Week3 discussion 2 - Essay Example

Posts Nature and importance of change and the passage from one wave or form to another _Book_ 2. Wave of change from poetry to rap to hip hopIn JAY-Z’s documentary "Rap is Poetry", the musician brings into light the relationship between rap and poetry. Rap, it emerges, is actually poetry going by the poetic devices that feature in rap songs. The poems read by Lucille Clifton feature different stylistic devices, the most prominent being consonance and alliteration (Poem 1: They were willing to die to defend; Poem 2: Who would believe that they would be beautiful).

The reality of rap being poetry is evidenced in various rap songs. In Flo Rida - I Cry, for example, the very poetic devices that characterize poetry are evident in the rap music (alliteration, consonance, and rhymes, among others). In the three lines of rap from the track, it can be seen that consonance and alliteration (behind…but; shut still … swimming; go got) and rhymes (Rida, diver, Okinawa) apply.I know you wanna get behind the wheel but only one RidaEyes shut still got me swimming like a diverCant let go I got fans in OkinawaWhat this shows is that when a rhythm is assigned to a poem, it can actually become rap music.

ReferencesGrdodge (March 10, 2009). Lucille Clifton reading two poems at the 2008 Dodge Poetry Festival. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEVdSYqyk2Y Rocawear (June 14, 2011). JAY-Z "Rap is Poetry". [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXR-ohNo3Ao The Warner Sound (September 28, 2012). Flo Rida - I Cry. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLuWHr6-0YQ Response to Laureen’s PostLaureen is very insightful in what she says in regard to the relationship between hip-hop, rap, and indeed music generally, and poetry.

She notes that the genres tend to share more or less the same sense of purpose. Laureen is also keen to note some of the poetic devices that are common to songs (such as hip-hop), rap, and poetry. In this regard, she mentions rhythm, tone, and rhyme. One important thing that she mentions concerning the difference between rap and poetry relates to the need for poets to write their words such that they produce the desired sounds within the mind by rightly and carefully choosing their words and using specific techniques.

Response to Post 2 It is quite evident that rap and poetry have a striking relationship with each other as noted by the student. Apart from their common stylistic devices, they tend to communicate something about society. The student rightly gives an example of Kanye Kanye West who focuses on the issue of racism in the U.S. and the stereotypes that are ascribed to the African American. Lost Count has an almost similar message to that being communicated by Kanye West. The death of a poor child from the inner city is considered less tragic compared to the death of a child from a more well off background going by the media coverage and attention each tragedy attracts.

This is good evidence of the weighty issues that underline the music that people enjoy. Essentially, rap comes out to be a genre that has a deeper meaning to it besides the rhythm and rhymes, just like poems as the student rightly notes.