Article Review: An Analysis of Rap Music's Evolution

This report provides a detailed review of an article discussing the origins, cultural significance, and evolution of rap music. The article emphasizes rap's roots in African American culture and its connection to the communication methods of West African Griots, highlighting its role as a form of resistance against oppression. The review identifies the article's main arguments, including the importance of rap as a means of conveying wisdom and knowledge, as well as its function as a response to political and economic challenges faced by the African American community. It also examines the genre's historical context, tracing it back to the slavery era. The report critiques the article's potential bias, particularly its focus on the positive aspects of rap music while overlooking potential controversies. Overall, the review underscores the importance of rap music as a powerful form of expression that has evolved from a strong political tool to a more entertainment-focused genre.

Running Head: ARTICLE REVIEW/ CRITIC 1
Title: Article Review/ Critic
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ARTICLE REVIEW/ CRITIC 2
Rap Music was mainly popularized by the acts of Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG in
the 1990s. Their controversial style and lyrics helped bring a new genre of music to the forefront
of the entertainment industry, going on to become one of the most popular forms of American
music and culture.This kind of music has been listened and enjoyed allover the world for atleast
a decade. The origins of rap may be traced back to Herc in 1973. However, they are deeply
rooted in American slave past and the African heritage of its main players, who have led to the
music genre being regarded as the CNN of blacks.
The main message in the article is that rap music is an important form of music which is an
authentic form of African American culture. It is descended from African Griotos, who
communicated knowledge and wisdom. At the same time, the article helps in showing the
importance of rap music as a form of resistance for the subjugated African American working
class in the United States.
While the article is very well written, it nonetheless has an underlying bias in it. The author does
not look at the controversies revolving around rap music and the different ways in which it has
come to be known. Rather, the focus is almost entirely on the positive side of the music genre.
Although the author bieng optimistic in the article is a good thing as it encourages and gives rap
a good opinion to those who dont appreciate it for one reason or another. This bias may lead the
reader to take rap music as a particularly noble form of music, which does not have any ties to
things such as violence, sexism and other vices. Rather, it is portrayed as resistance music
dedicated to emancipating African Americans from the position they find themselves in.
The biggest takeaway form the article revolves around the origins of rap music. Its origins stretch
back beyond the current rand that is most popular with people. It can be seen as an important
form of communication, in which members of society with wisdom and knowledge try to pass on

ARTICLE REVIEW/ CRITIC 3
this message to the others. Secondly, it can be seen as a form of communication in an era where
the race is under oppression, political, economic or otherwise. It is therefore a legitimate and
powerful response to oppression. Thirdly, the genre is a product of African heritage, linked to the
slavery era, as well as the origin of slaves in West Africa, where socially- conscious messages
were passed through different methods including songs.
The proliferation of rap music among the African American community has been replicated
elsewhere in other types of music. It has however evolved over time, from being a strong
political expression mode to being more about entertainment.