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Post 60

Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 11:53amSanction this postReply
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Mr Druckenmiller

Nothing in gangster rap should be entertaining or amusing, and, M. Ogunshola, never have I held my tongue about any movie or television program (my vitirol is strong for the Sopranos in particular, but all Mafia movies in general) that glorifies violence and "gang" life. Never. However, I chose to criticize gangster rap. What are you trying to imply by stating a fact that I haven't written something? There are plenty of things I am sure that you haven't written, but what difference does that make?
Fine, but a variety of things are involved in criticisms of rap music, some cultural, some universal, and some, dare I say it, racial.

I want to see you attack a few issues with which more SOLOists are familiar which parallel your disdain for rap so that we SOLOists can respond to critically and with informed comments.

If you had criticized The Sopranos, most people who like the series (some SOLOists, no doubt) would discuss the subtle elements of the series that they like.  Art can be fascinating for a variety of reasons, including the revelation of that dark side of humanity by which most of us are intrigued, but in which few of us would dare participate, or to expose us to the tragedies in life that we are yet to experience.

Rap is the same way.  It can speak to a variety of circumstances, of which one is the sexually charged atmosphere that is the product of nightclubs and even the ghetto culture which we disdain.  You have to understand its subtleties to write a meaningful critique of it, and if you had attacked aspects of the culture and then tied the music to the culture that spawned it, I might have supported you.  However, your writing, which preys upon common stereotypes, is no more different than that of many critics who find rap music an easy target for ridicule with an audience unassociated with its nuances.
 
I'm pleasantly surprised that SOLO is not quite that audience.

Laj.



Post 61

Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 12:19pmSanction this postReply
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My Money Gets Jealous - Chamillionaire

Chorus

Don't blame us
For visions of princess cuts on our fangers
Big houses, candy paint and big swangers, yeah
If it aint bout no money don't call my pager
cause My money gets jealous

Blame us,
We ballin so hard they think we drug slangas
We just entertainers don't poinnt ya fingers, yeah
If it ain't bout no money don't call my pager
cause My Money gets jealous


The rest of the song is about no one getting between him and his money, my kind of music.

Post 62

Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 1:22pmSanction this postReply
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I think I knew and forgot...what the hell is a big swanger? I'm hoping it's not an anatomical term but that would be funny too.

Would it be hijacking to talk about The Sopranos?

Could we get past the whole initial thing about the fascination with and heroization of the Mafia?

I've always been fascinated by it but no heroizing...

Generally, I really enjoy The Sopranos, some more than others. Sometimes they leave me very dark.

It's more the vibe and the psychology I get off on, I guess. That, and the dark humor.

So is it "wrong" to watch it?

NAHHHHH!!!!

rde
How big is my swanger? You're standing on it.

(Edited by Rich Engle on 6/23, 1:24pm)


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Post 63

Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 2:37pmSanction this postReply
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Rich said:
I think I knew and forgot...what the hell is a big swanger?
He's a guy over at The Ayn Rand Institute: Harry Bigswanger.


Post 64

Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 4:32pmSanction this postReply
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I'm not a big rap fan though I have enjoyed some such as I previously mentioned. One of the earliest I enjoyed was Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" and more recently Will Smith's "Miami."

Thefreedictionary.com defines rap as "a form of popular music developed especially in African-American urban communities and characterized by spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics with a syncopated, repetitive rhythmic accompaniment." As such, rap is not evil unto itself but has a capacity for good or evil depending on its creator/user.

I suggest anyone interested in discussing rap learn more about it. A good starting point would be wikepedia.



Post 65

Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 6:03pmSanction this postReply
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Translation:

Don't blame us
for wanting princess cut diamonds on our fingers
Large homes, iridescent paint, and large vehicles
Do not contact me if the subject is not about money
Because I am selfish about my money

But you can blame us
because we show off our wealth similar to drug
dealers
But we're just entertainers so do not think our wealth is
illegitimate
Do not contact me if the subject is not about money
Because I am selfish about my money

Thats the gist of it, naturally a little of it is lost in the translation.

Post 66

Friday, June 24, 2005 - 6:52amSanction this postReply
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Bob- I started thinking about the Gil Scott-Heron a while back in the thread... I love that record.

Clarence-

Thank you for the translation, this whole swanger thing had me really fouled up. That was excellent gap-fill.

rde


Post 67

Thursday, July 7, 2011 - 10:18amSanction this postReply
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A good article, full of controversy and disclaiming - the comments are even more interesting and enlightening - WELL WORTH GOING THRU AND RE-FAMILIARIZING YOURSELF ON IT...

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