Sankofa Rap

SANKOFA

It’s crazy how everything changes,

No one is the same as they use to be.

Growing up I always felt like the only one with a brain, why is that?

I can’t stand all the shit that comes out your mouth,

But now am here, so let me clear it up

First, am a master at this game, no PHD

Mama always told me in order to move forward, you have to look back,

At where you came from, cause that made you who you are today.

Don’t forget that!

Instead of all that talk, open up a book,

Find your inner hook, leave em’ all shock.

Cuz they misunderstood.

Control your own life, live and learn

But understand that’s life

Remember to always appreciate cause at the end it’s Sankofa

Chorus:

Sankofa, is a way of life

In order to move forward, you have to look back, you have to look back

It’s a way of life. (2x)

The Motherland

The Motherland

A toast to you,

My Motherland.

Red, gold, green and black.

Filled with so much pride.

Like the vains that run through me,

I live and breathe the motherland.

A toast to the struggles.

The determination. We are all fighters.

Why shouldn’t I be proud?

I come from a place soo beautiful,

Soo unbelievably blessed.

So many times we were put to the test.

Yet and still I face ignorant people.

But that doesn’t bother me.

Cause I am a fruit of the motherland

The place where I was born and raised,

Damn how I miss those days.

Going to the beach almost every day,

Having no worries or cares.

That’s how the motherland blessed us.

So I toast to the motherland,

The place where it all started.

Where I will forever belong

A toast to Africa

May your name be great!

Unexpected Love by Adjoa Ghansah

Unexpected Love

Never thought it would be you

The person who would finally make my heart whole

Just the sound of your name shakes my soul

I didn’t expect your love to be soo…

So Beautiful, so generous.

With all my broken hearts, I still smiled

But now I have a reason to smile

And that reason is YOU

Our love was so unexpected

Every day with you is a blessing that I will never take for granted.

Am grateful for this love

Our UNEXPECTED love.

Overview/ Critique of Chap. 8: Hip Hop Wars

                               Overview/ Critique of Chap. 8: Hip Hop Wars

          In this chapter of The Hip Hop wars, the word bitches and hoes are discussed, and how they may be hurting the image of an African American woman. Also in this chapter, some rappers make it clear that they may not be using the words bitches and hoes for all women but just for the women who are just sitting back and spending some guy’s money. There is a perfect example on page 173, where rapper Jay-Z makes a connection between “sisters” and “bitches.”  Through this chapter, you realize how much rappers make women seem like they are good for nothing except for sex, almost like women are beneath them. But the worst part is that these rappers may just be using these words in their songs because the company feels that that is what brings in the money.

       After reading this chapter, it made me think twice who I use the word bitch or hoes on. Many girls in this generation use these words to make themselves feel on top. But the reality is that they get upset when someone refers to them as the name that they call themselves. On page 183, it states that “If they are so good at identifying women they insist should be called bitches and hoes, then it shouldn’t be too hard to stay away from them.” This quote really stood out to be because it just really shows that these rappers are using such words to get money from their songs.

Critique of Chapter 10: Hip Hop Wars

Overview/ Critique of Chap. 10 Hip Hop Wars

         This chapter basically hits on the main points of how many people ignore the positive aspects of hip hop music and how much it has contributed to help our communities. Many may say that these celebrities just throw money as the society in order to keep a good name or to just clear their name of dirt. But as mentioned in the book, giving back is a tradition that has been going on in the black community for many years, and these rappers are just following their tradition. The book also states that 25% of an African American’s income goes to charities, so it should be no surprise that these rappers are giving from the heart and not just to make themselves look good. But the book also hits on the fact that most of the time; the media “hid” good deeds performed by these artists with other scandals such as divorces, crime or violence.

          This chapter of the book actually shed some light for me when it comes to these artists. I actually never knew about Dr Dre donating to the World trade Center Relief Fund. But also this chapter brings up a good point on how the media always focuses on the bad news that they receive. These artists give back to many of their communities to help improve it and to help better the lives of the children in their previous community. The ending of the chapter however, confused me because I wasn’t sure if the author was on the side was on. Because she states that the rappers take from the African American community but then give back to them, which contradict the whole point of the chapter.