gangsta rap
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Rhetoric of Gangsta Rap
Nicole Laplante
What is Gangsta Rap?
-‐Sub-‐genre of Hip-‐hop. -‐Originated in the mid-‐1980s with Schoolly D, Ice-‐T and N.W.A. -‐Characterized by heavy beats and aggressive lyrics meant to depict real inner-‐city struggle. -‐CriMcized for promoMng crime, violence, racism, rape, profanity, misogyny, and drug and alcohol abuse.
PsychoanalyMc CriMcal Methods
-‐Gangsta expresses repressed desires. -‐Not just anyone can say some of gangsta’s lyrics. -‐Gives the genre rhetoric appeal. Example: “I be placin’ snitches inside lakes and ditches, And if I catch AIDS, then I’ma start rapin’ b*****s” –Big L “All Black”
Visual Rhetoric
-‐Gangsta visuals: music videos, movies, fashion, and everyday experiences in public places. -‐Visuals express social codes that are well known but cannot be spoken. -‐ “Gangsta is the ‘permissible’ expression, verbally and visually, of the kind of appalling racist a=tudes that we have all heard but know that we cannot and should not express.” (Page 238)
Visual Rhetoric
Marxist CriMcism
-‐Gangsta presents itself through a rhetoric of “keeping it real,” represenMng African American struggles. -‐The “reality” it presents includes the racist stereotypes of blacks being violent, materialisMc, and overly sexual. -‐Gangsta thus puts blacks in a very low posiMon on the social ladder.
False Claim #1: African American Culture Is Violent
• Gangsta uses violent language and visuals. • Sounds of gunshots are commonly heard in the background.
• Blacks who try to replicate the gangsta rappers body posiMons to be cool only reinforce the stereotype that they are violent.
• In reality, blacks have historically been more of the vicMms of violence.
False Claim #1: African American Culture Is Violent
False Claim #2: African American Culture Is Overly Sexual
• Gangsta rap lyrics oben disrespect women, treaMng them only as sexual objects that serve men.
• Gangsta films and music videos put men at the center with women wearing lidle clothing surrounding them.
• The disrespect Gangsta has towards women makes it is easier for people to disrespect all African Americans and believe in sexual degradaMon.
False Claim #2: African American Culture Is Overly Sexual
• Example: “I'm only out to f*** a b****, f*** tryin' to charm her. I treat a fine a** b**** like dirt./ No money in her purse, a f*** is all it's worth.” -‐Too $hort, “Comin’ Up Short”
False Claim #3: African American Culture is Crassly MaterialisMc
• Gangsta depicts blacks as having showy clothing and possessions, which may be obtained through stealing.
• Gangsta videos and images feature gold or plaMnum chains, diamond earrings, grillz, large houses, expensive cars, and pools.
• Product Placement AdverMsing in Gangsta videos and images: Hilfiger, FUBU, Adidas, Nike, G-‐Unit, and sports team logos.
• Gangsta rappers oben brag about the money and expensive products/brands they posses.
False Claim #3: African American Culture is Crassly MaterialisMc
Conclusion • Gangsta rap confirms racist stereotypes. • It does not have to be this way-‐ some Hip-‐Hop groups give blacks a
more posiMve image or defy the current African American stereotypes its genre promotes.
• Example: “And since we all came from a woman, Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman, I wonder why we take from our women, Why we rape our women, Do we hate our women” –Tupac “Keep Ya Head Up”
• I think today’s Hip-‐Hop has made progress in moving away from racist stereotypes. A new electronic, fun, and upbeat style of Hip-‐Hop has replaced the old intense, heavy beats of gangsta rap, and with that comes a different ideology.
• For example, some of today’s popular Hip-‐Hop arMsts rap about social issues and promote peace, something that just didn’t happen 20 years ago.
• Example: Macklemore’s “Same Love” supports gay marriage and acceptance of all people. Macklemore is also white, showing that Hip-‐Hop is not just about African Americans anymore.