Singh 1

Lovedeep Singh

6/12/17

Writing 2

Professor Johnson

Plagued by Violence

Gang violence has always been a taboo subject in American society. People do not like to

acknowledge its existence or its fatal consequences. Rapper Kendrick Lamar is a luminary when

it comes to discussing gang violence and placing the spotlight on the perilous conditions in his

home town of Compton, California. Similarly, Author Julia Dunn presents a straightforward

presentation dictating the gruesome and conflicting battle between the Bloods and Crips of Los

Angeles. As a musical artist, it is easier to reach out to the public and various age groups because

of how radio, social media, and mainstream culture hold such importance in everyones lives in

our current day and age. Authors are also able to relay their messages to many people, but they

usually have a different connotation connected with them. The genre of rap and online news

articles are different in many aspects, but predominantly in terms of the audiences that they

attract, the tone in which their messages are revealed, and the conventions that accompany each

respective genre.

Kendrick Lamar is known for this revolutionary lyricism and for his mission of placing

an importance on social issues in west coast hip hop. Rap, in general, attracts the younger

generation and especially the age groups constantly involved with social media. Social media

such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. gives the younger generation a platform to voice their

opinions and read about daily happenings around the world without having to worry about direct

confrontation or putting too much effort. With everything right at their fingertips, the younger
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generation can access any type of news instantly. This allows rap to flourish and spread its

message with ease because it is always present or being spread around. Although Kendrick is a

famous artist, with an abundance of fame and fortune, people appreciate how he has not

forgotten about his past and place of origin and how he uses his platform as a rapper to put a

spotlight on the violent conditions in his hometown. His humble demeanor, social awareness and

lyricism pertaining to gang violence in Compton has many hip hop followers by his side.

Julia Dunn, the author of Los Angeles Crips and Bloods: Past and Present, relies on a

more straightforward and structured approach when talking about the gang culture of Los

Angeles. As an online news article, the audience that is attracted is automatically cut short in

comparison to rap. They are cut short due to the limited population that looks for online news

articles and the minimal publicity that an online news articles gets compared to a song. Younger

generations do not really scour the web, looking for news articles. In general, online news

articles do not really entice adolescent minds. Online news articles do not incorporate the

exhilarating and descriptive language that attract the younger minds. Those kinds of articles lack

imagination and flare. For example, Julia Dunns article says A gang is an interstitial group,

originally formed spontaneously, and then integrated through conflict. This kind of formal

writing does not allow for the younger masses to build a connection with the issue at hand. Only

an older and more mature audience would be able to understand the meaning of that sentence and

maintain interest throughout reading the entire article. This is because older audiences tend to be

more interested in what is going on in their community or the areas around them, whereas

younger generations are too pre-occupied with other events and the nuances of growing up.

Rap is an aggressive and emotional music genre. It has been used as a stage to describe

life-changing events such a drug usage/trafficking, sex, and death. The tone of each song
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highlights the message being depicted; we are being shown the events, not told. For example, the

tone in m.A.A.d city creates an atmosphere where you feel uncomfortable to leave the safety

of your home and are cautious of the death and danger that surrounds the city of Compton. The

song almost has a biased tone to it because the artist is showing his or her own experiences and

wants the audience to feel the same way. Vulgar language has also been a constant through the

history of rap music, but its usage helps create a more surreal and survivalist environment

because vulgar language tends to come out instantaneously and it is automatic. m.A.A.d city

transports you directly into the chaos and havoc present in Compton.

Articles tend to tell us of events. In Julia Dunns Los Angeles Crips and Bloods: Past

and Present, we are able to read about the history of Bloods and Crips and how they have

evolved over time. We are presented the facts in a formal tone and we are able to analyze the

articles contents from the comforts of our safe houses. Unlike rap, where we feel like we can

picture all the events being described, news articles relay information in a straightforward and

bland manner. As the 1950s came to an end and the next decade emerged, car clubs began to

languish and more organized groups came to the forefront. This sentence epitomizes the major

differences of tone between rap and news articles. You cannot feel the passion or fear from this

sentence, but you feel more educated and aware of how gangs formed back in the day. It feels as

if you are spectating from afar.

Hip Hop is an onslaught of catchy beats, vulgar language, and illustration. Specifically,

in Kendrick Lamars m.A.A.d city, Lamars usage of rhyme scheme, ad-libs, and descriptive

language hook the listener. Kendrick Lamars verses are able to tell a story and that type of

lyricism captivates listeners. The verse That was back when I was nine/ Joey packed the nine/

We adapt to crime/ Pack a van with four guns at a time helps depict at how early of an age
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Kendrick had to adapt to the violent culture of Compton. Kendricks rhyme scheme and ability to

paint a vivid picture are common conventions used throughout all rap songs. However, Kendrick

uses these conventions to promote awareness about the gang violence in his hometown. The

catchy beats, rhyme and description are vital to keep the listener entertained and all the while,

they are being educated on what it was like to be growing up in such hazardous conditions.

News articles do not include the type of figurative language that raps contain, but that is

because that is not necessary. The purpose of a news article is to keep the reader aware,

considering how news articles are primarly used to be unbiased accounts of information.

However, the way in which it is expressed as compared to rap is immensely different. Julia

Dunns news article includes a plethora of quotations, facts, uses a formal tone, and is structured

in paragraphs rather than verses. This article can articulate and explain its statements, in ways

that Kendricks m.A.A.d city could not fathom. For instance, The gangs in existence at this

particular time in history were not territorial. On the other hand, they were loose associations,

unorganized, and rarely violent. This sort of explanation could not be used in a rap song

because of the nature of how rap songs consist of short and direct lines. This kind of complexity

and word choice is what gives news articles a more civilized and educated appeal.

There are many literary genres, but rap and news articles are two of the most distinct

ones. Rap helps tell a story. Its usage of visuals, strong language and rhyme scheme help entice

the listener. Also, rap transports the listener into the forefront of the described events, which

attracts the younger generation, who are more socially aware and adventurous. News articles are

primarily for those who want strictly the cold hard facts. With a formal and colloquial tone, the

more mature and highly experienced are better able to understand the contents of the articles.
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Although both genres have many differences, they are both adept in getting their messages

across in their own unique ways.

Works Cited

Dunn, Julia. Los Angeles Crips and Bloods: Past and Present. Los Angeles Crips and Bloods:

Past and Present. EDGE, 26 July 1999. Web. 12 June 2017.

https://web.standford.edu/class/e297c/poverty_prejudice/gangcolor/lacrips.htm

Kendrick Lamar (Ft. MC Eiht)- m.A.A.d City. Genius. Genius Media Group Inc., 22 Oct.

2012. Web. 12 June 2017. https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-maad-city-lyrics