Abstract TupacShakur was a poet, an actor and the voice of a generation. He was able to make movies and videos, write and record music, and still found time to write remarkable poetry before his untimely death. His poetry was only published after his death in a collection of over 100 poems titled autobiographically 'The Rose That Grew From Concrete'. This paper includes an excerpt of the said poem as well as an analysis of the themes and literary tools used.
From the Paper " Every era has its classically wonderful artists. Every now and then, there is an artist who truly surprises everyone and breaks barriers for every category of artist that existed before he or she. For our time, that surprisingly (or not so surprisingly to some) talented artist is one Tupac Amaru Shakur. Tupac Amaru are Inca words that mean Shining Serpent. Shakur means thankful to God in Arabic. He was a person who is and was thought of as only an unruly gang-related thug. Although he referred to himself as a thug, he once stated in an interview "you know I'm a business man because you only find me at my places of business". His places of business were the recording studio or on the set of a movie or video."
Abstract In this article, the writer provides a discussion of Ward Stavig's book 'The World of TupacAmaru'. The writer discusses that this book focuses on the Spanish colonialism of the indigenous Andeans during the eighteenth century. The writer examines how this phenomenon led to the rebellion of TupacAmaru.
From the Paper "Ward Stavig focuses primarily on Andeans under Spanish rule during the eighteenth century in his book 'The World of Tupac Amaru''. Despite the title of the book referring to the Andean leader of the first rebellion against the Spanish in two centuries, Jose Gabriel Condorcanqui Tupac Amaru II the author saves his last chapter to sort out the tangled web of actions groups and alliances involved in the rebellion. Before then he provides an account of the indigenous peoples and their daily lives ... "
Tags: politics, religion, Christianity, marriage, crime, justice, court of law, values, ethnocentrism, Spain, Canas y Canchis, Quispicanchis
Abstract The paper looks at the African American rapper, TupacShakur. It gives a critique of the 2003 MTV documentary of his life and premature death and also examines the themes that run through this programme.
From the Paper "Tupac Resurrection is an MTV funded 2003 documentary in a long line of posthumous examinations of rapper Tupac Shakur, murdered at age 25 in 1996. The documentary is distinctive in that having its subject as the narrator, it provides surprising depth on the topics of Tupac's childhood his upbringing his celebrity his run-ins with the law and his opinions on every topic under the sun."
Abstract This paper is a review of "The Rose that Grew from Concrete." The author reviews a collection of poems by Tupak Shakur, the rapper who died young under tragic circumstances. The collection of 100 autobiographical poems are used to demonstrate Skakur's background. This compilation serves as a commentary on the life that he and so many of today's black youth had come from, gangs, drugs and the concrete jungle.
From the Paper "First, this symbolic and metaphorical poem presents the image of a rose growing from a crack in the concrete, where one would normally see a few stray weeds or on a busy street nothing at all. Everyone has seen little weeds that sprout up between the cracks in the sidewalk, maybe even a dandelion or blade of grass, but this poem depicts an elegant and gorgeous rose, and implied vivid red petals and perhaps thorns, sprouting up from between the cracks, which when taken on face value seems somewhat nonsensical. However, if one carefully examines these first two lines and takes into account the autobiographical nature of this poem they will see that what Tupak is saying is that he is a rose who has not been given the opportunity to grow and in it's beauty is somewhat out of place but, despite that continues to grow from between the cracks in the concrete. With his "thorns" inevitably created as a product of his environment Tupak has been able to flourish where no one else he knew could, as has this exquisite rose. This is a very beautiful line because it shows that in the midst of our forest of stone something beautiful can still strive."
Abstract This paper discusses the existentialist tendencies in the music of hip-hop artist TupacShakur. A brief biography of Tupac is included here, as well as a discussion on the meaning of existentialism. Several of Tupac's songs are examined for traces of existentialist thought.
Abstract This paper examines the philosophical, intellectual, and poetic nature of TupacShakur's and Bob Marley's work, as well as the political and social influence of their music. The paper describes each artist's background and illustrates how Marley's music expressed the social unrest and the spiritualism of Jamaica, while Shakur's music expressed the social issues and emotions of ghetto life in the United States.
From the Paper "Music is one of the oldest art forms. Every culture has used music to not only create mood and celebration, but to relate and express feelings and ideas. Most of us can easily strike images of laborers singing while they worked, tribes beating drums before a hunt or battle, bugles sounding as soldiers charge in attack, and love-sick poets declaring their ardor. Music has also been used as an expression of spiritualism, as well as personal ideals. In recent history, beginning in the mid-1960?s, music became a voice and spokesman for many to express political views, especially concerning the United States involvement in Vietnam. Folk and rock musicians wrote music and songs protesting the war and politics of the time."
Abstract This paper presents a a rhetorical analysis of the documentary "Tupac Resurrection". The paper analyzes the techniques used by the film director, Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur,in order to make Tupac more of a symbol than a human being.
From the Paper "The documentary Tupac Resurrection discusses the controversial short-lived life and death of the late rapper Tupac Shakur. His life is notorious due to the drama his music and message has left not only on the hip-hop community, but also the world. The movie also uses instances of how Shakur grew up in hard times and elevated to the role model he was before he passed away. Of course since this documentary hit the box offices and was a feature film, it was targeted to the American people to see a different side of Tupac Shakur. Ironically, Tupac narrates the film with the use of old footage and past interviews to take a first person feel of Tupac's life and death. But more over, since this film was also directed and commentated by Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, it is directed to the audience of pro Tupac fans. This also entails that the documentary is somewhat one-sided and missing an outside perspective. With Afeni as the backbone of the project, Tupac as portrayed with the utmost respect and prestige. Through various narrative strategies, patterns, and music the director sets forth a positive outlook on the life of Tupac Shakur."
This paper is a look at Will Smith's and TupacShakur's very different musical styles and what makes a positive influencing rap artist and a negative one.
Abstract This research paper focuses on Will Smith and TupacShakur's lifestyles of growing up and shows a positive and negative link with the music they produce. It includes certain studies done on the subject and their conclusions. It studies each of these rappers and their historical achievements. It also includes an analysis of their images and the way they have influenced society.
From the Paper "Interviews with more then 400 blacks between the ages of 13-18 in New York, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia were conducted in 1992. The results were that 97 percent listen to rap and also believe that rap is partly to blame for promiscuity, violence and risk-taking (Williams 1). Will Smith and Tupac Shakur are both well-known rappers, but the two men's childhoods, musical styles and attitudes toward rap are completely different. These points of comparison will show what a positive rapper and a negative rapper are."
This paper discusses the Peruvian leftist Maoist Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path or SL), one of the world's most ruthless insurgencies, who have reportedly mercilessly hacked to death by machetes many of their victims.
Abstract This paper explains that the leftist Maoist Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path or SL) seeks to topple the existing Peruvian government at any expense and to then impose their own communist regime. The author points out that, at their worst, in the 1980s and 1990s, this group, along with the TupacAmaru Revolutionary Movement, is said to be responsible for over 30,000 deaths as well as bombings, kidnapping, bank robberies and various brutal attacks The paper relates that the underlying frustration, which many of the impoverished Peruvians have felt for years, has resulted in a successful rate for gaining members because many of the unemployed and the alienated youth see them as a beacon for meaningful change.
From the Paper "Because of the fact that many of the leaders of this group are now imprisoned and also there is a firm, no-nonsense Peruvian government in place which is actively seeking to bring these terrorists to justice, the one-year outlook for this group does not appear to be in their favor. While their membership is unknown, it is believed to be around 400 to 500 armed militants, which is a relatively low number compared to other world-wide terrorist groups. Although not the threat that it was, the group does remain in being, and could exploit further unrest or governmental weakness in Peru to continue its renewal."
Abstract This paper explains that Assata Shakur's "Assata: An Autobiography" relates her experiences as an activist with the Black Panthers. The author points out her imprisonment as an accomplice to murder. The paper recounts the racism of police officers and cites Assata Shakur's courage.
From the Paper "In Assata Shakur's "Assata: An Autobiography"-- African American activist and Blank Panther member-- Assata Shakur reveals her involvement with Black nationalist organizers and their leaders. Her experiences leading an activist's life demonstrates courage and determination."
Tags: African Americans, racism, prejudice, Black Panthers, activism, violence, prison
Abstract This research paper focuses on 3 rap artists who produced negative rap lyrics: TupacShakur, Christopher "Notorious BIG" and Ice-T's lyrics. This paper describes the negative influence rap lyrics have on young minds. This paper also shows the negative outcome of these rap artists from their heated lyrics.
From the Paper "According to data gathered by the Recording Industry Association of America, nearly half of the recordings sold in 1995 (47.3 percent) were purchased by teens, with people over 30 making up 25.1 percent of the buying force. Those older styles of music like jazz and classical constitute a mere 5.9 percent of the music market (Considine 76). Rap music reaches a lot of impressionable young minds. Violence in rap music is very destructive and some rap artists set extremely bad examples to teens and this is why rap lyrics need to have a positive influence. Rap lyrics are blamed for several deadly incidents involving both rap artists and innocent bystanders. Two of raps biggest names, Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG, live out their lyrics leading to their deaths. Ice-T's lethal lyrics of his song "Cop Killers" are just about the worst influence a rap artist can have on teens."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the use of love as an ideal in the arts. It examines song lyrics by TupacShakur, the film "Pretty Woman" and the poem "The Bride of the Greek Isle," by Felicia Hemans. Specifically, the paper shows that the way that love is portrayed in the arts does not always live up to the romantic ideal.
From the Paper "The last lines of the poem help spell out the meaning, and give some feeling to the tragic story. Hemans seems to be saying that love and youth go together, and this is why the two newlyweds must die young. "Now the night gathers o'er youth and love!" is how she ends this poem, and it is a poignant moment, as we know Eudora has not only avenged her lover's death, she has also caused her own.
Love in this poem begins romantically, and then turns tragic, as real love does every day. The tragedy of love can be allowing yourself to love so much, to feel so much. Love can consume a person if they let it, and love can be just as dark as it is romantic. Consider the "love" that keeps a woman with a man who abuses her. This is the dark side of love, when it can turn ugly and even deadly, as it did in Hemans' poem."
Abstract The purpose of this discussion is to trace specific African-American musicians and discuss how they influenced the racial identity of the black population of America. The discussion focuses on the following artists: Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, TupacShakur, Lauryn Hill, Beyonce, and Outkast. The paper looks at not only their lyrics, but their impact as significant catalysts for change and for influencing the African-American identity over the last 35 years or so.
From the Paper "No discussion about the influence of African American music would be complete without examining the influence of Stevie Wonder. The remarkable thing about Stevie Wonder is that he is totally blind but he can see much more than most people that are sighted. He has mastered several different instruments and has written some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century. His influence was particularly important in the aftermath of the civil rights movement.
Musicians like Stevie Wonder and others gave the African American community hope and also challenged the powers that be with songs like "You Haven"t Done Nothing?."
Abstract This paper looks at rap music and its influence on today's youth, especially in the black community. It looks at the history of rap music, the lyrics and examines both its proponents and opponents. The lifestyles of the artists themselves are examined, as is the message they send, and the affect they have on their audience, whether intentional, or not.
From the Paper "However, life often imitates art. Gangsta rap, a type of rap music made most popular by Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, glorifies violence such as murder, rape, and stealing. These two men in particular are role models to millions of young children who saw both of these icons die by way of gun violence. Despite their deaths, rap music continues to portray gang life and violence as something trendy and "cool". Drug use is also constantly glorified - west coast rappers such as Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre popularized the marijuiana leaf in their lyrics; so much so that t-shirts, hats and bumper stickers with the bright green leaves were sold all over the country. I cannot fathom that the promotion of such illegal activites can bring about any positive results. Whether they desire to be or not, these entertainers are role models to young children and older teens. Their influence upon such impressionable minds is being used to desensitize their lives regarding violence, guns, gangs and drug use while glorifying life without a father, living on welfare and spending time in jail."
From the Paper "John Lennon (1940-1980) and Tupac Shakur (1971-1996) had a number of things in common and a comparison of their thought reveals that what appear to be the greatest differences between them are, in fact, rather similar responses to the world's social problems. Both were artists who achieved enormous early success and were murdered when they were quite young. Both protested, to some degree, the conditions of society and urged their legions of fans to look more carefully at what they were being told by the dominant forces in society. But neither man ever achieved his full potential in terms of what he could do to change the world for the better because each was torn by a high level of ambiguity over the possibility of genuine change and because neither saw himself as a leader. Each of these artists became somewhat trapped by his own success and although there was a great deal to.."
