“Rap Music, Race, and Perceptions of Crime” talks about how rap is often associated with negative characteristics such as violence, aggressive behavior and increased crime commitment, but states that it is a way for many people to express the issues they face in their daily lives. The main point was the bring awareness to the negative connotations of rap music. “Rap Analysis #0” analyzes Eminem’s rap styles and points out that even though the lyrics aren’t that great, the music is what makes his music enjoyable. “The Birth Of American Music” begins by discussing the influence of jazz and African American music on American pop music and classics. Then it goes into talking about blackface in pop culture and music. He ends by stating that black music carries with it a sense of American freedom. The Dissect podcasts about Kanye West trace his career over time. It goes through the dilemma of separating an artists’s personal flaws from their work. The second part of the podcast goes over the evolution of rap in general.
These readings and podcasts were interesting because I do not listen to rap a lot, so I was able to learn more about it as an art form and how it influences people. I have two experiences with rapping from high school. My British Literature teacher would compare Shakespeare and rap and analyze the similarities. In AP World History we had an assignment where we had to write a rap about a historical event. Aside from these, my teachers have never incorporated rap into learning.
Question: Should rap be a genre of writing that English classes use?
Siri's EDU 185 Blog 