Introduction
Every so often a new style of music emerges that takes America by storm and
comes to represent the generation that grows up with it. In the 50's it was
rock'n'roll, followed by the Motown sound of the 60's. The 1970's brought folk
music and disco, and in the 80's it was rap. Perhaps no other form of music has
crossed as many boundaries and become a bridge between America's many cultures
as rap has. Let's face it, if you listen to any current or some old rap/hip hop
CDs in America there is always an intro which paves the way for the rest of the
songs and gives you a taste of what the CD is going to be like. I am going to
try to do that here, just like any rap CD. Although some might not know it,
there is a difference between rap and hip-hop. Rap got started first and
eventually hip-hop branched off of it. Rap music is more rhyming with more
vulgar words with more raw beats, some examples of rap could be Dr. Dre, Tupac,
Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep, Ice Cube, DMX, Wu-Tang Clan, Eminem, and Nas.
Hip-Hop is more popular with not as much vulgarity and more up beat dance beats,
some examples of hip-hop could be Nelly, Ja Rule, Outkast, P Diddy, Jay-Z, Busta
Rhymes, and Ludacris. Hip-hop is a term that is defined as the backing music for
rapping, which is composed of a collage of excerpts or "samples from other
songs" (Glaser). The culture of rap is commonly made up of graffiti spraying,
break dancing, and turntables. Hip-hop and Rap represent the culture of African
Americans and Caribbean history, identity, and community. Rap evolved from
African people in general and blacks born in the U.S. in particular. The origins
of rap can be traced to West Africa where tribesmen held "men of words" in high
regard. Later when slaves were brought to the New World, the captives mixed
American music with the beats they remembered from Africa. Another origin of rap
is a form of Jamaican folk stories called "toasts." These are narrative poems
that tell stories in rhyme (Bennet). African Americans in New York City heard
this Jamaican style music, brought to them by DJ Kool Herc, in a style of using
to turntables at once and as a form of a musical instrument. Herc eventually
added a microphone and threw in some Jamaican toasting style-joking, boasting,
and using myriad in-group references (Headbob). This new type of music spread
through New York and in 1979 the first two rap records appeared and caught the
eye of mainstream America: "King Tim III (Personality Jock)", recorded by the
Fatback Band, and "Rapper's Delight", by Sugarhill Gang (Headbob). Eventually
"Rapper's Delight" became a national hit and reached number 36 on the Billboard
magazine popular music charts (Headbob).
By the 1980's, hip hop had
become a dynamic culture shaped by black style, nationalism, and street smarts
(Encarta). Rap's audience started to grow tremendously and gain notoriety with
acts like Public Enemy, N.W.A., and Ice-T. More than 20 years have now passed
and rap still has a huge following among people of all ages and socio-economic
backgrounds. Rap can and has influenced America's cultures in a lot of ways. The
lyrics of some rap songs are very controversial and can contain some very vulgar
language and attitudes. Throughout the late 1980's and early 1990's, rap songs
got a lot of attention, not only from American citizens but also from the people
that represent the American citizens, the government. The FBI even got involved
in one particular album, Straight Outta Compton by NWA (Niggaz With Attitude)
(Headbob). In the 80's many rap songs were commentaries on the hardships of
ghetto life, warnings about drugs and about teenage love or lust. Those topics
led some parents to fear that rap encouraged youths to turn to violence and
illegal substance use. Organizations such as the Parents' Music Resource Center
had fits over lyrics in rap and hip-hop, which contained explicit references to
sex, drugs and racism (Headbob). The performers don't deny that rap music speaks
openly about harsh topics. But they argue that audiences should be able
distinguish between fantasy and reality, right and wrong.
The lyrics have
not only had an effect on society, but also the style of clothing. Rappers such
as P Diddy, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, and Master P have all opened up
their own clothing lines within the past 10 years. The clothing lines have been
successful with not only African-American listeners, but also White and Hispanic
listeners as well.
Presently, rap and its close relative hip-hop are
enjoying its largest popularity ever as a result of its mainstream acceptance
and thanks to artists like Kid Rock and Eminem, African-Americans are not the
only ones listening anymore. Also, the female audience has gained steady
popularity with the emergence of ladies behind the microphone like Salt-n-Pepa,
Queen Latifah, and Li'l Kim. It's obvious that rap has and will be around for a
while and will continue to affect our culture, whether you like it or
not.
Hip Hop History
Hip-hop and rap are music genres that are not so different; in fact some
people will argue that they constitute one music genre. Hip-hop and rap emerged
from the streets of some of America's roughest and toughest cities such as New
York and Los Angeles. Hip-hop influenced language with words such as def (cool),
chillin (hanging out), and crew (friends). (USPS, 1998) Hip hop also influenced
American clothes with hooded sweatshirts, baggy pants, brand name sneakers,
backward baseball caps and signature haircut that dominated the industry. (USPS,
1998) Hip hop and rap have struck American main stream culture from the 1980s
"Gansta Rap" of NWA to the current day rap by artists such as Nelly that gets
played in night clubs all across America. In the early days of hip hop teenagers
had to improvise because of a lack of dance halls and community spaces where
they could show their talents. The ways that they improvised were by dancing in
the streets, plugging their sound systems into street lights and the teenagers
use their artistic talent on billboards, walls and subway cars instead of on
canvas. (Encarta Africana, 1999-2003) The youth first danced to disco then to
Jamaican influenced DJS then to rap. Young musicians of the cities went to under
funded schools that could not afford instruments so the young musicians used
stereo technology to make new sounds. The graffiti artists set the stages for
the locals DJs and young musicians. (Encarta Africana, 1999-2003) The
improvising of these inner city youth contributed to the birth of rap music in
America. Groups of artists, both graffiti and musician, began to associate with
each other and they formed "crews" or "posses". (Encarta Africana, 1999-2003)
These crews or posses often resembled gangs.
Hip hop included ongoing
battles for local status that usually erupted into physical violence. In the
early 1980s hip hop culture came out into the American mainstream. (Encarta
Africana, 1999-2003) Hip hop was recognized nationally when hip hop music and
break dancing were incorporated in movies, documentaries, music videos, and
albums. In 1986 rap reached the top ten on the billboard pop charts with two
early songs, which included elements of rock, "You Gotta Fight for Your Right to
Party" by the Beastie Boys and "Walk this Way" by Run DMC and Aerosmith.
(Headbob.com) IN 1988 the first gansta rap album emerged. This album was done by
a group called NWA and the album was titled "Straight Outta Compton". The album
brought out a lot of controversy and protest from American organizations such as
and including the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (Headbob.com) The efforts to
censor the music only made it more popular. Supporters of rap say "… rap serves
to engender self-pride, self-help, and self-improvement, communicating a
positive and fulfilling sense of black history that is largely absent from other
American Institutions." (Headbob.com) This quote, to me, is saying that rap
increases the awareness of the history of black culture which is a subject area
that is lacking in the education institutions of America.
Hip-hop and rap
have influence American culture since it hit mainstream America in early 1980s.
Rap has influenced thing such as African American history awareness in our
education institutions, clothes, language, accessories, and the list of rap and
hip hoop influences goes on and on. Rap has hit mainstream America and has not
died down since the first top ten billboard songs by the Beastie Boys and Run
DMC. "At the end of the 20th century hip hop continues to represent the cultural
movement that originally developed in the Bronx." (Encarta Africana, 199-2003)
Hip-hop and rap may have originated on the street but the genres have become a
big part of American culture from the big cities to small
towns.
Lyrics
Lyric content in hip-hop and rap has been controversial for many years now
with people saying the lyrics are to sexual, violent and to graphic. Rap and
hip-hop started in the late 70's early 80's with the Sugar Hill Gang. They sang
a sung called Rappers Delight that talks about themselves and about dancing.
They don't say anything vulgar or offensive towards anyone, which has changed a
lot since then. Throughout the years music has gotten more offensive with
rappers such as Eminem, 2 Pac, Dr Dre, and DMX. Hip-Hop has also changed with
such artists as, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, Missy Elliott, Nelly and Ludacris. Hip-Hop
started in 1979 and has not lyrically changed that much. The lyrics are still
basically about their lives or the lives around them. Terry Teachout in the
article Bad Rap states, hip-hop today remains more or less what it was in 1979:
a hard, graceless half music stripped of all semblance of melody, and harmony,
existing solely as a vehicle for unpolished couplets that allegedly express the
unvarnished truth about the way we live now (Teachout). Hip-Hop still focuses on
the beat of the music for dancing compared to the lyric content on the song. In
the 80's a song called, give it up or turn it lose, by James Brown was known as
the National Anthem of Hip-Hop. Chris Speerse talks about hip-hop in the article
Hip-Hop Its Roots and Its Future when he says, The lyrics began to focus more on
Hip-Hop culture, and the music has become much more sophisticated (Speerse). Not
all Hip-Hop artists rap about having sex all the time or smoking weed but they
also sing about their life and things that go on in other places. Hip-Hop artist
Nelly chants about shoes in one of his songs and in another song he sings about
a girl. Speerse also says, Hip-Hop needs to be accepted as the musical voice of
the 1990's as well as very entertaining listening (Speerse). Hip-Hop songs are
the kind of music you listen to in clubs and dance to, its fun to listen
to.
Even though Hip-Hop and Rap are very much a like and Rap stems from
hip-hop the lyrical content is still slightly different. Rap soon transformed to
gansta rap, which brought music to another level with lyrics talking about the
ghetto life. Hooks says in his article Seduced by Violence No More that, gangsta
rap is seen as a "celebration" of rape culture and its "most powerful
contemporary voice" (Hooks 1993). Music is important to teenagers' because it
helps them deal with issues that parents don't want to discuss with their child.
Rap and Hip-Hop bring a harsh reality to the minds of teenagers who are
sheltered from this lifestyle. This type of music in a sense prepares them for
the "real world." In a study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics in the
article Impact of Music Lyrics and Music Videos on Children and Youth that
states, Teenagers often do not know the lyrics or fully comprehend their
meaning. Only 30% of teenagers knew the lyrics of their favorite songs, and
their comprehension varied greatly (American Academy of Pediatrics). Many
artists that rap about smoking marijuana or violently attacking someone haven't
really done it but rap about it because that is what "thug" life is supposed to
be about. Dr Dre said, "I don't smoke weed… cause it's known to give a brother
brain damage" (speerse). As it goes rap and Hip-Hop lyrics have always been
about their lifestyle and as the genre gets more and more popular so does their
lifestyle. They have to defend themselves and express themselves and what better
way then through music. Artists CD's have now been forced to have warning labels
on those CD's who's music includes topics such as drugs, sex, rape, and
violence. Rap and Hip-Hop have great beats to dance to and are fun to just sit
around with friends and listen to. The lyrics are part of this genre of music
but not what everyone focuses on.
Hip-Hop and Rap Fashion
The fashion world is always changing with different styles and trends
developing every day. Beginning in the late 1980's a new trend started to form,
the Hip - Hop Fashion trend which consisted of flashy jewelry, baggy jeans,
sports wear and oversized clothing (Business). This new form of fashion was not
always designed by some of the leading names in Hip - Hop music. For example a
company first originated the baggy jean design in Los Angeles called VASCO Jeans
who supplied the emerging Hip - Hop rappers and urban youth with the styles they
wanted to adapt to the changing fashions. (Yesterdayland) After four years of
almost complete domination of the Hip - Hop fashion market, some of the more
recognized "designer" label clothing lines decided to enter the new fashion sub
culture and many of these designer labels made millions off of the new fashion.
One label in particular, Tommy Hilfiger, made the biggest increase in sales when
he entered the Hip - Hop Fashion market. Tommy Hilfiger found a way to make Hip
- Hop fashion into a designer clothing line which paved the way for other major
clothing lines to start their own Hip - Hop style of clothing. (From the
Ghetto)
Starting in 1995 Hip - Hop music was becoming mainstream with the
public. Hip - Hop was becoming the fastest growing type of music in America, and
many kids in suburban areas were now starting to understand the music and the
fashion. Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, who is one of the leading Hip - Hop artists in
the 1990's, decided to take Hip - Hop fashion to a whole new level. He
incorporated his popular name with his ideas of what Hip - Hop fashion should
be. In 1997 he started the Sean John clothing line. His clothing line introduced
flashy suits, baggy jeans, baggy shirts, and many other accessories to make a
person "hip" with today's culture. Within months of the foundation of the Sean
John Clothing line it made millions of dollars for Sean Combs, and was soon one
of the fastest growing companies in the world. Sean Comb's success made many
other members of the Hip - Hop community decide to get on the band wagon and
decide to start their own clothing lines, but none have been as successful as
the Sean John Clothing line created by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs. (Entertainment
Tonight). With the proven success of Combs many other artist thought they would
follow in his footsteps and to make some extra money. Rap mogul, Russell Simmons
figured out that hip hop fashion had become big when he saw the way that people
wanted to be more like rappers. Russell Simmons, understood the equation of
fashion and rap equals celebrity and Simmons began to offer the Phat Farm line,
while FUBU wisely retained rap icon, LL Cool J, as a spokesperson ( Rap/HipHop).
For example, not only do kids want the lifestyles that rappers portray in their
videos, such as the cars, houses, and girls, they also want to look like them
too. If successful, these brands have the potential to win the hearts and money
of young men and women ages 14 to 26. A fickle group that had become
increasingly attractive to retailers (ABC News ). With demand high for different
types of rap apparel it was only a matter of time before more rappers would
begin to get involved in the clothing business.
As the demand for Hip-Hop
clothing increases, so do the different styles. Many rappers such as Sean Combs,
Jay-Z, Nelly, and Master P who are primarily east coast rappers have different
styles compared to those rappers from the west coast. A new line of Hip - Hop
clothing has recently exploded into clothing stores on the west coast of
America. The rapper Snoop "Doggy" Dogg released a new West Coast Hip-Hop style
clothing line called Snoop Dogg Clothing. This line has become increasingly
popular with the youth because it is a clothing line with a tougher look then
that of the East Coast style (Urbanclothing). With the proven fact that hip-hop
clothing is becoming even more popular then ever it is easier to find in stores
then it was a couple of years ago. Federated Department stores, which owns and
operates department stores such as Macy's, Bloomingdales, and Rich's among
others, is among the retailers who have been actively embracing celebrity-driven
clothing lines. Macy's, Rich's Lazarus, and Goldsmith's have been stocking Sean
John, FUBU, Jay-Z's Rocawear line, and Phat Farm in recent years (ABC News). As
demand keeps rising every year so will the number of stores that carry hip hop
clothing, and before long hip hop clothing will become one of the main styles in
fashion.
As hip-hop keeps rising as one of the most popular kinds of
music, so will everything that goes with it. Just as what has happened in the
past more rappers will become involved in the business of clothing. As rappers
continue to express themselves through music, they will also express themselves
in many other ways including clothing lines. Even starting this year there is
two more rappers entering the clothing business, Eminem and Ice T, which plan
for their clothes to hit stores later this year. This just goes to show that
hip-hop is on the rise not only in music but also in trends. The only way to
bring hip hop down is to do something bigger and better, but if rappers have
there way that will not happen.
PROMOTION OF HIP-HOP AND RAP
Within the media today, as well as past years, many companies have used
celebrities to endorse their products. Not only do companies hire well-known
celebrities for advertisements, but singers and rap artists as well. Considering
how popular hip-hop music has become in the past fifteen years, it is no
surprise that numerous marketing and ad agencies have hired popular and trendy
rap and hip-hop artists in hopes of selling their company's products. Rappers
and singers have been known to endorse products ranging from deodorant to soft
drinks. One of hip-hop's most popular duo's can be seen in the Right Guard Power
Stripe advertisements. Redman and Method Man are seen in commercials as well as
print ads trying to promote their specific product. Dr.Pepper has also used
hip-hop icons to help sell their product. LL Cool J and members of Run DMC can
been seen in commercials broadcasted nationally. Coca Cola has used one of
hip-hop's most popular divas, Mya, to help promote their product which can also
been seen frequently on television.
Promotion is also happening threw
songs in the world of hip-hop today. Nelly and the St.Lunatics came out with a
song this year called, Air Force One's, which is a shoe that Nike sells. Just by
saying the brand of shoe in a song can be a strong way to promote ones product,
people well buy them just because their favorite rapper talks about them. Many
artists have even started their own clothing line, while promoting their items
through their songs and also billboards and commercials. Some of these artists
that have started their own clothing line are P Ditty, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg.
America is seeing many artist help promote products today and I don't think that
it is going to stop any time soon.
Lyrics to Hip-Hop Songs
Nelly
Air Force Ones
said give me two pairs
(cause) I need two pairs So I can get to stomping in my Air Force Ones(big Boi)
Big Boys stomping in my Air Force Ones
I like the all white, high top,
strapped with the gum bottom There's some'n about dem, dirty that's why I got
em' I leave them strapped and lace and then come up out em' The last person that
touch em' I damn near shot em'
Now if you look and see lime green Forces
it's Kiwi You couldn't get this color if you had a personal genie You know I
keeps it hip-hop my nigga flip-flop Yeah my Force Ones in tip-top ya'll fork for
flip-flops
I like the limited edition, the khaki, and army green Patent
leather, pen stripes, you should see how I do the strings Size 12 with the
strap, red and white with a Cardinal cap All flavors but it just depends on
wherever I'm at
Don't get me wrong, Don't get me wrong man Now Murphy Lee
ain't dumb man Cuz' if the shoe is on the shelf you should have some man You
cannot sit up and tell me that you have none man You can not have three or four
but you got one man
I said give me two pairs (cause) I need two pairs So
I can get to stomping in my Air Force Ones(big Boi) Big Boys stomping in my Air
Force Ones
We up in footlocker, I'm looking like I need those 10 1/2 and
if you got em' give me two of those I can tell she's never seen Murphy Lee
before Cuz' she just standing there as if I'm shooting free throws I said excuse
me Miss I only wanna buy shoes She said I love you Murph, especially in the
white and blues I said the white and blue, sounds nice, make it twice Then I
signed an autograph "Thanks for the advice"
I keep it real dirty dirty
you know how I do Purple and gold with the Lakers, the Broncos, the orange and
blue I like floppy with ankle socks, lows, mids, and high tops With the clear
sole but it's Tims with fat laces when is cold But when the winter go (brr) and
the hot summer flow Then it's back to the all-purpose with the lil' dots in the
toe Ain't nothing stopping this dough that I'm spending fo sho' On those Nike
Air Forces N E behind the O
O-kay Lee, I treat my shoes like my ride
Chrome on the fat laces and put the wood on the inside Spray candy on the swoosh
with electric roof Since I put a kid on the sole now I gotta wad of shoe (Oohhh)
You see that low mid skittle purple hoop, I 'm driving nem' ('Kyjuan where you
getting them colors, are you dying nem') 10 is my size, and no point in tieing
'em Ain't no point of trying these on, they know I'm buying 'em
Now don't
nothing get the hype on first sight like white on whites Them 3 quarters, the
lows, they all tight The only problem they only good for one night 'Cuz once you
scuffed 'em you fucked up your whole night What's my basis, the looks on stored
on his faces This kid is outrageous, he buying 'em by the cases 'Cuz once I cop
'em I gut 'em and switch the laces They all-purpose ya heard me kinda like my
datings
I said give me two pairs (cause) I need two pairs So I can get to
stomping in my Air Force Ones(big Boi) Big Boys stomping in my Air Force Ones
I wore spurs at first but now it's hate on 'em (Damn when those come
out) So I write the date on 'em These Louis Vuitton Ones, you gotta wait on 'dem
I had to get them early so I spent mo' cake on them
Look, I'm trying to
keep it up like a one minute man While Ali on the Kawasaki two head bands
Jewelry and all (you wilin') fish bowl in da mall (I got some 15's) Security
buying shoes and all
Listen, sometimes I get em' free n' sometimes I
gotta pay Walk in the mall and they know what I'm 'bout say Gimme the black,and
the platinum, and leather gray The ones in the back and the pair you got on
display
Now when the boxes go I keep mine (keep mine) You should peep
mine (peep mine, peep mine) Once or twice but never 3 times I'm just a sneaker
pro I love Pumas and shell-toes But can't nothing compare to a fresh, cripsy
white pair of (yeah)
I said give me two pairs (cause) I need two pairs
So I can get to stomping in my Air Force Ones(big Boi) Big Boys stomping in my
Air Force Ones
Beastie Boy's
You Got to Fight for your Right to Party
Kick It!!
You wake up late for school and you don't wanna GO You ask your mom please but
she still says NO! You miss two classes and no homework But the teacher preaches
class like he's some kind of jerk
chorus: You gotta fight For your right
To PARTY
Your pops caught ya smoking and he said no WAY That hypocrite
smokes two packs a day Livin' at home is such a drag your mom threw away your
best porno mag (Busted)
Get out of this house if thats the clothes
you're gonna wear I'll kick you out of my home if you don't CUT THAT HAIR your
mom busted in and said whats that NOISE? Mom you're just jealous it's the
BEASTIE BOYS
Rap Lyrics
N.W.A (niggas with attitude)
Straight outta Compton, crazy motherfucker named Ice Cube From
the gang called Niggaz With Attitudes When I'm called off, I got a sawed off
Squeeze the trigger, and bodies are hauled off You too, boy, if ya fuck with me
The police are gonna hafta come and get me Off yo ass, that's how I'm goin out
For the punk motherfuckers that's showin out Niggaz start to mumble, they wanna
rumble Mix em and cook em in a pot like gumbo Goin off on a motherfucker like
that with a gat that's pointed at yo ass So give it up smooth Ain't no tellin
when I'm down for a jack move Here's a murder rap to keep yo dancin with a crime
record like Charles Manson AK-47 is the tool Don't make me act the motherfuckin
fool Me you can go toe to toe, no maybe I'm knockin niggaz out tha box, daily yo
weekly, monthly and yearly until them dumb motherfuckers see clearly that I'm
down with the capital C-P-T Boy you can't fuck with me So when I'm in your
neighborhood, you better duck Coz Ice Cube is crazy as fuck As ALI, believe I'm
stompin but when I come back, boy, I'm comin straight outta Compton
[City
of Compton, City of Compton] [Eazy E] Yo Ren [MC Ren] Whassup? [Eazy E] Tell em
where you from!
Straight outta Compton, another crazy ass nigga More
punks I smoke, yo, my rep gets bigger I'm a bad motherfucker and you know this
But the pussy ass niggaz don't show this But I don't give a fuck, I'ma make my
snaps If not from the records, from jack in the cracks Its like burgerly, the
definition is 'jackin' And when illegally armed it's called 'packin' Shoot a
motherfucker in a minute I find a good piece o' pussy, I go up in it So if
you're at a show in the front row I'm a call you a bitch or dirty-ass ho You'll
probably get mad like a bitch is supposed to But that shows me, slut, you're
composed to a crazy muthafucker from tha street Attitude legit cause I'm tearin
up shit MC Ren controls the automatic For any dumb muthafucker that starts
static Not the right hand cause I'm the hand itself every time I pull a AK off
the shelf The security is maximum and that's a law R-E-N spells Ren but I'm raw
See, coz I'm the motherfuckin villain The definition is clear, you're the
witness of a killin that's takin place without a clue And once you're on the
scope, your ass is through Look, you might take it as a trip but a nigga like
Ren is on a gangsta tip Straight outta Compton...
[City of Compton, City
of Compton] [Dr. Dre] Eazy is his name and the boy is
comin...
...straight outta Compton is a brotha that'll smother yo' mother
and make ya sister think I love her Dangerous motherfucker raises hell And if I
ever get caught I make bail See, I don't give a fuck, that's the problem I see a
motherfuckin cop I don't dodge him But I'm smart, lay low, creep a while And
when I see a punk pass, I smile To me it's kinda funny, the attitude showin a
nigga drivin but don't know where the fuck he's going, just rollin lookin for
the one they call Eazy But here's a flash, they never seize me Ruthless! Never
seen like a shadow in the dark except when I unload, see I'll get over the
hesitation and hear the scream of the one who got the last penetration Give a
little gust of wind and I'm jettin But leave a memory no one'll be forgettin So
what about the bitch who got shot? Fuck her! You think I give a damn about a
bitch? I ain't a sucker! This is the autobiography of the E, and if you ever
fuck with me You'll get taken by a stupid dope brotha who will smother word to
the motherfucker, straight outta Compton
[City of Compton, City of
Compton] [and that kinda shit you cant sweep up under no rug you
know]
Eminem
Superman
Intro: (girl) Oooooh (Eminem) You high baby? (girl) Yaaahhh.
(Eminem) Yah? (girl) hahaha.. Talk to me. (Eminem) You want me to tell you
something? (girl) Uh huh. (Eminem) I know what you want to hear.
(Chorus
A) (Eminem) Cuz I know you want me baby, I think I want you too, (girl) I think
I love you baby, (Eminem) “I think I love you too” I’m here to save you girl,
come be in Shady’s world I want to grow together. let’s let our love unfurl You
know you want me baby, you know I want you too, They call me superman, I’m here
to rescue you, I want to save you girl, come be in Shady’s world, (girl) “Ooooh
boy you drive me crazy“, (Eminem) Bitch you make me h..curl
(Verse one)
They call me superman, leap tall hoes in a single bound, I’m single now, got no
ring on this finger now, I’ll never let another chick bring me down in a
relationship, save it bitch, babysit? You make me sick, Superman ain’t savin’
shit, girl you can jump on Shady’s dick, Straight from the hip, cut to the
chase, I tell a mo'fuckin' slut to her face, Play no games, say no names, ever
since I broke up with what’s her face? I’m a different man, kiss my ass, kiss my
lips, bitch why ask? Kiss my dick, get my cash? I’d rather have you whip my ass,
Don’t put out, I’ll put you out. Won’t get out, I’ll push you out, Puss blew
out, poppin’ shit, wouldn’t piss on fire to put you out Am I too nice? Buy you
ice? Bitch if you died, I wouldn’t buy you life, What you tryin’ to be my new
wife? What you Mariah? Fly through twice
(Bridge) But I do know one thing
though, bitches, they come they go. Saturday through Sunday, Monday, Monday
through Sunday yo Maybe I’ll love you one day, maybe we’ll someday grow, till
then just sit your drunk ass on that fuckin’ runway ho
(Chorus B) Cus I
can’t be you Superman, can’t be your Superman, can’t be your Superman, can’t be
your Superman, I can’t be your Superman, can’t be your Superman, can’t be your
Superman, your Superman, your Superman
(Verse two) Don’t get me wrong, I
love these hoes, it’s no secret, everybody knows, Yeah we fucked, bitch so what,
that’s about as far as your buddy goes, We’ll be friends, I’ll call you again,
I’ll chase you around every bar you attend, Never know what kind of car I’ll be
in, we’ll see how much you’ll be partyin’ then, You don’t want that , neither do
I, I don’t want to flip when I see you with guys, Too much pride, between you
and I, not a jealous man, but females lie, But I guess that’s just what sluts
do, how could it ever be just us two? I’d never love you enough to trust you, we
just met and I just fucked you
(Bridge) But I do know one thing though,
bitches, they come they go. Saturday through Sunday, Monday, Monday through
Sunday yo Maybe I’ll love you one day, maybe we’ll someday grow, till then just
sit your drunk ass on that fuckin’ runway ho
(BOTH CHORUS A AND B SUNG AT
THE SAME TIME) (Chorus A) (Eminem) I know you want me baby, I think I want you
too, (girl) I think I love you baby, (Eminem) “I think I love you too” I’m here
to save you girl, come be in Shady’s world I want to grow together, let’s let
our love unfurl You know you want me baby, you know I want you too, They call me
superman, I’m here to rescue you, I want to save you girl, Come be in Shady’s
world, (girl) “Ooooh boy you drive me crazy“, (Eminem) Bitch you make me
hurl
(Verse three) First thing you say, “I’m not fazed, I hang around big
stars all day, I don’t see what the big deal is anyways, you’re just plain old
Marshall to me” Oooh yah girl run that game, “Hallie Jade, I love that name,
love that tatoo, what’s that say? Rot in pieces? Aw, that’s great” First off you
don’t know Marshall, at all so don’t grow partial, that’s ammo for my arsenal,
I’ll slap you off that barstool, There’s goes another lawsuit, leave handprints
all across you, good Lordy whoadie, you must be gone off that water bottle, You
want what you can’t have, ooh girl that’s too damn bad, don’t touch what you
can’t grab, end up with two backhands, Put anthrax on a tampax, and slap you
till you can’t stand, Girl you just blew your chance, don’t mean to ruin your
plans
(Bridge) But I do know one thing though, bitches, they come they
go. Saturday through Sunday, Monday, Monday through Sunday yo Maybe I’ll love
you one day, maybe we’ll someday grow, till then just sit your drunk ass on that
fuckin’ runway ho
A and B sung at the same time) Cuz I know you want me
baby, I think I want you too, (girl)I think I love you baby, (Eminem) “I think I
love you too” I’m here to save you girl, come be in Shady’s world I want to grow
together. let’s let our love unfurl You know you want me baby, you know I want
you too, They call me superman, I’m here to rescue you, I want to save you girl,
Come be in Shady’s world, (girl) “Ooooh boy you drive me crazy“, (Eminem) Bitch
you make me hurl
(Chorus B) Cus I can’t be you Superman, can’t be your
Superman, can’t be your Superman, can’t be your Superman, I can’t be your
Superman, can’t be your Superman, can’t be your Superman, your Superman, your
Superman
Works Cited
Headbob.com, Oakland, CA "The History of Hip-Hop" Available
online: http://www.headbob.com/hiphop/hiphophistory.shtml (accessed March 22,
2003)
Hiphop.htm, "Hip-Hop" by Sarah Glaser Available online:
http://people.uncw.edu/rohlerl/rohler/hiphop.htm (accessed March 30
2003)
Microsoft Encarta Africana content (1999-2003) (copy right Microsoft
Corporation) "Encarta Africana" by Eric Bennet Available online:
http://www.africana.com/research/encarta/tt_239asp (accessed March 23,
2003)
USPS CTC Education Series (1998) (copy right Microsoft Coropration)
"Hip-Hop Culture" Available online:
http://encarta.msn.com/ctc/topic-cards/1980s/tc-hipho.asp (accessed March 15
2003)
Entertainment Tonight - Celebrity's and their clothing lines
http://www.etonline.com/celebrity/a2256.htm
From the Ghetto ….. To the Runway
http://rap.about.com/library/weekly/aa052501a.htm
Hip Hop Meets Fashion
http://www.citypaper.net/articles/111199/ae.pik.hiphop.shtml
TMD 402G The
Future of Fashion
http://www.uri.edu/hss/tmd/tmd402G/sem.sum/subculturey.htm
Urban Clothing
Changes from East to West
http://urbanclothing.netfirms.com/snoop_dogg_clothing.htm
Teachout,
Terry, National Review, Bad Rap February 22, 1999, Vol. 51, issue 3
Speerse
Chris, Hip-Hop: Its Roots and Its Future March 30 2003,
www.geop.itu.edu.tr/~onur/hiphop/rap_hh.html
Hooks, Bell. 1993.Seduced By
Violence no More In Transforming a rape culture Minnedapolis: Milkweed
Editions
American Academy of pediatrics, Impact of Music Lyrics and Music
Videos on Children and Youth. April 1, 2003. www.aap.org/policy/01219.html
The Group
Introduction~ Mark Czajkowski
History~ Nick Davis and
Shawn Dunagan
Editing~ Nikc Davis
Lyrics and web site ~
Krystal Crisp
Fashion~ Jeremy Delewski and Steve
Fogg
Promotion of hip-hop and rap~Dan Cramer