History of the Blues Essay

aw argon Hip-hop is the modern form of the blue devils. Both genres of euphony express the hardships of the African American people in their several(prenominal) while periods or exempt the culture surrounding the artist and/or their community. Through their lyrics, the artists from the some(prenominal) genres argon capable to spread the culture and experiences of the black race. Elements of the blues are grow in African culture. The blues is integrity of the most influential styles of music, in particular music of the early twentieth century. During its peak, the blues seemed to take on the utilization as the per give-and-takea of the black population.Artist like Ma Rainey, Robert Johnson, and others too were some of the great blues musicians. Although each artist sings a bust something different, they plant an emotion as easily as spread the tribulations expressed in the nisus. In instantlys world, conscious hip-hop has become the cutting blues. Although there are galore(postnominal) melodic alt erations, conscious hip-hop before long service of processs the purpose that the blues once served for the African American community. This style of music pronounces about the new hardships experienced by the community, and portrays it in a charge that can be felt by whateverbody who has had the same, or similar, experiences.Blues Ma Rainey is considered the fuck off of the blues. She was cognize for her musical gifts, such(prenominal) as a rattling(prenominal) bluesy t mavin. She was one of the pioneers of the blues as she was one of the first people, wo human being or man, to achieve nonoriety and fame from this line of work. In Ma Raineys birdc exclusively, desire No spell, she is lending advice to other women about the amount of rely that should be given to their male counter part. This tenor is one of the many problems experienced not only by black women, scarcely women everywhere.though it is not directly stated, the woman is i n a relationship where her economize or boyfriend is forever and a day cheating on her, or at the very least, has experience with cheating men. Rainey continuously advises the woman not to have the man out of her sight. During the release of this outcry, the world was still considered a mans world. Consequently, this gave birth to the idea that men were allowed to cheat on their women and do whatever they wanted. All while the woman of the house stayed at home and waited for him. The verse was passing controversial, as well as popular.It was controversial because it was considered to be out of a womans place to tell her mind, let alone concern herself with the actions of what her husband was doing. With this in mind, Raineys song openly spoke out against it. It shined light onto the mistreatment of women by their men, as well as spoke against women letting it pass by as if it were satisfying to do so. As a result of all of those factors, the song was a female fan favorite. M a Rainey gave a voice to the women who felt this way, but did not feel strong enough to express out against it.This is beneficial one way the blues contributed or spoke for the people. Robert Johnsons orphic gumptionground gave light to the spiritual/ unknown side of African culture. Robert Johnson was a blues guitarist and vocalist from 1933-1938s. The song Crossroad Blues was one of his greatest recordings. The song talks about an encounter betwixt Johnson and a figure at the crossroads. This song came about great fame because it is suppose to regurgitate light on a true event that happened to Johnson. The legend goes that one day, Johnson was performing on stage when people began to humiliate him.Johnson ran out of town, and plant himself walking down a lonely dark road. He came to a crossroad, where he had an exchange with the devil himself. The exchange was that the devil would grant Johnson musical talent if Johnson sold his soul to the devil. Johnsons mysterious death added to the phenomena. The song talks about the unknown, which was something that was common in those quantify. Johnson, being a grey native, was probably exposed to things works such as voodoo, and selling of souls. though this was not a hardship, it was a part of the culture for this time period. regretful Bill Broonzy spoke out on situations that relate more with hardships in his song Black browned and W gibee. Big Bill Broonzy was a Chicago blues guitarist and vocalist. His song, Black Brown and White tells a story of the normal everyday struggles that the African Americans went with with(predicate). In Black Brown and White, Big Bill Broonzy says, Me and a man was workin side by side, This is what it meant, They was paying him a dollar an hour, And they was paying me fifty cent, They said if, you was white, t should be all right, If you was brown, could stick roughly, But as you black, m-mm boy, git back git back git back.African Americans were still considered slight t han whites, and segregation was still a huge part of partnership. As vicious as it is, this was one of many mixer injustices imposed unto the African American community. Broonzy was able to use his music to share his experiences, as well as others experiences. Broonzys song Black Brown and White, gave a voice to the people who were enduring these hardships, and gave them hope in a white ran society that did not care about African Americans. Broonzys ability to speak out against the social injustice such as unequal rights was extremely influential.His style of playacting helped in these efforts. A guitarist of the same genre, or style, used his talents to shed light on a different aspect. grime amnionic fluid is another Chicago Blues guitarist and vocalist. In his song, Hoochie Coochie Man, there are a lot of sexual references. It is also an drill of call and receipt between a singer and the musicians. The style of guitar playing left room for a clearer understanding of lyric s, or a choke-full sound. In Hoochie Coochie Man, there is separation, or a call and response musical interaction going on.But in many of Waters other songs, his guitar playing expands and thickens the texture of the music. The addition of the amplified harmonica, played by inadequate Walter, also helps add to the thickness of sound. The blues was changing the use of the galvanic guitar, harmonica, piano (Otis Spann), and other musical techniques, brought on a new era and style of the blues. incomprehensible Waters was one of the pioneers in the change. The story of how the song came about is, Willie Dixon, Waters bass guitarist, was telling Waters about the song while Dixon and Waters were in the bathroom of a nightclub.Since Waters could not read, he rushed out to perform the song immediately, so that he would not forget it. Telling the group to play in the refer of A, and no rehearsal prior to its performance (which is part of the reason for a call and response), added to th e songs tone as well. It was an instant hit everywhere it was played. Although there are voodoo references in a bantam portion of the song (which can be connected to Waters grow back down south), this song does not accurately describe any particular hardship of the African community. Waters perfectly portrays the heart of a blues musician.Most blues musicians were in situations similar to the one that is exposit in Hoochie Coochie Man. Lustful women, who were looking to have sexual interactions with the artist, were constantly approaching blues musicians. The artists fame and social status attracted the hormones of many. This song reveals to the audience this aspect of a blues musician lifestyle during that time period. Hip-Hop Lupe Fiasco is the supreme example of conscious hip-hops claim to be the modern blues. Lupe Fiasco is a Chicago natural artist who has generated and recorded many songs. He is todays prototype conscious rapper.To define conscious rap Conscious rap is a sub-genre of hip-hop that focuses on creating awareness and imparting knowledge. Conscious rappers traditionally doom violence, discrimination, and other societal ailments. Its propelled by the conviction that radical social change comes through knowledge of self and personal discovery. (about. com/consciousrap) Formally known as Lupe, he has three records, each touching on a subject that is currently affect the African American community today. He Say She Say is a conversation, between three people, given from two different perspectives.The first perspective is between two people. An African American babys mother is discussing an issue with the father of her child. The two are not together, and consequently, the father neglects his duties to his son. As time passes, it takes a toll on the child academically and emotionally. The second conversation is the actual child and the father. The son discusses the way he feels about his fathers absence and how it is affecting him. The feelings of anger, sadness and disgust are felt through the tone and lyrics of Fiasco. there is no clear ending as to what happens next, so the tender does not know if the situation betters afterwards. This is a current problem today. Many African American children grow up fatherless, which leaves the mothers to play both roles. Fiascos inspiration was not an internal factor, but rather his friends and people around him in his community. Actually, Fiascos father played a huge role in Fiascos persona. While reading through biographies about him, I got the idea that Fiasco understands that without his father, Lupe would not be the person he is today. Jonylah ceaselessly is one of Fiascos most late(a) hits. It is about the life story of a six-month-old baby, Jonylah Watkins, who was shot five times (and killed) while in the minivan with her father (who lived). The song starts off grammatical construction How bout them bullets aint slow you up You aint sincerely die, we watched you grow up, giving her the opportunity to live.The song goes on a path that guesses at what her life couldve been. It talks about how the shooting changed her life and do her interested in learning. She graduates high school early, becomes a doctor, and in a intriguing twist, Fiasco ecreates the shooting that took her life, and makes it so that in the song, she was able to save herself. Sadly, this did not happen, but Fiascos lyrics opens up the eye of many listeners so that they can see the pain and suffering violence causes, which is still one of the biggest crimes in America, especially in the African American population. In Bitch no-count, Fiasco brings up the influence of todays provocative and vulgar music. A innocent young boy, who is no older than six, is defiled mentally while relaxing with his mother.The mother is auditory modality to, and repeating, music, that refers to herself as a bad bitch. This corrupts his idea of what exactly is respectful and endearing. Since his mother is his only source of womanly standards, he intends all women must(prenominal) be that way they must all be a bad bitch, or appreciate when he calls them a bitch. Parallel to the young mans story, a little girl watches music word-paintings that have a noblewoman dressed in a bikini, shaking her booty. Although her favorite rapper made the video that the little girl is watching, Fiasco says that the little girl is merely audience to the lyrics.She is actually much more influenced by the lady dance with her favorite rapper, so she pays more attention to that. As stated in the song, Yeah, now imagine a group of little girls nine through twelve, On the internet watchin videos listenin to songs by themselves Theyre young, so theyre plastic and probably unmentored Until that intelligence meets their favorite singers preference Bad bitches, bad bitches, bad bitches Thats all I want and all I like in life is bad bitches, bad bitches this instant lets say that they less concer ned with him And more with the video girl acquiescent to his whims (rapgenius. om) This paints a picture that the music most artists produce today, is not just music. Music is a means of molding and sculpting the young generation. Conclusion The two genres of music, the blues and conscious hip-hop, have a bang relationship. The blues speaks out to the emotions and experiences of the community. It also spreads the culture and mindset of the community. Ma Raineys Trust No Man was a public service promulgation to women. Her strength and strong will stood for what was right. The same is true for Fiascos style of music in general.He is a strong worshiper in removing the vulgarity from the music. Though the mistreatment is in a different form, the two are closely related. Women in todays African American culture have been seen as nothing more than sexual objects. The garment they wear, the lyrics that people rap about them, or even the dances, creates this idea that they are supposed to be treated in such a dread manner. Just as controversial as it was for Rainey to speak bout such mistreatment, Fiascos approach to hip-hop is anti hip-hop today. Jonylah Forever relates a lot with the emotion with which Johnson sings with in Crossroads. Johnsons wife died before the recording of it, and the deep emotion and pain that is felt as he is singing Crossroads, is the same type of inflicted emotion that is caused by listening to the story of Jonylah Watkins. Though Fiasco paints a picture where she does not die, when the listener comes to the understanding that the six-month-old baby was actually shot to death, the feeling that her father must feel is casted upon the listener.The other songs Ive listed on my playlist like Muddy Waters Hoochie Coochie Man, or J. Coles Lost Ones serve just as other listens that support my thesis. The bond shared between the blues and conscious hip-hop is strong. I am not saying the blues is conscious, nor am I saying the opposite. Clearl y, conscious hip-hop does not follow an eight, twelve, or sixteen bar chord progression. Nor does the blues poets speak their words without some type of melodic tone.However, I do believe that todays conscious hip-hop serves the same purpose that the blues served in its early beginnings. Both were the voices of people, and both used their musical talents, insight, and lyrics to positively portray the people. The music correctly depicts the mindset or thinking of their respective communities and eras. Their music is for the hopeful, motivation for the hopeless, and actually has substance to it, which is the ultimate purpose of both the blues and conscious hip-hop.