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NANDI A. CLARKE
AIMEE COX
BLACK POPULAR CULTURE
OCTOBER 28.2014
MODERN RAP: THE BLACK NARRATIVE
Music cleanses the understanding; inspires it, and lifts it into a realm which it would not reach if it were
left to itself. Henry Ward Beecher

There has been one constant throughout decades of rhythmic progression, civilians and
their attachment to the performing arts: mainly in reference to music. Music, as an art form has
transcended generations and has still managed to maintain a lofty place in many hearts. The
reasoning for this is most likely due to the meaning behind the music. The reason that the music
is still relevant in this day and age is due to the fact that there will always be a desire, rather need
to find an outlet in which to express ones emotions or life. Meaning [within music] is drawing
from the listeners person enjoyment of said piece, enjoyment created from their personal
experiences, and the altogether feeling that is brought on by the combination of the melody and
lyrical content. Enjoyment of the music may also stem from ones knowledge of its historical
context (if there is one). Throughout the years, music and performance art [pertaining to
musicians and the art of playing an instrument] has been an art form, appreciated and employed
by most races, though one specific genre has become rather prevalent: rap (stereotypically the
music of the negro). All deriving from traditional blues music (originally spawned by the work
songs of the slaves), it is a peculiar experiment to sift through the lyrics of todays modern music
and decipher which one of the aforementioned genres has the most significant meanings within
its lyrical content. As an anthropologist of sorts, upon analyzing lyrics, it shall be determined
which genre most accurately envelopes the black narrative better. Though the way in which the
message has been articulated throughout the years has changed significantly, once one is able get

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past the excessive use of expletives, rap still represents the most accurate versions of numerous
black narratives.

Though only referring to two at the moment, the majority of all musical genres have been
influence by the original blues music, coined by the first African slaves that were brought to
America, though they began as work-songs. A traditional concept which has lent a hand in both
modern Rap and R&B is the need to portray an image or a narrative. Similarly, the concept of the
rhythmic beats being the baseline for speech also have their roots in blues, though no musical art
of todays age could possibly match the precision with which Africans crafted their originals
work songs. Music was the way in which they [African slaves] answered society. Society had
the questions and their songs, critically composed from pitch to complex rhythmic scales were
their response. The rap culture which arose in the late twentieth century shared this idea of a call
and response as well as the Rhythm n Blues which dates back to the 1940s. Both genres
originally shared the same lyrical concept, as both (originated from colors sectors): the music
must have meaning. It is important to understand that the creations of these genres predate the
mere creation of music for its sole purpose of utility. Amiri Baraka (previously Leroi Jones)
further explains this theory through comparison of the African music versus that of the West in
his novel, Blue People, he states that it [African music] was different from Western music in
that was a purely functional music. (28) The same may be said for Rap, as it served as an outlet
in which blacks could freely express their sorrows and struggles in an articulate way in which the
general public could connect to and still provide a subliminal response to society.

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Rap, as it originally was, is still mainly the music of the negro. Throughout numerous
generous, the essence has maintained it shape, though articulated in different manners. Rap,
rather song in general, should be likened to a short story: it should have a plot, but mainly a
purpose; the song should tell a story of some importance. There is a perception of new rap
containing no ethical meaning due to many poser claiming to create something of the art form,
this is incorrect. There are many rappers who have never forgotten their history and still
constantly seek to expose societal flaws within their lyrics. Common, who performed a song in
honor of Treyvon Martin at this years past BET Awards, is an example of said artist. In his song
Misunderstood, he provides a racial narrative of the struggle of life in the hoods, echoing this
concept of those within this culture being misunderstood:
Misunderstood, don't,
(We do this for the people that walk that path)
Don't let me be misunderstood, don't
(Tryna get to their dream, yeah)

He stood on the corner with the rest of them

Though he knew that this corner wasn't the best
of him
Hard streets and a life that crested him
Dirt police domestic beefs that's festerin

The misconception that these social inequalities implicated here are lost on new generation is
also another factor supporting functionality of rap, though modern rap requires the ability to read
between the lines. Even through his excessive use of the word nigga, Bobby Shmurda (a modern
rap artist) touches on the issues of gun violence and Pipeline System within black
neighborhoods, continuously mentioned for certain member of his crew to be freed.
Like I talk to Shyste when I shot niggas
Like you seen 'em twirl then he drop, nigga
And we keep them nine millis on my block,
nigga
Free Greezy though, let all of my dogs out

That's what got my daddy locked up in the

dog pound
Run up on that nigga get to squeezing, hoe
Everybody catching bullet holes

This remaining rule of rap doesnt seem to have transferred with R&B over the generations.

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Rhythm n Blues has transitioned from a serious nature of portraying ones struggles into
that of a sensual nature. The majority of todays RnB pertains to the deflowering of a female
simply explicit references to carnal knowledge and adultery. One of more recent examples of this
kind of music is evident in Jeremihs Dont Tell Em:
This similarly mirrors R. Kellys previous fascination with the female body in his song Ignition,
blatantly having no other purpose for its creation than to detail sexual discretions:

It is unclear as to where the disparity between the original concepts ruling the art of creating a
piece of R&B. The answer to this question in all honesty is not as relevant as the timeline in
which one could only hope the obscenity seen in todays music disappear.

The deterioration of the precision of both genres lyrical content speaks less of the musical
artist themselves and more of society as a whole. It is important to understand that the nowadays,
performing artists (stated in this sense to emphasize the fact that the title in its essence has now
become an occupation) must cater to a specific demographic in order for their work to be
relevant. In this sense, societal flaws are to blame for the partial deterioration, though it is also
the reason that rap still maintained it impartiality when regarding race. Though the topic of sex
seems to appeal to a newer more sexually aware generation, the issues attributed to race never
really face, as it perpetuated daily within the news, constantly detailing the homicide of young
black men and women.