2 Live Crew, Decoded
Rhetorical Analysis
15 October 2013
Understanding 2 Live Crew
“2 Live Crew, Decoded” written by Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., who also testified on their behalf in court, is a short essay in the McGraw Hill Reader that was originally published in the New York Times in 1990. This text explains the controversial and very obscene rap group, 2 Live Crew who were well known in the 80s and 90s. Many people enjoyed their music, but others thought it was too coarse to be played on the radio or sold in stores. Though the music is simply satire the society opposed to this new , sexual type of music felt that is was sexist and demeaning. In “2 Live Crew , Decoded” Gates explains how the black culture interprets things differently when it came to phrases and street slang in the groups music.
Many people, even today feel as though morals should be included in everything that people do. Rap music has always had explicit language but 2 Live Crew was never vague and never felt that they had to cover anything up or make it sound more clean than it really was. They felt that the First Amendment backed them up and made it okay for them to say whatever it is they wanted to say. This text focuses on how people interpret the music rather than what it says. Many people interpret things different ways. People make assumptions of what words mean instead of studying these words.
“For centuries, African Americans have been forced to develop coded ways of communicating to protect them from danger.”(Gates 523) In the past, different cultures developed ways to communicate altered just so others who do not recognize the culture wouldn’t understand. In the past African Americans have created things like songs, chants, and even movements to communicate with each other. Slaves used to sing songs and even use moss off of trees to find their way to freedom; they were known for being resourceful and using what they had.
The 2 Live Crew used language that they knew could be easily
15 October 2013
Understanding 2 Live Crew
“2 Live Crew, Decoded” written by Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., who also testified on their behalf in court, is a short essay in the McGraw Hill Reader that was originally published in the New York Times in 1990. This text explains the controversial and very obscene rap group, 2 Live Crew who were well known in the 80s and 90s. Many people enjoyed their music, but others thought it was too coarse to be played on the radio or sold in stores. Though the music is simply satire the society opposed to this new , sexual type of music felt that is was sexist and demeaning. In “2 Live Crew , Decoded” Gates explains how the black culture interprets things differently when it came to phrases and street slang in the groups music.
Many people, even today feel as though morals should be included in everything that people do. Rap music has always had explicit language but 2 Live Crew was never vague and never felt that they had to cover anything up or make it sound more clean than it really was. They felt that the First Amendment backed them up and made it okay for them to say whatever it is they wanted to say. This text focuses on how people interpret the music rather than what it says. Many people interpret things different ways. People make assumptions of what words mean instead of studying these words.
“For centuries, African Americans have been forced to develop coded ways of communicating to protect them from danger.”(Gates 523) In the past, different cultures developed ways to communicate altered just so others who do not recognize the culture wouldn’t understand. In the past African Americans have created things like songs, chants, and even movements to communicate with each other. Slaves used to sing songs and even use moss off of trees to find their way to freedom; they were known for being resourceful and using what they had.
The 2 Live Crew used language that they knew could be easily
Cited: . "Donahue - Indecency & Obscenity - Feat. 2 Live Crew - circa 1990 - 4 of 4." YouTube. YouTube, 16 May 2011. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. "Obscenity or Art? Trial on Rap Lyrics Opens." The New York Times. Ed. Sara Rimer, Special To The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Oct. 1990. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. Gates, Henry L., Jr. "2 Live Crew, Decoded." McGraw Hill Reader. 11th ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 523-25. Print.