Essay about hip-pop

The Hip Hop Wars Final Paper Assignment

Your assignment is to choose six hip-hop songs and use them to discuss one of the chapters from Tricia Rose’s book, The Hip Hop Wars. Each chapter of Rose’s book asks questions about controversial issues surrounding hip-hop, from the role of capitalism to violence to sexism. After you finish reading the book, choose one chapter - and hence, one particular issue - around which to focus your essay. Briefly describe the chapter’s subject and Rose’s argument, incorporating the many sides of the argument when possible. Then choose six hip-hop songs. Using those songs - their lyrics, their sound, their origin, the artists who created them, whatever seems relevant - write about how that song might reflect the issue in the chapter, Rose’s argument, or a counterargument. In other words, use each song to both explain what Rose is talking about, and to analyze, reinforce or challenge the conclusion of the chapter you have chosen. The essay should accomplish two things: 1) make it clear that you have read and understand the major events and points made in the book; 2) demonstrate your understanding of how music reflects and takes part in African American life, including information from lectures and other course readings. You may use any hip-hop song whatsoever. They can be old or new. The definition of many songs as “hip-hop” is debated. We will mostly give you the benefit of the doubt, especially songs that skim the border between hip-hop and R&B. But use good judgment about which songs you choose. Also, you may use songs that have been played in class, but we discourage using them exclusively or even mostly. Incorporate biographical material about the artist as you see fit.You are not required to use outside sources. If you do, please cite your sources. Any standard citation standard is fine, as long as you use it consistently. Your essay should be between 1500 and 2000 words. Include a word count at the end of the essay. Papers that exceed the limit by more than 10% will be penalized.Finally, you are writing a paper, not a list. Although you may be discussion one song after another, do not use number or bullet points to format your paper. It should have an introduction, conclusion and paragraphs typical of any other paper in the humanities.