Mumble Rap: The love hate relationship of the rap community

Some of you might be going what in the world is a mumble rap and why would I want to listen to someone mumble. Well it is the newest craze in hip-hop and is ultimately taking over the community. It is a form of rapping where the artist strings together occasional words to make them flow into one another rather than clearly articulating each one. This makes the song very catchy leading to a hit song. Artists known for mumble rapping are Playboi carti, Young Thug, and the Migos. But just because this new form of rap is popular doesn't mean everyone is a fan of it. This new style is upsetting og fans of the rap community stating that the new generations delivery lacks professionalism and is just plain effortless. 

Personally I am a fan of this new generation style of rapping dubbed “mumble rap” but I can understand how someone from the og rap community can have a distastefulness to it. As a young kid I would only listen to bands like RHCP, Van Halen, and Coldplay and had an extreme disliking towards any rap music. But as I got older the things I had a liking for changed as well as the friend group I had and I think that had a huge influence on my music today. Over time I got used to this genre of music and it has become one of the favorites. I think people need to be open minded and give things a chance before judging.

http://theconversation.com/mumble-rap-cultural-laziness-or-a-true-reflection-of-contemporary-times-85550

“That’s Just Their Style:” A Look Into Recycled Pop Electronic Music Icons like The Chainsmokers and Zedd.

Do you remember The Chainsmokers’ 2015 song “Roses”? Maybe not, but you’ve definitely heard 2017 The Chainsmokers’ (featuring Coldplay) hit “Something Just Like This.” If you listen to them, they are the same song with different lyrics. The “drop,” is not changed at all. It is completely the same. The melodies are strikingly similar in The Chainsmokers’ “Honest” when compared to their more popular song featuring Pop Artist Halsey, “Closer” as well.

The same could be said for producer Zedd’s “Stay” and “The Middle.” Although it isn’t as blatantly recycled as The Chainsmokers’, the two songs follow the same recipe of distorted female voice, broken down with ticking noises. The same formula is used in the remixes as well. If you listen to Zedd’s remix to Shawn Mendes’ “Lost In Japan,” it is the same distortion and ticking sound. Sure, it could just be that it is Zedd’s “style,” or “sound,” but it seems to be only slightly varied from “The Middle.”

Each of the songs mentioned had their time in the spotlight, and although their popularity isn’t for lack of trying, as they both found a formula that appeals to the masses and decided to not fix something “if it’s not broken.” This, however, directly relates to Culture Industry. As described by Prof. Eaton, 2000s pop electronic music provides an abundance of itself, in only slightly varied versions of the same song, standardizing what it means to be a popular electronic song in the late 2010s. At the risk of sounding like a mass culture theory post- these songs almost distract the audience into thinking that producers such as The Chainsmokers and Zedd are creating groundbreaking sounds, whereas there are plenty of artists (even electronic artists) who do not get the popularity in which they deserve because they do not fit the mold of the top 40. It seems as if every time a “new” song by artists that are just regurgitations of their older songs takes away from the creativity of it all.

Jay-Z, rap sensation, said it perfectly in his 2009 song “On To The Next One:”

Hov' on that new sh*t, [n-word] like "How come?"

[n-word]s want my old sh*t, buy my old albums
[n-word]s stuck on stupid, I gotta keep it movin'[n-word]s make the same sh*t, me I make The Blueprint

An obvious nod to his albums named The Blueprint, Jay-Z makes the point in which artists should not be discouraged from moving forward with their music. Furthermore, there is an almost infinite amount of music out in the world, and staying within the cheap recycled music within the top 40s is just staying within the dictated popularity from whomever has the largest amount of money to market their sound.

Mass Culture Theory in Youtuber Commentary

Commentator and YouTube Cody Ko has a video titled "It's Everyday? No. (Jake Paul reaction). I believe that in this, although I completely agree with the video, and am a fan of it, critiques an element of popular culture through the lens of mass culture theory. This is an older video, being at about a couple of years old. It is about YouTuber Cody Ko reacting to another YouTubers, Jake Paul,  music video to his song It's Everyday Bro. At the time of the video, around the summer of 2017, the song had made it to the number 2 spot on iTunes music charts, second to Justin Bieber's Despacito, making it popular culture. Cody Ko tears the music video apart humorously, but the video as a whole tends to have a gatekeeping elitist feel to it, similar to the ideas in Mass Culture Theory. Cody Ko compares the song to mainstream rap music, which would be the equivalent of someone comparing a teenager's drawing to a Renaissance painter. It focuses on Cody Ko's taste and aesthetics versus the taste and aesthetics of Jake Paul, and in the end devaluing Jake Paul's work. The YouTuber makes a list of things that shouldn't be rapped about, and talks about the quality and creativity that the lyrics are lacking. He says things such as "It's a sad day for music," and  "don't rap about YouTube. It's not cool" (Cody Ko 2017). Although I agree with Cody Ko on this, it is putting down one aspect of popular culture and devaluing it due to believing that the quality that would have been spent on any other mainstream rapper would have been immensely better. YouTuber Cody Ko addresses that music is much harder to make than it seems, and makes the comment: "This video was wrote, shot, and edited in one day... Yeah. It's pretty [explicit] clear, bro" (Cody Ko 2017). Which comes from the Mass Culture Theory of things that have value in them must take time and not be quick and easy. This video is satire, of course, but within that has some pretty elitist views that I would not have recognized at first.

Where is the love? - Module 14

For this post, I chose to write about Where is the Love? by The Black Eyed Peas. Where Is the Love? has a viewpoint from a Pacifist prospective. I appreciate this song as it is an anti war / violence song. Throughout the song, there are many different issues discussed including but not limited to US government, terrorism, war, racism, greed, and intolerance. I chose to write about this song as it was the first song that came to mind when trying to think of a song to write about for this post. This song talks about issues in society such as the negative effect that the media can play on society:

"Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema"

This line leads to believe that the youth are effected the most from things they see in the media as it portrays ideas as to things they believe are right and just, and things that they should be doing. The song also makes references to racism:

"But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah"

This song was written post war time, and makes references to hate, race and discrimination. Although this song has a strong representation of anti - war, I chose to write about it as it has main focal points about society and the effects that negative situations such as war can have on a culture.

Pop Music / Pop Culture

For my post, I decided to use an article I found based on current day music, coming from Dave Grohl in the Foo Fighters. In this article, Grohl talks about how he can’t stand when he asks his kids what they are listening to in today’s day in age, and hears that it has to do with songs coming from singers such as Katy Perry. Grohl goes on about how he thinks that the music that people are creating, as well as listening to in modern day society, is basically trash in comparison to what used to be considered “Chart Toppers”. I found this article to be extremely one sided, although I may not necessarily agree or disagree with what Grohl was arguing. He uses the line “It’s fun to listen to, to turn up in your car when you’re in traffic, but there’s no substance at all. It’s devoid of any meaning.” While Grohl may not see the meaning behind certain songs and genres played on the radio today, such as Katy Perry for instance, that does not necessarily mean that they lack meaning, but perhaps just the meaning he is looking for. For Grohl to argue that there is no meaning behind these songs and lyrics, it is just as easy for someone to say that there is no meaning behind songs that Grohl was a part of, as well as listened to in prior years if it lacks the meaning they are looking for. 

www.nme.com/news/music/foo-fighters-140-1219744

Radio

Radio is something that most if not all of us have listened to, if not participated in at some point in our lives. Since 1920 when the first radio news program was broadcast it has grown in to something more than just talk shows to keep people up to date on news. It has grown to include music stations, talk shows, news, sporting events and more. Radio has even become more interactive in the last decade, with many radio stations featuring viewers who call in and get to give their opinions on that days topic, chances to win prizes, theres even a radio station that will call a person you went on a date with if they stopped responding to you to see what went wrong. With all this radio has become much more personalized that it previously was, I can’t imagine why people are willing to spill intimate details of their love life to an unknown amount of people over the radio but it surely keeps things interesting. I think in this way radio has changed since its inception to something more than just something people listen to. They can now feel connected to what they’re listening to because of the ability to call in, make points or argue opinions that were presented on the show. To talk about sports games, political ongoings, win prizes to sporting events or free dinners. Radio is something more now that just words heard over a station, it’s relatable and personal as well as exciting to listen to. 

Music

Music "is an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound and silence, which exist in time"  This what you will find if you were to Google "what is music". Music means something different to everybody that comes in contact with it. Music to one person is healing and therapeutic, while another uses it a conversation piece.

Music has stood the test of time. Always being created, duplicated and manipulated. With all of the different genres of music, the way that music is talked about varies. For instance if you were to talk about classical, you would begin to talk about the different instruments that are heard, where the composer draws inspiration from and maybe even what key they are playing in. A broader conversation can be about rap and hiphop music. The lyrics will reach different audiences because not every talks about the same thing. As much as people think you will only hear about the struggle, there are also artists that talk about art and culture. What the culture is varies because you have something like trap music, where you will here more about what happens in more urbanized areas and what they go through and how they "flipped a quarter brick". There will be the mainstream rap that will toned down with talks of love and other relatable topics.

My connection to music has always been that of a coping mechanism. I find myself turning to music when I need to find comfort. There are songs that bring me joy, and pain. Music is used in so many ways, it is easy to connect a certain song with a memory that is either bad or good. A good memory would be from a time that I hung out with friends and we could not stop singing "Glamorous by Fergie" at the top our lungs. I see us all sitting in the car on our way to a party, just in our own little bubble creating a memory from a song we knew from our child hood.When I hear the song now, I am instantly brought back to that moment.

Can You Hear the Music?

Music is a huge part of culture all over the world. It is used to expression emotions, passions, and can even signify major points in history. Music can also represent aspects of the culture it originates from. If you listen to music throughout history it tells a story of that time periods values, likes, dislikes and even trends. Many people interact with music on a daily bases. Music is everywhere from television, radio, social media, commercials, schools, social events, restaurants, and even in office buildings. There are people that simply connect on that general level of interactions and then people who connect much deeper. Some people find music to be fun to dance around and sing too; while some find it deeply emotionally moving.

My personal relationship with music began early in life. I took dance lessons throughout my child hood, which was where my initial relationship with music began. In the beginning, it was fun! I loved dancing to the music and enjoying the moment. When you're that young it is hard not to think upbeat pop music is fun. Many people that feel this way about music usually enjoy it in social institutions, we can call them the social listener for this explanation. This people simply think music is fun!

 As I grew older and fell deeper into the dance world, music began to connect with me on a deeper more meaningful level. At this point music began to inspire me to create and express something bigger. I was no longer just listening because it was "fun", but because it made me feel something, which I would later express in dance. Now not everyone expresses what music makes them feel through dance, there are many different outlets. Everything from poetry, writing, physically expressing emotions, speaking, exercise, and many many more.

I feel that my growing relationship with music easily shows a few different types of relationships that exist. Of course there are many more. For each different artist and genre of music, there are many different relationships. Some listen at the gym to get pumped up, some listen to feel something, some listen to create, some listen to distract them from life, and some listen simply because of the artist creating.

Can’t this wait till I’m old, can’t I live while I’m young?

Can’t this wait till I’m old, can’t I live while I’m young?

Throughout my life, music has been paramount. It started at a young age, listening to Pink Floyd’s The Wall in the car with my Dad. As I got older and started to become an individual,

music became my identity. I wore band T-shirts and worn jeans and corduroys, scribbled band logos on my notebooks, grew my hair out, and started playing the guitar. I was on my way to being a non-conforming rocker!

In my junior year of high school, I dropped out of school and went on Phish tour. I had been introduced to the band several years prior by my sister, and so by the time I left high school I was already an avid fan.  I found an identity in that community that I could not find in the small town I was raised in. People were intelligent and thought outside of the box. They were conscious of the environment and their fellow man. I was completely immersed in an environment of like-minded people, and I took full advantage of that.

I do not expect that we will talk much about this particular culture in this class, but I see that we

will touch on fandom. I am going to be interested to learn about what other people invested their time and energy into, and what motivated that. For me it was just the love of the music and the message of the community. I will be interested to see what other people drew from their communities, and how it made them a happier or better person.

Rock On

Even from a young age I remember doing the "Rock on Sign." You know, the one with index and pinky up, with the other fingers down to form "devil horns?" There has always been mixed emotions on this sign ever since the beginning. Is it a harmless sign to promote heavy metal culture, or is it a sign of worshiping the devil?

I think so often we see the sign and think "Hail Satan," as I'm sure that's where the sign originally began in meaning - as it did begin from a darker, edgier type of music. However,I found an interesting article on premierguitar.com where the author John Bohlinger found an interview with Black Sabbath's Ronnie James Dio (who contributed to an increase in popularity with this gesture) who reported that the way he used the sign. He said, "It’s not the devil’s sign like we’re here with the devil. It’s an Italian thing I got from my grandmother called the 'Malocchio.' It’s to ward off the Evil Eye or to give the Evil Eye ("What Does the Horn Hand Mean")." If that's true, then one of the most popular bands could have actually been using this sign to get rid of the evil eye...or give it. But this sign isn't just used in music anymore. Think about going to a University of Texas game, as this is their "hook 'em horns." Certainly in this situation the stadium is referencing bull horns, not the Devil's horns. Either way, this signal, even with a dark beginning, has morphed into a symbol of pop culture in general. At any concert I have ever been to, whether it be a country concert, pop concert, or rock concert - I have seen this signal be given. I think it is more to say "Keep playing, you're going great" rather than the edgier idea of summoning the Devil to the convert (of course).

 One thing I really found interesting during my research on this topic was the transformation of this gesture in pop culture. Of course it may have started with darker bands trying to sign they were "worshiping the Devil," but it has really transformed into being something much less. It is a signal that all people connect with in all types of music, because it simply translates now into "rock on" - with all signs of the Devil left behind.




What Does The Horn Hand Mean?

Beats by Dr Dre Headphones

This week, I am going to discuss a specific brand of popular headphones called, Beats by Dr Dre. Walking into a gym setting you can find many people rocking these fashionable headphones. Beats headphones are supposed to be the best of the best and supposedly keep all other sound out. My brother has two pairs of these so I obviously had to give them a try, and personally I really enjoyed how the music sounded coming out of these, and also how I couldn’t hear a thing from the outside world while wearing them. The headphones are somewhere between $200-500 and they also have a Pro edition that sells for $1200! Beats headphones have become a $1 billion dollar business because of the high demand of customers needing to get their hands on these culture industry products. 

Constantly, new colors, new editions, and new sizes are being produced with higher costs and a better make. They have products like the studio beats, studio wireless, mixr, and solo.  With all these different makes consumers have many options. Headphones themselves are a culture industry with many different brands of headphones with better technology than the rest being released everyday. You have popular brands Apple, Sony, Bose, and Panasonic all competing for you to buy their “better than the other brands” headphones. I do not believe that headphones distract us from a real world change in the sense that these headphones are actually allowing many people to escape their problems and go into a state of relaxation or coping with something and listening to what makes them happy. Not only that but headphones allow a sense of privacy. Beats by Dr Dre create a self-perpetuating reinvestment in popular culture because of the cord that comes with them constantly having to be replaced, and through their marketing strategies targeting kids to want the next best thing that they have came out with.

Module 4 Example: Bennett on Today's Music

Prompt 

Find an article, podcast, or video on the web that critiques some element of popular culture through a mass culture theory approach (Note: The piece does not have to directly say "mass culture theory" but should clearly invoke the ideas of mass culture theory). It should have been published within the last 5-10 years.

1. Provide a brief synopsis of the piece and the link  (1 paragraph)
2. Identify how the article is making a mass-culture theory argument  (1 paragraph)
3. Then provide a counter-argument that identifies some of its flaws--especially those that are relevant with the Problems of Mass Culture Theory video  (1 paragraph).

Relevant Tags:  mass culture theory, [name of popular culture being explored]

Example:  Bennett on Today's Music

This article is a partial interview with the famous singer, Tony Bennett.  In it, Bennett says that modern music has gone down the drain in that they don't produce "quality" music.  He believes that the music industry is just pumping out music geared towards youth and is solely focused on making money.  He also believes that the general audience is largely "ignorant."  

All of these comments represent the mass-culture theory approach in that somehow the capital focused companies are producing lots of irrelevant music.  They are not investing time and money to produce real music (supposedly like what Bennett himself produces).  Ultimately, Bennett is arguing that the public has simple and unsophisticated tastes that the companies are capitalizing on.  

Of course, this line of thought doesn't really consider how people who listen to modern music appreciate or make sense of it nor does it consider what is authentic about Bennett's music that is somehow inauthentic about modern music.  How does he know what "quality" is or means?  After all, he is not the sole musician and there is much variation among musicians in his time and since.  The only difference is that some of his music has withstood the test of time, but he would have been also labeled "popular" in his time and seen the same criticisms that he now places upon today's musicians.  He relies on elite taste rather than fully exploring individual artists and music and exploring how fans actually experience such music.

Music Festivals: Not Just For Hippies

I found this week's video about coffee, and the culture that surrounds it, quite fascinating. On the surface, coffee seems so simple-- but the small variations in each person's relationship with their java (flavor, temperature, vendor, container, etc) are what fuel the nationwide obsession with the beverage. Music festivals are similar in that, to the untrained eye, they're all the same-- until you dig a little deeper.

Firefly Music Festival in Dover, DE. Photo courtesy of Firefly Music Festival

Festivals first gained prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, most famously with Woodstock in 1969 in upstate New York. More recently, they've experience a renaissance of sorts that began around 2010. Coachella, held annually in southern California, is the most well-known American festival, with Bonaroo (rural Tennessee), Lollapalooza (downtown Chicago), and Burning Man (desert Nevada) rounding out the Big Four. Besides these, there are hundreds of music festivals that occur throughout the country every spring and summer. Each festival provides its own unique experience, but the two most important factors are lineup and location. Different types of crowds populate different festivals based on lineups and vibes: ravers run to Electric Daisy Carnival and Camp Bisco to see Zedd and Major Lazer; hipsters head to Austin City Limits and Firefly for Tame Impala and Arctic Monkeys; pop fans party at iHeartRadio Music Festival and Made in America to Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.

Because festivals are multi-day affairs, location really matters. At a city festival, like local favorite Boston Calling, concertgoers can stay in hotels, which adds comfort and cleanliness as well as cost. More remote festivals, like Bonnaroo and Firefly, require music lovers to pitch tents and camp out, rain or shine. Camping fests have a tendency to get a little more rowdy, not to mention, well, gross.

Despite their differences, all festivals provide the unique opportunity to mingle with people who love music, but not necessarily the same music that you love. Lineups at larger festivals are often so stacked that it's easy to talk to someone who hasn't seen a single one of your favorite sets of the weekend. That's the beauty of music in general-- it brings people together. So book your hotel or pitch your tent, grab your best friend's hand (and maybe a beer), close your eyes, and feel the music.

Music Tells Your Story

Music truly can speak to your soul. It allows you to relax, or gets you in the mood to dance. It can be happy or sad, upbeat or slow. No matter what type of music it is there is something for everyone. As for me, I listen to a wide variety of music to speak to whatever mood I may be in.  The great thing about music is there is always something to be able to listen to fit any need, and my IPod is a random mix of everything to do just that.

When I am "mad" my go to music is super angsty. Think Taking Back Sunday, or Four Year strong. Something about that rock, or post-hardcore music allows me to relieve my stress. I will go on drives and blare it to clear my mind, and it works! Being able to connect with the emotions of the lyrics allow me to realize how miniscule my problems are.

Then there's my sad moods. Enter Adele. Is there anything that girl can't sing? I mean really. She speaks to my soul. I'm happily married, but that girl can make you feel like you just broke up. It doesn't really make sense to be happy and listen to depressing lyrics, but again it's the connection to the lyrics that really seem to brighten my mood.

Ready to turn up? I have everything from JayZ and Rihanna, to NSync and One Direction. Judge me if you may. But honestly, this is my happy music. This is the dance along, sing along music. This is also my workout playlist. Those fast dancing songs that keep you on pace during a miserable run, and it somehow seems to make it go faster.

Lastly, and most importantly to me is country music. As a backstory, I heard country and went straight to Johnny Cash - but country has evolved so much, so PLEASE don't knock it until you try it. Country music (for me) has it all. Happy, sad, angry - and it all is so fitting to me. I never liked it until I moved to Missouri and met my husband. Now it is everything to me. The lyrics tell a story ( and no not the whole "My wife left me so I'm sitting in my truck it my dog...though those still do exist), and are extremely relatable. What I like best is that there are so many "party" anthems in country now. For example, my last year's favorite was Lee Brice's "Drinking Class" which was about the working class getting out on Friday and having a drink. I mean, it's simple music like that that is so incredibly relatable. Take a listen if you're interested - keep an open mind y'all.. you never know you just may like it.

What's so great about music is that it will continue to evolve. There will always be something for everyone. Regardless of status, color, age you will be able to connect with the lyrics in music. Happy listening everyone! :)

Why Pop Culture?

Why Pop Culture? Because It's Everywhere!

I really hate to admit that I am keeping the stereotype "bad" pop culture alive. I have a confession. I am the pop/country music loving, bad horror movie watching, reality TV junky. In fact, I am probably single handedly keeping the Kardashians in the news and on TV.

But I'm also not sorry. And that's what's so great about pop culture. There is a little bit of everything for everyone. That's why pop culture is so important. It is involved everything we do in life.

Music is a huge part of my life. If you ask anyone what I do all day, I'm sure they'll answer :SING! Not that I'm the best singer, I just really enjoy it. Music is my daily motivator. Though I tend to gravitate towards today's country, or Top 100, I listen to a large variety of music. My playlists contain all genres to go along with any mood I am in.

 As for TV, as I stated before I love reality TV. The junkier the better. We're talking "Kardashians", "Love and Hip Hop" ... you name it. I also REALLY love crime shows, to include "Criminal Minds," "Law and Order," and documentary crime shows like "Snapped." I also am at the top of my game with kids shows due to my 2 year old.

Admittedly, I am not too big of a fan of movies. Luckily, my husband is. This means I watch a lot of movies NOT by choice, but it does make me expand my horizons, so why not! Also, I have NEVER been a reader, but my New Years Resolution was to yet again try to venture into the world of books. I decided to start with one I knew I would like (because I am in love with the movies) which is to start the Harry Potter series. I read the first 2 a while back and really enjoyed them, but It has always seemed like a chore to read them. Any tips on helping me get into reading? Anyone?

The value of pop culture is so dominant in our world. One of the most important aspects to me is the underestimated value of social media. When I moved from my family away to Missouri I was ecstatic that is was so easy to keep in touch. Social media allows people from all over the world to share their culture, ideas and values all within minutes. This a huge advance in technology, and we are so fortunate to be living in a time where these major advances are taking place.

I'm really excited to be in this class. Looking at the syllabus I know I am going to be pushed out of my comfort zone, and I am really excited. I think it will be so interesting to be reading and studying more in depth topics of pop culture. Pop culture forms the way we think and act, and I wonder how these studies will make me have a different outlook on pop culture - and life itself.

Good luck all!