Summary
Technology played a big part in the music business. Usually it was just the rappers rapping for the people but it turned into them rapping for their company and for their contracts because you needed it so you can stay in the business and so they can sign you. But lately instead of the music being on the album only and being played on the t.v it ended up on the internet. By their music being on the internet people can easily download the music without buying the cd which many people do. So many songs was download of the computer. Later on young artists started to bloom out and it was amazing. Even though you had Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Ice T, and many more out the people started to fall in love with the young artists as well. Russell Simmons been through many things, but he got himself together and instead of doing something bad he turned that around and started to do the right things for the community and for people who need help. He was the biggest business person in the world. Many people looked up to him and he was so professional about everything. But things started to change a man named Chavis Muhammad started to get letters saying that he is not hip hop and what he is doing is not cool. He says that he does not judge and that he let young kids do their music, but he is getting letters saying how are you going to let little kids like ten of age say N***** or B**** that is not cool as the people would say. As of now Eminem or as they called him Slim Shady was really big. Everyone loved him and he started to work with 50 Cent and Missy Elliot. There are many more to come.
Quote
A quote I decided to pick is "He is not judgmental, he sees the goodness of kids and makes the kids see the beauty in their ideas. To have Ben on my team is the most credible stamp of approval"(Watkins 153). I decided to pick this quote because it stood out as I was reading it. It makes so much since. If someone wants to express themselves then let them. Simmons he said this quote about Chavis because that is what he believed and Simmons was not mad at that and it is good to have someone in the world like that and in the industry. If you have more people like that, then more people would love to do more music.
Reaction
So far I think that the music business industry had its ups and downs but it is getting better and better. I find it very interesting that it was like this in the music business. I thought people had it easy and that it was easy overall, but it wasn't it was really hard and you had to work for it.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Hip Hop Matters(85-140)
Summary
Hip Hop was all coming from African Americans, but later on there became a twist in the Hip Hop world. An artist named Eminem started to come out. As soon as he came out there was already some problems. In 2003 the beef was revealed The Source magazine's Raymond or as they called him Benzino Scott and Eminem. In a rap battle he had a song called "Die another Day" and David Duke called him a "culture stealer". When Eminen heard he came back with a "dis track" and called him a fake gangster. The Benzino found two raps that Eminem did that was being racist and he planned to release it at the press conference so everyone can hear it. Then later on he admits that it was him and he said it was when he was younger and he just broke up with his girlfriend who was African American. He was not doing that to be racist it was when he was a kid and it is his mistake for doing that. Later on he became really big on his first album already in the millions. Then later on his life story came out and people became really interested in him. But within that Benzino called him Vanilla Ice in 2003. After that they was basically saying that white people have no talent and should not be in the rap industry at all. That they was cultural theft. Then people started to understand Eminem and his music and his flow. Dr. Dre decided to try something new and sign him.
Quote
A quote i decided to pick was "I didn't want to rap about I'm this or I'm that' all the time"(Watkins 115-116). I decided to pick this quote because this quote because in the hip hop most of the rappers do that. Sometimes it gets annoying and other times it is interested to listen to. But in the hip hop industry the ones that do that are the ones who are cocky the most and only worry about their money.
Reaction
I honestly didn't know that hip hop was really like this and it went through this. Honestly I would rather listen to R&B than rap music. The reason why is because rap I find it annoying sometimes and other times some of the songs doesn't make any sense. This book is really good so far and to see that there was so much drama in the industry and so much backstabbing and people wanting greed in the industry and just trying to make a living. That is what this book shows and it is amazing on what they went through to get where they are now.
Hip Hop was all coming from African Americans, but later on there became a twist in the Hip Hop world. An artist named Eminem started to come out. As soon as he came out there was already some problems. In 2003 the beef was revealed The Source magazine's Raymond or as they called him Benzino Scott and Eminem. In a rap battle he had a song called "Die another Day" and David Duke called him a "culture stealer". When Eminen heard he came back with a "dis track" and called him a fake gangster. The Benzino found two raps that Eminem did that was being racist and he planned to release it at the press conference so everyone can hear it. Then later on he admits that it was him and he said it was when he was younger and he just broke up with his girlfriend who was African American. He was not doing that to be racist it was when he was a kid and it is his mistake for doing that. Later on he became really big on his first album already in the millions. Then later on his life story came out and people became really interested in him. But within that Benzino called him Vanilla Ice in 2003. After that they was basically saying that white people have no talent and should not be in the rap industry at all. That they was cultural theft. Then people started to understand Eminem and his music and his flow. Dr. Dre decided to try something new and sign him.
Quote
A quote i decided to pick was "I didn't want to rap about I'm this or I'm that' all the time"(Watkins 115-116). I decided to pick this quote because this quote because in the hip hop most of the rappers do that. Sometimes it gets annoying and other times it is interested to listen to. But in the hip hop industry the ones that do that are the ones who are cocky the most and only worry about their money.
Reaction
I honestly didn't know that hip hop was really like this and it went through this. Honestly I would rather listen to R&B than rap music. The reason why is because rap I find it annoying sometimes and other times some of the songs doesn't make any sense. This book is really good so far and to see that there was so much drama in the industry and so much backstabbing and people wanting greed in the industry and just trying to make a living. That is what this book shows and it is amazing on what they went through to get where they are now.
Hip Hop Matters(55-84)
Summary
In 1997 a small group decided to make a music magazine. They called it the XXL. Then there was another magazine made by these two Harvard students and it was The Source. The Source was published in 1988 and it was really successful. In 1993 a guy name Quincy Jones created Vibe. He wanted it to be better than Rolling Stone. By 1998 the magazine had a rate base of 600,000 and it was named one of the fastest growing magazines. In 2003 it went up to 800,000, but it still did not beat the Rolling Stone(1.3 million). All these magazines creators was getting out of hand. It was not about making the community better and doing for people. There was hypercompetitive as they would call it. It was just turning into who is going to get more money than the other person and if they can blow them out. Hip Hop has influenced many young kids and even the deaths of the famous hip hop people it is still going. Rap was the biggest year in the industry right now and in 1998 that was the most important year for hip hop. The reason way was because it was on going and many good artistes was out there and made it better. As the artists started to come out many of them was hitting the billboard within the week they bring their albums out. There was so many competition in the business it was crazy. After Master P more and more came and it was just getting better an better. Then a female solo artist comes out and her name is Lauren Hill and she had that R&B soul to her and many people liked her. Her songs had so many ratings it was crazy. The rap posted a 13 percent and the R&B had a 10 percent so R&B was not recognized as rap music.
Quote
A quote I decided to pick is "This is America today. However you look at it, hip-hop is what's influencing little kids right now"( Watkins 61). I decided to pick this quote because it is really true. They way young kids listen to the music it encourages many to make their own music so others can hear it. Right now that is what kids are listening to that kind of music and get inspire in that.
Reaction
This book is talking about how with in the years 1993-2003 that is when the business was turned into a competition and also how many different new artists came and made it better. They are going through on how life was in the 90's and up to 2003. It was good on how they made it seem like hip hop is just not about getting money there is meaning also and people get influenced by it.
In 1997 a small group decided to make a music magazine. They called it the XXL. Then there was another magazine made by these two Harvard students and it was The Source. The Source was published in 1988 and it was really successful. In 1993 a guy name Quincy Jones created Vibe. He wanted it to be better than Rolling Stone. By 1998 the magazine had a rate base of 600,000 and it was named one of the fastest growing magazines. In 2003 it went up to 800,000, but it still did not beat the Rolling Stone(1.3 million). All these magazines creators was getting out of hand. It was not about making the community better and doing for people. There was hypercompetitive as they would call it. It was just turning into who is going to get more money than the other person and if they can blow them out. Hip Hop has influenced many young kids and even the deaths of the famous hip hop people it is still going. Rap was the biggest year in the industry right now and in 1998 that was the most important year for hip hop. The reason way was because it was on going and many good artistes was out there and made it better. As the artists started to come out many of them was hitting the billboard within the week they bring their albums out. There was so many competition in the business it was crazy. After Master P more and more came and it was just getting better an better. Then a female solo artist comes out and her name is Lauren Hill and she had that R&B soul to her and many people liked her. Her songs had so many ratings it was crazy. The rap posted a 13 percent and the R&B had a 10 percent so R&B was not recognized as rap music.
Quote
A quote I decided to pick is "This is America today. However you look at it, hip-hop is what's influencing little kids right now"( Watkins 61). I decided to pick this quote because it is really true. They way young kids listen to the music it encourages many to make their own music so others can hear it. Right now that is what kids are listening to that kind of music and get inspire in that.
Reaction
This book is talking about how with in the years 1993-2003 that is when the business was turned into a competition and also how many different new artists came and made it better. They are going through on how life was in the 90's and up to 2003. It was good on how they made it seem like hip hop is just not about getting money there is meaning also and people get influenced by it.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Hip Hop Matter(9-55)
Summary
"Back in the Day" as they would call it Hip Hop was way different then what it is now. Back then Hip Hop really wasn't notice by many people. Sylvia Robinson's son Joey Jr. wanted to start producing rap. The first person they got didn't work out, but later on he met a man name Guy O' Brien and a man name Michael Wright. Rap music was recognized as MCing and MC was short for master of ceremonies. A young boy named Curtis Jackson was recognized and when 2003 came he called himself 50 cent, and many people started to love him. Back then rap was like a competition and there were so many different styles from so many different people. At first Hip Hop was about life and it was just free styling now Hip Hop got nasty and it is really "gangster". In 1991 Ice Cube he hit the number one in the chart. Marion known as "Suge" and Andre known as Dr. Dre was co- founders of Death Row Records. Everyone was inspired by Dr. Dre. The Chronic was double platinum and still in the billboard top ten. "There aren't many three people like him in the music business. He can rap, he can produce....and he can direct a video with humor. Do you know how hard that is? Famous movie directors can't do that"(Watkins 48). You can tell that many people loved him and that he was making a difference and making hip hop live than it was.
Quote
"You can have all the money in the world and be the unhappiest guy in the world"(Watkins 42). I chose this quote because I agree with this. Many people in the world think it is all about the money because once you have the money you can be happy because you have money but it is unhappy when you don't have no one in your life that you can share it with. Plus I hear this quote everywhere and when I saw this quote I thought of the many people who I have heard it from.
Reaction
I think so far this book is really interesting. At first I find it a little bit confusing because I really wasn't understanding what I was reading. This book really explains the history of what Hip Hop was really about and how it started. Many people listen to hip hop and many people really don't know the history behind it, so if you want to learn more about Hip Hop and its past, this book would help you a- lot.
"Back in the Day" as they would call it Hip Hop was way different then what it is now. Back then Hip Hop really wasn't notice by many people. Sylvia Robinson's son Joey Jr. wanted to start producing rap. The first person they got didn't work out, but later on he met a man name Guy O' Brien and a man name Michael Wright. Rap music was recognized as MCing and MC was short for master of ceremonies. A young boy named Curtis Jackson was recognized and when 2003 came he called himself 50 cent, and many people started to love him. Back then rap was like a competition and there were so many different styles from so many different people. At first Hip Hop was about life and it was just free styling now Hip Hop got nasty and it is really "gangster". In 1991 Ice Cube he hit the number one in the chart. Marion known as "Suge" and Andre known as Dr. Dre was co- founders of Death Row Records. Everyone was inspired by Dr. Dre. The Chronic was double platinum and still in the billboard top ten. "There aren't many three people like him in the music business. He can rap, he can produce....and he can direct a video with humor. Do you know how hard that is? Famous movie directors can't do that"(Watkins 48). You can tell that many people loved him and that he was making a difference and making hip hop live than it was.
Quote
"You can have all the money in the world and be the unhappiest guy in the world"(Watkins 42). I chose this quote because I agree with this. Many people in the world think it is all about the money because once you have the money you can be happy because you have money but it is unhappy when you don't have no one in your life that you can share it with. Plus I hear this quote everywhere and when I saw this quote I thought of the many people who I have heard it from.
Reaction
I think so far this book is really interesting. At first I find it a little bit confusing because I really wasn't understanding what I was reading. This book really explains the history of what Hip Hop was really about and how it started. Many people listen to hip hop and many people really don't know the history behind it, so if you want to learn more about Hip Hop and its past, this book would help you a- lot.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Namesake(246- 291)
Summary
It is the first month of their anniversary and her parents called them to wish them their happy anniversary. For some reason she has been ignoring Gogol for the past last months. She would rather do other things then be with him. They go out to dinner and she is just un happy with the whole evening. Gogol tries to ask her whats wrong and she just won't talk to him. She was at her university and she found a resume of a guy she used to have a crush on named Dimitri she knew him from high school. She ends up writing down his number, but she doesn't know what to do though. She is still unhappy with Gogol but she doesn't want to hurt his feelings. Later on she started to see Dimitri two days out of the week. Gogol has no idea about anything because when she comes home it is just normal they eat, talk, and watch t.v together. One Sunday morning he wakes up and Moushumi isn't in the bed she is up packing and he is asking her where she is going. She claims that she told him that she has business in Palm Beach and she won't be to long and he doesn't remember her telling him. Then when he sees her bathing suit on top of her clothes he has this funny feeling that she is lying to him, but he doesn't want to think that. Later on he finds out that she was unfaithful. Sonia is soon to get married and Ashima sees how much happiness he brings to her, and she is starting to feel guilty about telling him to talk to her she should have known that Moushumi wasn't good for him. Ashima decides to spend six months in India and six months in Boston. Later on Gogol starts to get into the book that his father gave him. Soon to know why his father gave him that name and what happened to his father along time ago before he was born.
Quote
A quote I decided to pick is "But for now his mother is distracted, laughing at a story a friend is telling her, unaware of her son's absence. For now, he starts to read(Lahiri 291)". I chose this quote because it shows that now Gogol appreciates what his father did for him and how is was as a person. He starts to read into what his father gave him as a present when he was a teenager. At first he was to young to understand why his father gave him that, and now he knows.
Reaction
Overall this was a good book. It showed it ups and downs on what the family was going through. Many things was successful and other things was failure, but at the end they all celebrated Christmas together and having Ashoke in their hearts and prayers. Wishing that he can be here a little bit longer. What I have learned is the different culture that happens in India and how you have to get used to new places and make mistakes on your own and learn from them. Another thing is always put your family first because anyhting can happened and you might regret it if you don't stay in contact with them.
It is the first month of their anniversary and her parents called them to wish them their happy anniversary. For some reason she has been ignoring Gogol for the past last months. She would rather do other things then be with him. They go out to dinner and she is just un happy with the whole evening. Gogol tries to ask her whats wrong and she just won't talk to him. She was at her university and she found a resume of a guy she used to have a crush on named Dimitri she knew him from high school. She ends up writing down his number, but she doesn't know what to do though. She is still unhappy with Gogol but she doesn't want to hurt his feelings. Later on she started to see Dimitri two days out of the week. Gogol has no idea about anything because when she comes home it is just normal they eat, talk, and watch t.v together. One Sunday morning he wakes up and Moushumi isn't in the bed she is up packing and he is asking her where she is going. She claims that she told him that she has business in Palm Beach and she won't be to long and he doesn't remember her telling him. Then when he sees her bathing suit on top of her clothes he has this funny feeling that she is lying to him, but he doesn't want to think that. Later on he finds out that she was unfaithful. Sonia is soon to get married and Ashima sees how much happiness he brings to her, and she is starting to feel guilty about telling him to talk to her she should have known that Moushumi wasn't good for him. Ashima decides to spend six months in India and six months in Boston. Later on Gogol starts to get into the book that his father gave him. Soon to know why his father gave him that name and what happened to his father along time ago before he was born.
Quote
A quote I decided to pick is "But for now his mother is distracted, laughing at a story a friend is telling her, unaware of her son's absence. For now, he starts to read(Lahiri 291)". I chose this quote because it shows that now Gogol appreciates what his father did for him and how is was as a person. He starts to read into what his father gave him as a present when he was a teenager. At first he was to young to understand why his father gave him that, and now he knows.
Reaction
Overall this was a good book. It showed it ups and downs on what the family was going through. Many things was successful and other things was failure, but at the end they all celebrated Christmas together and having Ashoke in their hearts and prayers. Wishing that he can be here a little bit longer. What I have learned is the different culture that happens in India and how you have to get used to new places and make mistakes on your own and learn from them. Another thing is always put your family first because anyhting can happened and you might regret it if you don't stay in contact with them.
The Namesake(159-245)
Summary
Christmas time is comming around and Ashima is starting to do the christmas cards to all her family and friends.This time she is making them herself.Ashima feels really lonely because her kids moved so far and he husband went out of town. Gogol moved to New York and Sonia moved to California. Ashima and Ashoke still doesn't approve of Gogol dating Maxine she really doesn't want her as a daughter in law. Later on Ashima recieved a phone call and it was from the hospital and they told her that her husband died. Ashima was not trying to hear that she couldn't believe it because she was just talking to him a few hours before. She calls Sonia and she comes to stay with her and Gogol comes down also. A year later after their father's death Gogol stayed in New York and his relationship with Maxine was over. On the weekends he takes the train to Massachusetts to the house that has his father's photographs in. Gogol's mom begins to call him and suggesting to him that he should call a family friends daughter. Later he begins to become attacted to Moushumi. When they had the meeting he would share the memories with her. they ended up getting together and they got married within a year.
Quote
A quote i decided to choose was " What in the world made your parents choose that name(Lahiri 244)". I decided to pick that quote because I thought it was really important. See they don't know that there was a good reason of why they chose to name him that. Later on he finally realizes why his father would chose that kind of name for him.
Reaction
So far many things have happened in the story. There was lessons learned and hearts broken. The last past chapters that I have read it shows that no matter how much problems you have and go through with your family you still stick together and love eachother. That's what the Ganguli family did.
Christmas time is comming around and Ashima is starting to do the christmas cards to all her family and friends.This time she is making them herself.Ashima feels really lonely because her kids moved so far and he husband went out of town. Gogol moved to New York and Sonia moved to California. Ashima and Ashoke still doesn't approve of Gogol dating Maxine she really doesn't want her as a daughter in law. Later on Ashima recieved a phone call and it was from the hospital and they told her that her husband died. Ashima was not trying to hear that she couldn't believe it because she was just talking to him a few hours before. She calls Sonia and she comes to stay with her and Gogol comes down also. A year later after their father's death Gogol stayed in New York and his relationship with Maxine was over. On the weekends he takes the train to Massachusetts to the house that has his father's photographs in. Gogol's mom begins to call him and suggesting to him that he should call a family friends daughter. Later he begins to become attacted to Moushumi. When they had the meeting he would share the memories with her. they ended up getting together and they got married within a year.
Quote
A quote i decided to choose was " What in the world made your parents choose that name(Lahiri 244)". I decided to pick that quote because I thought it was really important. See they don't know that there was a good reason of why they chose to name him that. Later on he finally realizes why his father would chose that kind of name for him.
Reaction
So far many things have happened in the story. There was lessons learned and hearts broken. The last past chapters that I have read it shows that no matter how much problems you have and go through with your family you still stick together and love eachother. That's what the Ganguli family did.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Namesake (71-158)
Summary
Gogol finally turns fourteen years old. Both Ashoke and Ashima decides to throw a big party with Indian friends and American friends. The party is supposed to be fun, but it isn't fun for him because half of the kids that is invited he really doesn't know them. The presents he really wasn't happy about them either. Later when the party is over Ashoke comes in the room and he gives him a present. Gogol is kind of shocked because he never gives him a present without Ashima helping him pick it out. It was a book about Nikolai Gogol. Gogol still doesn't understands why his father would name him that, even though he knows that his father loves his writing and his work he still doesn't understand. Later on they tell the kids that they are going to be in Calcutta for eight months. Then later they return back and Gogol starts his junior year of high school in September. While he is at this party he meets a girl name Kim. He was a ashamed to tell her his real name so instead of saying Gogol he tells her Nikhil. He ends up kissing her and on his way back he tells his friends what happened. When he turns eighteen he decides to change his name. His parents didn't understand why he would want to but they can't tell him no. He moves into the dorms of Yale and he is known as Nikhil at college. When he changes his name he is now called Nikhil Ganguli. He has a girl name Ruth and the parents want to meet her. When they see his girlfriend they are kind of shocked because they feel as he should be with a Bengali girl because its the tradition, but he doesn't care. They feel as it will result in a divorce and it wouldn't last. The father and him has a talk about why he named him the name he has. Gogol is shocked and he was kind of understanding why is father name him the way he did. Now he feels kind of bad for changing it. Later on he meets a girl name Maxine and he ends up meeting her parents. Gogol parents still doesn't approve.
Quote
The quote I decided to pick was " By the following evening he was no longer fully conscious, and so wasted that his spine could be felt through his stomach (Lahiri 92)." As I was reading this, this quote made me read it over and over again. It was coming from the book that Gogol has to read in class and when his teacher said this , he didn't like it. He wanted her to stop, but he didn't want to say anything because he didn't want it to seem like he is the outcast in the class.
Reaction
So far its just getting better and better. To me I feel as right now sooner or later Gogol will understand the history and the background of who he is and why he was named that. He doesn't know who he is and he is trying to be someone that he is not and his family sees it but he doesn't. That is why it gets more interesting because you see the rights and the wrongs within the family and within Gogol himself. It is understandable to want to be American, but you have to realize who you really are.
Gogol finally turns fourteen years old. Both Ashoke and Ashima decides to throw a big party with Indian friends and American friends. The party is supposed to be fun, but it isn't fun for him because half of the kids that is invited he really doesn't know them. The presents he really wasn't happy about them either. Later when the party is over Ashoke comes in the room and he gives him a present. Gogol is kind of shocked because he never gives him a present without Ashima helping him pick it out. It was a book about Nikolai Gogol. Gogol still doesn't understands why his father would name him that, even though he knows that his father loves his writing and his work he still doesn't understand. Later on they tell the kids that they are going to be in Calcutta for eight months. Then later they return back and Gogol starts his junior year of high school in September. While he is at this party he meets a girl name Kim. He was a ashamed to tell her his real name so instead of saying Gogol he tells her Nikhil. He ends up kissing her and on his way back he tells his friends what happened. When he turns eighteen he decides to change his name. His parents didn't understand why he would want to but they can't tell him no. He moves into the dorms of Yale and he is known as Nikhil at college. When he changes his name he is now called Nikhil Ganguli. He has a girl name Ruth and the parents want to meet her. When they see his girlfriend they are kind of shocked because they feel as he should be with a Bengali girl because its the tradition, but he doesn't care. They feel as it will result in a divorce and it wouldn't last. The father and him has a talk about why he named him the name he has. Gogol is shocked and he was kind of understanding why is father name him the way he did. Now he feels kind of bad for changing it. Later on he meets a girl name Maxine and he ends up meeting her parents. Gogol parents still doesn't approve.
Quote
The quote I decided to pick was " By the following evening he was no longer fully conscious, and so wasted that his spine could be felt through his stomach (Lahiri 92)." As I was reading this, this quote made me read it over and over again. It was coming from the book that Gogol has to read in class and when his teacher said this , he didn't like it. He wanted her to stop, but he didn't want to say anything because he didn't want it to seem like he is the outcast in the class.
Reaction
So far its just getting better and better. To me I feel as right now sooner or later Gogol will understand the history and the background of who he is and why he was named that. He doesn't know who he is and he is trying to be someone that he is not and his family sees it but he doesn't. That is why it gets more interesting because you see the rights and the wrongs within the family and within Gogol himself. It is understandable to want to be American, but you have to realize who you really are.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)