American Popular Music: Race and Place Midterm II Final

Cipher

A circle of rappers and onlookers taking turns trying to outdo one another.

Martin Luther King Jr.

A leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Well known for his "I have a dream" speech. Led peaceful protests, movements, and sit-ins across the nation. Assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Creole

A person of mixed European and Black descent

Country Blues

A simple form of blues in which the singer is accompanied by an acoustic guitar.

Chuck Berry

An African-American rock 'n' roll musician and composer, who influenced many musicians of the 1950s and 1960s, including the Beatles and Bob Dylan.

Urban Blues

An extrovert and rhythmic style of blues, usually accompanied by a band.

Black Lives Matter Movement

An international activist movement, originating in the African-American community, that campaigns against violence and perceived systemic racism toward black people.

Rosa Parks

Best known for getting arrested for not giving up her seat in a bus to a white man. Important symbol of the Civil Rights Movement

The history of "We Shall Overcome"

Can not be tracked back to a single composer. rally transmitted and collectively created. "I'll Overcome Someday" published by minister Charles Albert Tinley in 1901. Lucille Simmons changed "I" to "We" ("Will Overcome") at a workers' strike in South Carolina in 1945.

Guy and Candie Carawan

Carawan is famous for introducing the protest song "We Shall Overcome" to the American Civil Rights Movement, by teaching it to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960. A union organizing song based on a black spiritual, it had been a favorite of Zilphia Horton wife of the founder of the Highlander Folk School. Carawan reintroduced it at the school when he became its new music director in 1959. The song is copyrighted in the name of Horton, Frank Hamilton, Carawan and Pete Seeger

Black Rock Coalition

Created in 1985 by Living Colour's Vernon Reid after being frustrated with the reception of his all- black band in the 1980s. Other founding members include journalist Greg Tate and producer Konda Mason. Promote an "alternative black sound and vision." Critiquing the segregating nature of the recording industry has been an integral part of their mission. Today, they are a New-York based non-profit organization.

Charles Albert Tinley

Credited with publishing "I'll Overcome Someday", which is considered the basis for "We Shall Overcome" the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement.

Gangsta Rap

Defined by the shockingly violent and sexual nature of its lyrics. Reflects violent crime and the life of inner- city youth. Major artists include N.W.A. (*****s Wit Attitude), Ice T, Eazy E, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre.

1960s Vocal Groups

Emerged in late 1950s. All-female groups in early 1960s. Many had professional songwriters working for them. Motown Records established 1960. Blended gospel music with pop tunes, creating more broadly appealing sound.

Selma

Film based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, MLK Jr., and John Lewis.

Early Hip Hop

First emerged in the South Bronx. House parties in 1973. Positive influence of expression. Announcement of one's existence. Expression of solidarity.

Message Rap, Afrocentric Hip Hop

Genre that relies on innovation. Lyrics focus on sociopolitical issues. Black nationalist groups. Queen Latifah.

James Brown

In the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., James Brown took the stage in Boston to prevent riots in town.

Rhythm and Blues

Included swing-influenced "jump bands", Tin Pan Alley-style love songs performed by black crooners, various styles of urban blues, and gospel-influenced vocal harmony groups. Utilized Caribbean-sound rhythms.

Muscle Shoals

Location of a famous recording studio in Alabama. Muscle Shoals sound. Produced some of the best music during its time. People flew from all over the world to record there. (Remember the movie)

Lucille Simmons

Lucille Simmons changed "I" to "We" ("Will Overcome") at a workers' strike in South Carolina in 1945. "By the end of the strike in 1946, the incident and indeed the song had instilled a new sense of social and political consciousness in African American workers in the area that was no small achievement in a time when lynchings were still a possibility."

Whiteness

Making fun of or emphasizing someones white background. Having association with white culture.

The Blues

Melancholic music of black American folk origin, typically in a twelve-bar sequence.

MTV

Music Television Station that became a cultural happening in the 1980s, which has since been utilized by political groups to reach the youth vote.

Hip Hop Culture

Not remade as white before becoming hugely popular. Whiteness seen as liability in hip hop due to the genre's associations with black authenticity.

Pete Seeger

One of the Folk singers responsible for the popularization of "We Shall Overcome"

Rick Hall

Owner of FAME Studio. Famed producer of many hit records and singles. (Remember the movie)

Signifying

Playing with language to emphasize verbal creativity.

Colorblind Ideology

Posits that the best way to end discrimination is by treating everyone equally without regard for their race, ethnicity, or culture.

Freedom Songs

Rooted in spirituals, traditional hymns, and slave songs. Not intended for an audience as much as for those who sang (marchers, protesters).

Nina Simone

Singer, Songwriter, and activist during the Civil Rights Movement. She faced discrimination due to her skin color and black features. Applied for a scholarship to study at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she was denied despite a well-received audition. Waymon became fully convinced this rejection had been entirely due to her race

Highlander folk school

Social Justice leadership training school. Martin Luther King Jr., Pete Seeger, Rosa Parks and Ralph Abernathy all met there during the Civil Rights Movement to discuss it. During a raid on the Highlander institution, the lyric "We are not afraid" was born and added to "We Shall Overcome".

Appropriation

The action of taking something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission.

Deindustrialization

The break down of industry. Decline in industrial activity in a region or economy. Large companies move industry to new locations with cheaper labor.

The Swampers

The original rhythm section for FAME Studio. Broke off to start their own studio called Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. considered to be some of the best studio musicians in the world.

Civil Rights Movement

Took place in the mid-1950's to the late 1960's to achieve civil rights equal to those of whites.

Rap, Space & Place

Tropes related to place include "keeping it real," and "representing". The 'hood as a place of adversity meant to be overcome. Turf wars derived from gang life. Regional artist-owned labels, including Death Row Records

Aretha Franklin

Was with Colombia Records and achieved minor success. Picked up by Atlantic Records and was taken down to Muscle Shoals FAME Studio and recorded her first hit "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)"

Ta-Nehisi

Writer, journalist, and educator. Coates is a national correspondent for The Atlantic, where he writes about cultural, social and political issues, particularly as they regard African-Americans.

Technologies in Post-War America

Youth culture emerged. More television sets. Jukeboxes promoted country and western and R&B recordings.

Colorism

discrimination or prejudice against individuals with dark skin color or tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.

Bree Newsome, "Stay Strong"

https://soundcloud.com/breenewsome/staystrong. Inspired by events in Ferguson. Climbed the flag pole to take down Confederate flag.

Ezra Furman, "Ferguson's Burning"

https://soundcloud.com/ezrafurman/fergusons-burning

Jimi Hendrix, "Are you Experienced?"

https://vimeo.com/109988488. Example of Hendrix's ability to use recording tools and technologies to create a dynamic sonic palette.

KRS One, "South Bronx"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FhhYUPCCV0

Etta James, "Tell Mama"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bwZSEtoUVU

Sly & the Family Stone, "Everyday People"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JvkaUvB-ec. Gospel vocals, funky basslines, horn blasts, interracial mixed gender band.

The Marvelettes, "Mr. Postman"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=425GpjTSlS4

Living Colour, "Cult of Personality"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0

Kendrick Lamar, "Complexion"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnHbBYoN4Xk

Robert Glasper, "I'm Dying of Thirst"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ8O-gIcD_A

Little Richard, "Long Tall Sally"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsJVT8Jr_pM. Merged boogie-woogie and blues, creating up-tempo rock n' roll sound. Flamboyant.

John Legend & Common, "Glory"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZOKvYcx_o. Part of Selma soundtrack and won award for Best Original Song.

Clarence Carter, "Patches"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvfsfS6NVUc

Beyoncé, "Formation"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrCHz1gwzTo

Fishbone, "Party at Ground Zero"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJCaFe1yamg. Very influential, based in LA, blended genres like ska, punk, rock, and funk.

Elvis Presley, "Hound Dog"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMmljYkdr-w

Louis Jordan, "Caldonia"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR6pHtiNT_k. Played "jump blues." Sped up rhythm and blues music creating "boogie woogie."

Nas, "Represent"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKYkDwzi-FI

Rick James, "Super Freak"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M

Janelle Monáe, "Hell You Talmbout"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SttWb9mDp3Q. Names those murdered as lyrics for song to keep memory alive through collective performance.

NWA, "Straight Outta Compton"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMZi25Pq3T8

Big Mama Thornton, "Hound Dog"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRVnJ89oisM

Kendrick Lamar, "Alright"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY

Grandmaster Flash, "The Message"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYMkEMCHtJ4

James Brown, "Say it Loud! (I'm Black & I'm Proud)"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0A_N-wmiMo. Delivered as though through a speech. Danceable but laced with a profound and inspiring message.

Guy and Candie Carawan,"I'm gonna sit at the welcome table"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZJaAqZ834g

Max Roach & Abbey Lincoln, "Triptych: Prayer, Protest, Peace"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMaUDAeiSIY

Lauryn Hill, "Black Rage"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_sdubWaY5o. Similar to "My Favorite Things". Songs for Ferguson.

Sugar Hill Gang, "Rapper's Delight"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljUnyv5XUA8 This song is the first hip hop hit that popularized the genre by bringing into the mainstream

Eminem, "My Name is"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNPnbI1arSE

Kendrick Lamar, "I'm Dying of Thirst"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM6seEs7wgs

Fats Domino, "Ain't That a Shame"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfMlk1PwGU. Had hits that made him the most popular R&B and African-American rock and roll musician of 1950s. Played New Orleans rhythm and blues style, which utilized Caribbean-sounding rhythms.

J. Cole's "Be Free"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9XJRSp3Xtg