1)The defenition of "Gospel" is the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, and is regarded as something true and implicitly believed. As it refers to "Ghetto Gospel," I think Tupac is trying to come across as this is the word, this is the truth that not every one sees. Gospel also refers to predestination, if it is written, it will be done. And i think that Tupac is explaining this in his music that this is the way it is in the ghetto an there is no changing it, we are predestined to live out our lives like this even though you might want to change.
2) The writings represent a whole different look then the video, the images that he presents in the writings could be about any child in any circumstance, rich or poor. It isn't until it gets to the parts of the bag lady or the woman addicted to crack who is about to have a baby, when it gets to this part of the written word is when you start to get the glimpse of poverty. The video on the other hand is poverty in your face, from the images of the drug dealers to the shootings. I think that alot more people will be able to relate to his writing, they will be able to connect with his feelings about life and family.
3)I think what he is trying to say about "another form of slavery," is he is speaking about drugs, and how it has over taken the poor community. Now that people are free to make there own choices, they realize that their choices are limited because of lack of education and lack of money so their only escape is through drugs or alcohol, and instead of being dictated by a master they are now being dictated be a substance, which is hard to escape from.
4) I don't think that the approach has changed much between Hughes and Tupac, though the use of the language has. Tupac leaves alot to the imagination to figure out, he uses few words to paint big pictures. Where as Hughes uses more words and a play on the language to describe the story. the one word I would use to describe th feelings copming across in both poems would be "hopelessness," it is sad but both poems come across as sad and precondemed to this awful fate.
5)Blues music is a combination of country music and spirtuals song on the plantations during the times of slavery. It has a rythmic structure, like spirituals where it is a verse and then a response, usually the response is the same and the verses are changing telling a story as the song progresses, the story telling part comes from the country music. The instruments in blues music play what is called a one four five progression over and over again, so it makes it easy to sing over. In Hughes "A Night Funeral in Harlem," he uses the classic verse and response set up while still telling a story.
Tupac Shakur
In the Event of My Demise
In the event of my Demise
when my heart can beat no more
I Hope I Die
For A Principleor A
Belief that I had Lived 4
I will die Before My Time
Because I feel the shadow's Depth
so much I wanted 2 accomplish
before I reached my Death
I have come 2 grips
with the possibility
and wiped the last tear from my eyes
I Loved All who were Positive
In the event of my Demise
Langston Hughes Poetry
"Night Funeral in Harlem "
Night funeral
In Harlem:
Where did they get
Them two fine cars?
Insurance man, he did not pay--
His insurance lapsed the other day--
Yet they got a satin box
for his head to lay.
Night funeral
In Harlem:
Who was it sent
That wreath of flowers?
Them flowers came
from that poor boy's friends--
They'll want flowers, too,
When they meet their ends.
Night funeral
in Harlem:
Who preached that
Black boy to his grave?
Old preacher man
Preached that boy away--
Charged Five Dollars
His girl friend had to pay.
Night funeral
In Harlem:
When it was all over
And the lid shut on his head
and the organ had done played
and the last prayers been said
and six pallbearers
Carried him out for dead
And off down Lenox Avenue
That long black hearse done sped,
The street light
At his corner
Shined just like a tear--
That boy that they was mournin'
Was so dear, so dear
To them folks that brought the flowers,
To that girl who paid the preacher man--
It was all their tears that made
That poor boy's
Funeral grand.
Night funeral
In Harlem.
Tupac: Ghetto Gospel Lyrics
Ghetto Gospel:
If I could recollect before my hood dayz
I would sit in bliss and reminis on the good dayz.
I stop and stare at the younger, my heart goes to'em
They stressed and goin under.
We never really went through that Cause we was born
Today things change, it's a shame
They blame it on the youth cause the truth look strange
For them it;s worse, we come from a world that;s cursed
And it hurts.
Cause any day they;ll push the button.
And y;all condemned like malcom x and uncle bob
They died for nothin.
Make the people teary, the world looks dreary
But when you wipe your eyes you see it clearly.
There's no need for you to fear me.
If you take the time to hear me, maybe you can learn to cheer me.
It ain't about black or white, both doin I hope you see the light before it's ruined
My ghetto gospel
It's ok, it's ok, it's ok
My ghetto gospel
Tell me do you see that old lady she ain't sad
Living out a bag, in rags, loving the things she has
Over there see that lady, the cracks got her crazy.
And she's gonna give birth to a baby?
I shouldnt let it phase me.
We out of the projects
Jumped into another form of slavery.
And even now I get discouraged.
I wonder if its tooken all back will I still keep the courage.
I refuse to be a role model.
I keep control on the hoes and take out my old bottle.
I make mistakes, I learn from everyone.
And when its said and done, ill be called a better one.
If I strecth you dont stretch.
Never forget, god is gonna finish with me yet.
I feel his hands on my brain.
When I write ryhmes, i go blind, and let the lord do this thing. But am I any less holy, I
choose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homies
And then world peace, we tried and failed
Now there's war in the streets
My ghetto gospel
I remember grandmas hands use to hold me
Mold me, I never forget the things she told me
Brothas a butt, and played the big shot
But you know grannys are the only other thing lil ghetto kids got.
Mom's work, and pop's burried.
Drop me off at granny's, left without a heart cause she's worried
And ghetto grannys are like books.
We got some many crooks, so many granny's gettin shook.
And gettin trapped in a nursing home.
Times is hard, and even worse alone
And how could you be so cold,
Youll get your turn, as soon as you turn old.
All they ask of every person,
Is for a brotha to figure whats on his mind when he's cursin.
9 out of 10 youll find them problems.
Time to take listen and see what you can do to solve them. Cause every body needs a little help
On the way of relying on ones self.
And think about it, why 2pac hit you with a little ghetto gospel My ghetto gospel
I wake up stone cold gangsta main
See ya gave me ghetto gospel, i thank you main
Use to roll in the back and do drugs a lot.
Now im bangin the tracks, slangin ryhmes I got.
In this world of greed tryin to succeed on my beliefs.
Now I lay me down to sleep, lord can you hear me speak.
Can you forgive me for my sins
If I had it all to do again, id still play to win I hope the lord can understand me.
A mans gotta do what he can for his family.
And pay the price of being hellbound.
But i ratha see hell later than see hell now.
And the devil aint got nothin on the president.
Cut back and keep us trapped in our residence.
And be like animals in cages.
We can rant and rave about slavery for ages.
Or we can stop makin awful
And hitem with a lil ghetto gospel My ghetto gospel.
If I could recollect before my hood dayz
I would sit in bliss and reminis on the good dayz.
I stop and stare at the younger, my heart goes to'em
They stressed and goin under.
We never really went through that Cause we was born
Today things change, it's a shame
They blame it on the youth cause the truth look strange
For them it;s worse, we come from a world that;s cursed
And it hurts.
Cause any day they;ll push the button.
And y;all condemned like malcom x and uncle bob
They died for nothin.
Make the people teary, the world looks dreary
But when you wipe your eyes you see it clearly.
There's no need for you to fear me.
If you take the time to hear me, maybe you can learn to cheer me.
It ain't about black or white, both doin I hope you see the light before it's ruined
My ghetto gospel
It's ok, it's ok, it's ok
My ghetto gospel
Tell me do you see that old lady she ain't sad
Living out a bag, in rags, loving the things she has
Over there see that lady, the cracks got her crazy.
And she's gonna give birth to a baby?
I shouldnt let it phase me.
We out of the projects
Jumped into another form of slavery.
And even now I get discouraged.
I wonder if its tooken all back will I still keep the courage.
I refuse to be a role model.
I keep control on the hoes and take out my old bottle.
I make mistakes, I learn from everyone.
And when its said and done, ill be called a better one.
If I strecth you dont stretch.
Never forget, god is gonna finish with me yet.
I feel his hands on my brain.
When I write ryhmes, i go blind, and let the lord do this thing. But am I any less holy, I
choose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homies
And then world peace, we tried and failed
Now there's war in the streets
My ghetto gospel
I remember grandmas hands use to hold me
Mold me, I never forget the things she told me
Brothas a butt, and played the big shot
But you know grannys are the only other thing lil ghetto kids got.
Mom's work, and pop's burried.
Drop me off at granny's, left without a heart cause she's worried
And ghetto grannys are like books.
We got some many crooks, so many granny's gettin shook.
And gettin trapped in a nursing home.
Times is hard, and even worse alone
And how could you be so cold,
Youll get your turn, as soon as you turn old.
All they ask of every person,
Is for a brotha to figure whats on his mind when he's cursin.
9 out of 10 youll find them problems.
Time to take listen and see what you can do to solve them. Cause every body needs a little help
On the way of relying on ones self.
And think about it, why 2pac hit you with a little ghetto gospel My ghetto gospel
I wake up stone cold gangsta main
See ya gave me ghetto gospel, i thank you main
Use to roll in the back and do drugs a lot.
Now im bangin the tracks, slangin ryhmes I got.
In this world of greed tryin to succeed on my beliefs.
Now I lay me down to sleep, lord can you hear me speak.
Can you forgive me for my sins
If I had it all to do again, id still play to win I hope the lord can understand me.
A mans gotta do what he can for his family.
And pay the price of being hellbound.
But i ratha see hell later than see hell now.
And the devil aint got nothin on the president.
Cut back and keep us trapped in our residence.
And be like animals in cages.
We can rant and rave about slavery for ages.
Or we can stop makin awful
And hitem with a lil ghetto gospel My ghetto gospel.
Hughes "Weary Blues"
Weary Blues
1 Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
2 Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,
3 I heard a Negro play.
4 Down on Lenox Avenue the other night
5 By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light
6 He did a lazy sway ....
7 He did a lazy sway ....
8 To the tune o' those Weary Blues.
9 With his ebony hands on each ivory key
10 He made that poor piano moan with melody.
11 O Blues!
12 Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool
13 He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
14 Sweet Blues!
15 Coming from a black man's soul.
16 O Blues!
17 In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone
18 I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan--
19 "Ain't got nobody in all this world,
20 Ain't got nobody but ma self.
21 I's gwine to quit ma frownin'
22 And put ma troubles on the shelf."
23 Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.
24 He played a few chords then he sang some more--
25 "I got the Weary Blues
26 And I can't be satisfied.
27 Got the Weary Blues
28 And can't be satisfied--
29 I ain't happy no mo'
30 And I wish that I had died."
31 And far into the night he crooned that tune.
32 The stars went out and so did the moon.
33 The singer stopped playing and went to bed
34 While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.
35 He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.
1 Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
2 Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,
3 I heard a Negro play.
4 Down on Lenox Avenue the other night
5 By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light
6 He did a lazy sway ....
7 He did a lazy sway ....
8 To the tune o' those Weary Blues.
9 With his ebony hands on each ivory key
10 He made that poor piano moan with melody.
11 O Blues!
12 Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool
13 He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
14 Sweet Blues!
15 Coming from a black man's soul.
16 O Blues!
17 In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone
18 I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan--
19 "Ain't got nobody in all this world,
20 Ain't got nobody but ma self.
21 I's gwine to quit ma frownin'
22 And put ma troubles on the shelf."
23 Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.
24 He played a few chords then he sang some more--
25 "I got the Weary Blues
26 And I can't be satisfied.
27 Got the Weary Blues
28 And can't be satisfied--
29 I ain't happy no mo'
30 And I wish that I had died."
31 And far into the night he crooned that tune.
32 The stars went out and so did the moon.
33 The singer stopped playing and went to bed
34 While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.
35 He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.
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2 comments:
Hello,
I happen to agree that Hughes' poems have an air of hopelessness to them however, with the "positive" language used by Tupac, I never really got the idea of hopelessness especially in his poem "In the Event of My Demise". I do agree that the ghetto gospel lyrics are sad though.
It was an interesting point you made about drugs being the new enslaver of the black community but it also can be the enslaver of any community. I agree with you that lack of education and poverty limits the choices of people. From my perspective drugs certainly offer an unhealthy attraction and option as an escape for some and as way to earn lots of money to others given their perception of the options available to them.
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