Category: rap

Art and Entertainment in Karpe’s «Attitudeproblem» Part II

Last post, I started looking at Karpe Diem’s «Attitudeproblem» and teasing out the tensions within the song between art and entertainment. Today, I want to continue that discussion by looking at Chirag’s verse. Along with looking at art and entertainment, I also want to explore how Chirag’s verse comments on complaceny and material comforts, much in the same he questions at the end of … Read More Art and Entertainment in Karpe’s «Attitudeproblem» Part II

Rhetoric of Infestation in Karpe Diem’s «Lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din» Part II

Today, I want to continue my discussion of Karpe Diem’s «Lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din» (“Easy to be a rebel in your basement apartment”). Again, this will not be a comprehensive discussion of the song, but hopefully it will serve as an entry point. One that I have discovered over the course of this process, and something I anticipated, is that a … Read More Rhetoric of Infestation in Karpe Diem’s «Lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din» Part II

Identity and Nationality in Pumba’s «Hvor jeg kommer fra»

When I started digging into Norwegian hip hop, I came across Pumba pretty quickly and the video for his song «Hvor jeg kommer fra» (“Where I come from”). Released in 2008, «Hvor jeg kommer fra» came seven years after the racist murder of Benjamin Hermansen, a Ghanian-Norwegian fifteen year-old, in Holmlia in Oslo. Pumba (Richard Edward Bravo) was born in Norway and is of … Read More Identity and Nationality in Pumba’s «Hvor jeg kommer fra»

Norsk Hiphop: Hkeem’s «Ghettoparasitt»

Note: My translations may be off. I am still learning Norwegian. So, if anything is mistranslated, please let me know. As well, the second part of my lecture on The Great Gatsby will go live soon. A few weeks after we moved to Bergen last August, I heard some music coming from outside. There was a pop up stage down the road, with various … Read More Norsk Hiphop: Hkeem’s «Ghettoparasitt»

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Identity in Childish Gambino’s “This is America”

A few days ago, Childish Gambino’s “This is America” dropped. Since then, people have been talking about the song and the video, either praising or questioning Gambino and Hiro Muria’s message and delivery. Initially, I landed on the side of utter praise for the song and the video. I’ve been a fan of Donald Glover since Community and of his music since Camp. With … Read More Identity in Childish Gambino’s “This is America”