The second link describes the new ACLU phone app to monitor stop and frisks.
I encourage you all to check them out when you get a chance! And remember, your first comments are due by Wednesday at 3:00 PM. Those of you on the schedule for this next week should also submit your blog posts by that date, as well.
I encourage you all to check them out when you get a chance! And remember, your first comments are due by Wednesday at 3:00 PM. Those of you on the schedule for this next week should also submit your blog posts by that date, as well.
I thought the first article was very interesting (and not just because I learned Lil' Jon's parents are NASA engineers). The researchers mentioned that rappers often will craft their lyrics to reflect what they think their followers will want to hear. I wonder how many of these rappers have actually experienced these, or if they've fabricated/exaggerated their experiences to cater to the anti-police/incarceration sentiment that is popular within some groups, or both.
ReplyDeleteThis past summer, I read an autobiography of a man who was a former Compton police officer from the 60s to the 80s, who posited a reason for why gangster rap and some of its anti-police message (which he claimed to be largely false) were so appealing and accepted by fans far-removed from the elements of urban life in the 80s. He believed it was because the lyrics were edgy and provided people with a sense of moral righteousness and activism by accepting and supporting the messages in their lyrics. Regardless of how accurate his belief was in that era, I wonder how much of his statement is accurate for the reason why these types of lyrics in music are popular today for those removed from the possibility of experiencing injustice in the criminal justice system. Or on the other hand, if the music is popular because it is largely relatable.
I also thought that the first article was very interesting, but not because the researchers spoke about rappers crafting their lyrics in order to be liked by their followers but also because this has been happening for a lot longer (maybe from the time lyrics were introduce to melody) and also by all kinds of other artists. Vanilla Ice and johnny Cash are only two of the ones that come to mind. It is a well know fact that the Lyrics to one of the most popular sons that Johnny cash ever wrote was all made up... "Folsom Prison Blues"
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