For more than a century songs with African American lyrics have contained
strikingly similar themes. The music industry, then and now, has
promoted songs that largely reflect an aberrant point of view. Whether
the subject is money, women, or violence, the lyrics support deviant values
in the name of profit. Some differences between the two periods can
be explained by an improvement in the economic status of African Americans.
Money or wealth has been a popular subject for writers of "black" songs
for decades. " No Scrubs" (1998) and "I Don't Like No Cheap Man"
(1897) are remarkably alike in theme and tone although they were written
almost one hundred years apart. "You's a cheap man, and you won't
do!" (1897) re-appears in 1999 as "Can't get wid no dead beat ass."
The pre-eminent idea in both is that suitors must be financially solvent
in order to be acceptable to females. Money, not morality or ethics,
is the essence of eligibility.
Money also shows up in the song "Money" (1908). The lyrics indicate
that money is the center of the universe, the solution to all problems,
the one constant from birth to death. It is "the reason, keeps you
from freezin..." and "you hear it when you're born till you die."
In Real Niggas, Puff Daddy explains how "bein broke...give the nigga
chills.." A definite difference between the two periods is the inclusion
of wealthy African Americans in the lyrics of more recent songs reflecting
the improved economic condition of some blacks. Puff Daddy sings
of the "Five carats on my hands," as well as the "twenty Gs" for two keys.
In any case the persona of Puff Daddy's lyrics appears to have come upon
his wealth through illegitimate means.
Violence and/or crime against African Americans shows up regularly in the
songs of both eras. In " I Don't Allow no Coon to Hurt My Feelings"
(late 19th century) Cook wrote of knocking out "a coon's" teeth and providing
"some nearby undertaker work tonight." Puff Daddy carries on the
tradition by suggesting that it was necessary to blow someone's brains
out cause witnesses we don't need."
The music industry decided more than a century ago that socially unacceptable
themes are moneymakers for African Americans songs. Whether the subject
is money, women or violence the tone is anti-social. After all, they
tell us "On the road to riches and diamond rings Real niggas do real things."
(Real Niggas)
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