Project #1: First Draft
Community: African-American
Genre: Rap Music/ Hip Hop
“It was all a dream. I used to read Word Up magazine. Salt n’ Peppa and Heavy D up in the limousine. Hanging pictures on my wall, every Saturday night Rap Attack Mr. Magic Marley Marl.” In what is undeniably the most recognizable opening verse in all of Hip- Hop, Christopher Wallace, also known as “Biggie Smalls,” describes to listeners what his life was like as a young and disadvantaged African-American growing up in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. He went from day dreaming and hanging up posters of his favorite rap musicians, to living an even more lavish lifestyle than the very same artists who he idolized and being depicted in many posters and street murals himself. And with Wallace, comes other Rap artists and Rap groups such as N.W.A., Tupac Shakur, Bone Thugs N Harmony, and Ice T. However, besides the presence of catchy beats, memorable lyrics and defiant tones, there is one factor that the music produced by all the previously mentioned artists possess. They all tell a story. A story of what it is like to be an African-American in a dominantly Caucasian society. Tales of trials and tribulations, failures and success, and constant oppression of African-Americans from numerous White entities. These stories are no different from what is witnessed by Black Americans in their everyday lives. The only difference is that there were some particular minds who were able to conjure up a more elusive and entertaining way of telling them to the world.