Hip-Hop Theory and Culture in the Discography

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

The Notorious BIG – Things Done Changed

The song Things Done Changed by The Notorious B.I.G explains the changes in day-to-day living within the ghettos between the artist’s childhood and the present (Abe n.p). He also talks about his mother succumbing to breast cancer. In some ways, the hook of the song can be said to be borrowed from Dr. Dre’s track Lil ghetto boy. In the latter, the artiste had the line Things done changed on this site in one of his verses. In the line “if I wasn’t in the rap game, I’d probably have a key knee-deep in the crack game” (Oohla lyrics n.p), B.I.G explains that rap has in a way protected him from doing drugs.

Tupac — Hit Em Up

Tupac’s track Hit ‘em up was a dis song directed at a number of rappers from the East Coast (Abe n.p). It was, however, mainly directed at his archrival, the Notorious B.I.G, and Puffy. The line “Fuck you, die slow motherfucker, my fo-fo make sure all y’all kids don’t grow!” (Oohla lyrics n.p), has been directed at Jay-Z though it has been omitted in some versions of the track.

Method Man feat Mary J Blige – You’re All I Need

The song You are all I Need by Method Man and Mary J. Blige is inherently a love song (Abe n.p). Most of the lines from the song praise the person that the song is dedicated to. For instance, the line “Like sweet morning dew I took one look at you, and it was plain to see you were my destiny” shows how much the singer is in love.

Juvenile Hot Boyz – Bling Bling

The track Bling Bling by Juvenile and The Hotboys presents the artists as die-hard roughnecks (Abe n.p). The rappers brag about their jewelry and other possessions. For instance, B.G. in his verse says, “I be that nigga with tha ice on me, If it cost less than twenty it don’t look right on me” (Oohla lyrics n.p). This just shows how expensive his rings and chains are.

Outkast – Elevators

The song Elevators (Me and you) by Outkast tells the story of the rappers from life at the bottom to becoming self made millionares (Abe n.p). The line “Like freeze, we makin the crowd move but we not makin no g’s” (Oohla lyrics n.p), explains how promoters and club owners oppressed them by not paying them enough. They claim that when they were broke no one was interested in what they were doing but now that they have money people want to be associated with them. For instance in Andre’s verse, he talks about how someone stopped him in the mall and claimed that they knew each other from school. The artistes claim that their wealth was obtained from their musical careers.

Foxxy Brown Jay Z- Aint No Nigga

In the song Aint no Nigga Jayz heaps praise on his abilities as a lover (Abe n.p). For instance he says “I got more black chicks between my sheets than Essence” (Oohla lyrics n.p), just to show how much of a player he is. Foxxy Brown in her verses also affirms Jay-Z’s attractive traits. She says that she does not mind the fact that he cheat on her as long as he is home to take care of her needs.

Puff Daddy – I’ll Be Missing You

Puff Daddy’s I’ll Be Missing You is love track dedicated to his girlfriend (Abe n.p). He explains how much he is in love with a girl who had earlier broken up with him and he expresses his regret for losing her. The line “I would do anything man, to bring you back” (Oohla lyrics n.p), clearly expresses his apology and the verse, done by Faith Evans, shows how he (Puff Daddy) finds it difficult to go on with life without her.

Rass Kass- Nature of the Threat

Rass Kass in the Nature of the threat explains the origin of the races and how the vice of racism came into being (Abe n.p). He claims that the first people on earth were Africans and the white people arose as a result of mutations. He believes that the first white people were albinos who were cast out of the African society. From the line “So the mutants traveled North of the equator Called Europeans later, the first race haters” (Oohla lyrics n.p), he explains that these albinos traveled northward where they multiplied but still hated the black people for ostracizing them.

Nas -One Love

Nas in the song One love tries to show how bad the young men in the ghettos have it (Abe n.p). For instance, the track opens with him addressing a young man who has just been arrested by the police and he (Nas) informs him that his girlfriend has given birth to a kid that looks just like him. In the line “Plus little Rob is selling drugs on the dime hangin out with young thugs that all carry 9’s” (Oohla lyrics n.p), Nas tries to show how easy it is for young men in the ghettos to get lost in the world of crime and drugs.

Wu-Tang Clan- A Better Tomorrow

The track A Better tomorrow by the Wu-tang clan is dedicated to all individuals who languish in prisons (Abe n.p). The rappers also express their disappointment with modernity especially in the adverse effects that have come with industrialization. Masta Killa claims that mutations are occurring causing babies to be born disfigured while RZA is angry at women who cheat on their husbands while they are out there trying to earn them a living. The latter says “Y’all bitches love dances, and pulling down your pants while your man’s on tour, your spending up his advances” (Oohla lyrics n.p).

The Fugees – Ready Or Not

The Fugees in their track Ready or not are trying to tell the listeners as well as their enemies to prepare for their entrance (Abe n.p). They claim that they have gone through a lot in their lives and that they have come to take over the industry irrespective of how much opposition is in their way. This is affirmed by Praz in his verse where he raps “Ready or not, refugees takin’ over the Buffalo soldier” (Oohla lyrics n.p).

Dr. Dre – The Watcher

Dr. Dre’s The watcher speaks about the changes happening in the industry and by extension in the ghettos (Abe n.p). He says that he has rappers come into the industry, become hits and then grow old and lose their fame as younger and more innovative individuals take over the industry. From the line “Things just ain’t the same for gangstas, cops is anxious to put niggas in handcuffs.They wanna hang us, see us dead and enslave us” (Oohla lyrics n.p), Dre shows how unpopular gangs are becoming particularly because the police are keen on wiping them of the streets.

Lil’ Kim and 50 Cent – Magic Stick

The hip-hop track Magic Stick by Lil Kim and 50 Cent is a flirtatious and seductive song in which 50 Cent speaks highly of his bedroom abilities and tries to tempt the lady (Lil Kim) to try him out (Abe n.p). Lil’ Kim responds in a similar fashion saying things like “I sex a nigga so good, he gotta tell his boys” (Oohla lyrics n.p) and “I’ll do it anywhere, anyhow, I’m down for anything” (Oohla lyrics n.p). Eventually, the two agree and they get down to the action.

Missy Elliott feat Jay Z – Back in the Day

Missy Elliot is joined by Jayz in the track Back in the day to reminisce on the good old days (Abe n.p). The artistes claim that they miss the fun in hip hop when they were younger and they would also like for the house parties to come back. They also mention a number of great rappers from their day including KRS One and M.O.P. The chorus “I wanna go back in time, feels like I wanna go back in time” (Oohla lyrics n.p) clearly expresses the duo’s disappointment with the modern days.

Outkast -Hey Ya

The track Hey ya by Outkast tries to support the idea of couples staying together for eternity (Abe n.p). For instance in the line “thank god for mom and dad for sticking two together” (Oohla lyrics n.p), the rappers are grateful for their parents staying together and not going the way of divorce. They also go ahead to emphasize that love is supposed to stay forever saying that “if what they say is nothing is forever, what makes, what makes, what makes, what makes love so loveee? ” (Oohla lyrics n.p).

Eminem and Royce da 5-9 – When Bad Meets Evil

In the song Bad meet evil by Eminem and Royce Da 5-9, the artistes chant personal praises speaking highly of their superhuman abilities (Abe n.p). For instance Royce says “I’m bad enough to commit suicide and survive long enough to kill my soul after I’m dead” while Eminem declares that they “hit the trees till we look like Vietnamese people, He’s Evil, and I’m Bad like Steve Segal” (Oohla lyrics n.p).

Works Cited

Abe, Daudi. Hip-Hop theory and culture-Disc #4 Music Journal. Seattle Central Community college, n.d. Web.

“Oohla lyrics.” The original hip-hop lyrics archive. Oohla. Web.

Click Here To Order Now!