Nina Boggan, Siena Butters, Arshiya Dutta

Period 2

Chapters 5-10 Autobiography of Malcolm X Soundtrack

N.Y State of Mind -- Nas

(Part of Verse 2)
Be having dreams that I'ma gangster -- drinking Moets, holding Tecs
Making sure the cash came correct then I stepped
Investments in stocks, sewing up the blocks
to sell rocks, winning gunfights with mega cops
But just a n**ga, walking with his finger on the trigger
Make enough figures until my pockets get bigger
I ain't the type of brother made for you to start testin
Give me a Smith and Wesson I'll have n**gas undressing…..
Inhale deep like the words of my breath
I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
I lay puzzle as I backtrack to earlier times
Nothing's equivalent to the New York state of mind
(Refrain)
New York state of mind
New York state of mind
New York state of mind
New York state of mind
New York state of mind

This song represents our chapters appropriately because it is about a hustling lifestyle in
New York. Malcolm in these chapters lived as a Harlemite, selling drugs like reefers and
cocaine, making friends with gangsters like Sammy the Pimp, and gambling. The lyrics of this
song refer to many of the same activities. “Selling rocks” is slang for selling drugs and hustling,
which is how Malcolm makes his profits on the streets of New York. The song also refers to the
usage of guns and not being afraid of death in the lyric “walking with a finger on the trigger”. In
these chapters, there is an overarching theme of Malcolm not fearing death and death never being
too far away. In chapter 7, Malcolm gets caught with a gun, and goes to jail for it. He also
trafficks guns and is almost killed by West Indian Archie. This theme of death never being too
far away is the most prevalent when Malcolm puts a gun to his own head to prove to his burglary
team that he is not afraid of death. The song N.Y. State of Mind contains key themes that
connect to chapters 5-10 of Autobiography of Malcolm X.
Day ‘n’ Nite -- Kid Cudi
(Verse 1)
 Nina Boggan, Siena Butters, Arshiya Dutta
Period 2

Day and night

I toss and turn
I keep stress in my mind, mind
I look for peace
But see I don't attain
What I need for keeps
This silly game we play, play
Now look at this
Madness the magnet
Keeps attracting me, me
I try to run
But see I'm not that fast
I think I'm first
But surely finish last, last
(Hook)
'Cause day and night
The lonely stoner
Seems to free his mind at night
He's all alone
Through the day 'n' nite
The lonely loner
Seems to free his mind at night
At, at, at night
Day and night
The lonely stoner
Seems to free his mind at night
He's all alone
Some things will never change
The lonely loner
Seems to free his mind at night
At, at, at night

This song is a fitting representation of chapters 5-10, chapter 7 in particular because it

describes Malcolm’s drug habits while he is hustling in Harlem. He sleeps through much of the
day and then does most of his robberies at night. This process can be described in the lyric, “The
lonely loner seems to free his mind at night.” Malcolm is in a state of constant paranoia. He
moves from one 15-20 dollar room every so often, and he had to stay “high on narcotics to keep
from getting nervous.” The lyrics “Day and night, I toss and turn I keep stress in my mind,” are a
summary of Malcolm’s lifestyle. He is continuously falling deeper into the cycle of drugs and
 Nina Boggan, Siena Butters, Arshiya Dutta
Period 2

moving around. He keeps guns on him to instill fear in others, because he is so stressed about
protecting himself. His use of narcotics while he is awake are a coping mechanism for dealing
with how on edge he feels, and his awareness of how quickly his life could end. The overall tone
of chapters 5-10 is uneasy, because Malcolm is constantly pushing his own limits as well as
pushing the limits of the law. “Day ‘n’ Nite” accurately portrays this tone, because it is not
overly dramatic or serious, but accomplishes a choppy, restless sound. This sound is similar to
Malcolm’s behavior throughout the section; stressed, jumpy, and disconnected.

Gangsta’s Paradise -- Coolio

(Verse 1):
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left
‘Cause I've been blastin' and laughin' so long
That even my momma thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Me be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of
You better watch how you talkin' and where you walkin'
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc
As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke
Fool, I'm the kinda G that little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night, sayin' prayers in the street light
(Refrain):
Keep spending most our lives
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise

This song accurately represents chapters 5-10 because it reflects Malcolm’s lifestyle in
Harlem and his struggles with being a hustler. The title “Gangsta paradise” is fitting because
though life as a gangster is full of darkness, it is also paradise to Malcolm because of how he is
addicted to the thrill of the hustle. Malcolm reaches a low point in his life in which he is addicted
to drugs and constantly expecting his death. The image of the streets as a “valley of the shadow
 Nina Boggan, Siena Butters, Arshiya Dutta
Period 2

of death” reveals how Malcolm’s risky life as a hustler meant that the possibility of death lurked
at every corner, whether by police, West Indian Archie, or gangs. The lyric, “You better watch
how you talkin' and where you walkin' Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk” reveals
how in the streets, making the wrong move can result in death. This is apparent in Malcolm’s life
when he angers West Indian Archie by getting in an argument over gambling, and Archie
confronts him with a gun. The lyric, “I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left,” also
accurately demonstrates Malcolm’s life in chapters 5-10 because of how he gives up everything,
including his relationship with family members to fuel his addiction to drugs and the hustling
life. This also reflects Malcolm’s hopeless and resigned tone during the section.

Run This Town -- JayZ feat. Rihanna & Kanye West

(Hook: Rihanna)
Life’s a game, but it's not fair
I break the rules, so I don’t care
So I keep doin' my own thang
Walkin' tall against the rain
Victory’s within the mile
Almost there, don’t give up now
Only thing that's on my mind
Is who’s gon' run this town tonight
Heyyy, heyy, heyyy, heyy
Who’s gon' run this town tonight?
(Verse)
We are, ya I said it, we are
This is Roc Nation, pledge your allegiance
Get your fatigues on, all black everything
Black cards, black cars, all black everything
And our girls are blackbirds ridin' with they Dillingers
I'd get more in depth if you boys really real enough
This is la familia, I'll explain later
But for now, let me get back to this paper
I'm a couple bands down, and I'm tryin' to get back
I gave the other grip, I lost a flip for five stacks
Yeah I'm talkin' five comma, six zeros, dot zeros, here it go
Back to runnin' circles 'round n**gas, now we squared up
Hold up
 Nina Boggan, Siena Butters, Arshiya Dutta
Period 2

This song is an accurate depiction of the events in our chapters because it explains the
feeling of running free and causing havoc in a city. The lyrics “I break the rules, so I don’t care”,
and “run this town tonight” show how the people in this song are carefree and feel like the world
is in their hands. This can be compared to in chapter 9, when Malcolm and his burglary team rob
a rich white neighborhood. In this chapter, the team cleans out the neighborhood night after
night, without being caught in the act. They are daring and do not fear death or prison; they even
get a high out of their crime. This can also be compared to Malcolm on the railroad selling
reefers. Although he had to stay somewhat undercover he was travelling all over the country and
making money, and he felt powerful in doing so. The themes of recklessness and the feeling of
ultimate power can be seen in both this song and when Malcolm and his team rob the white
neighborhoods. The tone of impulsivity and power can be seen in both the song’s lyrics and our
chapters. There are many similarities in the tone, theme, and subject of both the song and
chapters 5-10 of Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Stolen Youth -- Roots Manuva

(Verse 1)
Judge 'em on the come up
It's bound to be your bad luck
Instantly running ways to survive
You judge a man by the risk he takes
To change his faith and place himself
Up in the dreamscape, free from the trappings
The flesh will trap him, the flesh will tap him
And these lights look bright in the city
And one day this might be his city
He got more dreams than Luther King
But pipes of peace might do for him
But some get peace by keeping a piece in easy reach and being quick to squeeze

(Hook)
The road takes a hold on you
Becomes the whole of you
You're looking at the stolen youth
The eggs, the clucker and the golden goose
The road takes a hold on you
Becomes the whole of you
 Nina Boggan, Siena Butters, Arshiya Dutta
Period 2

You're looking at the stolen youth

The eggs, the clucker and the golden goose.

The song “Stolen Youth” by Roots Manuva effectively portrays Malcolm’s life in
chapters 5-10. The title of the song is accurate because though Malcolm is only a teenager at the
time, he loses his childhood innocence by having to maneuver the dangers of the streets. He
experiences gambling, violence, and drugs while he is still at a young age. In chapter 9, Malcolm
remembers, “I viewed narcotics as most people regard food. I wore my guns as today I wear my
neckties” (Haley 141). This shows that he became attached to certain vices during his time as a
hustler. The lyrics “pipes of peace might do for him” and “some get peace by keeping a piece in
easy reach and being quick to squeeze” parallel Malcolm’s reliance on drugs and guns at a young
age. The lyric “Instantly running ways to survive” reveals how Malcolm was constantly on edge
to fight for his life. He describes how he “deliberately invited death in many, sometimes insane,
ways” (Haley 141). Being a hustler became a matter of life or death for Malcolm, and death was
always on his mind.

Addiction -- Kanye West

(Hook)
Why everything that's supposed to be bad make me feel so good?
Everything they told me not to is exactly what I would
Man, I tried to stop man, I tried the best I could
But (You make me smile)

(Verse 1)
What's your addiction? Is it money? Is it girls? Is it weed?
I've been afflicted by not one, not two, but all three
She's got the same thing, about me, but more, about us
She's coming over, so I guess, that means, I'm her drugs
Just let me peek now, I mean damn, I'm so curious
She's got a lover, so the lies, and the lust, is a rush
Time's of the essence, I need, you to be spontaneous
Roll up the doja, Henny and Coca-Cola
Then I'm co coming over cause it's never over
 Nina Boggan, Siena Butters, Arshiya Dutta
Period 2

The title of this song itself, “Addiction” is a huge part of Malcolm’s life in chapter 5-10.
Malcolm is addicted to gambling, women, and drugs all throughout this section. The lyrics
“What's your addiction? Is it money? Is it girls? Is it weed? I've been afflicted by not one, not
two, but all three” seem as though they could be coming from Malcolm himself, addressing the
reader/viewer. The song has a melancholy tone with the minor guitar riff and sampling from a
happy song. These two components contradict each other, and resemble Malcolm’s emotions
while on drugs. He is paranoid and nervous, but masks it with the good feeling he gets from
cocaine and marijuana. When he becomes addicted, he cannot live without this feeling, and he
has little regard for much else. His relationship with Ella changes after this. She does not approve
of his behavior, or of how he is carrying on with a white woman like Sophia. The lyric
“Everything they told me not to is exactly what I would” shows how even though Malcolm’s
actions are concerning to many of the people in his life, he continues to use drugs, hustle, and
hang with Sophia even though she is married. “Addiction” is a good selection for the final part of
Malcolm’s career as a hustler, because it’s peaceful melancholy reflects Malcolm’s realization
that his lifestyle unavoidably will result in something bad and his disregard for all consequences.
His addiction to this lifestyle is the cause of his downfall at the end of the chapter, and it is
almost as if he expects it.