He intentionally blames the wrongful doing on Rap music, to convince the audience that Rap music is not the original reasoning of crimes committed. The entire song is sarcastic, as there is an ongoing resentment of the influence of Rap.
In addition, Ice Cube argues that African Americans were robbed of their knowledge, freedom, culture, identity, and religion. This is significant because it displays white Americans committing crimes as it is often suggested that African Americans are the only ones who commit offenses. In the video, there are clips of white males shooting up elementary schools and universities. Now, degrading within the African American community occurs due to previous derogatory offensives by enslavers. Before, it was a symbol of pride and dignity. Alluding to slavery, Africans became less confident in their hair due to the degrading of it. Ice Cube refers to actions that were projected by white Americans.
He begins by rapping “If I call you a nappy-headed H*”, “If I shoot up your college”, and “If I rob you of knowledge” “Ain’t nothing to it gangsta rap made me do it” (Ice Cube). Ice Cube wants the Rap community to be fearless and rap the rights and wrongs within the community.Įntering Ice Cube’s second chorus, he emphasizes actions that have been influenced by the White community.
was targeted for their violent lyrics against police. He raps that white people have tried to “plant thoughts” in the Rap industry “just to defeat ” (Ice Cube). It convinces the audience that the black community’s actions reflect how white Americans have treated black people throughout history. Ice cube argues that the dehumanization of African Americans began with white people, resulting from the community’s behavior. During the lyrics Ice Cube establishes the suffering that the African Americans had to indulge in due to white supremacists. In 1787 during the United States Constitutional Convention, a compromise was passed to deem slaves as three-fifths of a person, also known as The Three-Fifths Compromise. He alludes to the slavery era when white citizens referred African Americans to as “niggers” and “animals” (Ice Cube). Going into the second stanza, Ice Cube speaks on the usage of the word “nigga”, as he expresses can use it freely also, he can “act like an animal” if he pleases because “gangsta rap made do it”(Ice Cube). The song symbolizes a message to the law enforcement that a difference must be made in the justice system. It can be triggering to the audience, to consider children will perceive the world they’re living in unsafe. Placing children in the music visual is significant because children are a symbol of innocence.
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In the beginning, of the music video and throughout, it shows a classroom full of children of different races, with the thought that they’re watching the American experience through a TV perspective. He defines “Gangsta Rap” as a part of the African American culture. Ice Cube mkes a claim that “Gangsta Rap” is an opportunity for the Black community to use their voice to protest law enforcement. His targeted audience is white Americans who judge Rap negatively and accuse it of the reason for the topmost crimes. During the beginning of “, Gangsta Rap Made Me Do it” Ice cube refers to his rap skills as a “pyroclastic flow” which alludes to him being a skilled artist. His second album, “ Death Certificate” introduces metaphors and polemical ideas that cover the injustice system’s flaws. Over the past years, Ice Cube has been recognized for his controversial lyrics that will often raise an eyebrow. This song was the perfect opportunity to show America that the justice system’s flaws begin with fixing issues inside the government system. The rap community faced criticism from law enforcement and white supremacist, which led rap to have a negative reputation. In “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” Ice Cube argues that while American society has portrayed rap music as the face of violence, it is the Government that perpetrates the most arduous crimes.
The song expounds on police brutality, hate crimes, poverty, mass killing, and more discriminatory offenses. Ice Cube released the single “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” in January 2008 to represent previous events caused by the government executives. Several rap artists within the African American community expressed general anger with the flaws inside the injustice system. The rioting took place in Los Angeles, California, where thousands of people rioted for over six days following the verdict.
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On April 29,1992, a series of riots broke out due to a jury acquitting four officers responsible for both the beating of Rodney King and the unlawful death of Latasha Harlins.