Around the 1980’s the Rap genre was turned more into a genre of ‘gangster’. Akon, who was born and raised in New Jersey, has made $60 billion dollars (Wealthy Gorilla) off of Rap, which is just one of many rappers that have succeeded and lived off of this genre's fan base. Akon has had many popular songs that hit charts, one of which is Gangsta Bop. Gangsta Bop's lyrics display the fact of how black boys growing up, especially in the streets, are meant to be tough, loyal, and see/experience things white boys don’t. Even with him saying these things he presents an emotion of stress and trauma.
You don't know the history I got on these streets
Only if you see what my eyes have seen
Then you'll understand why I'm surrounded by G's
If you owe me, and we got beef
I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze
Pause for a minute, guaranteed you gon' bleed
'Cause that's how we was raised growing up in these streets (Gangsta Bop Lyrics)
Akon allows the listener to understand by the first three lines of this quotation the trauma of his childhood. Now has him surrounding himself with people that have probably seen/experienced the same things. Specifically the lyrics “Only if you see what my eyes have seen” has him throwing the thought of experiencing PTSD from his youth on the “streets”. According to a 2012 National Youth Gang Survey two out of five members in a gang were under 18. (Painted Brain) This indicates that the young gang members would have grown up in a very stressful and negative environment during their most vulnerable years leaving them scarred. Several studies have also been done to reveal that young gang members with constant exposure to violence have higher chances of developing Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression. (Painted Brain) This information really pulls back to the idea of Akon having a hidden message of stress; trauma behind the tough lines. The Last two lines in the quotation show a representation of manliness, strength and even braveness. The specific quotation “guaranteed you gon’ bleed” really emphasizes the fact of how black men are ‘supposed’ to get physical and go home all bruised up. The fact of these lyrics are that most youth gang members must complete a ritual/initiation before joining. Most common initiations consist of Jumpin'in which is when you get a consistent beating for a set time period by members of the : gang; robbing, rape, burgalry are all other initiations (Edmonton Police Service). This fact pulls back to the thought that Akon was expressing how he had to be Loyal and Tough when being on the “streets'. Akon uses a metaphor in the quotation which really emphasizes the fact that most gang members have fear and terror within but to survive they have to act like a ‘man’ and fight. “I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze”. Akon expresses through the song that black men especially the ones that live on the streets are meant to be tough,bleed, fight to survive, and are meant to be scarred from parts of their childhood. However, even with this you can feel a part of Akon traumatized and scared.
Comments