Kendrick Lamar is a popular rapper who is vocal about his childhood in Compton, a gang infested neighborhood in Los Angeles. Although he is similar to other hip-hop artists in origin, his lyricism and view of his life is much different. It is common for rappers to almost brag about their violent tendencies and drug filled past; Lamar does not censor out this in his music, but rather looks backs with regret and pain. By using the N-word and other powerful words, he provides a brutally honest look into the lives of poor intercity areas. In the song m.A.A.d City, a fast moving beat gives the song a pump-up type feel, with violent vulgar language to fuel the fire. The powerful slave related connotations of the N-word help to prove his point that blacks are given no opportunity to succeed. When he says "and its safe to say that the next generation maybe can sleep/with dreams of being a lawyer or doctor," he refers to his success and a chance for his children to live a real life, by luck of their father rather than luck of their race. He also refers to his violent past of being "a boy with a chopper," (a chopper is a street name for an AK-47) without shame, as a matter of fact. True to his brutally honest tone, the chorus repeats the N-word in a low angry manner. Near the end of the song, Kendrick refers to the kids of Compton as "the Children of the Corn," alluding to the story from horror story of kids worshiping an imaginary being. The kids from LA worship the idea of a life of violence and wealth--unrealistic and terrible.
Like Toni Morrison said about the harsh words in Huckleberry Finn, the amazing part of the language is "the argument it raises". Using racist, terrible words should make the reader uncomfortable and address something that no one else wants to address. In no way am I saying that Huck Finn and m.A.A.d City are even close to being equal in importance, but that smaller pieces of art can in everyday life can cause a questioning society. In the end Kendrick Lamar wants the listener to hear the murder he witnessed and feel horrified; he wants the audience to see the lased drugs he tried that led him to never using drugs again; he wants the listener to understand why he refers to himself as "Compton's human sacrifice", and, by making a violent, racist, vulgar song, he wants the audience to want to change this.
Hey buddy, like the way you connect Kendrick to the pieces from class. Took an interesting turn with the connection to the use of the N-word in Huck Finn. While I agree that it isn't fair to compare Good Kid MAAD City to Huck Finn in importance, they can have a similar influence in how they affect people. Today more than ever music has a strong grip on society, and can teach people lots of things. Music's influence shouldn't be forgotten as artists continue to make music. (You're right good ideas happen when we sit together!)
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