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.

Imitation #7: Music of 2010/11

All I Want Is You

Miguel- (J.cole rap)

Got a flock full of dimes   A
Like a line full of hoes,      B
Look how they coming in   C
Just saying                               D
You don’t wanna have me then somebody will    E
I’m playing      D
Weight on my chest like I body build    F
I’m praying    D
You ain’t content with trying to do your thang   G
Hey come back baby boomerang    H

 

These lines are about getting over a break up and trying to heal. Usually with men, when they are trying to get over a break up, they try to fill that void with other females and that’s basically what J Cole is rapping about in these lines. Also these lines are a confession because he is saying that he is having trouble getting over the girl and he is trying to apologize. The rhyme scheme if A, B, C, D, E, D, F, D, G, and H. Some literary devices in these will be end rhyme in lines four, six and eight with the words saying, playing and praying. There is also a simile in line 7. He compares the weight on his chest to body building. The mood is these lines are apologetic and regret.

Imitation 6: music of 2000's

Destiny’s Child:

Girl
Girl, I can tell you've been crying    A
And you needing somebody to talk to    B
Girl, I can tell he's been lying   A
And pretending that he's faithful and he loves you   C
Girl, you don't have to be hiding   D
Don't you be ashamed to say he hurt you?  C
I'm your girl, you're my girl, we your girls   E
Don't you know that we love ya     F

      These lines are about being there for a friend and supporting them when they going through a tough time. The context of these lines is that women need to be there for each other more often rather than go behind each other’s backs to bring each other down. These eight lines are a confession because it seems like the girl’s friends are finally coming out to her to tell her that the way the man is treating her is unacceptable. The rhyme scheme is A, B, A, C, D, C, E, F. These lines have a literal meaning because it gets straight to the point and it states its purpose. There is also end rhyme in line one and three. The words crying and lying rhyme and they are at the end of each of the lines. Also these lines are an example of lyrical poetry because it give and opinion and emotion about their friend’s relationship.