"314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago," Kanye West raps about his hometown, who's 2009 figures show 16 homicide cases for every 1,000 residents. Kanye and Jay-Z share their verses which touch upon the ideologies of violence and racial dominance in a new track entitled "Murder to Excellence." It's filled with recent controversies, including the chorus which brings up the argument over the use of the phrase "Black-on-black murder," which many academics claim that the media is innapropriately using this term to degrade and attack black culture. The song in a whole however is contains relevant messages about violence in the United States but broadens into the current state of mind about how few african-americans reach high levels of success, and how American society has commonly been known as a place where it is hard for people of other races to find oppurtunity and make their way in this country.
It starts "This is to the memory of Danroy Henry," a college football player killed by a police shooting, where controversially the officer who shot him was later given the Officer of the Year award. After he continues about systematic racism and violence in african-american America, Kanye enters with one of the most powerful lines off the album, "I'm from the murder capitol where they murder for capital," referring to Chicago, he continues on about death and murder before the music slows down and haunting humming can be heard in the background, then Jay-Z and Kanye switch to a more politically and economically charged rap about "Black excellence, opulence, decadence."
In the end Kanye spits out his strongest point in his argument, "What's the life expentancy for black guys? The system's working effectively, that's why," the rapper uses these lines to assert that the reason the life expectancy for african-americans is lower than caucasians is because of the racist way that the United States political economy is designed. Jay-Z however wants to bring up a seperate point, referencing successful african-americans Will Smith and Oprah, rapping "that ain't enough we gonna need a million more." Both of these artists are trying to create conversation, they are voicing their opinions on the problems in our thinking and in the ways we act. The full song's lyrics can be found below.
Warning Link contains Explicit Lyrics http://rapgenius.com/Kanye-west-murder-to-excellence-lyrics
2 comments:
I think you did a very good job of pointing out the strongeset quotes from the song. I also think your blog accurately shows the point kanye and jay z were trying to make when doing this song
I think that you did a great job getting the point across of what they were saying in their song. I think that what you chose was good and it sends a message that not all african-american people are bad like many people say. I enjoyed reading it and i think you did a great job on this blog.
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