Imitation # 4 1980's: Slick Rick, Children's Story

Joel Milian                                                                                                                10/15/12

Children’s Story

By- Slick Rick (1989)

Once upon a time not long ago,
When people wore pajamas and lived life slow,
When laws were stern and justice stood,
And people were behavin' like they ought ta good,

There lived a lil' boy who was misled,
By anotha lil' boy and this is what he said:
"Me & You, Ty, we gonna make sum cash,
Robbin' old folks and makin' da dash"

Critique:

This song by Slick Rick is portrayed as what should be a typical children’s bedtime story but in reality, tells the story about a crime gone wrong. These 8 lines are only the introductory lines of the song but provide the foundation to the story involving a little boy who was encouraged to commit a crime. I believe this song is not a confessional, boast, nor a critique rather just a story. Slick Rick’s audience in this song is children because he telling a bedtime story, but the actions in the song pertains to adult situations such as theft and physical violence. There are a few literary devices in this sample of the song. There is clearly some examples of end Rhyme with words like ago, and slow and stood and good. The tone appears to be relatively straightforward and with that comes a very literal meaning to the words being said. Slick Rick does a very good job at telling the story along with his rhymes and the fact that it is easy to understand the story led to the popularity of the song.

Critique # 1- Chapter 6 "Just Keeping it Real"

Joel Milian                                                                                                                               9/30/12

Critique # 1: (Chapter 6) Just keeping it real

Critique:

This chapter of The Hip Hop Wars, titled “Just keeping it real” describes how rap music has become commercialized and has instilled overly exaggerated stories, lessons and teachings which its audiences perceive to be true. Rappers such as 50 Cent, Lil Wayne and T.I. are mentioned in this chapter to have criminal experiences in the past, but exaggerated events and details in the lyrics of their songs. Hip Hop came about as a means of expression mainly by their creators, those of African American descent but as time has passed the notion of rappers “keeping it real” in their songs has changed as rap has become more commercialized. Now the problem that has risen due to this factor is that Rap is now seen as a description on the lives of all African Americans when there is only a small fraction that is being described. The common topics in rap music such as thugs, pimps, drugs, and woman are becoming so desensitized that as offensive and disrespectful as it is, becomes part of a catchy lyric to its audiences. This has led to the false stereotypes, prejudice beliefs and ideas that all African Americans live in thug communities or partake in drugs and disrespect woman. This chapter also makes a great point in that rappers such as Common, Mos Def and Talib Kweli who are known for their great artistic abilities have never had a song go platinum. In contrast an artist such as Chammilionare mostly known for his song “Riding Dirty” has gone platinum. This comparison goes to show that the audience of rap music care less about the quality and essence of what they are listening to, but rather the catchy, disrespectful lines that usually are centered around false ideas.

Imitation # 3 1970: Pedro Pietri, Puerto Rican Obituary

Joel Milian                                                                                                                                       9/30/12

Puerto Rican Obituary

By Pedro Pietri

(Published 1973)

These dreams

These empty dreams

from the make-believe bedrooms

their parents left them

are the after-effects

of television programs

about the ideal

white american family

Critique:

This section of the poem Puerto Rican Obituary by Pedro Pietri describes the harsh realities Puerto Ricans face living in New York. In summary, these 8 lines refer to make believe dreams which are the product of television and society at the time which showed white Americans as the ideal family for success, happiness, power and money. Pedro Pietri is speaking to Puerto Ricans in general living in New York, but the situation can apply to any minority adjusting to life in the melting pot that New York had become. This poem is definitely a critique on the life Puerto Ricans faced but also can be classified as a confessional, as Pedro Pietri himself was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York with his family. He experienced much of what he is describing throughout the poems entirety. The tone of this section of the poem is very downhearted, although the experiences being described are truthful. In this section, the way Pietri uses diction with words such as empty, make-believe, and left all aides in his portrayal of Puerto Ricans as victims of an unjust society.