In “Rap Music and the Politics of Black Cultural Expression,” Tricia Rose defends her argument on rap music’s powerful hidden scripts that challenge mainstream public scripts.

Instructions: In “Rap Music and the Politics of Black Cultural Expression,” Tricia Rose defends her argument on rap music’s powerful hidden scripts that challenge mainstream public scripts. Rose utilized two songs and a music video to challenge the public script that reads black men as criminals and police as innocent servants and protectors of communities. Like Rose, students are to develop an argument about a topic. Then, use analysis of rap songs and/or videos to prove their argument.
Topics are open. Examples of topics: representations of femininity or masculinity in hip hop; capitalism in hip hop; government portrayal in hip hop; familial relationships in hip hop, etc
For this assignment, you will need more than ONE song(text). You may consider two songs that support your point. OR you may consider an analysis of a song and music video. OR you may consider a contrasting analysis of two songs. The point is that you will need more than a SINGLE text.
Example Topic: Gentrification
Songs: “Neighbors” by J. Cole + “But Anyways” by Tarica June
Songs must be from the rap/ hip hop genre. You can also analyze songs that feature rap verses such as Dua Lipa’s “Sweetest Pie” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, but the focus of your analysis must be on the rap verse.
Some songs may contain explicit language. Be careful of your treatment of the language in your essay.
Songs do not have to be in English only. But if you select a song in another language, you must provide the translation.