With “Ronald Reagan”, Killer Mike highlights political and social issues in the US during the Reagan era. The song, which the paper analyzes is a rap song consisting of two original samples, two verses, and an outro, featured in the album R.A.P. in May 2012. The paper firstly introduces the artist and goes on with the historical and cultural background of the main theme and the Reagan character. The next chapter analyzes the song, as well as the music video. The paper concludes with chapter 6. With his song, Killer Mike highlights anti-black racism and social issues amongst black people in the US.
Slavery, systematic racism, and police brutality is not a rare case in the United States. In pop culture, there are several ways to raise one’s voice against unfair treatment; through poetry, movies, art, and songs. The majority of African American people have been racially attacked in their lives. Some of those people remain silent, while others get active.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Killer Mike
- Historio-cultural background
- Song analysis
- [Sample: Ronald Reagen]
- [Verse 1]
- [Sample: Ronald Reagen]
- [Verse 2]
- Outro
- Music video
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This research paper delves into the portrayal of anti-Black racism in Killer Mike’s song "Ronald Reagan," highlighting the social and political issues prevalent in the United States during the Reagan era. The paper aims to analyze the song's lyrics, structure, and accompanying music video to uncover its message and its critique of systemic racism and police brutality.
- Anti-Black racism and social injustice
- The impact of the Reagan era on African Americans
- The War on Drugs and its disproportionate impact on Black communities
- Mass incarceration and its historical context
- The role of hip-hop music in addressing social issues
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the paper by introducing the prevalence of slavery, systemic racism, and police brutality in the United States, highlighting the role of pop culture in raising awareness against such injustices. The introduction also focuses on Killer Mike’s song "Ronald Reagan" and its critique of social and political issues during the Reagan era.
- Killer Mike: This chapter provides biographical information about Killer Mike, exploring his career as a rapper and activist. It sheds light on his personal experiences with racism and police brutality, highlighting the events that motivated his activism. The chapter also summarizes his musical career, mentioning his early rap battles, collaborations, and albums, emphasizing the themes of human rights, systemic racism, and police brutality prevalent in his work.
- Historio-cultural background: This chapter examines the historical and cultural context surrounding the Reagan era, specifically addressing the expansion of the drug policy and the subsequent rise of mass incarceration. It analyzes the discriminatory nature of drug laws, highlighting the disproportionate impact on Black communities and the lasting legacy of the "War on Drugs." This chapter also delves into the historical context of mass incarceration, connecting it to the history of slavery and the ongoing struggle for racial equality in the United States.
- Song analysis: This chapter provides a detailed analysis of the lyrics, structure, and musical elements of Killer Mike’s song "Ronald Reagan." It examines how the song utilizes samples, verses, and an outro to convey its message, highlighting the themes of anti-Black racism, police brutality, and the social consequences of the Reagan era's drug policies. The analysis explores the lyrical content and how it addresses the experiences of African Americans during this period.
- Music video: This chapter examines the music video accompanying the song "Ronald Reagan," analyzing its visual elements and their connection to the lyrics. It explores how the video reinforces the song’s message and its portrayal of social injustices, as well as how it uses visual imagery to convey the experiences and realities of African Americans during the Reagan era.
Keywords
The main keywords and focus topics of this research paper include anti-Black racism, systemic racism, police brutality, the Reagan era, the War on Drugs, mass incarceration, hip-hop music, social injustice, and African American experiences. These terms represent the core concepts and themes explored throughout the analysis of Killer Mike's song "Ronald Reagan."
- Arbeit zitieren
- Farisa Chamajewa (Autor:in), 2021, Anti-Black Racism Portrayed in the Song "Reagan" by Killer Mike, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1060204
