Growing up, I was never a fan of rap. I didn’t really understand the appeal, it seemed like it was just somebody talking over some strange noises. It didn’t help that I grew up with parents who CONSTANTLY listened to music from the late 20th century, so I was brainwashed into only liking the music they liked (don’t get me wrong, I still do enjoy the occasional Led Zeppelin and Beatles).
As I grew older, everyone around me began listening to rap and hip hop. At first, I didn’t try to explore new genres, and I wasn’t a big music guy in high school to start. Years went by and I had heard some rap and hip-hop artists just from hanging out with friends, but not really listening. Music in the background to fulfill a vibe, but not actually listening to the beauty behind the piece. Going into college, I was determined to redefine myself and explore everything that seemed new to me. This mindset bled into my music, and I found myself looking for new music.
In college, I started doing some reflections outside while listening to music. One day while sitting on the picnic tables outside the HUB, I saw a YouTube recommended for “FEAR.” By Kendrick Lamar. I had heard of Kendrick Lamar before from my friends, so I figured I’d turn it on and really listen to the song while I reflected. Oh man, was I in for a rude awakening.
“FEAR.” by Kendrick Lamar is an extremely deep and powerful piece that packs a punch for expressing the distresses that arise from every aspect of life. Lamar describes all the fear he has faced throughout his life, from an adolescent to present day. Many of these fears arise from Lamar living in a society that constantly challenges and threatens his identity, relating to the hardships facing the African American community living in a society that has hurt and bet against them. Lamar describes the suffering he faced with domestic violence as a child, the distress he received through the fear of dying young, and the fear he still feels of losing the life he has built for himself.
The lyrics of this song are tremendously powerful. Everything he says has deep meaning to it, every line is cleverly woven to symbolize or express. This song has such a profound message for its audience. Lamar depicts these emotions to allow his audience to connect with his life, specifically reaching out to the African American community and saying, “you are not suffering alone” (or for somebody like me, teaching people the distress that many take on in the African American community). Just in the inflection of his voice alone, you can grasp the genuine agony that he is trying to depict. You feel this pain, you learn about the pain he has felt, you connect with the pain he has felt. You can fully perceive the level of stress within this song. Oh yeah, and the beat to this song is fire. Oh god, this song is so good! Literally every other minute I am writing this I stop and say “damn, I love this song.”
Words cannot describe the excitement I gain from this song and all the music Kendrick Lamar produces. It is so full of energy, so full of meaning, so deep. Kendrick Lamar is probably the most influential lyricist right now. Just like this piece, Lamar’s songs are extremely important in our society, as they are masterpiece depictions of the agony faced in life and the hardships undertaken within the African American community.
After finding this song, I fully gained an appreciation for rap and hip-hop music. If you pay attention, it can be so much more than merely mumbling. In terms of all music, I do believe that, like any art form, you must find the style that fits you the best. Some people may not be able to vibe as well with rap as they would with another type of music. Although, that doesn’t mean you should downplay the importance of that style. Hip-hop and rap are huge right now and are playing an extremely influential part in the development of society’s views. I urge everyone to try out not only rap, but all forms of music. Find what you connect with most and respect what you’ve tried but don’t connect as much with.
This is a really cool blog! I think it is really interesting how different types of music really show the artist and their background so uniquely. I am excited to see more of these posts.
I too have struggled to understand the appeal of rap, but your explanation of how FEAR made you feel and how you connected to it is very similar to a few rap songs that have made me feel the same way. I guess its not necessarily the genre that is the issue for me, and I have to find the songs that fit my taste when it comes to rap.