C of C students learn about popular music genre in summer class
BY MELVIN BACKMAN
CHARLESTON - As students settle down and cool off, KRS-One addresses the class, via documentary, about his decades-old feud with MC Shan.
His name might not be well-known to those in the classroom, but that's why they're here. It is part of a hip-hop class taught by Roneka Matheny this summer at the College of Charleston.
Matheny said she normally teaches an Introduction to African American Studies class in which students discuss hip-hop in the final weeks of the semester. A cramped syllabus, however, led her to create a whole new course.
The Post and Courier
Roneka Matheny (center) discusses assignments with students after watching a documentary featuring rapper 50 Cent (background).
"I just wanted to do an entire class on it because I thought it was important," she said, "since so many students don't know the history of the music."
Much of the class focuses on that history although Matheny said students are more steeped in it than she was initially willing to give them credit for.
When the topic of discussion turned to the 1995 duet "You're All I Need to Get By" between rapper Method Man and songstress Mary J. Blige, some of the students hummed the tune's melody.
In addition to history, students study the music itself. They listen to songs from a playlist that spans the genre's lifetime. Every Friday, they watch documentaries and films that chronicle its legends.
Friday's viewing was of the documentary "Beef," which relives some of rap's most storied rivalries.
Paul Bradley Jr., both a student and Matheny's teaching assistant, said he was drawn to the class by questions he had about the infamous killings of rappers Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac, whose back-and-forth was featured in the film.
Over the few weeks he's been taking the class, he has come to understand the complexity and ambiguity of their cases and of the genre as a whole.
Other films include "Krush Groove," which gives Run DMC "A Hard Day's Night" treatment, and "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes."
The latter explores issues of misogyny and homophobia in hip-hop, topics that take up a significant portion of a syllabus that features a caveat warning students of "obscene and offensive material" to be encountered during the class.
The course, titled Hip Hop: Evolution and Impact, is part of the college's SPECTRA program targeted at incoming minority and first-generation students.
As participants in the program, many of the students were assigned to the class automatically, though many of them said they would have taken it anyway.
One student, Ebony Coleman, said she did not listen to that much hip-hop before taking the class. She sees it as part music theory, part sociology and part history, showing her another side of the genre.
"Its not the usual kind of thing you would think about," she said.
Reach Melvin Backman at 937-5550 or mbackman@postandcourier.com
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We are incoming freshmen in a summer program, for God’s sake. Can we breathe, can we enjoy our summer. No, wait, I forgot, we are black. No, because we are “wasting” tax dollars. We are doing 15 weeks of work of four short weeks, while bigots attack us because we are taking a class that defers from the “plan” that will get us a job. Nothing says free ride about that.
And who is to judge what is music is? Is the clashing symbols, shredding of electric guitars, and screamed lyrics of the rock genre considered music? Is the mellow vibrations of the strings section, bright squawks of the brass section and the hollow whistles of the woodwind section of a classic orchestra considered music? Or maybe the deep pluck of a bass guitar and snap of a snare drum that encompasses jazz is music. Do we really know? Or who listens to this music? Is it known that the majority of those who listen to hip-hop are rich, high school students, who are, of European descent. Let that sit and marinate on your brain.
Yes, I am a strong, educated, black woman and I will not back down. Please, lay down your anger, let your ignorance go.Permalink Permalink Permalink
Some people seem to think we are a bunch of black kids who only like rap. I listen to every type of music imagineable. Enya, mozart, nickelback, tupac, usher, lmfao the backstreet boys, international and local artists. This is the case for many of the students in this class. So please get of of your high horse thinking that you are more musically enriched than any of us. This class is focused on the evolution of hip hop. There is so much material to cover, so why would we try to focus on other types of music. If you want to take a class on Charleston local artists you can, I might even try it later in my academic career.
Also for the person who said that we have failed other courses so we are taking this class, you are so ignorant. I could understand if you would have taken the class and disliked it but don't speak against something that you have never tried. I think of myself as an intelligent student and I have worked hard to be where I am, nothing was ever given to me. This is not affirmative action, this is not a giveaway, this is not a free ride. I am paying to be here, and I will be happy to fight to stay here. Thank youPermalink Permalink
The most distasteful aspect of hip-hop is the intrusion factor .. the overly amplified bass tones that project into others' private spaces at long range. One may argue that many things do that, but hip-hop is DESIGNED for it. It's meant to be obnoxious by the classic definition of the word. People might be more accepting and less inflamed by this genre of noise were they not annoyed repeatedly by it on a daily basis by these inconsiderate b@stards.
And so we find little ways to take revenge on those who broadcast this filthy noise about .. we cut them off in traffic, blow our horns at them as they pass, give them the evil eye, call the cops out to their homes .. and we consistently see in them a generation who does not give one flying f**k about those around them.
The intrusion factor is probably the one thing your should concentrate on in your course. Try to find out why these kids take such joy in annoying people who aren't trying to annoy them in the first place. There's a good discussion point for your next class.
So pardon us if we deprecate your course because it lends an air of respectability to this plague .. it's one of the most universally despicable things in modern society and just another symptom of what's wrong with this country.Permalink Permalink
Neither is it possible to be a professor in African-American studies (a lame topic that is neither art nor science), unless the term "professor" is debased to the point of oblivion - which, indeed, it has been, so carry on. Self-esteem is the main point, anyway, no?Permalink
5. Finally, I just want to point out one more flawed assumption that you all are making. You seem to be hinting at the idea that young uneducated blacks with their pants hanging down are the primary consumers of hip-hop music. That is verifiably false. Young, educated, middle-class whites are the primary consumers of hip-hop music. This makes it even more important that we all work together to address what I agree are some serious problems with the messages that the music conveys. Although I grew up on hip-hop, I do have some serious problems with the music today. That is part of the reason that I decided to teach this course. You guys seem very passionate about your objections; however, like so many others, you decided to impotently vent your frustrations in commentaries that few will read and even fewer will care about. If any of you ever decide that you actually want to do something constructive, like communicate with real members of the hip-hop generation, I would be more than happy to allow you to come in and address my classes as a guest speaker. I am not at all being facetious here. I really think that there needs to be more inter-generational dialogue if we are ever going to make any progress. My name is Roneka Matheny. You can look me up in the campus directory any time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Once again, thank you for your interest in my course.Permalink
1. Many of your criticisms seem to be more geared toward attacking liberal arts education in general than my class in particular. The claim that this class “will not help the students get a job” could just as easily be targeted toward any music, theatre, or art class. Are you against all of these as well? Should we send all student to vocational training programs instead of liberal arts colleges, so that they won’t have to “waste time or money” learning about anything other than the trade that they plan to practice?
2. You also seem to be making the assumption that this class is simply a celebration of or an apology for hip-hop music and culture. Of course, you have not had the benefit of seeing my syllabus, so this is really not your fault. Quite the contrary, we spend alot of time in the course addressing many of the issues that you all have raised. We certainly address the issue of “sampling” and whether hip-hop can even be called music. In fact, we cite the same reasons and specific examples as you guys. We also devote considerable time to the vulgar, obscene, racist, homophobic, and sexist lyrics of hip-hop music. Instead of attacking the music outright as you all have done, however, I present the students with arguments on both sides of each controversy or debate and allow them to form their own opinions.
3. I’m not sure which colleges you folks attended, but this class is the very definition of a special topics course. In case you all are unfamiliar with the concept, the idea is to a choose a very narrow topic that peaks the students’ interest and then use it to help them develop skills that they will need in life--that will help them to not only get jobs, but perform well once they have them, you might say :). These skills are critical thinking, reasoning, analysis, etc. I took an entire course on Thomas Jefferson at Tulane University and a course on the History of Jazz at Emory University when I was an undergraduate. This class follows that tradition. While the students are acquiring these skills, they are actually enjoying themselves (what a novel concept). Let’s just say that I have absolutely no problems with attendance, tardiness, or students’ completing their assignments.Permalink
This course is just an elective that students are entitled to select to learn about. That is the point of higher education. I am just hoping that many would find this course as pointless if it covered another topic or culture such as Rock music.Permalink
Wonder if they'll be offering courses in the history of racial epitaphs, buggery, peeping toms, be$tiality, drug abuse, the sex trade, phone sex, and child molestation too? All are equally uplifting and productive to society .. and all have some kind of history too, I'm sure.Permalink Permalink
uplifting. The constant use of the 'F' and 'N' word and degrading verbal assualt on woman is especially inspirational.
Would they consider teaching this part of hip hop's contribution to society?
Hip-Hop - Violent and Degrading Lyrics
'Hip-Hop music includes violent and abusive lyrics that could possibly mirror other illegal activities used for sexual intent. The music identified as hip-hop verbally violates basic human rights, particularly the rights of women. Excessive and blatant sexual abuse connotations can be found in almost every musical score, as women are portrayed as whores and assets worth no more than existing for man's sexual pleasures. Much of the lyrics in rap songs are abusive and degrading to all women.
Hip-Hop is a manifestation and spin on exploitation of African-American and Latino-American youth, and is often considered to have sexism and misogyny attributes. New York City blacks and Latino youths originally started the hip-hop culture, with included rapping, deejaying, break-dancing and graffiti-writing. But, it has evolved into something much more than just local expressions.'
Learn more here:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Hip-Hop---Violent-and-Degrading-Lyrics&id=2967883
Are there government loans or grants for these classes?Permalink Permalink Permalink Permalink
No country? No classical? No jazz?
Sounds like RACISM to me!
Where is Al NOTSO-Sharpton? I wanna' sue!
This is exactly why this country is on its way to being a third-world nation.
When we are all speaking Chinese, and living as slaves to the Obamessiah, some of you kooks will still be worrying about who killed Biggie, and collaborations between Method Mad and Mary J. Blige and who Lebron James is playing basketball for.
What a waste of educational time and money.Permalink Permalink Permalink
watchdog: Hip hop lacks several essential components to be considered music .. such as melody and tone. Hip hop is essentially little more than vocals (spoken, not sung) and over-driven percussion .. with just little snippets of melody or tone tossed in. Frequently it plagiarizes songs from the past by borrowing sound bites from them and tossing them in.
It's little more than a vehicle to deliver some sort of political message or some brand of bile .. and its primary use is to annoy others. That's correct: the principal purpose of hip hop is to annoy those around you by foisting it into their personal spaces.
I know a he11uva lot more about hip hop than you think I do.Permalink
scmajor wrote:
"We understand that your every waking moment is spent feeding the racist hate that you spew daily in this forum." <----- That comment from the most vile, hate-filled bigot on the site! ROLFLMAO! What a complete waste of time and other peoples money. Surfdog, April Fools was Jan 20th 2009. Permalink
Have you ever heard of musicians like:
FREDDIE GREEN: guitarist / /composer / arranger for the Count Basie Orchestra for 50+ years. Go listen to the Green-penned Basie classic "Corner Pocket." Freddie was the engine that drove the Basie rhythm section to international fame. He also recorded a great solo LP called "Mr. Rhythm."
JABBO SMITH: trumpet player in 1915-1930s who was considered a legitimate contender to Louis Armstrong. He recorded some of the greatest early jazz tracks which are collected in a single CD release. Highly recommended. I listen to Jabbo almost every day.
CAT ANDERSON: 20+ years trumpet player for Duke Ellington. Cat is famous for his high-note trumpet screaming. Wynton Marsalis called Cat one of "greatest high note trumpet players in history." Also recorded several solos LPs as a band leader which are available through Amazon. All very good and bluesy.
EDMUND THORNTON JENKINS: Son of the founder of the Jenkins Orphanage, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in the early 1910s and performed in NYC during the 1920s. His best work is a jazz-symphonic tribute to his home town called "Charlestonia."Permalink Permalink
We understand that your every waking moment is spent feeding the racist hate that you spew daily in this forum.
You vote in the sorry excuse for politicians that has left our state last in the nation then you rage against kids of color as if they are the root of all evil. One day Harpo and his fellow racists will understand it is THEY and not these young kids who have yet to make their way into the world that is the problem.Permalink
Life without playing music is in-
conceivable for me,”he declared.“I live my
daydreams in music.I see my life in terms of
music…I get most joy in life out of music.” Albert EinsteinPermalink
"misogyny and homophobia" .. the first is a hatred of women and the second is a fear of similar or identical objects. Both words are sprayed like insecticides against people liberals don't like. What about "racism"? That's another integral part of hip hop, but it's tastefully omitted from this list! How 'bout that?
Yeah, put this one on your resume and see if I hire you.Permalink
April Fool's.......wait it's July.Permalink
