Sounding Off... J. Cole

Greetings,
I apologize for being M.I.A. ( Missing in Action) I have been busy adjusting to life as a graduate student training to be a scholar is hard work. Thank goodness I have a break for the holidays. I am ready to spread more knowledge. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I have noticed an increase in page views. I'm back ladies and gentleman.




Listen
History repeats itself and that's just how it goes
Same way that these rappers always bite each others flows
Same thing my n***a Elvis did with Rock n Roll
Justin Timberlake, Eminem, and then Macklemore
While silly n***as argue over who gone snatch the crown
Look around my n***as white people have snatched the sound
This year I'll prolly go to the awards dappered down
Watch Iggy win a Grammy as I try to crack a smile
I'm just playin' but all good jokes contain true shit
Same rope you climb up on, they'll hang you with

"Fire Squad" (2014) J.Cole



On December 9, 2014 J. Cole blessed with the release of his long awaited third album Forest Hills Drive. I admit I was not sure he could top his sophomore album Born Sinner clearly I was wrong. This album contains incredible lyrical content with social, political, and sexual commentary. The whole album is a masterpiece. My personal favorites are "Fire Squad," "No Role Modelz," and the lead single "Apparently." I chose to feature the lyrics from "Fire Squad" because J. Cole provides a great critique on the cultural appropriation of black music and remember this is not a new trend. Although what I find disturbing is the criticism of J.Cole. As I stated in a previous blog post  Eminem Iggy Azalea, Justin Timberlake, Robin ThickeBruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, the list goes on are participating in "cultural appropriation."  Now Black people actually support this. The issue is their actions are very similar to "Black face Minstrelsy" from the 19th century.




What is Black face Minstrelsy?  Black face minstrelsy also known as "Black face," indigenous American theatrical form that constituted a subgenre of the minstrel show. Intended as comic entertainment, blackface minstrelsy was performed by a group with black-painted faces, whose material caricatured the singing and dancing of slaves.

Although this form of entertainment has gradually disappeared from professional theatres it has not left the mainstream. The influence of "Black face Minstrelsy" can be still be seen in various entertainment genres such as vaudeville (from the past), theatre, radio, television programs, music, and motion-pictures of the 20th and 21st century.

Toni's Thoughts: Listen to the album you will love it. Check out my previous post "Cultural Appropriation is Destroying Black Music" I appreciate J. Cole's charm and intellect. He is truly one of the last real rappers we have left.

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