Hip Hop Matters by S. Craig Watkins

What I understand

1. There was a new Peer-to-Peer file sharing system.
2. In 2000 Metallica became the first well known group to legally challenge Napster and p2p.
3. Chuck D believed in Napster.
4. Chuck D's real name is Carleton Ridenhour.
5. He started wanting to be a rapper.

Questions I Have

1. What is a sound bite?
2. How did Public Enemy fall?
3. How was Flavor Flav discovered?
4. How did Rick Ruben and Russel Simmons meet up?

Unknown Words

1. Baritone(Page 125) - a male voice or voice part intermediate between tenor and bass.
2. Execs(Page 121)-
   The executive officer of a unit of the armed forces.
3. Ancillary(Page 129) - subordinate; subsidiary.

Summarizing Statement

This book takes about the successes of Chuck D and the acomplishments and flaws of Public Enemy.

Literary Terms

Hip Hop Matters by S. Craig Watkins

What I Understand

1. Dr. Dre used to be under a label but he decided to leave and start his own label.
2. He was in the the rap game for money and the music.
3. Dre basically found Eminem and gave him a chance.
4. Interscope records dropped Snoop Dogg becuase he wasn't a thug like character like Tupac Shakur.
5. He used to be in a group called N.W.A

Questions I Have

1. What would have happened to Eminem if Dr. Dre didn't start his own label?
2. How was Dr. Dre discovered in the rap game?
3. Why would the critics always compare Eminem to Elvis Presley?
4. How was 50 cent discovered?

Unknown Words

1. Contemptous-(Page 102) showing or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful.
2. Provocateur - (Page 106)- a person who provokes trouble, causes dissension, or the like; agitator.
3. Outlanding- (Page 107) - freakishly or grotesquely strange or odd, as appearance, dress, objects, ideas, or practices.

Literary Terms

1. Metaphor (Page 110)- I believe it's the bigger cancer to black America, because it doesn't inform, it just sells product.
2. Alliteration (Page 108)- "Eminem's ability to navigate hip hop's racial fault lines..."

Summarizing Statement

This part talks about how Dr. Dre got his new begginning in the rap industry.

Hip Hop Matters by S. Craig Watkins

What I understand

• Young white teen have an appetite for hip hop.
• Hip Hop's market grew wider in 1991 after the sound scan due to whites.
• "Efil4zaggin" was an album from N.W.A that was thought to be some pretty racist trash.
• Rap's crossover appeal represented a strange form of cultural tourism for many young whites.
• However N.W.A made way for hip hop to expand itself.

Questions I Have

• How often does Hip Hop set a new standard?
• Will Hip Hop ever rise from its birth place (ghetto), into the hands of whites?
• Is it something that blacks created just so they express themselves?
• How can artists only become one-hit wonders when it takes so much talent and intelligence to make an album?

Unknown Words

• Clarion (page 97)- clear and shrill: the clarion call of a battle trumpet.
• Vicariously (p. 97)- performed, exercised, received, or suffered in place of another: vicarious punishment.
• Visceral (p.97) - characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect: a visceral reaction.

Literary Terms

• Simile (Page 97) - "Hip Hop was their fantasy island, a place to travel largely through the pleasures of consumption- rather than actual contact into a foreign world..."
• Alliteration (Page 100)- "As Slim Shady her fired back..."

Summarizing Statement

During this part of the book Watkins discusses N.W.A's success and also some of the humiliation he has faced. He also like talking about Eminem and how hard it was for him to become successful and obtain his celebrity status.

Hip Hop Matters by S. Craig Watkins

What I Understand

• I learned that Benzino and Eminem had a conflict in 2003.
• There were two tapes in which Eminem had put some racial slurs on about his girlfriend who happened to be African American.
• Eminem is known as the rapper who actually broke the racial barrier in the rap industry.
• Eminem grew up in Detroit with a troubled family.
• Eminem second album "The Marshall Mathers LP, sold more than 1.7 million units in only six days

Questions I Have

• How would the rap industry be like if the racial barrier wasn't broken by Eminem?
• Do you basically have to be born in the hood in order to become a successful rap artist?
• How do most artist get their stage name?
• How can a High School dropout or a college drop out make up so many descriptive lyrics?

Unknown words

• Albeit (Page 93) - although; even if: a peaceful, albeit brief retirement.
• Latently (Page 92)- present but not visible, apparent, or actualized; existing as potential.
• Demographic (Page 96)- a single vital or social statistic of a human population, as the number of births or deaths.

Literary Terms

• Strong Quote -(Page 92)- "Look past my whitenesss and you will see that I am one of you."
• Imagery- "That a poor white high school dropout could find hope and inspiration from a musical genre so closely associated with ghetto youths is...Eminem's spectacular rise.

Summarizing Statement

This part of the book talks about how Eminem was growing up and and the difficulties he faced in his life. It also talks about other rap artists and their successes.

Hip Hop Matters by S. Craig Watkins

What I Understand

1. In 1991, WOWI NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, became the first radio station to play rap throughout the day.



2. The radio was split into about seven different formats.



3. As some songs were doing well on the Billboard, not all the time were they doing good on the black charts.



4. Eminem is one of the first artists to break the racial boundary for hip hop.



5. N.W.A has never reached top spot on the R&B chart.

Questions I have

1. Is there another Caucasian rapper like Eminem in the rap game?
2. How long will the rap industry last?
3. How does the rap industry affect the children who listen to it?
4. How will this industry increase its reputation?

Unknown words

1. Interloper (Page 86)- to intrude into some region or field of trade without a proper license.
2. Corrosive (page 86)- harmful or destructive; deleterious.
3. Vernacular (Page 87)- expressed or written in the native language of a place, as literary works.

Literary terms

1. Metaphor (Pagge 89)- "Taking music on the Internet is no different that from taking it from a store.
2. Similie (Page 91) - "When Benzino reffered to Eminem as Vanilla Ice 2003 it was a deliberate attack on the rapper's whiteness, a calculated attempted to reestablish hip hop's racial borders.

Summarizing Statement

During this part of the book there is a description of how rapper range of celebrity depends on many music charts.

Hip Hop Matters by S. Craig Watkins

What I Understand

• FUBU was created Daymond John and Carl Brown.


• They both started to make hats, t-shirts, rugby jerseys, and baseball caps.


• Lauryn Hill was probably the first woman artist to actually create a path for R&B.


• Jay Z was one of the few rappers to tell his life through his rhymes, he wasn't just looking for fame but also respect.


• Many rappers use the rap game to obtain a rags-to- riches story.

Questions I Have

• Can rappers be intelligent but at the same time be "gangsta"?


• Are these hardcore rappers really good inside?


• Is the rap game getting stronger as time passes or weaker?


• How are new rappers being found?

Unknown Words

• Hedonistic (Page 77)-devoted to pleasure.
• Juggernaut (Page 76) - any large, overpowering, destructive force or object, as war, a giant battleship, or a powerful football team.
• Fidelity (Page 68)- strict observance of promises, duties, etc.

Literary Terms

• Irony - "When FUBU began in 1992, it had neither the money nor the connections to place its product in key retail sites. Pg. 69
• Metaphor- "The making of the Roc-A-Fella juggernaut represents in brilliant fashion.

Summarizing Sentence

During this part of novel FUBU was created and it also describes how Jay Z got his celebrity status.

Hip Hop Matters by S. Craig Watkins

Things I Understand

1. The first studio recorded song was called "King Tim 3" by the Fatback Band.


2. In addition, "Rapper's Delight" was the first successful rap song in the music industry.


3. More than 2 million units were sold for that song alone.


4. Sylvia Robinson could be known as the first person who broughtout rap commercially.


5. SoundScan was a new creation that was made traking down album sales more accurate.

Questions Asked

1. Was Frankie Crocker being racist by saying that "Rapper's Delight" was tooo black for his station?


2. Why was Emimen accused of stealing Hip Hop?


3. How would the would be with out rap?


4. Would it be a peace earth or a land of destruction or would it make no difference at all?

Unknown Words

1. Derisively - characterized by or expressing derision; contemptuous; mocking: derisive heckling. Page 18


2. Fervent- having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm. Page 20
3. Lucrative- profitable; moneymaking; remunerative. Page 28

Rare to find any literary method

Summarizing Statement

During this part of the book Watkins describes how rap started and how rappers like Master P played tough and found their way to fame.

Betsey Brown

Pages 197- 207

• Jane was fanially back home.


• Vida missed her husband.


• Vida missed having children running around the house.


• Greer wanted to work things out with Jane.


• Everybody is starting to like Carrie as their housekeeper.

Questions

• Did Carrie have problems with the family


• What is going on with Greer and Jane?


• What is up with Vida?


• Do the children like going to their school?

unknown Words

• Solace- Alleviation or comfort


• Assuage-to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate: to assuage one's grief; to assuage one's pain. Page 198


• Beguin- a member of a former lay brotherhood, founded in Flanders in the 13th century, living after the manner of the Beguines. Page 199

Summarzing sentence

During this time the family get back together and joins as one.

Betsey Brown

Pages 176-196



Caharcteristics In Betsey Brown

• Vida didn't like the fact that the house was so quiet.


• I think Carrie is destroying the family.


• Carrie is becoming a gentlemen caller.


• Jane still hasn't returned.


• Betsey is getting very worried about her mother.

Questions

• Will Jane leave the family for good?


• Does Betsey like Carrie as a friend?


• How does Greer feel about Jane still not coming home?


• How is Vida feeling about the situations that are taking place?

Unknown Words

• Hellbent-stubbornly or recklessly determined. Page 178


• Fanangled-an elaborate but useless ornament. Page 180


• Repute- estimation in the view of others; reputation: persons of good repute. Page 181

Literary Terms

• Hyperbole- "Once I went to a roadhouse and danced on a dime...." Page 179


• Irony- " How could anybody be so dumb and be a teacher, huh Carrie?" Page 183

Summarizing Sentence

During this part of the novel displays a time when Betsey is having problems at her school.

Betsey Brown

Pages 160- 175



What I Understand

• Allard talls his family that he hates going to the white side of town.


• Greer still wants their children to heep going to their schools even though Jane doesn't like that idea quite well.


• I think that there will be a lot of problems.


• Betsey wanted to see her money so badly.


• Allard got ver close to his grandmother over the past few days.

Questions

• Where did Jane go?


• Were there going to be more problems in the family?


• Who is Carrie?


• When was Jane going to come back?

Unknown Words

• Crinolines- A coarse stiff fabric of cotton or horsehair used especially to line and stiffen hats and garments. Page 164


• Episia Cleopatra- A certain type of plant. Page 165


• Geraniums-Any of various plants of the genus Geranium, having palmately divided leaves and pink or purplish flowers. Also called cranesbill. Page 165

Literary Terms

• Conflict- "Greer Brown, you can take ....out this door! Page 157


• Similie- "That's not enough. Either we're citizens or we might as well be slaves" Page 157

Summarizing Sentence

This is about the whole family going through whole new kind of trouble.

Betsey Brown

Page 139- 159

Characteristics of Betsey Brown

1. Betsey was heading home with a brand new hair dew
2. Jane was really getting worried for Betsey
3. Jane just found the letter Betsey had written for the family.
4. Greer went to look for Betsey
5. Greer found Betsey?

Questions I have

1. What was Jane going to say when she found Betsey?
2. Would Greer ever going to find Betsey?
3. What would happen if Betsey wasn't found?
4. Was Greer going to leave the family?

Unknown Words

1. Veiled-covered or concealed by, or as if by, a veil. Page 139
2. Abrasive- any material or substance used for grinding, polishing, etc., as emery, pumice, or sandpaper. Page 145
3. Taupe- a moderate to dark brownish gray, sometimes slightly tinged with purple, yellow, or green. Page 155

Literary Terms

1. Tone- Arnett's Fried chicken and Shrimp!" Page 151
2. Conflict- "Where's my daughter? Where's my daughter? Where's my daughter? Make them find her." Page 144

Summarizing Sentence

1. During time they found Betsey and the celebrated for Betsey's return. Everyone showed her how mch they missed her.
   

Betsey Brown

Pages 118 - 138


Characteristics of Betsey Brown

1. Right now Betsey is trying to read herself and see what is going on in her life.
2. Also Betsey Brown wanted to run away because she felt as if she wasn't needed.
3. Betsey ran away in the night to some who she believed would actually understand her.
   
4. Mr. Tavaneer had told Betsey to go home because St. Louis isn't a good place for a girl to be.
5. Betsey found Regina living with Mrs. Maureen.

Questions I have

1. Did Betsey even think of how her mother would feel after she ran away?
2. Would Mrs. Maureen take her in?
3. What was Regina doing at Mrs. Maureen house?
4. How will Betsey ever get back home?

Unknown Words

1. Elope-to run off secretly to be married, usually without the consent or knowledge of one's parents. Page 130
   
2. Hincty-conceited or snobbish. Page 137
3. Appliqué-ornamentation, as a cutout design, that is sewn on to or otherwise applied to a piece of material. Page 137

Literary Terms

1. Irony- " Wouldn't Mrs. Maureen be surprised to see her!" Page 121
2. Foreshadowing- "Things that I never want you or my baby to see" Page 133

Summarizing Sentence

1. In this part, Betsey runs away to find acceptance from Mrs. Maureen.
   

Betsey Brown

Pages 97- 117

Characteristics of Betsey Brown

1. Betsey Brown did end up going to the white school.
2. Betsey did not end up having a bad day at school.
   
3. Betsey met Eugene after school.
4. Charlie was jumped by a pack of white boys.
5. Greer was going to take all of the children to school in order to avoid any problems.

Questions

1. When is the next time Betsey will see Eugene again?
2. How are Jane and Greer's relationship going?
3. Will Charlie ever get back at them boys?
4. Does Betsey even see her friends any more?

Unknown Words

1. Belligerent-warlike; given to waging war. Page 98
2. Kosher-fit or allowed to be eaten or used, according to the dietary or ceremonial laws: kosher meat; kosher dishes; a kosher tallith. Page 100
3. Cayenne-a hot, biting condiment composed of the ground pods and seeds of the pepper Capsicum annuum longum. Page 107

Literary Terms

1. Hyperbole- "It runs un you blood memory." Page 105
2. Foreshadowing- "We'll make it through this and we'll reminisce bout the evening you were storming about, saying you were losing your mind." Page 108
   

Summarizing Sentence

1. During this part of the novel, Betsey meets Eugene and they start to become closer friends and also the family is having problems going to these new schools.
   

Betsey Brown

Pages 76-96





Characteristics of Betsey Brown

1. Eugene had came over to see Betsey


2. Regina; who is the babysitter , came over with her boyfriend Roscoe and they started kissing in front of the children.


3. Betsey wanted to experience what Regina and Roscoe was experiencing with love.


4. Greer wants the children to go to an all white school in order to make a stand for the entire race of African Americans.


5. Jane disagrees with Greer all the way about his decision.

Questions I have

1. Is Betsey really in love with Eugene?


2. Why did Greer want his children to set a stands?


3. How made was Jane with Greer that night?


4. Did the children end up going to the school?

Unknown Words

1. Sepia-Any of several cuttlefish of the genus Sepia, producing a dark fluid used naturally for defense and, by humans, in ink. Page 84


2. Satanic- Characteristic of or befitting Satan; extremely wicked; devillike; diabolical. Page 89


3. Akin- Of kin; related by blood (usually used predicatively): cousins who were too closely akin for marriage. Page 90

Literary Terms

1. Alliteration- "Well, what happened?" Page 79


2. Irony- "This young man is worth more than you know, Mrs. Murray." Page 87

Summarizing

1. This part of the story shows how Betsey is battling with love and the white people.

Betsey Brown

Pages 55-75

Characteristics of Betsey Brown

• The family finally gets some help from Bernice Calhoun.
  
• Betsey was really mad that some random lady has showed her mother her hiding place ; a place for relaxation.
• The children started to cause a lot of problems for Ms. Calhoun
  
• Betsey had cause Ms. Calhoun to get fired.
• Veejay got really mad at Betsey because Ms. Calhoun had the same occupation as her mother.

Questions

• How long did Betsey had her secret hiding place?
• Did Betsey really have that much hate for Ms. Calhoun?
• Where did Ms. Calhoun go after she had gotten fired?
• How did Betsey feel after Eugene kissed her?

Unknown Works

• Beaumont- A city of southeast Texas north-northeast of Houston. A ship canal links the city with the Gulf of Mexico. Pg 73
• Dahlias-Any of several plants of the genus Dahlia native to the mountains of Mexico, Central America, and Colombia, having tuberous roots and showy, rayed, variously colored flower heads. Pg 61
• Fricassee- meat, esp. chicken or veal, browned lightly, stewed, and served in a sauce made with its own stock. Pg 59

Literary Terms

• Simile- "There were closets that went way back against the walls of the house until it smelled like like the earth was coming right in" Page 59
• Personification- "The basement was a secret of its own" Page 59

Summarizing Sentence

• In this part of the novel Betsey Brown was discoving her meaner sides. She got a worker fired and she lost a friend but at least she got a kiss from Eugene Boyd which made her week.
  

Betsey Brown

Pages 34- 54

Betsey Brown's Characteristics

• Betsey for the first time is seeing a pretty boy that she likes.
• Betsey was ready for her elocution that she has been studying for the past 5 days.
• Betsey and her friends had started to see their bodies and were discovering the beauty of their bodies.
• Right now the family is in a tight situation in which Betsey has to watch all of the children and become the leader of the house besides their parents.

Questions

• What would have happened if Betsey wasn't able to be the leader of the children?
• Is type of work a little to much for a thirteen year old?
• Was Betsey starting to like Eugine?
• If Betsey wasn't there would have the family broken apart?
• Who is the lady on the street?

Unknown Words

• Elocution-The art of public speaking in which gesture, vocal production, and delivery are emphasized. Page 37
• Delinquent-Failing in or neglectful of a duty or obligation; guilty of a misdeed or offense. page 45
• Begonias- Any of various tropical or subtropical plants of the genus Begonia, widely cultivated as ornamentals for their usually asymmetrical, brightly colored leaves. Pg 40

Literary Terms

• Onomatopoeia- "With her hmph"! pg. 38
• Simile- "Veejay fled as if the Devil were on her tail when the girls started counting their pubic hair" pg 41

Summarizing Sentence

In this part of the novel, Betsey Brown is completing her elocution and she is starting to like boys. she is actually interested in Eugene Boyd and she and her friends are discovering their beautiful parts.

Betsey Brown

The novel that I am reading at this moment is called Betsey Brown by Ntozake and it places a thirteen year old girl in St. Louis which forces her to become an adult pretty quickly. This is some information on it:

Pages 13- 27

Comments

* This novel takes place in St. Louis in the date of 1959.
* Betsey Brown lives with her two sisters, a little brother, a cousin who she hates, both of her parents and her grandmother.
* Betsey is the oldest out of her siblings and she does takes the most responsibility around the house
*Betsey is starting to find herself at first.
* Betsey has to take care of all of those meddling kids


Questions

• When was Betsey's Birthday?
• Why was these children so out of place?
• How many friends does Betsey actually have?
• What school does Betsey Brown go to?

Unknown Words

• Brazen- shameless or impudent. Page 25
• Bawdy-indecent; lewd; obscene. Page 24
• Ingenuously- free from reserve, restraint, or dissimulation; candid; sincere. Page 27

Summarizing Sentence

This story is in the beginning in which Betsey Brown is learning about life.