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

In the music video "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy, they are at a rally and protest for justice and represent and display unity. The music and hip hop group Public Enemy has a logo which was explained by one of the musicians Chuck D. He stated that, " The crosshairs logo symbolized the black man in America." As the graphic emblem of the politically engaged Public Enemy, the logo blatantly portrays the violence suffered by African Americans at the hands of the police in the eighties and still today. 

This image above was a very important part of not only this video but also their group the Public Enemy in general. It shows unity and togetherness for change as they are protesting for a better world due to the past events that have led them to this point. I also see the colors of red and orange evident in this photo which to me those colors typically represent power which is the point of this video and to show that they are all wearing it shows the unity as well. Public Enemy's message is still hyper relevant in today's environment. This and many of Public Enemy's songs talk about being black in white America and this became extremely popular as it was a music and grammy award winner. 

Also evident and represented in this video and all of Public Enemy's music videos is hip hop artist part of the group, Flavor Flav nitororious for wearing the clock around his neck which years after he had been wearing it later revealed was worn because he said, '' The reason I wear a clock around my neck is because it represents time being the most important element in our life." he said. " Time can't afford to be wasted, but not only that , but God only gave us one life. Each minute we live, we got to live each second to our best value. Time brought us up in here, and time can also take us out." This is evident and important in this specific video especially because it in my opinion shows the urge to act now for change and demand change with unity which again is still evident today. 

This image above to me represents both power and unity. The cold scheme of orange and red is representing the power as previously stated and then the men have their arms around each other which is representing unity and togetherness not only from the group but its supporters as well. I feel like this is one of the main points and ideas the group and the music video is trying to represent not only in this song but all of their songs based off what their why is and what they stand for. In the video, the lyrics repeat, "Fight the Power" which not only the group is saying but those who are all there as well which to me is showing the unity they have together. 

Finally, in the image above from the music video you can see the young boy holding the Public Enemy logo which is very relevant in this and all of their other songs. As previously stated, the logo represents the violence suffered by African Americans by the police and the state during the time which was the eighties and this is still sadly a very relevant problem still today. It is representing what this video is for fighting the power, demanding change, demanding a better world and equality for everyone regardless of your race so to me this is probably the most important element and image represented in this video. It shows that this is sadly what life has come to and that they are demanding there be change because no one should have to live that way and the reoccurrence of events that have led up to this point is why they are fighting the power. All in all, Public Enemy in this video and many others, is trying to display their feeling about what is going on for African Americans at the hands of the police and that they are not only a hip hop group but a movement. 

The song " Love Yourz" by J Cole, consists of many types of figurative language used to display the metaphor or love and appreciation. The comparison the artist uses throughout the song through his words that are unrelated and opposites and have a deeper meaning. J Cole uses the line " Beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success" which I think has the most meaning is a deeper meaning because its not something you typically think about when you hear those words, meaning they are not typically associated with each other when you hear the words struggle or success, but it shows a positive mindset portrayed throughout the song by J Cole. 

The artist throughout shows a clear and vivid way of wanting to spread a positive and thankful mindset as he starts the song of as a repeat line saying "No such thing as a life that's better than yours." To me, this shows how J Cole is being very clear about what he stands for and what this song will stand for and just shows his mindset and appreciation for life and wants everyone, regardless of how tough their own situation is, to see the positive in the world and the life we have and be grateful for what you have rather than what you don't. 

The comparisons throughout this song are constant but rather than being a simile they are more so a metaphor as they are comparing opposites to show the negative side to a positive side. For example, he says '' Always got' be a whip that's better than the one you got", this shows his appreciation and pride he wants himself and the listeners to have because someone out there could always one up what you have but regardless of what it is as long as your happy that's all that matters at the end of the day. 

As the song begins to come to an end, he says " But you ain't never gon' be happy till you love yours" then after this line continues to repeat his first lines of saying " No such thing as a life that's better than yours" which to me just shows his positive outlook on life along with it showing that trials come with life and on any journey of success but to show them to keep pushing and moving forward. Also, regardless of what you have he wants everyone to just be appreciative for whatever they have in life and the figurative language throughout is meant to display that message.