Los Angeles. In many interviews Kendrick has talked about how it is important that he steered clear of gang life which most of his friends chose and in some cases it cost them their life. In one particular song Kendrick lets us into his own reality which consisted of a family full of drug abuse and alcoholism. To many who first hear the song and me included, I thought that it was a song which advocated for alcohol use when at a party or hanging out with friends due to the chorus which reads,” Why you babysittin’ only 2 or 3 shots/ Imma show you how to turn it up a notch/first you get a swimming pool full of liquor/ then you dive in it/ I wave a few bottles then I watch them all flock/ all the girls wanna play baywatch/ I got a swimming pool full of liquor/ and they dive in it.” At first glance it sounds as though he is just explaining what it's like to drink at a party and have a good time but once you look at the previous verse and read the lyrics it becomes known that he his explaining alcoholism and why he believes he abused the substance. He starts to name reasons that people drink saying,” some people like the way it feels, some people wanna kill their sorrows,” then continues on admitting his problem,” some people wanna fit in with the popular/ that was my problem.” After that first verse he dives deeper into his problem and starts writing from his conscience’s perspective which was guiding him away from the alcohol due to the realization of his own problem. Finally, as the song progresses it starts to outline the downfall of addiction with an opening line of,” all I have in life is my new appetite for failure,” and later ,” makin excuse that you relief/ is in the bottom of a bottle/ and the greenest indo leaf.” This song is a very self reflective piece of art and benefits more than just Kendrick Lamar and his journey to sobriety, without question there are thousands of other kids in a situation like his and this song is something they can relate to in order to help guide them to their own sobriety.
Both of those songs are no different than many of the classic rock and folk rock songs that mine or your parents listened to back in the day. Although the words may be a bit more vulgar and harsh, the overall purpose is the same. Similar to the previous to songs which brings an awareness to issues that we as human beings face throughout our lives, Bruce Springsteen’s Born In the U.S.A. which at first glance seems as though it is very patriotic song but as Mike Mcpadden explained, when you look at the lyrics is becomes clear that it is addressing the problems that a Vietnam veteran faces when returning home. The lyrics outline problems such as being drafted into a war that many weren’t sure if they supported the cause or not. Along with that it goes onto outline the problems with finding a job in a society where time continued on as they were fighting the war overseas. “ Come back home to the refinery/ hiring man says, son if it was up to/ went down to see my V.A. man/ he said son don’t you understand,” like the previous rap songs this song is also seen as rebellious due to the fact that many people felt those who opposed the war were unpatriotic and the hip hop songs are seen as rebellious due to the vulgar language and unforgiving stories they outline.
It is the natural flow of music and culture, the older generation will continue to feel that the younger generations’ culture and music is rebellious and not a form of art. Although is some cases it is true as I said earlier in referring to “trap music” but it is unfair to claim that rap in its entirety is not a form of art and is bad for our culture. Hip hop like all other forms of art is therapeutic and a reflection of self. J. Cole and Kendrick outlining the hardships which come with growing up in a broken home where drugs run wild on the streets and violence is a common occurrence. Bruce Springsteen expresses his own beliefs and problems that he had with the war in Vietnam which in turn gave the protestors a greater voice just as Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole give the young, underprivileged youth of the projects and impoverished neighborhoods a greater voice and an avenue for self expression
“03' Adolescence Lyrics.” Disney - Cinderella - Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo Lyrics | MetroLyrics, Metrolyrics, www.metrolyrics.com/03-adolescence-lyrics-j-cole.html.
McPadden, Mike. “The 15 Greatest Classic Rock Tracks About America: The Good, the Bad, and the Awesome.” VH1 News, 4 July 2015, www.vh1.com/news/33344/best-classic-rock-songs-about-america/.