way they carry themselves or whether it’s how good their music is, women still don’t get the respect they deserve because simply they’re not a man. One of the songs that gets judged the most amongst these rappers is the song “WAP” by Megan the Stallion and Cardi B. This song has a lot of sexual content. Even the 3 letters has a disguise meaning behind it.

For Example, “I don’t cook , I don’t clean, but let me tell you I got this ring”. They’re saying all the things a wife is suppose to do. Saying this makes them look like “whores”. Men call women out of there name for this very reason and women can’t get the respect they deserve because of it. Another saying is “ I want you to park that big Mack truck, right in this little garage”. This is a personification just like the perusal reading we read. This lyric is a sexual quote. That’s probably why men look at women as luxury or property because of the lack of self-respect just like Perry addressed in her essay.

Next, Society is still degrading women and labeling them as …

Aaliyah Janae Thomas

“Our Female Generation”

First, Cardi B and Beyonce. Cardi B is an American songwriter, actress, and actor. She’s been in the music industry for some time now. Before the fame, she was a stripper and we can still see it in today’s society through her songs. She has a most recent album called “Invasion of Privacy” which came out in 2018. Ever since then, she’s been off the charts. She’s done shows, music videos, solos, and singles. She carries herself not so well in my opinion compared to Beyonce. Beyonce is a well-dressed intelligent women. She has high standards for herself. She hasn’t made an album since 2016 called “Lemonade”. The way women carry themselves is the way men are going to see them, as sex and property.

Although, Beyonce and Cardi both have their differences they both are great artist. One artist that is like Beyonce is Rihanna. Rihanna is a female artist that relates to Beyonce. She hasn’t made music in a while but one of her songs that’s popular is “Work”.They are grouped in the same category. Whereas another artist that follows Cardi’s behavior and doesn’t mind being body shamed is Megan the Stallion. Meg is a new female artist who jumped right off the charts. She is evolving everyday. She has no filter and fits right in with Cardi. All these female artist have similarities and things in common. Whether it’s the way they carry themselves or whether it’s how good their music is, women still don’t get the respect they deserve because simply they’re not a man. One of the songs that gets judged the most amongst these rappers is the song “WAP” by Megan the Stallion and Cardi B. This song has a lot of sexual content. Even the 3 letters has a disguise meaning behind it.

For Example, In one of Cardi B’s songs, she states “I don’t cook , I don’t clean, but let me tell you I got this ring”. They’re saying all the things a wife is suppose to do. Saying this makes them look like “whores”. Men call women out of there name for this very reason and women can’t get the respect they deserve because of it. Another saying is “ I want you to park that big Mack truck, right in this little garage”. This is a personification just like the perusal reading we read. This lyric is a sexual quote. That’s probably why men look at women as luxury or property because of the lack of self-respect just like Perry addressed in her essay.

On the Billboard magazine when Cardi won Women of the year award, she states “I like justice, but I also like popping my pussy”. This makes men degrade her and it’s the reason us women don’t get the respect we deserve. Men think it’s okay to call women derogative names because us women do it to other women or put it in a song. Men have become so complacent with downgrading women that now a days it’s celebrated.

In Beyonce’s song “Single Ladies”, she says “Cause if you like it, then you should put a ring on it”. Her lyrics aren’t as vulgar as Cardi B’s. In this line she is simply talking about a man liking a women and putting a ring on her finger. She keeps her lyrics at a volume and doesn’t try to get so involved. “Don’t be mad when you see that he want it”. She’s telling the man that if he don’t put a ring on it soon then someone else will. Some men would look at this statement as a women being a whore, but it isn’t as bad as Cardi’s lyrics.

Just as in 2009 Beyonce won the Women of the Year award and she wasn’t judged or body shamed as much as Cardi. The video I watched showed how her fans would try to snatch her off stage and one fan even hit her butt. She kept performing of course and she addressed the guy in a calm way. Lots of people say that Beyonce is a good black female role model and I agree 100%.

The behavior of these women reflects the respect that they’ll get from men. It all revolves around how you carry yourself and the words you say in your songs. Men and women have no type of equality. Men can do certain things women can’t do without being judged. Everyone has the Freedom of Speech, it’s just women aren’t really entitled to it. According to the Forbes article, it reads “It is often evident that Black Women Entertainers have to put in so much effort than their counterparts. Women have to look at all the possible aspects to see if they’ll be judged which they know already. Some artist don’t seem to care as much. Which leads us to men treating women like property. In some music videos, girls bodies are exposed. The camera will sometimes linger on the sexual body parts. This is because men want to show off what they have and their amount of power/authority.

Since the Old Testament, Women have been treated as property. As it has grew more so now it’s now normalized. Men put women in their music video’s half naked with their luxury cars and money. They act as if women have no self morals. Men are dominate in almost everything. Back in the day women had no rights. They couldn’t own property, inherit land, or be wealthy. A women is considered as coverture. Women had no rights to do anything and still don’t. Any property or riches that women had left for them, their husbands took it all. They weren’t allowed to show up to court or anything of that sort and couldn’t sign any contracts. Women had no legal identity back then. According to a article, “The rapid market transformation of the Jacksonian Era, demanded flexibility for women”. Women got justice for a little over two decades while their husbands were gone. They were able to sign contracts and have a little freedom. This caused controversy between the two leading to now.

Last but not least, Perry uses the words wholesome and sexually explicit to explain her artist. In my case, Beyonce and Rihanna are considered wholesome while Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion is sexually explicit. All of these female artist are dependent on men or trying to get men’s attention. Some do it classier than others and aren’t judged as much. The point in this whole essay is that Women shouldn’t get treated any different than man. They should be able to do the same things without being bashed. Society will never change this concept though. For ages it’s been hard for female rappers to make a name for themselves. By the way society is looking, it will forever be that way. No matter what women do, Men will always find something to tear a women down. Whether it be derogative names or looking at women as sex toys. Women will always have to work harder to get a name out for themselves. Some look at it as motivation while others look at is as impossible. Who knows maybe in two decades from now, women will be the dominate ones and give men a run for their money, but I highly doubt it.

Works Cited

Billboard Woman of the Year Cardi B: 'I Like Justice. But I Also Like Popping My P*ssy' | Billboard

Men, Women Sound Off on Degrading Music (regalmag.com)

It’s 2020. Why Is The Music Industry Still Harmful To Black Women? (forbes.com)

Why Men Oppress Women | Psychology Today

Equality, Property, and Marriage (gmu.edu)