When relating African American sheet music of the early 1900s and current rap music, one can see some similarities as well as differences. Both music forms incorporate slang and pop culture references. Also, the topics of some of the songs are similar. One particular example is the comparison between Bob Cole and James Johnson's "Sambo and Dinah" with Nelly and Kelly Rowland's "Dilemma." In "Sambo and Dinah" there is a verse that reads:
Dinah I'm sure missin'
You'se fixin' now to make me
Leave my happy home.
Fixin' to make me leave my happy home.
There is a verse in Dilemma that states:
I met this chick and she just moved right up the block from me
And she got the hots for me, the finest thing I need to see
But oh, no, no, she got a man and a son, oh-oh, but that's okay
'Cause I wait for my cue and just listen, play my position.
Both verses talk about a man being in love with a woman. In "Sambo and Dinah," Sambo is already involved with someone yet he still is attracted to Dinah. In "Dilemma," Nelly wants to be with Kelly despite that fact that she is already in a relationship. Also, both verses use slang that represents the time period. In another verse of "Sambo and Dinah," Dinah sings how she feels about Sambo:
Sambo says to Dinah
"Does you love me?"
Dinah says to Sambo,
"Deed I do!"
Sambo says to Dinah
"Gal I wants you."
Dinah says to Sambo
"I wants you too."
In "Dilemma," Kelly sings:
I love you and I need you
Nelly, I love you, I do
And it's more than you'll ever know
Boy, it's for sure
You can always count on my love
Forever more, yeah, yeah
Despite the fact that at least one person in each couple is in another relationship they are drawn to each other and have no problem making their feelings known. These two songs show a similar theme, they just use different language, which is representative of the time period in which they were written.
Another similar theme that I found in the two types of music was the theme of a women talking about being in love with a man, though he may not be perfect. In Mard Allen and J. Ed. Green's "Kinky" a woman sings about being attracted to a man, though she is unsure of his intentions. She sings:
Now men may talk deceiving,
But I can't help believing
This man just means it all,
And you may not suppose it,
'Cause I don't think he knows it,
But, well, I like him too.
In an Eve song called "Gotta Man" she raps a similar theme:
Sophisticated thug keep me guessin'
Said 'it would be a blessin' just to watch you undressin''
Callin' you daddy, late nights I'm layin' on your chest
And, stay reminiscin' bout the rest
And, how they less than,
Trying to come between what we share
Can't compare, could have been left
But when it's mine, I never share, fight to the death
Though these women know that men can be "deceiving" and "keep them guessing" they want to be with them anyway.
The two music forms are different in many ways too. While they both use slang heavily, the use of slang in African American sheet music was most likely due to lack of education whereas rappers use of slang is probably more likely due to the "coolness" factor. Also, a lot of time African sheet music was written for stage performances whereas today's rap is more commercial.
Like African American sheet music in the 1900s today's rap and hip hop music stimulate stereotypes of African Americans. In the 1900s African American stereotypes were acted out in Blackface Minstrelsy. Blacks were portrayed as consumed with making money, excessively using slang, and being very ignorant; almost animal-like. Today the image is similar surrounding rappers. Rappers portray the image of thugs who flaunt their money and brag about carrying around firearms. This image may facilitate stereotypes because many whites with limited exposure to people of African descent might look at rappers and form inaccurate stereotypes; just like many whites did when they watched Black Minstrelsy shows in the 1900s. If fact, the primary audience for Black Minstrelsy shows was white. Also, many studies have shown that whites tend to be the main buyers of today's rap albums.