Conclusion

Through the lyrics and musical elements of these black lives matter songs we can see a perspective that often isn't portrayed by popular media. This music is complicated as it deals with the past problems of racism, current problems and problems within the black society itself. It is easy to ignore the black voice with so much media being run by privileged white individuals. In order to really understand many of the issues it takes thoughts and analysis of what blacks are saying (listening to music and them talk about their struggles) and thinking of their experiences with empathy. Perhaps, the people who know what they need best are the very blacks who are influenced by institutionalized racism.

"Black" by The-Dream

An analysis of the lyrics:

I feel
Real black right now
Real black right now

I feel real black right now. I feel defined by my skin.  I feel defined by others with my skin color. 

I never knew you like I should’ve known you
But my father spoke of you through that liquor
Can we get a curtain call?

Let's call an end to this violence.

Let us pray your idea outlives you

Mama, why'd you have to leave so early? 

‘Cause everywhere there’s a Chicago
The only way we’re getting out of here
Is if we hit the lotto

There is discrimination everywhere....how will we ever make it stop?

My mama left the incense burning on the dresser

She still had so much to do.  But her life inspired me and I'll do everything I can to keep her alive in my life and in my music.

A hard way to learn one lesson
She said never be impressed with
A man with no message

Specifically Cliven Bundy, Viadimir Putin, Joseph Kony, and Donald Sterling.

I feel
Real black right now
Real black right now

 I feel defined by the stereotypes, generalizations, and discrimination that is associated with my color. 

And I’ll never be Mr. Madiba



I’m gonna thank you the next time I see you
You got me feeling
Real black right now
Real black right now

The oppression of a young Malcolm

http://thespeechsite.com/en/famous/MalcolmX-3.pdf

And shots rang out across the balcony

The day we lost a dream

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

To young to sing Marvin Gaye’s “What’s going on?”

Since then ain’t been a lot going on

Enough pain can make a whole race bitter

They say the right amount of love can heal us

Reminiscing back when Hilfiger made us feel like niggas

And that’s the kind of thing that sticks with you

There is a rumor that Hilfiger once said the following:

"If I had known that African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians would buy my clothes, I would not have made them so nice, I wish those people would not buy my clothes - they were made for upper-class whites." 

I never felt this black

I’m feeling
Real black right now
Real black right now

I live the effects of classism.  I am isolated by a world that is too busy staring at the cover to open the book.

And I’ll never be Mr. Madiba
I’m gonna thank you the next time I see you
You got me feeling
Real black right now
Real black right now

Somebody take us home
Take me home
Let’s go home
Let’s go home

You got me feeling real black right now
Real black right now

Lyrics curtesy of lyricspremiere.net


The-Dream ends his lyric video with the following statement:

"Black isn't just a color.  Black isn't just a race anymore.  It's a feeling and a place from which one feels isolated by the world of the governing elite.  'Classism is the new racism.'  This is what black feels like."



Musical Elements:

The-Dream uses the following chord progression throughout the song:

vi - V - I - VI

The never-resolving progression could be seen as a reflection of the subject matter, only augmented when the song ends on the VI chord.  Even though the sound is major and fulfilling, it still leaves you with an unsettled feeling because it didn't finish on the I chord.

The instrumentation used stands out quite a bit from his normal style.  The-Dream uses a piano ballad style of music, giving the song a very sincere feel.  The snare drum that he uses gives the feeling of going to war for his people and fighting it out until the end to conquer classism and racism.

The Blacker the Berry - Kendrick Lamar

Analysis by Bradley Robinson

Note: This song (and review) contains explicit language.



Since the release of Kendrick Lamar's album, To Pimp a Butterfly,one of the most debated tracks among black rights activists and music critics has been "The Blacker the Berry." Critiques have ranged from calling it a "misguided intention," to saying it is an introspective expression of internal strife brought on by a racist culture, from "the last line of the new Kendrick joint is the same jazz Darren Wilson supporters were spitting at protesters," to Lamar "account[s] for white outsiders' many stereotypes and transgressions against blackness; and for the abundance of self-esteem crisis within blackness itself." Certainly the song certainly leaves listeners uncomfortable, trying to sift through hard questions about institutionalized racism and it's effects. Though some have interpreted the lyrics as a misguided attempt to talk about race, at heart it is a profound song about internal strife, institutional racism, black pride and hypocrisy. In essence, it is an excellent reflection of the causes the Black Lives Matter movement are fighting for and the conflicts in identity among African-Americans that they are trying to reconcile.




Musical Elements:

From the get-go, the instrumental backing is a foreshadowing of the uncertainty to follow in the lyrics. While the song is clearly in Bb (there is a pedal in the organ), it's not clear what mode it is in. In the guitar,  the leading tone moving leading to the root. The piano (that is barely audible), is most likely derived from the Locrian mode, as it plays the repeats the first three notes of the scale throughout the whole song. The organ, though, goes up nearly all the notes of a minor scale, but which it is never is revealed because the 6th is left out.

After laying the track that will be present throughout most of the song, Lamar begins his rhythmically dynamic rap. It is scathing and powerful, and conflicted. But following his rap, some of the dark ambiance created by the instrumental back is lifted with a jazzy sound. The dirge-like church organ is replaced with the soothing sound of a Fender Rhoades, and the heavily distorted guitar disappears to be replaced by alto saxophone and background vocals. Yet even still, uncertainty is felt in the saxophone despite its simple riff.



Analysis of Lyrics:

As in many lyrical masterpieces, it pays to focus on the literary structure of the rap. Each verse begins with "I am the biggest hypocrite of 2015," but then follows with Lamar speaking of institutionalized racism and an identity struggle. Throughout each verse, there is a juxtaposition of harsh criticism towards those in power against the assertions of pride in his blackness. He says "You hate my people, your plan is to terminate my culture. You're fuckin' evil!" but then follows that with "I want you to recognize that I'm a proud monkey." In the second verse, he says "I mean, it's evident that I'm irrelevant to society. That's what you're telling me, penitentiary would only hire me." Later in the verse he brags about his material success and proclaims: "black and successful, this black man meant to be special" He is demonstrating that he has pride for his heritage and has overcome many obstacles, but that he still holds anger towards the continuation of institutionalized racism in America. He is recognizing, in part, that he is lucky to have found success in a society that makes it so hard for him to do so simply because of his skin color.

Yet the most hotly debated and confusing verse is the final one. As in the first two, it begins with "I am the biggest hypocrite of 2015," but Lamar has not yet revealed what he means by this. He evades this by beginning decrying (again) the pervasiveness of racism and generational hatred. He then invokes stereotypes of black pride ("So don't matter how much I say I like to preach with the Panthers ...., or celebrate February like it's my birthday, or eat watermelon, chicken and Kool-aid on weekdays...") then asks "So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street, when gang banging make me kill a nigga blacker than me?"

In this moment, the words "the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice," transform to a disturbing description of crime, and the word "hypocrite" takes meaning. Some have interpreted this as a reaffirmation of racist iterations by Fox News hosts (and others) that distract from critiques of police brutality against the African-American community by bringing up of black-on-black crime. Yet these critics seem to miss the brutal irony in his statement: "I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015, Once I finish this, witnesses will convey just what I mean." While gang-banging is bad, the previous lyrics have conveyed that this violence has its roots in institutionalized racism with his statement "you made me a killer, emancipation of a real nigga!" When one compares his act of killing one individual (whether or not he really did this) to his description of cultural and racial genocide, it is hard to even consider that he (and those that protest violence) is the true hypocrite.



Relation to Black Lives Matter:
While the song has been critiqued by some activists for supposedly pandering to a naive sort of racism, it is an interesting window into the identity and political struggle the movement faces. There are some (a very small group by all accounts), that have called for violence against police and other that have looted in the wake of the protests. With these actions garnering attention from media outlets (especially Fox News), the message and identity of Black Lives Matter has been lost to many. While many are peacefully protesting police brutality, their motives are questioned because of the actions of a few. Just as Lamar portrays himself as a hypocrite, many see the movement as the whining of criminals. Yet when broken windows and a few acts of violence are compared to brutality against blacks and institutionalized racism, it is difficult to take those that criticize the movement as reasonable. Those that perpetuate racist stereotypes are the hypocrites, not Lamar.

An Analysis of "Long Live the Chief" by Jidenna

I have highlighted the text to correspond with the references that are highlighted in the same color.

Lyrics

[Hook]
“Niggas fighting over rings
Niggas wanna be the King, but
Long Live the Chief
For a li' ol' thang lil' boys bang bang
Long Live the Chief
Niggas fighting over rings
Niggas wanna be the king, but
Long Live the Chief
Now watch pretty mama while I slang my cane
Long Live the Chief
Uh”
[Verse]
“Cockroaches and the rat shit
Hand me downs with the patches
Mama put a little money in the mattress
Taught me how to make a silver spoon out of plastic
You can either sink, swim or be the captain
Get the last word Ima get the last laugh in
Now they say "Jidenna why you dressing so classic?"
I don’t want my best dressed day in a casket
You can either lead, follow or get out the way
Make a fuckin' move it would make my fuckin' day
Got a 100 year plan you jus' think about today
Always been about time more than been about pay
Can't rump with me
Usain couldn’t run with me
Chief come to find you
You don’t come for me
At best you can run a lil' company
Nigga at worst, I could run the whole country*
Thats right - pimp game like a brothel
Thats why - I don’t judge a niggas hustle
I AirBnB the crib like a hostel
Summer rate cheaper because the streets get hostile
Shaka boy, this fire from Mojave boy
So no I won’t record for your homie boy
I turn the party out like a naughty toy
Then I go and hide in plain sight like a lobby boy
Yessuh, that's Jidenna on the banner
Ridin' for my niggas gettin' locked up in the slammer
Elders saying everything's a nail to a hammer
And niggas can’t spell but we know our Instagrammar
Well done's better than well said
I read niggas well, a nigga well read
Really I ain't met nobody smarter
Thats why I got admitted but I still rejected Harvard
I’m the fresh prince, in a school where they couldn’t read
Mama put me in a school with the Kennedys
When I met Bill Clinton I was seventeen
But dead presidents is all my niggas need
Dining with the governor's daughter
And her father say I remind him of Obama*
I’m the chief diplomat...every day
And I’m black and white...Janelle Monae”
[Hook]
“Niggas fighting over rings
Niggas wanna be the King, but
Long Live the Chief
For a li' ol' thang lil' boys bang bang
Long Live the Chief
Niggas fighting over rings
Niggas wanna be the king, but
Long Live the Chief
Now watch pretty mama while I slang my cane
Long Live the Chief”

Here is a link to the full song, the Vevo Live recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk67TqxQzGo

Musical aspects: 

In the intro (0:00-0:11) uses electronic percussion in a heartbeat like dotted quarter and 8^th rhythm in alternation on an indistinct pitches roughly a Eb4. Then at the words “be King” those pitches begin to move roughly outlining a tri-tone going from Eb up to A natural up to Eb spanning a full octave until 0:32. After “uh” a more drum like electronic sound joins the tri-tone. At 0:51 the voice stands alone saying “best dressed day in a casket.” 0:54 the electronic accompaniment returns with the drum like line. The voice solos again at 1:14 “nigger at worse I could run the whole country.” 1:17 the accompaniment comes back but the tri-tone movement was moved to a lower register and is a quieter dynamic. 1:38 voice solos again with the line “Then I go and hide in plain sight like a lobby boy” 1:40 the accompaniment returns exactly the same as at 0:32-1:14 2:00 accompaniment fades out 2:22 voice solo then hook returns exactly the same as the beginning to end this song.

The main focus of this work is definitely the lyrics. Nothing crazy different happens, a few slight changes in rhythm and texture but every time the electronics cut out to leave the voice to stand alone it really highlights those phrases. The use of the tritone is very significant, the tritone in early music was avoided literally like the plague because some people believed the tritone could curse them, possibly give them the plague but now the tritone is used a lot more frequently as a means of text painting and adding color and added dissonance to music, this parallels how black people were viewed in the U.S. as slaves, then as a minority to keep separated from those with lighter skin, then as just another human being no longer separated by race but there are still issues, friction or you might say dissonance created by the difference in skin tone. However, the tritone is an octave split equally in half it plays the note that is exactly in the middle of the octave. You could think about how this applies to the principals of equality and compromise, each side must give something up to balance out the equation, to create a fair and exactly equal treatment. Privilege must be sacrificed for discrimination to be removed to achieve true harmony but as musicians know harmony is not exactly equal in its fundamental major and minor chords, those are not major thirds stacked on major thirds or minor on minor but rather major with minor and minor with major, which create western music's harmony. Not everything has to be the exact same to be equal, we don't all have to be black, white, female, male, gay or straight but equal treatment is key and that is what the tri-tone represents to me in this song, asking boldly for equal treatment despite the power struggles that continue to happen around the world.

Lyric references and significant diction choices:

Pink/Hook

History.com staff member, “The Rawanda Genocide,” http://www.history.com/topics/rwandan-genocide, 2009, web. Dec.4, 2015

Even though this was written 6 years ago it still serves as evidence that these kinds of problems have being going on for a long time but are not just a thing of the past, these are struggles for power and acts of hate that have happened only about a decade ago, and for some events not even ten years have passed since they took place. These Genocides and the political unrest in many African countries bring many African people to America in this age, which is very different from when they were forced against their will to come to America but they still have to face a different challenge once they reach the states, racial discrimination. This rap very cleverly highlights the plight of many African American people, who have to choose everyday which they would rather have to deal with in daily life, as they strive to make a better future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs6Kt0lJY14 The history of Nigeria is very complex and is imperative to understand, along with the history of many other African countries, in order to why many people are coming to America from those countries.

History Documentary, “Nigeria’s Hidden Conflict,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKv7G9Ye29Q Dec. 13, 2013, web accessed Dec. 4th 2015

These last two sources are videos that show the history of Nigeria and conflicts that they have faced in recent history. Under the name of religion there has been a lot of conflict and many people have been killed as a result, especially those of a Christian based faith. These are problems that play a large role in the history of black people and what ultimately uprooted them or their ancestors and brought them to America. This is what remains a problem, radical groups within a religion not accepting that other religions should coexists with their own.The next source also explains this but these topics are addressed in the chorus of this long verse rap.

Rev. Majed El Shafie, is a reverend that is an advocate for aiding Christians in African that are being persecuted by Muslim extremists.

“The Beginning of a Genocide in Northern Nigeria? Urgent Action Needed to Stop the Massacre of Christians” http://www.onefreeworldinternational.org/the-beginning-of-a-genocide-in-northern-nigeria-urgent-action-needed-to-stop-the-massacre-of-christians-2/

https://fearandfancy.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/in-memory-of-chief-oliver-udemmadu-ogbonnia-mobisson-1943-2010/

Jidenna’s father was a chief in Nigeria who passed away 5 years ago. The text also nods to his father and his leadership and his heritage and ultimately who Jidenna is.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_people This is a description of the tribe that Jidenna’s father was the leader of. This group is often called Ibo instead because the “gb” is difficult for some to pronounce, this could be why Jidenna chose to say Kamb instead of king, highlighting the common mispronunciation of his tribe’s name. He also says rang as well which could be a choice he made to make the slant rhymes sound closer to a sight rhyme.

Yellow

Talking about his childhood moving to Boston dealing with slum living conditions, getting hand me downs, his mother trying to save moneybuying cheap plastic ware and putting money aside. http://places.findthehome.com/l/42798/Boston-MAhttp://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Slums.aspx

He goes on to talk about how he was able to get an education and have many diplomatic opportunities. *He also talks about many U.S. Presidents, the Commander in Chief, an interesting parallel with the title and the subject of the hook, what is happening in various places in Africa and the parallels of the power struggle here in the U.S.A, especially in regards to police brutality and black rights.

Green

This part reminds me of the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley.
http://fisherslasercarvers.com/invictus-custom-plaque.shtml
You can either sink [and be depressed about your situation], swim [just barely get by] or be a leader the captain of your soul (maybe this means as a chief alluding to the title of the song).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usain_Bolt

Blue

Jidenna also references an Olympic runner Usain Bolt, saying he can’t keep up with him in terms of intelligence and politically. Jidenna points out the problem of criminal injustice, racial profiling, and the problem of frequent shootings by stating that he rents out his house on AirBnB a site created to make finding cheap housing easily but the rates are cheaper in the summer because of the frequent shootings that take place where he lives. (This is a link to his AirBnB post: https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/18818258)


http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2015/12/3/fatal-east-flatbush-shooting.html Here is an article about a recent shooting that occurred in that area.

This is that part of the rap that particularly highlights what the Black Lives Matter movement is all about, and why it is important. It’s important because there are still big problems that black Americans have to face everyday whole living in the states, and being the son of a chief doesn’t let you escape that. Jidenna faced the same discrimination but he is trying to voice his concerns through this rap. There is a lot of problems that are created out of racial bias in America and we do need to find solutions

Red

Shaka Boyz is an automobile dealership, Shaka is also a Hawaiian hand sign that is also called “hang loose” or the letter y in American sign language but most importantly Shaka is also one of the Zulu chiefs that was in charge during the Zulu rise in power.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka

Mojave is a desert in southwestern area of the U. S. is spans across multiple states and there is a replica of Afghanistan there that is used for military training.

More resources:

Link to an interviews with Jidenna:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdGSB3UdPmc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyj-ZTI4t0c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHaLl95JNYA

Alright by Kendrick Lamar

Alright by Kendrick Lamar
      Kendrick Lamar does a good job showing the complicatedness of racism in America through his song Alright. Throughout the song their are many references to Christianity including: "Lucy, I'm your dog" (lucifer), "Nazareth", "I'm at the preachers door", and "Right with God". Throughout the song there seems to be a reflection on sin and the struggles of sex, drugs and power. There seems to be this underlying depression and very real anguish over sin and the violence that is surrounding the song. At the same time there seems to be a very real sense of racism and injustice that is playing a part in his emotional turmoil. This is shown in the lyrics: "We hate popo, they kill us in the street for sure, nigga" in reference to the police brutality, "40 acres and a mule" in reference to the reconciliation the black slaves received after the civil war, "I recognize you looking at me for the pay cut, Behind my side we lookin at you from the face down" in reference to the economic disparity between white privilege and racism, and an overall sense of injustice in the song. Throughout the song the problems in the community with police and colored individuals is juxtaposed to an upbeat chorus of "It's going to be alright, Nigga. Do you hear me? Do you feel me? We gonna be alright." There seems to be a positive spin throughout the lyrics that are filled with hope. It talks about the problems but there seems to be a sense of we can work though this in the song. There also is a very strong sense of black pride that's seen through lyrics like "I keep my head up". The last sentences are the most powerful: "I remembered you was conflicted. Misusing your influence, sometimes I did the same. Abusing my power full of resentment. Resentment that turned into a deep depression. Found myself screaming in the hotel room. I didn't want to self-destruct, the evils of lucy was all around me so I went runnin for answers". This part of the song is serious and shows the deep reflection and struggle that he is feeling. It shows how complicated the issue of race is. It seems that he is struggling with the issues of racism that are perpetuated by his own race. At the same time it seems to show what the privileged people are feeling. It seems that it doesn't matter whether you come from a privileged or colored background, the issues of racism are something we all need to think about and fight against.
     The music plays a large role in portraying the lyrics in an effective manner. The beginning is disconnected, has sounds that aren't strictly music from everyday life, and has screaming. There is a poem that is at the beginning before the clear melodic line starts. This poem says the same thing as the last few lines in a different way. Instead of talking about answers it talks about returning to his background and the discrimination colored people face everyday. The music starts with a beat that is upbeat and steady. There is space on things that need to be emphasized. The rap is supported by a solid beat, singing, and horns. The focus is mostly on rhythm. There is a reverb on the words. Just like there is a change after the poem at the beginning with little musical elements besides the pink floyd type of using non-musical sounds to create music, there is a change in music for the last words that are very similar to the beginning words. After the poem the first time there is a shot, after the chorus there is also a shot that transitions into the ending. There is electronic space like sounds that create an eerie feeling before the poem is said again. Again the drums and melodic elements are left behind. There is a crash noise at the very end.


Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Regal
https://play.google.com/music/preview/Twgz27x6zkfswpbemm3hzqk2tai?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics&u=0#

The Meaning

It can be hard to discern truth in this day and age.  The task of deciding who is right seems insurmountable.  We may never know all the details of what happens in the South and throughout the country, but we can listen to what these people are saying.  Here we have taken 5 different songs that stem from black oppression and abuse.  These different artists show that they are politically charged and unafraid to talk about the subject.  We have looked at "The Blacker the Berry" and "Alright" by Kendrick Lamar, "Black Rage" by Lauryn Hill, "Long Live the Chief" by Jidenna and "Black" by The-Dream.  Hopefully our analysis' will provide a deeper insight into what people go through.