The Urban Voice in Music and Poetry: Harlem Renaissance to Rap/Slam Movement
Rap/Slam Voice in Poetry
Curriculum by Pamela R. English
The Rap/Slam movement in music has become a predominant force in today’s music industry. Although the music is probably the first thing that catches your attention, the message contained within is significant. Today’s generation speaks of love, death, self-expression, personal, political, and social issues, poverty and riches, and life experiences. They intertwine these thoughts creatively and innovatively within strong rhythms and entrancing melodies that capture the heart and mind of the listener.
As educators of today’s generation, we constantly search for creative ways to teach our children, engage their minds, and allow them to explore various perspectives of life and learning. In this attempt, I realize the importance of connecting their current experience with the experience and history of those that live before them. I also understand that high school students need a platform to discuss and learn about issues that are important to them and relevant to the view of life and education. With this thought in mind, I attempt to develop curriculum that fosters ideas, philosophy, and pedagogy that encourages critical thinking and exploration while integrating the ideas and issues that are important to the students.
The following curriculum focuses on the urban identity of high school students as it relates to poetry, with a concentration in the poetry that exists in rap and slam music. The mind set of today’s youth can be found within the lyrics of the music the they listen to. Many times this music is viewed negatively because of the strong language and ideas. However, there is a message embedded within that gives voice to the glories and ills of the surrounding society and community in which we live. The curriculum below allows students to research various slam and rap artists to determine what their message is and what it means to this generation. The works of famous literary poets will also be explored to discover the voice of the past and determine if some of the same political and social issues are still relevant today. Once these poetic pieces are researched and explored, students can determine if the message is relevant and effects change, good or bad, with the listener. Students will then identify what their voice is and how they can use poetry to express those ideas and beliefs. They will also explore current social and community issues within the original poetry that they create. Using poetic devices and literary elements, they will create meaningful and insightful poetry that reflects their personal thoughts and the thoughts and beliefs of their generation.
The voice of the poet within the slam and rap
music movement.
Learning Outcomes:
·
Identify the following literary elements within a
literary or poetic work: alliteration, allusion, assonance, characterization,
denotation, connotation, metaphor, personification, repetition, rhythm,
dialect, figurative language, free verse, hyperbole, imagery, irony, point of
view, refrain, simile, setting, speaker
·
Identify tone and voice of the speaker
·
Identify urban settings and imagery
·
Compare and contrast urban experience in past and
present poetry with personal experience
·
Identify similarities and differences in urban identity
of the past versus the present
·
Compare the structure and literary elements used in
various poetry with rap and slam lyrics
·
Identify the urban voice within rap and slam lyrics
·
Identify social and political issues that are important
to the current generation
·
Evaluate the effect of the message within the lyrics of
rap and slam.
·
Study lyrics of various rap and slam poetry to discover
current issues effecting the current generation.
·
Create original poetry and lyrics demonstrating your
own unique, urban identity.
·
Create original poetry using a variety of the literary
terms established.
·
Write original poetry creatively expressing the social
and political issues of the day that effect your generation.
·
Discuss how the message of the lyrics you create will
effect the intended audience.
·
Present your original poetry orally or participate in a
slam performance (group or individually).
Materials:
Exploration of literary works by various well-known poets such as:
Langston Hughes
James Weldon Johnson
Sonia Sanchez
Nikki Giovanni
Claude McKay
Exploration of the lyrics and urban message of various slam and rap poets such as:
Nina Small Public Enemy
Kenny Mostern Lauren Hill
Dagan Coppock Queen Latifah
Slam Nation (HBO Video) Tupac Shakur
RESOURCES:
TEXTS