A poem for disimpassioned cubicle workers:
Copy, file, e-mail, check.
Triple check.
Procedure seizure ensues.
Never thought you’d spend your days in a windowless cube?
What to do?
Go back to college, buy an acronym?
But you see half zip up, Sperry wearing trip ups, carrying a debt like a boulder with that chip on their shoulder.
So, you write.
Creating art fuels you when the computer drools you.
Don’t want to live for Friday to Sunday
Today, you celebrate Monday!
Current hip hop is constantly being reprimanded for its lyrical obsession with hoes, money, drugs and generally un-lofty ideals. Re-examining some of the lyrics to chart topping favorites has me wondering what influence rap might have on self-esteem. Perhaps radio edits and censored versions of these songs actually endorse a positive self worth, even if you do lack the Maserati and bootylicious body.
This thought occurred to me passing by someone’s blasting headphones on the street this week. A very audible chorus simply¹ stating, “I’m the *bleeping* greatest, yeaaa…” was repeating on loop. In that fleeting moment, I couldn’t help but notice my posture improve and a little swagger develop in my step. “I should probably be listening to more rap”, I thought to myself.
I took it upon myself to investigate the lyrics of a few of the most recently popular raps and get to the heart of the songs. Expletives aside, I noticed some empowering themes emerging, many of which are the cornerstones to developing high self-worth.
Knowing Yourself
“Oh Lord, know yourself, know your worth, *bleep*
My actions been louder than my words, *bleep*”
– Drake, Zero to 100
Positive Self-Talk
“Numba 1, b—- you can’t replace me (Can’t replace me)”
-Wiz Khalifa, We Dem Boyz
Accepting Life’s Set Backs
“Battle wounds on me, you watching me lick ’em clean
I know, I know, my pride, my goals, my highs
My lows, I know, I know, it’s mind control
I know, I could prosper, no imposter”
– Kendrick Lamar, It’s On Again
“They wanna know how I got M’s and I didn’t even finish college”
-Rich Gang, Lifestyle
“I done made a million and I didn’t go to college”
-Yo Gotti, I Know
Scraping the surface of money flaunting and sexual objectification, modern rap may be the propagation of something beyond aesthetic desires. Put a new spin on it and rap is a tool of empowerment; a way to switch out the negative tape currently playing in your head.
Let me know, comment below :
What are your favorite empowering rap lyrics?
¹Unfortunately, the song’s simplicity was also it’s fault as my Google™ search later that night yielded no results.
e-tale THERAPY 