Edited by Azizi Powell
(Revised November 21, 2016)
This post provides excerpts from five online articles and posts about Lin-Manuel Miranda's 2015 Broadway musical Hamilton.
Five videos of songs from that play as well as a link to annotated lyrics for that play's album are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks Lin-Manuel Miranda for writing and starring in Hamilton. Thanks also to the the original cast of Hamilton and the producers of that play. In addition, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this videos on YouTube.
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FEATURED VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order based on their publishing date on YouTube with the oldest dated video given first.
Video #1: Hip-hop and history blend for Broadway hit ‘Hamilton’
PBS NewsHour, Published on Nov 20, 2015
He’s on the $10 bill and he died in a duel, but what else do you know about Alexander Hamilton? Now his life is the subject of a cutting-edge hip-hop Broadway musical, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Jeffrey Brown talks to the celebrated writer and performer about updating the history of one of the Founding Fathers to reflect and engage today’s America.
View the Full Story/Transcript: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/hip-hop-and-history-blend-for-broadway-hit-hamilton/
****
Video #2: Video #3: "Hamilton": A founding father takes to the stage
CBS Sunday Morning, Published on Mar 8, 2015
When Lin-Manuel Miranda sings about the drive of the "young, scrappy and hungry" immigrant, he's not singing about just any immigrant. He's singing about the man on the ten dollar bill, Alexander Hamilton. As Mo Rocca reports, Hamilton's musical journey to the stage is as revolutionary as the young revolutionary who helped create the America we know..
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Video # 3: Hamilton cast performs "Alexander Hamilton" at White House
CBSN, Published on Mar 14, 2016
President Obama and the First Lady hosted the Broadway cast of the musical “Hamilton” at the White House Monday for a workshop and Q&A session with area students. President Obama delivered remarks on the history behind "Hamilton," and the cast performed “Alexander Hamilton," the opening song of the play, live for the attendees.
-snip-
The Hamilton cast performance begins at 9:03 of this video.
****
Video #4: Hamilton cast performs "My Shot" at White House
CBSN Published on Mar 14, 2016
The cast of the hit Broadway musical "Hamilton" performed the song "My Shot" at the White House Monday for an audience that included President and Mrs. Obama, Vice President Biden and local students.
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Video #5: Lin-Manuel Miranda Monologue - SNL
Saturday Night Live Published on Oct 8, 2016
Host Lin-Manuel Miranda commemorates his first time hosting SNL with a remixed version of Hamilton's "My Shot."
-snip-
Click http://www.thewrap.com/snl-lin-manuel-miranda-whips-out-not-throwing-away-my-shot-parody/ for an article about Lin-Manuel Miranda's monologue on the American comedy series Saturday Night Live.
Also, click http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/18/politics/mike-pence-hamilton-musical/ and http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2016/11/19/social-media-explodes-over-hamiltontrump-duel/94129798/ for articles about Donald Trump's tweets about the play Hamilton.
****
EXCERPTS FROM VARIOUS ONLINE ARTICLES ABOUT HAMILTON (MUSICAL)
These excerpts from articles, posts, and a page for the annotated album lyrics are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_(musical)
"Hamilton is a musical about Alexander Hamilton, with music, lyrics,[1] and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The show was inspired by the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton, by historian Ron Chernow.
The musical made its Off-Broadway debut at The Public Theater in February 2015, where its engagement was sold out.[2] The show transferred to Broadway in August 2015 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. On Broadway, it has received enthusiastic critical acclaim and unprecedented advance box office sales,[3] as well as a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. The Off-Broadway production of Hamilton won the 2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical as well as seven other Drama Desk Awards out of 14 total nominations."...
****
Excerpt #2
From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hamilton-musical-fans_us_56c34d45e4b0c3c55052a5cd
" “Hamilton” is a Broadway musical.
More specifically, it is a wildly popular musical about “a scrappy young immigrant who forever changed America.” That scrappy young immigrant from the Caribbean is the titular Alexander Hamilton, played by prolific composer/lyricist/rapper (also a MacArthur “Genius Grantee” and, swoon, the show’s writer) Lin-Manuel Miranda.
On stage, Miranda is supported by a hyper-talented and racially diverse cast of singers, rappers and dancers who deftly act out the highs and lows of Founding Fathers-era America. Together, they offer an unlikely, hip-hop-inspired retelling of the United States’ revolutionary history, punctuated by dramatic, character-driven stories of ambition and revenge, all influenced by Miranda’s serendipitous decision to read a Hamilton biography while on vacation....
3. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a godsend.
He’s a MacArthur Fellow, so you know he has credentials. The New York City-born writer and performer, of Puerto Rican descent, created the Tony Award-winning musical “In The Heights” when he was just a sophomore in college. He starred in that production, too.
Oh, and he rapped his acceptance speech at the Grammys.
4. But, so is the rest of the cast.
While Miranda kills it as Alexander Hamilton, the other characters are hardly second-rate. “Smash” star Leslie Odom Jr. plays Aaron Burr, the man who killed Hamilton in an unforgettable duel...
5. You really, really, really don’t need to love history to get into “Hamilton.”
Sure, the play is inspired by non-fictional events — Hamilton really did grow up in the British West Indies, Burr really did kill Hamilton in a bitter duel. But the musical is just as much about pop culture as it is about history. As Rebecca Mead noted in The New Yorker, “Hamilton also reminded Miranda of Tupac Shakur, the West Coast rapper who was shot to death in 1996.”
Be prepared for references to theater staples like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, and “West Side Story,” as well as nods to hip-hop icons: Biggie Smalls, the Fugees, even Jamie Foxx."...
****
Except #3
From http://genius.com/albums/Lin-manuel-miranda/Hamilton-original-broadway-cast-recording
Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2015)
"Hamilton Written By Lin-Manuel Miranda
[album] Release Date September 25, 2015
[This is] The Grammy award-winning cast recording to the hit Broadway musical, Hamilton, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It blends musical theater, hip-hop, rap, R&B, jazz, pop, and American history to dramatize the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton, based on the biography by Ron Chernow. Despite depicting historical figures, the show practices colorblind (more like purposefully colorful) casting. As countless promotional materials state, Hamilton aims to depict “America then, as told by America now.
This record was the first album to ever receive a 5 star review on billboard.com.”...
-snip-
This genius.com page contains annotations by Lin-Manuel Miranda and others of the lyrics for all the songs in "Hamilton". This page also includes a write up about how this musical was composed.
****
Excerpt #4:
From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/no-the-hamilton-casting-call-for-non-white-actors-is-not-reverse-racism_us_56fd2c83e4b0daf53aeed9b9 No, The ‘Hamilton’ Casting Call For ‘Non-White’ Actors Is Not Reverse Racism 03/31/2016 12:30 pm ET | Zeba Blay Updated Mar 31, 2016
..."There is, of course, a case to be made for the importance of colorblind casting, the practice of choosing actors for parts based solely on their ability and not on race or ethnicity. And if you think about it, “Hamilton” is perhaps as colorblind as castings come — when else would black and Latino actors get to play the Founding Fathers?
But what makes “Hamilton” work so well is the fact that it’s a commentary on America’s past through the prism of America’s present, its future. It works because the historically white, male founding fathers are being played by a predominantly non-white cast of blacks and Latinos (there are also plans to cast women in the roles of men).
Now, what would the musical look like if Alexander Hamilton wasn’t played by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Aaron Burr wasn’t played by Leslie Odom, Jr, but instead the characters were played by two capable, talented white actors? The show would likely still be entertaining, but the context and the conversation would change. It’s like suggesting that “For Colored Girls...” or “The Color Purple” have an all-white cast. It’s a completely different show."...
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Except #5
From http://www.buzzfeed.com/jeremymccarter/saving-america-from-itself#.frJwYd2wRj
Why Hamilton Matters; The story of Hamilton’s journey from concept to cultural phenomenon, as told by someone who has been in all of the room(s) where it happened. Even in Obama’s White House. posted on Apr. 10, 2016 by Jeremy McCarter
..."It is May 5, 2009, and Lin-Manuel Miranda is listening at the back of the East Room for his cue. The administration of the newly elected president, Barack Obama, has invited him to the White House to perform a song from In the Heights, his Tony Award–winning Broadway musical. The organizers figured he would be a bright addition to an evening of spoken word, poetry, and hip-hop — so bright, in fact, that they asked him to close the show...
Miranda tells the audience he’s writing a hip-hop concept album about the life of Alexander Hamilton, which makes the audience laugh, because that’s a ludicrous combination of words, and then he starts rapping, which makes them laugh even more, because it really is a funny notion — a young Nuyorican spitting verses about the nation’s first Treasury secretary (in the East Room, no less, the chandeliers and gold drapes, George and Martha looking down) — but then Miranda raps faster, and with more conviction, and now nobody is laughing, because they see that he’s not joking, that he’s very serious, that this fusion of unlike parts is yielding something new and potent, something amazing, and when he’s done they leap to their feet, cheering as one, the president leading the way.
Those highly implausible four minutes are a pretty good distillation of what has happened to Miranda’s Hamilton idea ever since. The audience’s cycle of laughing, then listening intently, then breaking into wild applause has been repeated many millions of times. Hamilton has become the hottest ticket on Broadway, which is just about the least interesting thing about it. Its actors have become celebrities. Its catchphrases have crept into common usage. Its cast album just went gold. Less than a year into its run on Broadway, it has become a once-in-a-generation cultural phenomenon."...
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ADDITIONAL LINKS
Click http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hamilton-white-visit-was-so-important_us_56e82e9be4b0860f99da64dd Why The ‘Hamilton’ Cast’s Trip To The White House Was So Important
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s trip to Washington, D.C., was a big win for arts education advocates.
by Katherine Brooks, 03/16/2016 09:35 am ET | Updated Mar 17, 2016
Also, click http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/04/10/1511835/-Casting-and-color-Hamilton-and-Broadway-history "Casting and color: 'Hamilton' and Broadway history" By Denise Oliver Velez, 016/04/10.
That post includes an excerpt of remarks by President Barack Obama at "Hamilton at the White House" [March 14, 2016] and a link to the full transcript of those remarks.
****
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label Hip-Hop music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hip-Hop music. Show all posts
Monday, April 11, 2016
Friday, July 10, 2015
"When Will The English Version Come Out" Comments & Their Responses In YouTube Hip-Hop Comment Threads
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part* series on racist comments in YouTube Hip-Hop videos comment threads. Part I focuses on the internet meme "When will the English version come out?". This post includes information about that meme, my editorial comment, and recent examples of that meme from the discussion threads of three Hip-Hop (or Hip-Hop/Pop) videos: Soulja Boy - "Crank That Soulja Boy", Roscoe Dash - "All The Way Turnt Up ft. Soulja Boy", and Silento - "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).
Part II focuses on the "Not a single white person [in Hip Hop videos]. That's racism" comments that I found in the discussion threads of certain Hip Hop videos.
*I had initially planned to publish a third post in this series on Tube Hip-Hop video's comment thread about rappers wearing baggy clothes. However, I've decided to focus on the subject of baggy clothes in general without an emphasis on racist comments about that clothing style. A link to that projected pancocojams post will be included in a Related Links section on the posts in this series.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric and cultural documentation.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE "WHEN DOES THE ENGLISH VERSION COME OUT?" MEME
From http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/when-does-the-english-version-come-out "When does the English version come out?" by Niseru, 2012.
“When does the English version come out?” Originally a question for video games/cartoons/anime/songs that have not yet been dubbed in English, is a trend of YouTube comments used to humorously indicate that (usually a singers singing/rappers rapping) although in English/Ebonics english, is hard to understand, usually do to a strong country accent, loud yelling or screaming, heavy use of auto-tune, or a mix of those. It seems to target the voice of the singer/rapper more than the way they speak.
The question/phrase can be asked or said in various ways, such as
“When does this come out in English?”
“Waiting for the English version”
“Cant wait for the English version to come out”
“Where can I find the English version?”
etc
But with “When does the English version come out?” being the most common."
****
EDITORIAL COMMENT
It should come as no surprise to people who read YouTube video comment threads that Black music video's discussion threads usually includes lots of racist comments. But, perhaps because I don't often watch Hip-Hop videos, and therefore don't read those discussion threads, it wasn't until three days ago that I became aware of the proliferation of "When does the English language version come out" and- to a lesser extent- the repeated number of "Not a single white person[in Hip Hop videos]. That's racism" comments in those videos.
Actually, the videos that I visited -and whose comment threads I read- are examples of Hip-Hop Pop music. That sub-set of Hip-Hop is also known as "club music" (with "club" meaning "nightclub"), "dance music", "party music", "crunk music", and the more recent category label "turn up" music. "Turn up" in this context mostly means "music that gets you hyped (pumped up, energized). "Turn up" music is music that you dance to. Note that the term "turn up" or "turnt up" has other (earlier?) meanings. Read visitor submitted enties for "turnt up" in http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Turnt+Up [Warning: Some of these entries include profanity.] Also, read this 2014 article about the term "turn up"/"turnt up": http://www.visualthesaurus.com/cm/dictionary/what-turns-up-when-you-look-into-turn-up/
After reading all of the comments that were posted to date [July 9, 2015) on the three YouTube video discussion threads which I identified above, I've concluded that a considerable number of those comments are either covertly or overtly racist against Black people. I've also concluded that many of these racist comments are posted by trolls. A 2002 urban dictionary definition of "trolls" is "One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument" (by Alien Entity September 22, 2002). Trolls also post deliberately provocative comments "just for fun". The deep seated virulent racism that still exists in the United States and elsewhere are exemplified by these discussion threads direct (openly/ overtly) racist comments, and the discussion threads covertly racist comments that are couched in seemingly innocent, concerned language which sometimes comes across as "throwing shade"*. Just because something is written as a joke doesn't mean it is funny, and doesn't mean it's not racist.
These types of questions or statements on YouTube discussion threads are examples of microaggressions. Here's a definition of microaggression from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/microaggressions-in-everyday-life/201011/microaggressions-more-just-race
"Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. In many cases, these hidden messages may invalidate the group identity or experiential reality of target persons, demean them on a personal or group level, communicate they are lesser human beings, suggest they do not belong with the majority group, threaten and intimidate, or relegate them to inferior status and treatment."
-end of quote-
People who post such comments on Hip-Hop music discussion threads came to those social internet spaces where Black people and non-Black people who are interested in and fans of that music congregate to relax, enjoy that music, and discuss that music. That social experience is diminished by openly racist remarks or remarks that are couched in fake concern or questions.
Bloggers who re-post "When will the English version come out" or "Not a single white person.[in Hip Hop videos] That's racism." comments or versions of those comments aren't asking those questions or posting those comments to receive serious responses. At the very least, they may be unaware of the racism that fuels those questions or comments. However, that doesn't make those questions or comments less racist.
It's important to note that few of those commenters identify themselves by race, although I believe that people participating in those exchanges assumed that the bloggers who were writing (or copying) those memes were White. That said, it's important to note that as demonstrated below, some of the commenters who speak out against those types of comments/questions identify themselves as White. But, at the very least, repeatedly reading such questions and comments on YouTube discussion threads can be annoying and disgusting. Black participants and/or readers of these discussions and participants of other races could also feel disdainful, bitter, angry, and prejudiced towards those people writing such direct and indirect racist comments/ questions. Black people and others could also feel sadness that racism is quite strong, inspite of pronouncements that we are now are in a post-racial society.
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THE PURPOSE OF THIS POST AND THE WAY THESE EXAMPLES ARE ORGANIZED
The comments that are included in this post are examples of those memes. This is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all the examples in those discussion threads of those memes or that subject matter.
I'm publishing the selected examples of those comments and of some responses to those comments for cultural and folkloric documentation. In Part I and Part II of this series I've provided links to the videos from which these discussion threads come.
*My definition of "throwing shade" from http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html What "Reading Someone", "Throwing Shade", & "No Tea No Shade" Mean.
****
COMMENTS FROM THREE YOUTUBE VIDEO DISCUSSION THREADS
WARNING: These discussion threads contain racist, homophobic, sexually explicit content, and profanity. Examples with that content aren't included below, with the exception of a limited number of comments that have the curse word/s deleted or not fully spelled out. Also, in this post what is commonly known as the n word is given in place of that fully spelled out racial referent.
I. Soulja Boy Tell'em - Crank That (Soulja Boy)
SouljaBoyTellemVEVO, Uploaded on Nov 22, 2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UFIYGkROII
1. Matt Mayuiers, 2014
"Sounds great, I can't wait for the English version to come out!!!"
-snip-
A number of comments with this same wording are found in this discussion thread posted by bloggers with other names than the name given above.
**
2. PepeJuventino, 2014
"I remeber when I first heard this I thought it was Japanese"
**
3. Grrizly, 2014
"Can someone tell me in what language is this song?"
**
4. Fantasy, 2013
"we dont need english when we got this"
**
5. Nobody, 2013
"Still waiting for the English version to come out..."
**
6. Oliver Proctor, 2013
"Sadly Soulja Boy has denied his loyal fans an english translation to the song :("
**
7. JJoh4040, 2013
in reply to Oliver Proctor
"its written in ebonics"
**
8. barzy qasim, 2015
"Is this even entirely English?"
**
9. afdgafdghjk, 2015
"[Profanity deleted] these [n word]s cannot speak english"
-snip-
What is commonly known as “the n word” was fully spelled out in this comment.
**
10. thepretenda, 2015
"When is there going to be a version in English?"
**
11. Johnathon Gaudet, 2015
"There's always that one guy^^^^^^^"
**
12. Dom1nateRK, 2015
"It's not that hard to understand what he's saying..."
**
13. William Reid, 2015
"It's a joke."
**
14. DigitalRealm, 2015
"sigh"
**
15. Hi I'm Lightning, 2015
"+thepretenda its english dummy"
**
16. DaQuan J, 2015
"You don't get the joke. Whites have a hard time understanding Ebonics."
**
17. king keffel, 2015
"+DaQuan J im white I understand it perfectly"
**
18. Maya Moe, 2015
"Lol I'm not sure probably never going to happen, he needs to learn the language first."
**
19. JeffA- 22, 2015
"This is clear English 😒"
**
20. kendall Campbell, 2015
"+JeffA- 22 they just bein white"
**
21. krm1263 mc, 2015
"For [profanity deleted] sake I'm white and I understand everything that's they're saying it's not hard to understand anyone or even get a understanding of what they're saying"
**
22. Ourworld Tutorials, 2015
"When am I going to stop seeing this comment on almost every music video?"
**
22. Oye S., 2015
"+thepretenda The same time these people realize what a joke is, most likely..."
**
23. DarkLord10951, 2015
"Your watching it"
**
24. Adrianne Johnson, 2015
"This is it"
**
25. Anderson Albritton, 2015
"Anyone in these comments get a sarcastic joke??I do.Hah.Funny.I grinned."
**
26. Doodle Bob, 2015
"When you get hearing aids."
**
27. PaiNExoTiC, 2015
"+thepretenda Be original."
**
28. Shaan Tahir, 2015
"Yall are racist. Its not because hes white. Its because hes thepretenda. Its in the name idiotss:
**
29. JeffA- 22, 2015
"When's there gonna be a english version of your comment!!!"
**
30. Pink Sunglasses, 2015
"+JeffA- 22 You mean it isn't African?
My whole life was a lie."
**
31. Neveah Worden, 2015
"I love this songs and
I don't care about the English
Version ..............."
**
32. ShadowCat Destroyer, 2015
"ummm...this an american song right?"
**
33. Rab John C. Blay
""Superman" and "you" are the only words that i can understand"
****
II. Roscoe Dash - "All The Way Turnt Up ft. Soulja Boy Tell'em"
Roscoe DashVevo, Uploaded on Feb 23, 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMwi8vFXUpo
1. Taigacan, 2013
"can't wait till the english version comes out =D"
**
2. Bianca Brown, 2013
in reply to Taigacan
"it is already out u just dont understand it"
**
3. Taigacan, 2013
"can't wait till the english version comes out"
**
4. prince brown, 2013
in reply to Taigacan
"and im still waiting for that gay ass joke to be over"
**
5. ZizioGardo, 2013
in reply to Taigacan
"Why do you keep posting the same comment over and over again?
It was funny the first time, but now it's just annoying."
**
6. Taigacan, 2013
"it’s a joke obv"
**
7. Ryne, 2013
"When's the English version coming out?"
**
8. hellhound one, 2014
"Only the best get trolled by the worst. Keep hatin we'll keep makin MONEY!!"
**
9. Taigacan, 2014
"waiting for the english version"
**
10. dddwbtw, 2014
"Don't understand a word he say'n"
**
kanagye, 2015
11. "What language is this in? Doesnt appear to be english."
**
12. letthebutthurtbegin, 2015
"+kanagye You're a bigger buzz kill than buzz killington"
**
13. Mastero, 2015
"+kanagye shut up"
**
14. Musashi Kaneko, 2015
Go back to country music on a half broken radio [socially inappropriate homosexual referent deleted]
****
III. Silentó - "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) (Official)"
SilentoVEVO Published on Jun 25, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjW8wmF5VWc
[All of these comments are from 2015.]
1. Instagray
"Sounds great. Can't wait until the English version is out"
**
2. Shai Mitchell
"It is in English lol"
**
3. arman noor
"I don't understand the joke"
**
4. Edward Nelson (Eddie)
"+arman noor The joke is that the language used in the song is so shi&&y,* that it's not understandable because it's so stupid."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
**
5. sarayelle98 soso
"+arman noor Bc these are not lyrics he is just saying words and putting them 2gether"
**
6. David Santiago
"This song doesn't make any sense! These people need English Classes"
**
7. Claire Martin
"Why is this getting so much hate? Sheesh"
**
8. Cirndie Joseph
"Why is the comment section a freaking war zone? Racists everywhere.... rude people hating 😰😰 and others bashing people's opinions. Can't we all just be happy like the people in this video?"
**
9. milknjuice
"for all those dissing this song for its lyrics, you guys are being overly critical. This song is suppose to be fun. I know little kids who love this song and I'm okay with that. It's fun, it's clean, and catchy …. and SMDH on the racist comments in here."
**
10. classystegosuarus
"Have you ever tried taking a moment to realize that language evolves and new words are formed to name things such as dance moves? Similar to how kids sometimes struggle when reading Shakespeare because it uses the lingo and slang from that period. Language progresses with each generation, it actually fascinating to see how it changes"
**
11. Michael Emerson-Quaynor
"To all you haters,this is a great song. Am sorry if you don't like it but I have a suggestion. DON'T WATCH WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE."
****
UPDATE: July 10, 2015
Here are selected comments that are part of an interesting exchange between bloggers on another Hip-Hop/Pop video's discussion thread. This exchange started with a blogger posting an overtly racist comment
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewufRwrayTI "GS Boyz - Stanky Legg
All of these comments are from 2015:
Paran01ac
"So that's what my cotton field workers went to do."
**
Keliyah Clark
"Bruh if you're trying to be funny go back to the 1800s if was funny then we have something new thats funny not even close to this "joke". White people act like their better but there are some whites trying to be black. Black people know how to think. We know how to dance. The only thing whites know about is Starbucks."
**
Justin H
Your making white people amd southern people look bad
**
Dourden11
"+Keliyah Clark Why the [profnity deleted] are you condemning the whole white race based off one person? Ignorant [profanity deleted]."
**
Eric Johnston
"+Keliyah Clark just because he's being racist and immature doesn't mean you have to be like. MLK didn't say blacks are better than whites he said all men are equal. Be the bigger person, what you're saying just encourages them"
****
This concludes Part I of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part I of a two part* series on racist comments in YouTube Hip-Hop videos comment threads. Part I focuses on the internet meme "When will the English version come out?". This post includes information about that meme, my editorial comment, and recent examples of that meme from the discussion threads of three Hip-Hop (or Hip-Hop/Pop) videos: Soulja Boy - "Crank That Soulja Boy", Roscoe Dash - "All The Way Turnt Up ft. Soulja Boy", and Silento - "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).
Part II focuses on the "Not a single white person [in Hip Hop videos]. That's racism" comments that I found in the discussion threads of certain Hip Hop videos.
*I had initially planned to publish a third post in this series on Tube Hip-Hop video's comment thread about rappers wearing baggy clothes. However, I've decided to focus on the subject of baggy clothes in general without an emphasis on racist comments about that clothing style. A link to that projected pancocojams post will be included in a Related Links section on the posts in this series.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric and cultural documentation.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE "WHEN DOES THE ENGLISH VERSION COME OUT?" MEME
From http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/when-does-the-english-version-come-out "When does the English version come out?" by Niseru, 2012.
“When does the English version come out?” Originally a question for video games/cartoons/anime/songs that have not yet been dubbed in English, is a trend of YouTube comments used to humorously indicate that (usually a singers singing/rappers rapping) although in English/Ebonics english, is hard to understand, usually do to a strong country accent, loud yelling or screaming, heavy use of auto-tune, or a mix of those. It seems to target the voice of the singer/rapper more than the way they speak.
The question/phrase can be asked or said in various ways, such as
“When does this come out in English?”
“Waiting for the English version”
“Cant wait for the English version to come out”
“Where can I find the English version?”
etc
But with “When does the English version come out?” being the most common."
****
EDITORIAL COMMENT
It should come as no surprise to people who read YouTube video comment threads that Black music video's discussion threads usually includes lots of racist comments. But, perhaps because I don't often watch Hip-Hop videos, and therefore don't read those discussion threads, it wasn't until three days ago that I became aware of the proliferation of "When does the English language version come out" and- to a lesser extent- the repeated number of "Not a single white person[in Hip Hop videos]. That's racism" comments in those videos.
Actually, the videos that I visited -and whose comment threads I read- are examples of Hip-Hop Pop music. That sub-set of Hip-Hop is also known as "club music" (with "club" meaning "nightclub"), "dance music", "party music", "crunk music", and the more recent category label "turn up" music. "Turn up" in this context mostly means "music that gets you hyped (pumped up, energized). "Turn up" music is music that you dance to. Note that the term "turn up" or "turnt up" has other (earlier?) meanings. Read visitor submitted enties for "turnt up" in http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Turnt+Up [Warning: Some of these entries include profanity.] Also, read this 2014 article about the term "turn up"/"turnt up": http://www.visualthesaurus.com/cm/dictionary/what-turns-up-when-you-look-into-turn-up/
After reading all of the comments that were posted to date [July 9, 2015) on the three YouTube video discussion threads which I identified above, I've concluded that a considerable number of those comments are either covertly or overtly racist against Black people. I've also concluded that many of these racist comments are posted by trolls. A 2002 urban dictionary definition of "trolls" is "One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument" (by Alien Entity September 22, 2002). Trolls also post deliberately provocative comments "just for fun". The deep seated virulent racism that still exists in the United States and elsewhere are exemplified by these discussion threads direct (openly/ overtly) racist comments, and the discussion threads covertly racist comments that are couched in seemingly innocent, concerned language which sometimes comes across as "throwing shade"*. Just because something is written as a joke doesn't mean it is funny, and doesn't mean it's not racist.
These types of questions or statements on YouTube discussion threads are examples of microaggressions. Here's a definition of microaggression from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/microaggressions-in-everyday-life/201011/microaggressions-more-just-race
"Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. In many cases, these hidden messages may invalidate the group identity or experiential reality of target persons, demean them on a personal or group level, communicate they are lesser human beings, suggest they do not belong with the majority group, threaten and intimidate, or relegate them to inferior status and treatment."
-end of quote-
People who post such comments on Hip-Hop music discussion threads came to those social internet spaces where Black people and non-Black people who are interested in and fans of that music congregate to relax, enjoy that music, and discuss that music. That social experience is diminished by openly racist remarks or remarks that are couched in fake concern or questions.
Bloggers who re-post "When will the English version come out" or "Not a single white person.[in Hip Hop videos] That's racism." comments or versions of those comments aren't asking those questions or posting those comments to receive serious responses. At the very least, they may be unaware of the racism that fuels those questions or comments. However, that doesn't make those questions or comments less racist.
It's important to note that few of those commenters identify themselves by race, although I believe that people participating in those exchanges assumed that the bloggers who were writing (or copying) those memes were White. That said, it's important to note that as demonstrated below, some of the commenters who speak out against those types of comments/questions identify themselves as White. But, at the very least, repeatedly reading such questions and comments on YouTube discussion threads can be annoying and disgusting. Black participants and/or readers of these discussions and participants of other races could also feel disdainful, bitter, angry, and prejudiced towards those people writing such direct and indirect racist comments/ questions. Black people and others could also feel sadness that racism is quite strong, inspite of pronouncements that we are now are in a post-racial society.
****
THE PURPOSE OF THIS POST AND THE WAY THESE EXAMPLES ARE ORGANIZED
The comments that are included in this post are examples of those memes. This is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all the examples in those discussion threads of those memes or that subject matter.
I'm publishing the selected examples of those comments and of some responses to those comments for cultural and folkloric documentation. In Part I and Part II of this series I've provided links to the videos from which these discussion threads come.
*My definition of "throwing shade" from http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html What "Reading Someone", "Throwing Shade", & "No Tea No Shade" Mean.
****
COMMENTS FROM THREE YOUTUBE VIDEO DISCUSSION THREADS
WARNING: These discussion threads contain racist, homophobic, sexually explicit content, and profanity. Examples with that content aren't included below, with the exception of a limited number of comments that have the curse word/s deleted or not fully spelled out. Also, in this post what is commonly known as the n word is given in place of that fully spelled out racial referent.
I. Soulja Boy Tell'em - Crank That (Soulja Boy)
SouljaBoyTellemVEVO, Uploaded on Nov 22, 2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UFIYGkROII
1. Matt Mayuiers, 2014
"Sounds great, I can't wait for the English version to come out!!!"
-snip-
A number of comments with this same wording are found in this discussion thread posted by bloggers with other names than the name given above.
**
2. PepeJuventino, 2014
"I remeber when I first heard this I thought it was Japanese"
**
3. Grrizly, 2014
"Can someone tell me in what language is this song?"
**
4. Fantasy, 2013
"we dont need english when we got this"
**
5. Nobody, 2013
"Still waiting for the English version to come out..."
**
6. Oliver Proctor, 2013
"Sadly Soulja Boy has denied his loyal fans an english translation to the song :("
**
7. JJoh4040, 2013
in reply to Oliver Proctor
"its written in ebonics"
**
8. barzy qasim, 2015
"Is this even entirely English?"
**
9. afdgafdghjk, 2015
"[Profanity deleted] these [n word]s cannot speak english"
-snip-
What is commonly known as “the n word” was fully spelled out in this comment.
**
10. thepretenda, 2015
"When is there going to be a version in English?"
**
11. Johnathon Gaudet, 2015
"There's always that one guy^^^^^^^"
**
12. Dom1nateRK, 2015
"It's not that hard to understand what he's saying..."
**
13. William Reid, 2015
"It's a joke."
**
14. DigitalRealm, 2015
"sigh"
**
15. Hi I'm Lightning, 2015
"+thepretenda its english dummy"
**
16. DaQuan J, 2015
"You don't get the joke. Whites have a hard time understanding Ebonics."
**
17. king keffel, 2015
"+DaQuan J im white I understand it perfectly"
**
18. Maya Moe, 2015
"Lol I'm not sure probably never going to happen, he needs to learn the language first."
**
19. JeffA- 22, 2015
"This is clear English 😒"
**
20. kendall Campbell, 2015
"+JeffA- 22 they just bein white"
**
21. krm1263 mc, 2015
"For [profanity deleted] sake I'm white and I understand everything that's they're saying it's not hard to understand anyone or even get a understanding of what they're saying"
**
22. Ourworld Tutorials, 2015
"When am I going to stop seeing this comment on almost every music video?"
**
22. Oye S., 2015
"+thepretenda The same time these people realize what a joke is, most likely..."
**
23. DarkLord10951, 2015
"Your watching it"
**
24. Adrianne Johnson, 2015
"This is it"
**
25. Anderson Albritton, 2015
"Anyone in these comments get a sarcastic joke??I do.Hah.Funny.I grinned."
**
26. Doodle Bob, 2015
"When you get hearing aids."
**
27. PaiNExoTiC, 2015
"+thepretenda Be original."
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28. Shaan Tahir, 2015
"Yall are racist. Its not because hes white. Its because hes thepretenda. Its in the name idiotss:
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29. JeffA- 22, 2015
"When's there gonna be a english version of your comment!!!"
**
30. Pink Sunglasses, 2015
"+JeffA- 22 You mean it isn't African?
My whole life was a lie."
**
31. Neveah Worden, 2015
"I love this songs and
I don't care about the English
Version ..............."
**
32. ShadowCat Destroyer, 2015
"ummm...this an american song right?"
**
33. Rab John C. Blay
""Superman" and "you" are the only words that i can understand"
****
II. Roscoe Dash - "All The Way Turnt Up ft. Soulja Boy Tell'em"
Roscoe DashVevo, Uploaded on Feb 23, 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMwi8vFXUpo
1. Taigacan, 2013
"can't wait till the english version comes out =D"
**
2. Bianca Brown, 2013
in reply to Taigacan
"it is already out u just dont understand it"
**
3. Taigacan, 2013
"can't wait till the english version comes out"
**
4. prince brown, 2013
in reply to Taigacan
"and im still waiting for that gay ass joke to be over"
**
5. ZizioGardo, 2013
in reply to Taigacan
"Why do you keep posting the same comment over and over again?
It was funny the first time, but now it's just annoying."
**
6. Taigacan, 2013
"it’s a joke obv"
**
7. Ryne, 2013
"When's the English version coming out?"
**
8. hellhound one, 2014
"Only the best get trolled by the worst. Keep hatin we'll keep makin MONEY!!"
**
9. Taigacan, 2014
"waiting for the english version"
**
10. dddwbtw, 2014
"Don't understand a word he say'n"
**
kanagye, 2015
11. "What language is this in? Doesnt appear to be english."
**
12. letthebutthurtbegin, 2015
"+kanagye You're a bigger buzz kill than buzz killington"
**
13. Mastero, 2015
"+kanagye shut up"
**
14. Musashi Kaneko, 2015
Go back to country music on a half broken radio [socially inappropriate homosexual referent deleted]
****
III. Silentó - "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) (Official)"
SilentoVEVO Published on Jun 25, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjW8wmF5VWc
[All of these comments are from 2015.]
1. Instagray
"Sounds great. Can't wait until the English version is out"
**
2. Shai Mitchell
"It is in English lol"
**
3. arman noor
"I don't understand the joke"
**
4. Edward Nelson (Eddie)
"+arman noor The joke is that the language used in the song is so shi&&y,* that it's not understandable because it's so stupid."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
**
5. sarayelle98 soso
"+arman noor Bc these are not lyrics he is just saying words and putting them 2gether"
**
6. David Santiago
"This song doesn't make any sense! These people need English Classes"
**
7. Claire Martin
"Why is this getting so much hate? Sheesh"
**
8. Cirndie Joseph
"Why is the comment section a freaking war zone? Racists everywhere.... rude people hating 😰😰 and others bashing people's opinions. Can't we all just be happy like the people in this video?"
**
9. milknjuice
"for all those dissing this song for its lyrics, you guys are being overly critical. This song is suppose to be fun. I know little kids who love this song and I'm okay with that. It's fun, it's clean, and catchy …. and SMDH on the racist comments in here."
**
10. classystegosuarus
"Have you ever tried taking a moment to realize that language evolves and new words are formed to name things such as dance moves? Similar to how kids sometimes struggle when reading Shakespeare because it uses the lingo and slang from that period. Language progresses with each generation, it actually fascinating to see how it changes"
**
11. Michael Emerson-Quaynor
"To all you haters,this is a great song. Am sorry if you don't like it but I have a suggestion. DON'T WATCH WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE."
****
UPDATE: July 10, 2015
Here are selected comments that are part of an interesting exchange between bloggers on another Hip-Hop/Pop video's discussion thread. This exchange started with a blogger posting an overtly racist comment
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewufRwrayTI "GS Boyz - Stanky Legg
All of these comments are from 2015:
Paran01ac
"So that's what my cotton field workers went to do."
**
Keliyah Clark
"Bruh if you're trying to be funny go back to the 1800s if was funny then we have something new thats funny not even close to this "joke". White people act like their better but there are some whites trying to be black. Black people know how to think. We know how to dance. The only thing whites know about is Starbucks."
**
Justin H
Your making white people amd southern people look bad
**
Dourden11
"+Keliyah Clark Why the [profnity deleted] are you condemning the whole white race based off one person? Ignorant [profanity deleted]."
**
Eric Johnston
"+Keliyah Clark just because he's being racist and immature doesn't mean you have to be like. MLK didn't say blacks are better than whites he said all men are equal. Be the bigger person, what you're saying just encourages them"
****
This concludes Part I of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Black House Parties Then & Now (Part I: The Dance Scene In The 1990 Movie "House Party")
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part series on Black house parties in the 1990s and the 2000s compared with Black house parties in the mid 2000s.
In Part I the comments about house parties particularly focus on teens and young adult African Americans. In Part II the comments about house parties particularly focus on teen and young adult Black Canadians, particularly those of Jamaican descent. Presumably, some of the comments in that post also refer to Jamaican house parties for tthose age groups. However, these comments may also refer to house parties during the early 2000s and later that were given given by people from other populations.
Part I showcases a video of the dance off scene from the 1990 African American comedy/drama House Party. Selected comments from that video's viewer comment thread are also featured in this post. These comments about house parties particularly focus on teens and young adult African Americans. However, they may apply to other house parties for that population within the United States or elsewhere.
Click html http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/02/black-house-parties-then-now-part-ii.html for Part II of this series.
Part II showcases the video of the Dancehall record "Get Busy" by Sean Paul. That song is also known as "Shake That Thing, Miss Annabella". That video was filmed in Canada and showcases a Jamaican style house party. Selected comments from that video's viewer comment thread are also featured in this post. Presumably, some of the comments in that post also refer to Jamaican house parties for those age groups and may also apply to African American house parties and/or house parties for other races/ethnic groups in Canada and in the United States and/or elsewhere.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, historical, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the producers, directors, and stars of this movie. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: House Party - Dance off - long version - Ain't my type of hype
Wil Val Uploaded on Jul 10, 2007
Kid N Play - House Party - "Ain't my type of hype"
Music: Ain't my kind of Hype....Full Force.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS From that video's viewer comment thread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1l5PFs2eTc.
There were 2,243 comments on that video thread at the time that I completed this post. The selected comments below are representative of two categories. The first category contains comments that compare early 2000s house parties given by Black Canadians, and African Americans (and presumably Jamaicans and other people in the Caribbean) with house parties given by those populations in the mid 2000s. The second category contains additional comments about the dancing in that video.
I've posted these selected comments within one of those categories and assigned them a number within that category for referencing purposes only. With the exception of replies, the oldest dated comments are given first. However, these comments aren't nessarily given in sequential order.
Category #1: Comments Comparing 1990s (or earlier) house parties to house parties in the 2000s
1. FBC951, 2007
"this is when house partys didnt get shot up over what hood u was from. . . what happened?"
**
2. ratesforless, 2008
...."I grew up in the '70s and '80s and we had house parties like this all the time. If you could dance, you were there and if not, you were at home. There was a better shot of Temple winning the BCS than you getting a phone number if you couldn't dance and found yourself standing on the wall. Then the '90s came, the 'boys in the hood' era began, and the rest, sad to say was history..."
**
3. montey1, 2008
"The sixties, the seventies and the early eighties where the best when it came to house parties. This one takes place in 1990 just when my people started getting stupid and ignorant sorry to say. I had some wonderful times visiting my cousin's parties in Maryland back in the day. Good times gone."
**
4.1lifestyle, 2008
"house partys were always violent,people dont understand this is a movie not real life"
**
5. nevawrong6, 2008
"um, well i dont how old u are, but dont let this HOUSE PARTY clip fool you, because im 37 years old, & this movie was made in 1990, i was 18 at the time, & i can tell u straight up that the house parties back then were VIOLENT, with fights, [form of the n word] startin drama, & gun shots. yeah, it was more great dancin at the old school parties, but the violence was there also 100%, im suprised im still alive, lol, true story."
**
6. wynetta84, 2008
"This movie symbolizes a change in time. When it was ok to dance and have a good time without disrspecting women in the songs! The girls in this movie were not as provocative as todays women, yet they were just as sexy with the same appeal. Just goes to show, do you really have to take off all youre clothes?Both the guys and girls represented well!Thats why I tip my hat off to ol' school. They kept it real back then and allowed the good times to roll!!"
**
7.luvindogadis411, 2009
"One of the all-time best comedy/dance movies. Robin Harris (RIP), John Witherspoon, Full Force, Kid 'n Play, Groove B Chill, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, George Clinton and many more. So many memories from back then during my clubbing days. The teenagers today have no clue about real hip hop and house parties. What a shame."
**
8. DJ Rexboogie, 2009
"This was like the house parties Igrew up with. To much light though."
**
dgunsnfun, 2010
9. "I miss the days when hip-hop was fun!"
**
ERIC F, 2010
10. "I can't believe it's been 20 years! Where did my youth go?? I went to many fun parties back in the day just like this one. People weren't so concerned about being "hard" and shooting the place up. I feel sorry for the kids today that don't have that opportunity. Gangsta rap took over and people forgot how to have fun!!"
**
11. Dante95nyc, 2011
"I love how back in the day people would actually have fun at parties/dances. Nowadays people just stand around and look cute it's not even fun anymore=(."
**
12. SuperTurkish101, 2011
"This Film, brings back all those great memories,when parties were parties, and people were happy .. Not killing each other like these days when u look or even touch someone by mistake .. All need to chile and have fun .. Peace ! ; )"
-snip-
"Chile" = is a typo for "chill" ("chill out", meaning "relax")
**
13. Keishac78, 2011
"good times, good times,... i remember sneakin in the movie theater to see this movie.. we use to pratice the dance moves.. lol cant have house parties like this these days.. smh...."
**
14.brollicon, 2011
"parties or clubs nowadays are full of fools who just want to fight"
**
15. DjTIMEJD, 2012
in reply to brollicon
"Fools were fightin ALL the time back then!!"
**
16. kennieth32, 2011
Man if this dont make you wanna have fun at a REAL house party, I don't know what will! This is how house parties should be! Actual dancing goin' on...smh
**
17. D Cal, 2011
"This was how you handle something back in the days. A dance off!! Now it's all about handling something with guns. Too bad you can't have parties like this anymore. Please God bring back the late 80s and early 90s..."
**
18. Kodi Morgan, 2012
"Back when it was still actually COOL to dance!!!!!!"
**
19. Tube22productions, 2012
"Yes, fights, drinking and drama happened back then, but it depended on who you knew or where you had the party. My sister was in high school during this time and said all the parties she went to were very similar to House Party, before and after this movie"...
**
20. tom11zz884, 2012
"Back when men were not ashamed to actually dance...nowadays, everybody wants to act all tough and stuff...all the fun is gone."
**
21. Jay72288, 2012
"Dont know what yal talking bout, Party around my way is STILL like this"
**
22. Youngblood437, 2012
"dis was da times wen yo friends had parties an u was able to go ta have a good time witout gun shots an hella drama yo worst enemy was the police breakin up da party"
**
23. China Render, 2013
"This movie is a classic! The dancing isn't all about twerking booty popping its fun grooving and a little grinding but its all about having fun and hitting the dance floor with your friends and family! If our generation had parties like this Im sure they will have more fun this gen is all about tech w/o phones and internet they would loose there little minds!!"
**
24. Cutie Pie, 2013
"i really wish parties were like this again and not just twerking and ratchetness"
**
25. sarlndr, 2013
"I'm so glad I grew up with parties, music, & dancing like this. It was all about lookin' fresh for the girls and having a good time. Best part of the movie also, they were all gettin' down. SWITCH!!"
**
26. JDezi4, 2013
"Modern day house party
Everybody sit around the stereo and drinks and smokes until they all pass out or until a fight happens"
**
27. tom11zz884, 2013
in reply to JDezi4
"Or texting on their phones acting all anti-social."
**
28. MrGlanderson, 2013
"This is how a party was back in the days. all of the local rappers would get on the mic, the local dance crews would do their thing. And everyone danced. Today kids don't dance anymore. They spend more time on their smart phones. When we partied we would steam up the windows and leave dripping with sweat. even the thugs danced."
**
29. stephen hernandez, 2013
"these parties look fun, everyones happy! no one is texting on their phone... seems like a very social place."
**
30. DJ Rod B, 2013
in reply to stephen hernandez
"thats cause back then not everybody had cell phones, most people had pagers, but you bring up a great point on how technology has complicated social places now days.."
**
31. Deon Brown, 2014
"I don't know were these youngsters get the impression that the 80's and 90's were peaches and cream. Let me tell you, cats used to fight and shoot up house parties all the time. This is a movie, remember that."
-snip-
“were” = where
"cats" = guys
**
32. jussmittin, 2014
"depending on where you live, they may shoot up your house over stupid stuff now. besides why have house parties when youngsters are too busy on their phones #smh"
**
33. Javas Sylvester, 2014
Lol best movie ever when you had no worries of going to a party dancing is still in style you don't have to act hard all the time
**
34. Auto Young, 2014
Before everybody was glued to their phones the whole party and you actually had to meet people and didn't just know em from instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
****
Category #2: Other comments about the dancing in this movie scene
1. mnstr4jc, 2008
"I remember catching Kid 'n' Play back in the day at a concert before they got hot. They were the warmup act for Salt 'n' Pepa. Man, those boys were bad back then. That was when they started the "Kick Step" for their stage show. Believe it or not, Kid's hair was even taller then!!! Man, I miss those times..."
**
2. Nakiya G, 2008
"Kid N Play, of course, won the dance battle."...
**
3. Zack Rimando, 2009
"whats was the dance move called at 1:50
ITS AWSOME!!!!!"
**
4. diamond15605, 2009
in reply to Zack Rimando
"the Funky Charleston or the Kid N Play"
**
5. ZeroMen, 2010
"what kind of dance style is this ?"
**
6. Daintytwinkletoes, 2010
in reply to ZeroMen
"@ZeroMen It's hip hop battle dance. There are many forms of it, not just "one" type. Think of MC Hammer, B Boy Style, Pop & Locking, Freestyle. The list goes on, but this is what it is."
**
7. Gen'te livingston, 2010
"yea its it ironic dat ppl came to parties baq n da day wit organized dance rountines lmao"
-snip-
"baq n da day" = "back in the day" [back then in time]
**
pogistarr, 2010
8. in reply to Gen'te livingston
"You had to be prepared-kind of like a battle rapper! I don't know about where you're from but where I'm from, we took dancin' SERIOUSLY! Of course there wasn't routines with random folks like that, but I can definitely relate."
**
9. polo_on_me, 2011
"whats the move where they lock legs"
**
10. JLL H, 2012
in reply to polo_on_me
"...oldskool hip hop shuffle dance XD"
**
11. harlemhoney3170, 2011
"The funny thing about this scene is that it actually wasn't part of the movie. This was when they were on break playing around and the director shot it and put it the movie."
**
120. prettyd31, 2012
"I bet they had no idea at how epic this dance scene would become! When I was a kid, we tried to find ANY opportunity to do this dance."
**
13. supremeakuma, 2012
"FUN FACT: ALL THE DANCE SCENES in this MOVIE were DONE with NOOOOOOO MUSIC.. they added the music AFTERWARDS.. TRUE HIP HOP"
**
14. emaresea, 2013
LOL. Love how they can spontaneously dance in unison.
**
15. Jessica E., 2013
in reply to emaresea
"Not spontaneous at all. This was one of the things you did with your friends to have fun back in the day...practice ya dance moves so you could bust it out at the next party. My mom used to let us (me and my 5 siblings) have house parties in the basement all the time. Kept us out of the streets...our friends too."
**
16. rez ones, 2013
"i remember these parties like it was yesterday :) the running man, and all it's variants,the whop,the kid n play step,the cabbage patch,roger rabbit,the smurf and the steve martin. straight up classic material."
**
17. GeneralG1810, 2013
"Sorry ladies but the boys won that round, great film good laugh"
**
18. MissOldSchool32, 2013
"me and my cousin still do the kid & play dance til this day...lmao!!!...SWITCH!!!!"
-snip-
“Switch”!= Command to change dance partners
**
19.almighty Don, 2014
"Actually Aj Johnson said on her unsung I think it was that the dance scene wasn't in the script they were actually really partying & battling. The director had went with their flow & had filmed it."
-snip-
A. J. Johnson was the dark skinned girl who was part of the dance off (dance battle).
**
20. priest3332, 2014
"Good to know. Makes the scene even better.
**
21. Nikki Delgado, 2014
..."We did this at a 90's party a few years back and topped it off with a soul train line.
****
ADDENDUM
Here are additional comments from another video of this dance scene from the 1990 movie House Party https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC_4l7bFKJk. These selected quotes are posted in the same categories as above:
Category I: Comparison of house parties then and now
1.danielbooneify, 2013
"There was so much more style and performance back then Hip hop really was an art And alot of fun to...."
**
2. Pope Platinum, 2014
"its 2014... House Parties get shot up now routinely ... thats what happened to them now... those good old days are over"
**
3. tswagg504, 2014
"+Pope Platinum I think it's just perception, of getting older. Im 30 and may not be as old as you, but at times I think things are worse now than they were maybe 10-15 years ago....but when I really compare, it was crazy back then too....it's always gonna be like that....the 70s folks were saying the same thing about the 90s kids."
**
4. DJ Rod B, 2014
"+tswagg504 you both are right, I'm 40 lol (cnt believe that) but I graduated high school in 92 out here in LA it depends on where you have a house party at out here, if you have one in the hood most of the time it was all good cause nothing but your homies are there. But when you try to have a party in someone else hood better keep it on the low cause it can bring trouble."
**
5. tswagg504, 2014
"+DJ Rod B exactly, you're 40, so you were a youth in the 90s and I can remember how much of a war zone my city was in the 90s, I'm glad I was too young to hit the streets......It's actually calmed down a little, because back then; you couldn't even step foot in a neighborhood you weren't from."
**
6. ****, 2014
"Who had it better than us? Loud colors, high top fades, ma dukes on vaca, your boy that could dj, and the fine girls from school at the crib. Switch!!"
****
Category II: Dancing
1. cloudkicker06, 2012
"Long live the Kick Step!"
-snip-
"The Kick Step" is often also called "the Kid N Play" because of this movie scene.
**
3. Brooklyn Williams, 2013
"so how many ppl actually tried to learn these dances?? lol I know I did.. even Kid and Play's part hahahaha!"
**
4. AoiGP, 2013
in reply to Brooklyn Williams
"my buddy and I would rehearse before the day of a party or better yet a wedding and the DJ has never heard of Full Force - Aint my type of hype so I had the cd ready. Its not as easy as you would think but it was fun!"
**
5. MajestyProds, 2012
in reply to Brooklyn Williams
"HAHAHAHA. You too? Me and my sis still know the routine down pat. :)"
-snip-
"to know something down pat" = to really know it from the beginning to the end
**
6. ggsnaps, 2014
"OMG the dancing was sick! The girls for sure did their thing but no one can compete with kid and play. The drunk dude did good but when play took his jacket off and stepped in it was ova ! I just don't understand why Kid had such a problem with that one girl he was dancing with when he wanted to switch. I didn't think she was bad looking."
-snip-
"sick"= very good
**
7. Lauren Nicole, 2014
Reply
"Lol , its because he really wanted to dance with sharane."
****
Also, here's some trivia about this movie:
kofib29, 2013
"Oh and did anyone else know the bullies in the movie sung this song they are dancing to. The group was called full force.
-snip-
The Hip Hop Group Full Force (who portrayed the bullies in House Party released their record "Ain’t My Type Of Hype” in 1989. If something or someone "ain't my type of hype", I'm not interested or excited about it or him or her.
**
Taylor Lotsa, 2014
"Fun fact: All of the dance sequences in this scene were done with no music. A.J. Johnson choreographed her and Tisha Campbell's routine for the battle. The music was added after the dancing had been shot."
****
This is the end of Part I of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part I of a two part series on Black house parties in the 1990s and the 2000s compared with Black house parties in the mid 2000s.
In Part I the comments about house parties particularly focus on teens and young adult African Americans. In Part II the comments about house parties particularly focus on teen and young adult Black Canadians, particularly those of Jamaican descent. Presumably, some of the comments in that post also refer to Jamaican house parties for tthose age groups. However, these comments may also refer to house parties during the early 2000s and later that were given given by people from other populations.
Part I showcases a video of the dance off scene from the 1990 African American comedy/drama House Party. Selected comments from that video's viewer comment thread are also featured in this post. These comments about house parties particularly focus on teens and young adult African Americans. However, they may apply to other house parties for that population within the United States or elsewhere.
Click html http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/02/black-house-parties-then-now-part-ii.html for Part II of this series.
Part II showcases the video of the Dancehall record "Get Busy" by Sean Paul. That song is also known as "Shake That Thing, Miss Annabella". That video was filmed in Canada and showcases a Jamaican style house party. Selected comments from that video's viewer comment thread are also featured in this post. Presumably, some of the comments in that post also refer to Jamaican house parties for those age groups and may also apply to African American house parties and/or house parties for other races/ethnic groups in Canada and in the United States and/or elsewhere.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, historical, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the producers, directors, and stars of this movie. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: House Party - Dance off - long version - Ain't my type of hype
Wil Val Uploaded on Jul 10, 2007
Kid N Play - House Party - "Ain't my type of hype"
Music: Ain't my kind of Hype....Full Force.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS From that video's viewer comment thread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1l5PFs2eTc.
There were 2,243 comments on that video thread at the time that I completed this post. The selected comments below are representative of two categories. The first category contains comments that compare early 2000s house parties given by Black Canadians, and African Americans (and presumably Jamaicans and other people in the Caribbean) with house parties given by those populations in the mid 2000s. The second category contains additional comments about the dancing in that video.
I've posted these selected comments within one of those categories and assigned them a number within that category for referencing purposes only. With the exception of replies, the oldest dated comments are given first. However, these comments aren't nessarily given in sequential order.
Category #1: Comments Comparing 1990s (or earlier) house parties to house parties in the 2000s
1. FBC951, 2007
"this is when house partys didnt get shot up over what hood u was from. . . what happened?"
**
2. ratesforless, 2008
...."I grew up in the '70s and '80s and we had house parties like this all the time. If you could dance, you were there and if not, you were at home. There was a better shot of Temple winning the BCS than you getting a phone number if you couldn't dance and found yourself standing on the wall. Then the '90s came, the 'boys in the hood' era began, and the rest, sad to say was history..."
**
3. montey1, 2008
"The sixties, the seventies and the early eighties where the best when it came to house parties. This one takes place in 1990 just when my people started getting stupid and ignorant sorry to say. I had some wonderful times visiting my cousin's parties in Maryland back in the day. Good times gone."
**
4.1lifestyle, 2008
"house partys were always violent,people dont understand this is a movie not real life"
**
5. nevawrong6, 2008
"um, well i dont how old u are, but dont let this HOUSE PARTY clip fool you, because im 37 years old, & this movie was made in 1990, i was 18 at the time, & i can tell u straight up that the house parties back then were VIOLENT, with fights, [form of the n word] startin drama, & gun shots. yeah, it was more great dancin at the old school parties, but the violence was there also 100%, im suprised im still alive, lol, true story."
**
6. wynetta84, 2008
"This movie symbolizes a change in time. When it was ok to dance and have a good time without disrspecting women in the songs! The girls in this movie were not as provocative as todays women, yet they were just as sexy with the same appeal. Just goes to show, do you really have to take off all youre clothes?Both the guys and girls represented well!Thats why I tip my hat off to ol' school. They kept it real back then and allowed the good times to roll!!"
**
7.luvindogadis411, 2009
"One of the all-time best comedy/dance movies. Robin Harris (RIP), John Witherspoon, Full Force, Kid 'n Play, Groove B Chill, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, George Clinton and many more. So many memories from back then during my clubbing days. The teenagers today have no clue about real hip hop and house parties. What a shame."
**
8. DJ Rexboogie, 2009
"This was like the house parties Igrew up with. To much light though."
**
dgunsnfun, 2010
9. "I miss the days when hip-hop was fun!"
**
ERIC F, 2010
10. "I can't believe it's been 20 years! Where did my youth go?? I went to many fun parties back in the day just like this one. People weren't so concerned about being "hard" and shooting the place up. I feel sorry for the kids today that don't have that opportunity. Gangsta rap took over and people forgot how to have fun!!"
**
11. Dante95nyc, 2011
"I love how back in the day people would actually have fun at parties/dances. Nowadays people just stand around and look cute it's not even fun anymore=(."
**
12. SuperTurkish101, 2011
"This Film, brings back all those great memories,when parties were parties, and people were happy .. Not killing each other like these days when u look or even touch someone by mistake .. All need to chile and have fun .. Peace ! ; )"
-snip-
"Chile" = is a typo for "chill" ("chill out", meaning "relax")
**
13. Keishac78, 2011
"good times, good times,... i remember sneakin in the movie theater to see this movie.. we use to pratice the dance moves.. lol cant have house parties like this these days.. smh...."
**
14.brollicon, 2011
"parties or clubs nowadays are full of fools who just want to fight"
**
15. DjTIMEJD, 2012
in reply to brollicon
"Fools were fightin ALL the time back then!!"
**
16. kennieth32, 2011
Man if this dont make you wanna have fun at a REAL house party, I don't know what will! This is how house parties should be! Actual dancing goin' on...smh
**
17. D Cal, 2011
"This was how you handle something back in the days. A dance off!! Now it's all about handling something with guns. Too bad you can't have parties like this anymore. Please God bring back the late 80s and early 90s..."
**
18. Kodi Morgan, 2012
"Back when it was still actually COOL to dance!!!!!!"
**
19. Tube22productions, 2012
"Yes, fights, drinking and drama happened back then, but it depended on who you knew or where you had the party. My sister was in high school during this time and said all the parties she went to were very similar to House Party, before and after this movie"...
**
20. tom11zz884, 2012
"Back when men were not ashamed to actually dance...nowadays, everybody wants to act all tough and stuff...all the fun is gone."
**
21. Jay72288, 2012
"Dont know what yal talking bout, Party around my way is STILL like this"
**
22. Youngblood437, 2012
"dis was da times wen yo friends had parties an u was able to go ta have a good time witout gun shots an hella drama yo worst enemy was the police breakin up da party"
**
23. China Render, 2013
"This movie is a classic! The dancing isn't all about twerking booty popping its fun grooving and a little grinding but its all about having fun and hitting the dance floor with your friends and family! If our generation had parties like this Im sure they will have more fun this gen is all about tech w/o phones and internet they would loose there little minds!!"
**
24. Cutie Pie, 2013
"i really wish parties were like this again and not just twerking and ratchetness"
**
25. sarlndr, 2013
"I'm so glad I grew up with parties, music, & dancing like this. It was all about lookin' fresh for the girls and having a good time. Best part of the movie also, they were all gettin' down. SWITCH!!"
**
26. JDezi4, 2013
"Modern day house party
Everybody sit around the stereo and drinks and smokes until they all pass out or until a fight happens"
**
27. tom11zz884, 2013
in reply to JDezi4
"Or texting on their phones acting all anti-social."
**
28. MrGlanderson, 2013
"This is how a party was back in the days. all of the local rappers would get on the mic, the local dance crews would do their thing. And everyone danced. Today kids don't dance anymore. They spend more time on their smart phones. When we partied we would steam up the windows and leave dripping with sweat. even the thugs danced."
**
29. stephen hernandez, 2013
"these parties look fun, everyones happy! no one is texting on their phone... seems like a very social place."
**
30. DJ Rod B, 2013
in reply to stephen hernandez
"thats cause back then not everybody had cell phones, most people had pagers, but you bring up a great point on how technology has complicated social places now days.."
**
31. Deon Brown, 2014
"I don't know were these youngsters get the impression that the 80's and 90's were peaches and cream. Let me tell you, cats used to fight and shoot up house parties all the time. This is a movie, remember that."
-snip-
“were” = where
"cats" = guys
**
32. jussmittin, 2014
"depending on where you live, they may shoot up your house over stupid stuff now. besides why have house parties when youngsters are too busy on their phones #smh"
**
33. Javas Sylvester, 2014
Lol best movie ever when you had no worries of going to a party dancing is still in style you don't have to act hard all the time
**
34. Auto Young, 2014
Before everybody was glued to their phones the whole party and you actually had to meet people and didn't just know em from instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
****
Category #2: Other comments about the dancing in this movie scene
1. mnstr4jc, 2008
"I remember catching Kid 'n' Play back in the day at a concert before they got hot. They were the warmup act for Salt 'n' Pepa. Man, those boys were bad back then. That was when they started the "Kick Step" for their stage show. Believe it or not, Kid's hair was even taller then!!! Man, I miss those times..."
**
2. Nakiya G, 2008
"Kid N Play, of course, won the dance battle."...
**
3. Zack Rimando, 2009
"whats was the dance move called at 1:50
ITS AWSOME!!!!!"
**
4. diamond15605, 2009
in reply to Zack Rimando
"the Funky Charleston or the Kid N Play"
**
5. ZeroMen, 2010
"what kind of dance style is this ?"
**
6. Daintytwinkletoes, 2010
in reply to ZeroMen
"@ZeroMen It's hip hop battle dance. There are many forms of it, not just "one" type. Think of MC Hammer, B Boy Style, Pop & Locking, Freestyle. The list goes on, but this is what it is."
**
7. Gen'te livingston, 2010
"yea its it ironic dat ppl came to parties baq n da day wit organized dance rountines lmao"
-snip-
"baq n da day" = "back in the day" [back then in time]
**
pogistarr, 2010
8. in reply to Gen'te livingston
"You had to be prepared-kind of like a battle rapper! I don't know about where you're from but where I'm from, we took dancin' SERIOUSLY! Of course there wasn't routines with random folks like that, but I can definitely relate."
**
9. polo_on_me, 2011
"whats the move where they lock legs"
**
10. JLL H, 2012
in reply to polo_on_me
"...oldskool hip hop shuffle dance XD"
**
11. harlemhoney3170, 2011
"The funny thing about this scene is that it actually wasn't part of the movie. This was when they were on break playing around and the director shot it and put it the movie."
**
120. prettyd31, 2012
"I bet they had no idea at how epic this dance scene would become! When I was a kid, we tried to find ANY opportunity to do this dance."
**
13. supremeakuma, 2012
"FUN FACT: ALL THE DANCE SCENES in this MOVIE were DONE with NOOOOOOO MUSIC.. they added the music AFTERWARDS.. TRUE HIP HOP"
**
14. emaresea, 2013
LOL. Love how they can spontaneously dance in unison.
**
15. Jessica E., 2013
in reply to emaresea
"Not spontaneous at all. This was one of the things you did with your friends to have fun back in the day...practice ya dance moves so you could bust it out at the next party. My mom used to let us (me and my 5 siblings) have house parties in the basement all the time. Kept us out of the streets...our friends too."
**
16. rez ones, 2013
"i remember these parties like it was yesterday :) the running man, and all it's variants,the whop,the kid n play step,the cabbage patch,roger rabbit,the smurf and the steve martin. straight up classic material."
**
17. GeneralG1810, 2013
"Sorry ladies but the boys won that round, great film good laugh"
**
18. MissOldSchool32, 2013
"me and my cousin still do the kid & play dance til this day...lmao!!!...SWITCH!!!!"
-snip-
“Switch”!= Command to change dance partners
**
19.almighty Don, 2014
"Actually Aj Johnson said on her unsung I think it was that the dance scene wasn't in the script they were actually really partying & battling. The director had went with their flow & had filmed it."
-snip-
A. J. Johnson was the dark skinned girl who was part of the dance off (dance battle).
**
20. priest3332, 2014
"Good to know. Makes the scene even better.
**
21. Nikki Delgado, 2014
..."We did this at a 90's party a few years back and topped it off with a soul train line.
****
ADDENDUM
Here are additional comments from another video of this dance scene from the 1990 movie House Party https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC_4l7bFKJk. These selected quotes are posted in the same categories as above:
Category I: Comparison of house parties then and now
1.danielbooneify, 2013
"There was so much more style and performance back then Hip hop really was an art And alot of fun to...."
**
2. Pope Platinum, 2014
"its 2014... House Parties get shot up now routinely ... thats what happened to them now... those good old days are over"
**
3. tswagg504, 2014
"+Pope Platinum I think it's just perception, of getting older. Im 30 and may not be as old as you, but at times I think things are worse now than they were maybe 10-15 years ago....but when I really compare, it was crazy back then too....it's always gonna be like that....the 70s folks were saying the same thing about the 90s kids."
**
4. DJ Rod B, 2014
"+tswagg504 you both are right, I'm 40 lol (cnt believe that) but I graduated high school in 92 out here in LA it depends on where you have a house party at out here, if you have one in the hood most of the time it was all good cause nothing but your homies are there. But when you try to have a party in someone else hood better keep it on the low cause it can bring trouble."
**
5. tswagg504, 2014
"+DJ Rod B exactly, you're 40, so you were a youth in the 90s and I can remember how much of a war zone my city was in the 90s, I'm glad I was too young to hit the streets......It's actually calmed down a little, because back then; you couldn't even step foot in a neighborhood you weren't from."
**
6. ****, 2014
"Who had it better than us? Loud colors, high top fades, ma dukes on vaca, your boy that could dj, and the fine girls from school at the crib. Switch!!"
****
Category II: Dancing
1. cloudkicker06, 2012
"Long live the Kick Step!"
-snip-
"The Kick Step" is often also called "the Kid N Play" because of this movie scene.
**
3. Brooklyn Williams, 2013
"so how many ppl actually tried to learn these dances?? lol I know I did.. even Kid and Play's part hahahaha!"
**
4. AoiGP, 2013
in reply to Brooklyn Williams
"my buddy and I would rehearse before the day of a party or better yet a wedding and the DJ has never heard of Full Force - Aint my type of hype so I had the cd ready. Its not as easy as you would think but it was fun!"
**
5. MajestyProds, 2012
in reply to Brooklyn Williams
"HAHAHAHA. You too? Me and my sis still know the routine down pat. :)"
-snip-
"to know something down pat" = to really know it from the beginning to the end
**
6. ggsnaps, 2014
"OMG the dancing was sick! The girls for sure did their thing but no one can compete with kid and play. The drunk dude did good but when play took his jacket off and stepped in it was ova ! I just don't understand why Kid had such a problem with that one girl he was dancing with when he wanted to switch. I didn't think she was bad looking."
-snip-
"sick"= very good
**
7. Lauren Nicole, 2014
Reply
"Lol , its because he really wanted to dance with sharane."
****
Also, here's some trivia about this movie:
kofib29, 2013
"Oh and did anyone else know the bullies in the movie sung this song they are dancing to. The group was called full force.
-snip-
The Hip Hop Group Full Force (who portrayed the bullies in House Party released their record "Ain’t My Type Of Hype” in 1989. If something or someone "ain't my type of hype", I'm not interested or excited about it or him or her.
**
Taylor Lotsa, 2014
"Fun fact: All of the dance sequences in this scene were done with no music. A.J. Johnson choreographed her and Tisha Campbell's routine for the battle. The music was added after the dancing had been shot."
****
This is the end of Part I of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
What "That's The Way We Roll" Means
Edited by Azizi Powell
Infamous New York City Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner refused to quit the Democratic mayoral race today saying "Quit isn't the way we roll in New York City".
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/30/anthony-weiner-ad_n_3679075.html
In my opinion, it makes no sense for Weiner to have resigned from the United States Congress because of his inappropriate actions but now refuses to quit the New York Democratic mayoral primary after it became known that he continued those same egregious sexual actions. However, since this is a folkloric and a music blog and not a political blog, I'd like to focus on Weiner's use of the African American vernacular phrase "the way we roll".
WHAT "THE WAY WE ROLL" MEAN
"That's the way we roll" ("This is the way we roll") means "That's the way we are". Another way of saying "That's the way we roll" is "That's the way we do things when we are being true to ourselves."
"The way we roll" is how people behave when they aren't "putting on a front" (faking it) but are expressing their true nature or their "real" attitude or reaction/s to that time and place. "That's the way we roll" or "That's the way I roll" is bluntly and unapologetically said with the unspoken addition of "and if you don't like it, I couldn't care less".
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=roll&page=2
"To roll *
A word used to describe a particular person's behavior or idiosyncrasies.
I work hard and party hard. That's how I roll.
-olivesmarch, 4th Jun 22, 2005
* This was the eight definition for "to roll" that was submitted to urban dictionary. That infinitive has other meanings that aren't related to the phrase "This is the way we roll" or "This is the way I roll". African Americans gave "to roll" that particular vernacular meaning at least by the early 1990s.
The core meaning of "to roll" is "to move a certain way". It's my position that the slang meaning of "to roll" = "to behave in an intrinsic manner" comes from the belief that the way a person "lives and moves" reflects and determines that person's being.
In 1991 Mc Hammer recorded the song "This Is The Way We Roll". A video of that song is embedded below. Here's an excerpt of the lyrics of that song:
"Down the highway
I'm doing it all my way...
My tank is full
My fame is strong
I got it like that
So I'm rollin' on...
This is the way we roll
We roll... We roll
This is the way we roll... Rollin'
(Rollin'... Rollin'... I'm rollin' on)
This is the way we roll
We roll... We roll
This is the way we roll... Rollin'
(Rollin'... Rollin'
All through Oaktown I'm rollin' on)
-snip-
Click http://www.lyricsfreak.com/h/hammer/this+is+the+way+we+roll_20863540.html for the complete lyrics of that Mc Hammer song.
-snip-
It's my position that "we roll" in that song has a double meaning of
1."goes from one place to another"
and
2. "the style that [the manner in which] those particular people move (behave, live, approach other people and different situations)".
That said the way a person "rolls" could change dependent on time & circumstances, but it seems to me that within that statement is the declaration that this way of moving (or "stylin") is the person's or the people's real way of being.
WHAT ANTHONY WEINER'S COMMENT MEANS
When Anthony Weiner said that "Quit isn't how New Yorkers roll", he meant that quitting is against the intrinsic nature of New Yorkers.
TWO SONGS THAT HAVE "THE WAY WE ROLL" IN THEIR TITLE
(These examples are presented in chronological order with the oldest example posted first.)
Example #1: Mc Hammer - This is the way we roll (1991)
videovideosvideo, Published on Apr 7, 2012
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_The_Way_We_Roll
"This Is the Way We Roll is a single released by Hammer from the album Too Legit to Quit.[1]
The song was featured in the film, The Addams Family, and was performed by Hammer on Saturday Night Live.[2] A music video was produced for the track as well.
-snip-
Another song from that album is "Rollin' on Oaktown Style".
****
Example #2: Jonas Brothers - Thats The Way We Roll - Official Video (HQ)
Jonas Brothers, Uploaded on Dec 27, 2007
Taken from the Bonus Jonas Edition CD/DVD. In stores now!
-snip-
This song is included in "the Jonas Brothers' self-titled second studio album and the international debut album released by the Jonas Brothers... The album was released on August 7, 2007".
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Brothers_(album)
-snip-
The title of this Jonas Brothers' song is the only similarity between that song & the earlier Mc Hammer song. Here's the chorus of that Jonas Brothers' song:
"[Chorus:]
And I know
We get a little crazy
And I know
We get a little loud
And I know
We're never gonna fake it
We are wild, we are free
We are more than you think
So call us freaks
'but that's just the way we roll"
Click http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jonasbrothers/thatsjustthewayweroll.html for the lyrics to this song.
-snip-
For what it's worth, as an African American, the sentence "That's the way I roll" appears to be used much more often than "This is the way we roll". This might be partly attributed to the fact that the former song title is more contemporary than the latter. However, I don't recall many people saying "This is the way we (or "I") roll" back in the day when Mc Hammer made his record. The preference for "That's the way we roll" is understandable given the American [both Black and non-Black] propensity for informality and our custom of shortening words, using abbreviations, and using whatever part of speech "that's" is (instead of "that is" or "this is").
Notice that Anthony Weiner- and Mc Hammer - used the not-as-cool version of that "way we roll" phrase. Hmm.
****
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post - with the possible exception of Anthony Weiner...
Special thanks to Mc Hammer and the Jonas Brothers and to those who published their video on YouTube.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Infamous New York City Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner refused to quit the Democratic mayoral race today saying "Quit isn't the way we roll in New York City".
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/30/anthony-weiner-ad_n_3679075.html
In my opinion, it makes no sense for Weiner to have resigned from the United States Congress because of his inappropriate actions but now refuses to quit the New York Democratic mayoral primary after it became known that he continued those same egregious sexual actions. However, since this is a folkloric and a music blog and not a political blog, I'd like to focus on Weiner's use of the African American vernacular phrase "the way we roll".
WHAT "THE WAY WE ROLL" MEAN
"That's the way we roll" ("This is the way we roll") means "That's the way we are". Another way of saying "That's the way we roll" is "That's the way we do things when we are being true to ourselves."
"The way we roll" is how people behave when they aren't "putting on a front" (faking it) but are expressing their true nature or their "real" attitude or reaction/s to that time and place. "That's the way we roll" or "That's the way I roll" is bluntly and unapologetically said with the unspoken addition of "and if you don't like it, I couldn't care less".
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=roll&page=2
"To roll *
A word used to describe a particular person's behavior or idiosyncrasies.
I work hard and party hard. That's how I roll.
-olivesmarch, 4th Jun 22, 2005
* This was the eight definition for "to roll" that was submitted to urban dictionary. That infinitive has other meanings that aren't related to the phrase "This is the way we roll" or "This is the way I roll". African Americans gave "to roll" that particular vernacular meaning at least by the early 1990s.
The core meaning of "to roll" is "to move a certain way". It's my position that the slang meaning of "to roll" = "to behave in an intrinsic manner" comes from the belief that the way a person "lives and moves" reflects and determines that person's being.
In 1991 Mc Hammer recorded the song "This Is The Way We Roll". A video of that song is embedded below. Here's an excerpt of the lyrics of that song:
"Down the highway
I'm doing it all my way...
My tank is full
My fame is strong
I got it like that
So I'm rollin' on...
This is the way we roll
We roll... We roll
This is the way we roll... Rollin'
(Rollin'... Rollin'... I'm rollin' on)
This is the way we roll
We roll... We roll
This is the way we roll... Rollin'
(Rollin'... Rollin'
All through Oaktown I'm rollin' on)
-snip-
Click http://www.lyricsfreak.com/h/hammer/this+is+the+way+we+roll_20863540.html for the complete lyrics of that Mc Hammer song.
-snip-
It's my position that "we roll" in that song has a double meaning of
1."goes from one place to another"
and
2. "the style that [the manner in which] those particular people move (behave, live, approach other people and different situations)".
That said the way a person "rolls" could change dependent on time & circumstances, but it seems to me that within that statement is the declaration that this way of moving (or "stylin") is the person's or the people's real way of being.
WHAT ANTHONY WEINER'S COMMENT MEANS
When Anthony Weiner said that "Quit isn't how New Yorkers roll", he meant that quitting is against the intrinsic nature of New Yorkers.
TWO SONGS THAT HAVE "THE WAY WE ROLL" IN THEIR TITLE
(These examples are presented in chronological order with the oldest example posted first.)
Example #1: Mc Hammer - This is the way we roll (1991)
videovideosvideo, Published on Apr 7, 2012
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_The_Way_We_Roll
"This Is the Way We Roll is a single released by Hammer from the album Too Legit to Quit.[1]
The song was featured in the film, The Addams Family, and was performed by Hammer on Saturday Night Live.[2] A music video was produced for the track as well.
-snip-
Another song from that album is "Rollin' on Oaktown Style".
****
Example #2: Jonas Brothers - Thats The Way We Roll - Official Video (HQ)
Jonas Brothers, Uploaded on Dec 27, 2007
Taken from the Bonus Jonas Edition CD/DVD. In stores now!
-snip-
This song is included in "the Jonas Brothers' self-titled second studio album and the international debut album released by the Jonas Brothers... The album was released on August 7, 2007".
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Brothers_(album)
-snip-
The title of this Jonas Brothers' song is the only similarity between that song & the earlier Mc Hammer song. Here's the chorus of that Jonas Brothers' song:
"[Chorus:]
And I know
We get a little crazy
And I know
We get a little loud
And I know
We're never gonna fake it
We are wild, we are free
We are more than you think
So call us freaks
'but that's just the way we roll"
Click http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jonasbrothers/thatsjustthewayweroll.html for the lyrics to this song.
-snip-
For what it's worth, as an African American, the sentence "That's the way I roll" appears to be used much more often than "This is the way we roll". This might be partly attributed to the fact that the former song title is more contemporary than the latter. However, I don't recall many people saying "This is the way we (or "I") roll" back in the day when Mc Hammer made his record. The preference for "That's the way we roll" is understandable given the American [both Black and non-Black] propensity for informality and our custom of shortening words, using abbreviations, and using whatever part of speech "that's" is (instead of "that is" or "this is").
Notice that Anthony Weiner- and Mc Hammer - used the not-as-cool version of that "way we roll" phrase. Hmm.
****
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post - with the possible exception of Anthony Weiner...
Special thanks to Mc Hammer and the Jonas Brothers and to those who published their video on YouTube.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, February 15, 2013
3LW- "Playas Gon' Play" & Jill Scott - "Hate On Me"
Edited by Azizi Powell
[Revised November 12, 2017]
This post provides definitions of the African American Vernacular English terms "playa" and "hater" and the saying "playas gonna play and haters gonna hate".
This post also showcases videos of and song lyrics for the 2000 3LW song "Playas Gon' Play" and the 2007 Jill Scott song "Hate On Me".
The content of this post is presented for linguistics, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted on this page and thanks all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
THE MEANING OF THE WORD "PLAYA"
"Playa" (pronounced "play-yah") is the Hip-Hop form of the word "player".
In its page about the "haters" meme, http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/haters-gonna-hate cites ICE T’s 1999 explicit Hip Hop track “Don’t Hate Tha Plaar” es that "One of the earliest references to “haters”. That Hip Hop track also includes the word "player"
[Chorus: Ice-T]
Don’t hate the player, hate the game
Ni&&as*, sharpen your aim
Every baller on the streets is searchin’ fortune and fame
Some come up, some get done up, except* the twist
If you out for mega cheddar, you got to go high risk
-snip-
*This word was fully spelled out in those lyrics and on that page.
In standard English, the word "player" is neutral and means a participant in a game. In that Hip Hop track, a "playa" isn't used negatively. That word just refers to a person who is playing "the game of life", and/or some specific venture that that person is engaged in. However, within the same African American population, over time, a "playa" has come to be viewed negatively.
Although a person can be a playa in any aspect of life, the term "playa" is often used as a negative referent for someone who "plays with" ("messes over") someone else's emotions, especially someone who pretends to have romantic feelings for someone.
* The word "except" in that lyric transcription is probably an error or typo for the "accept". The end of that verse indicates that a person who is playing the game of life [i.e. a "baller"] should "accept the twist" [acknowledge and prepare for that aspect of "the game"] because he or she has to take high risks to reap high rewards [i.e. lots of money; "mega cheddar".]
**
Here's a definition of "playa" from http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/playa:
Player
"someone who dates more than one person at a time, usually just for sex or other perks. Will typically do anything to have sex with someone. Carries a heavy negative connotation. Usually used to describe males, but could be used to describe females who act in this manner. Often pronounced 'playa.' "
-snip-
The saying "playas gonna play" means that it's some people's nature to be "players", i.e. "to play with (mess with) other people's feelings"- to not be "for real" when it comes to being faithful to someone they are romantically involved with.
****
THE MEANING OF THE WORD "HATER"
"Haters" is an African American Vernacular English originated noun form of the verb "hate".
A "hater" is a person who constantly insults, criticizes, and/or puts another person down for no real reason.
The above mentioned "Know your memes" page about the word "hater" documents that "The earliest known usage of the term “haters” online appeared on Urban Dictionary[1] in August 2003":
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hater&page=2
"hater
Overused word that people like to use just because someone else expresses a dislike for a certain individual.
PERSON 1: I don't like Beyonce's new song.
PERSON 2: You're a hater!!!
by BFG December 05, 2003
****
A 2005 definition for "hater" that appears on that same urbandictionary.com page and is also listed as the top rated definition for haters (as of November 12, 2017) on another urbandictionary.com page
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hater&page=2 is:
"Hater (n.):
A person that simply cannot be happy for another person’s success. Instead of giving acknowledgment in courtesy, a hater often pursues his/her point by exposing a flaw in the target subject. Hating, the result of being a hater, is not exactly jealousy. The hater doesn’t really want to be the person he or she hates, rather the hater wants to knock somelse [sic] down a notch."
Susan: You know, Kevin from accounting is doing very well. He just bought a house in a very nice part of town.
Jane (hater): If he is doing so well why does he drive that '89 Taurus?
by dion February 04, 2005"
****
THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE "HATERS GONNA HATE"
From http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/haters-gonna-hate
"Haters Gonna Hate is a catchphrase used to indicate a disregard for hostile remarks addressed towards the speaker. This expression has its roots in American hip hop, and spawned an image macro series featuring pictures of celebrities, animals and cartoon characters strutting or posing in a conceited manner.
-snip-
From http://www.ask.com/answers/59427481/what-does-haters-gonna-hate-mean
kelvinkarimi: 2012
"Haters gonna hate" means that this person will always find something negative to say, and will never have any words of motivation or to uplift you. Someone who does not motivate you and who is always fault finding and trying to bring you down, is called a hater."
****
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Haters%20Gonna%20Hate
"Haters Gonna Hate
A phrase that represents ones complete and total disregard of another's negative comment towards the original person.
*Guy 1 is walking down the street and passes Guy 2*
Guy 2: Why are you so ugly?
Guy 1: Haters Gonna Hate. *Keeps on walking*
Dude 1: Hey Fatty!
Dude 2: Haters Gonna Hate
#hgh#haters#low self esteem#high self esteem#dont care
by WhyDoesUKGottaHateOnTheUS? August 19, 2010"
-snip-
This is the earliest dated urbandictionary.com entry for the saying "haters gonna hate".
The top rated definition for "haters gonna hate" on that urbandictionary.com page is:
"Haters Gonna Hate
A colloquial saying. It means that people who don't like you will always find a reason to dislike you, no matter how stupid that reason may be.
"Dad, Jane says she doesn't like me because I write my math problems in pen!"
"Don't let it get you down son. Haters gonna hate."
#haters#hate#gona#hating#saying
by Unholyhair January 28, 2012"
****
On December 14, 2011 kabu3000 December 14, 2011 posted a definition for "haters gonna hate" on that page which indicated that haters gonna hate is "Usually used as a comeback at a person who expresses an opinion that the user of the phrase disagrees with and/or feel personally offended by, often for completely irrational reasons."
Among other entries on that page, on February 05, 2012 mainlyachocolatepinecone wrote that "haters gonna hate "Probably one of the most overused and annoying phrases of the year 2011 and will be for 2012".
****
FEATURED VIDEOS AND LYRICS
Example #1: 3LW [3 Little Women]- Playas Gon' Play
3LWVEVO·5 videosUploaded on Feb 26, 2010
Music video by 3LW performing Playas Gon' Play.
-snip-
LYRICS: PLAYAS GONNA PLAY
[Intro]
The hit maker
The playas gon' play
Them haters gonna hate
Them callers gonna call
Them ballers gonna ball
(Let 'em know)
I, I don't mind (ha)
What people say or do (nah, nah)
But I, I do mind
What you believe is true
You are the only one
Getting all my love
'cause what they do (what they do)
Ain't nothin' new
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
So-called friends
Don't want to see me with you
Behind your back
Callin' my cell and pager too
No matter what they do
I will stay true
Only to you
Only to you
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
I want you to know (I want you to know)
I'll never let you go (I'll never let you go)
We gotta talk about everything you hear
'cause I know that it ain't true
You can trust my love
And I can trust yours too
Our love will be forever, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Little Women
They gon' ball shorty
They gon' play shorty
That's how they do shorty
We comin' through shorty
The hit maker shorty
Playas gon' play
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
Playas gonna play (uh)
Haters gonna hate (right)
That's the way it is (yeah)
That's just how it's been (let 'em know, let 'em know)
Playas (Little Women why'all)
And haters (9 lives why'all)
Playas (the hit maker why'all, woo)
And haters
Playas gonna play (oh, oh)
Haters gonna hate (yeah)
Ballers gonna ball (oh, oh)
Callers gonna call
Yeah
http://www.lyrics007.com/3LW%20Lyrics/Playas%20Gon'%20Play%20Lyrics.html
-snip-
In the context of this song a "baller" is "a person who is flashy with their money. Someone who has lots of money and enjoys showing it off in front of others buy buying expensive and extravagant things such as cars, clothes, jewelry, etc."
Last edited on Sep 03 2011. Submitted by The Last Don on Aug 30 2011. http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/baller
-snip-
In the context of that song [and that definition] "to ball" is to act like a big baller. (A "baller" is often referred to as a "big baller").
-snip-
In the context of this song, a "caller" and a "shot caller" is someone who is in charge, i.e. someone who "call the shots", make all the decisions. A shot caller is considered or wants to be considered the most important person in any setting.
****
Examples #2: Jill Scott "Hate On Me"
hiddenbeachmedia, Uploaded on Aug 9, 2007
-snip-
LYRICS: HATE ON ME
If I could give you the world
On a silver platter
Would even matter
You'd still be mad at me
If I can find in all this
A dozen roses
Which I would give to you
You'd still be miserable
In reality
I'm gon be who I be
And I don't feel no faults
For all the lies that you bought
You can try as you may
Break me down when I say
That it ain't up to you
Gon on do what you do
[Chorus:]
Hate on me hater
Now or Later
Cause I'm gonna do me
You'll be mad baby
(Go head and hate)
Go head and hate on me hater
I'm not afraid of
What I got I paid for
You can hate on me...
Ooh if I gave you peaches
Out of my on garden
And I made you a peach cobbler
Would you slap me out?
Wonder if I gave you diamonds
Out of my on womb
Would you feel the love in that
Or ask why not the moon
If I gave you sanity
For the whole of humanity
Had all the solutions for the pain and pollution
No Matter Where I live
Despite the things I give
You'll always be this way
So go ahead and ...
[Chorus x2]
You Cannot...
Hate On me
Cause my mind is free
Feel my destiny
So Shall it Be
[Repeat x2]
[Chorus]
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jillscott/hateonme.html
-snip-
"Hate on me hater" is a statement that indicates that the speaker isn't going to let the hatred (expressed by putdowns, and other statements or actions) bother him or her.
As an aside, at .05 of this video, Jill Scott makes a "side eye" gesture. That gesture shows what she feels about those who "hate on" her. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/puttin-on-black-side-eye-videos.html for a post about side eye.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
[Revised November 12, 2017]
This post provides definitions of the African American Vernacular English terms "playa" and "hater" and the saying "playas gonna play and haters gonna hate".
This post also showcases videos of and song lyrics for the 2000 3LW song "Playas Gon' Play" and the 2007 Jill Scott song "Hate On Me".
The content of this post is presented for linguistics, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted on this page and thanks all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
THE MEANING OF THE WORD "PLAYA"
"Playa" (pronounced "play-yah") is the Hip-Hop form of the word "player".
In its page about the "haters" meme, http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/haters-gonna-hate cites ICE T’s 1999 explicit Hip Hop track “Don’t Hate Tha Plaar” es that "One of the earliest references to “haters”. That Hip Hop track also includes the word "player"
[Chorus: Ice-T]
Don’t hate the player, hate the game
Ni&&as*, sharpen your aim
Every baller on the streets is searchin’ fortune and fame
Some come up, some get done up, except* the twist
If you out for mega cheddar, you got to go high risk
-snip-
*This word was fully spelled out in those lyrics and on that page.
In standard English, the word "player" is neutral and means a participant in a game. In that Hip Hop track, a "playa" isn't used negatively. That word just refers to a person who is playing "the game of life", and/or some specific venture that that person is engaged in. However, within the same African American population, over time, a "playa" has come to be viewed negatively.
Although a person can be a playa in any aspect of life, the term "playa" is often used as a negative referent for someone who "plays with" ("messes over") someone else's emotions, especially someone who pretends to have romantic feelings for someone.
* The word "except" in that lyric transcription is probably an error or typo for the "accept". The end of that verse indicates that a person who is playing the game of life [i.e. a "baller"] should "accept the twist" [acknowledge and prepare for that aspect of "the game"] because he or she has to take high risks to reap high rewards [i.e. lots of money; "mega cheddar".]
**
Here's a definition of "playa" from http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/playa:
Player
"someone who dates more than one person at a time, usually just for sex or other perks. Will typically do anything to have sex with someone. Carries a heavy negative connotation. Usually used to describe males, but could be used to describe females who act in this manner. Often pronounced 'playa.' "
-snip-
The saying "playas gonna play" means that it's some people's nature to be "players", i.e. "to play with (mess with) other people's feelings"- to not be "for real" when it comes to being faithful to someone they are romantically involved with.
****
THE MEANING OF THE WORD "HATER"
"Haters" is an African American Vernacular English originated noun form of the verb "hate".
A "hater" is a person who constantly insults, criticizes, and/or puts another person down for no real reason.
The above mentioned "Know your memes" page about the word "hater" documents that "The earliest known usage of the term “haters” online appeared on Urban Dictionary[1] in August 2003":
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hater&page=2
"hater
Overused word that people like to use just because someone else expresses a dislike for a certain individual.
PERSON 1: I don't like Beyonce's new song.
PERSON 2: You're a hater!!!
by BFG December 05, 2003
****
A 2005 definition for "hater" that appears on that same urbandictionary.com page and is also listed as the top rated definition for haters (as of November 12, 2017) on another urbandictionary.com page
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hater&page=2 is:
"Hater (n.):
A person that simply cannot be happy for another person’s success. Instead of giving acknowledgment in courtesy, a hater often pursues his/her point by exposing a flaw in the target subject. Hating, the result of being a hater, is not exactly jealousy. The hater doesn’t really want to be the person he or she hates, rather the hater wants to knock somelse [sic] down a notch."
Susan: You know, Kevin from accounting is doing very well. He just bought a house in a very nice part of town.
Jane (hater): If he is doing so well why does he drive that '89 Taurus?
by dion February 04, 2005"
****
THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE "HATERS GONNA HATE"
From http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/haters-gonna-hate
"Haters Gonna Hate is a catchphrase used to indicate a disregard for hostile remarks addressed towards the speaker. This expression has its roots in American hip hop, and spawned an image macro series featuring pictures of celebrities, animals and cartoon characters strutting or posing in a conceited manner.
-snip-
From http://www.ask.com/answers/59427481/what-does-haters-gonna-hate-mean
kelvinkarimi: 2012
"Haters gonna hate" means that this person will always find something negative to say, and will never have any words of motivation or to uplift you. Someone who does not motivate you and who is always fault finding and trying to bring you down, is called a hater."
****
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Haters%20Gonna%20Hate
"Haters Gonna Hate
A phrase that represents ones complete and total disregard of another's negative comment towards the original person.
*Guy 1 is walking down the street and passes Guy 2*
Guy 2: Why are you so ugly?
Guy 1: Haters Gonna Hate. *Keeps on walking*
Dude 1: Hey Fatty!
Dude 2: Haters Gonna Hate
#hgh#haters#low self esteem#high self esteem#dont care
by WhyDoesUKGottaHateOnTheUS? August 19, 2010"
-snip-
This is the earliest dated urbandictionary.com entry for the saying "haters gonna hate".
The top rated definition for "haters gonna hate" on that urbandictionary.com page is:
"Haters Gonna Hate
A colloquial saying. It means that people who don't like you will always find a reason to dislike you, no matter how stupid that reason may be.
"Dad, Jane says she doesn't like me because I write my math problems in pen!"
"Don't let it get you down son. Haters gonna hate."
#haters#hate#gona#hating#saying
by Unholyhair January 28, 2012"
****
On December 14, 2011 kabu3000 December 14, 2011 posted a definition for "haters gonna hate" on that page which indicated that haters gonna hate is "Usually used as a comeback at a person who expresses an opinion that the user of the phrase disagrees with and/or feel personally offended by, often for completely irrational reasons."
Among other entries on that page, on February 05, 2012 mainlyachocolatepinecone wrote that "haters gonna hate "Probably one of the most overused and annoying phrases of the year 2011 and will be for 2012".
****
FEATURED VIDEOS AND LYRICS
Example #1: 3LW [3 Little Women]- Playas Gon' Play
3LWVEVO·5 videosUploaded on Feb 26, 2010
Music video by 3LW performing Playas Gon' Play.
-snip-
LYRICS: PLAYAS GONNA PLAY
[Intro]
The hit maker
The playas gon' play
Them haters gonna hate
Them callers gonna call
Them ballers gonna ball
(Let 'em know)
I, I don't mind (ha)
What people say or do (nah, nah)
But I, I do mind
What you believe is true
You are the only one
Getting all my love
'cause what they do (what they do)
Ain't nothin' new
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
So-called friends
Don't want to see me with you
Behind your back
Callin' my cell and pager too
No matter what they do
I will stay true
Only to you
Only to you
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
I want you to know (I want you to know)
I'll never let you go (I'll never let you go)
We gotta talk about everything you hear
'cause I know that it ain't true
You can trust my love
And I can trust yours too
Our love will be forever, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Little Women
They gon' ball shorty
They gon' play shorty
That's how they do shorty
We comin' through shorty
The hit maker shorty
Playas gon' play
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
Playas, they gonna play
And haters, they gonna hate
Ballers, they gonna ball
Shot callers, they gonna call
That ain't got nothin' to do
With me and you
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
Playas gonna play (uh)
Haters gonna hate (right)
That's the way it is (yeah)
That's just how it's been (let 'em know, let 'em know)
Playas (Little Women why'all)
And haters (9 lives why'all)
Playas (the hit maker why'all, woo)
And haters
Playas gonna play (oh, oh)
Haters gonna hate (yeah)
Ballers gonna ball (oh, oh)
Callers gonna call
Yeah
http://www.lyrics007.com/3LW%20Lyrics/Playas%20Gon'%20Play%20Lyrics.html
-snip-
In the context of this song a "baller" is "a person who is flashy with their money. Someone who has lots of money and enjoys showing it off in front of others buy buying expensive and extravagant things such as cars, clothes, jewelry, etc."
Last edited on Sep 03 2011. Submitted by The Last Don on Aug 30 2011. http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/baller
-snip-
In the context of that song [and that definition] "to ball" is to act like a big baller. (A "baller" is often referred to as a "big baller").
-snip-
In the context of this song, a "caller" and a "shot caller" is someone who is in charge, i.e. someone who "call the shots", make all the decisions. A shot caller is considered or wants to be considered the most important person in any setting.
****
Examples #2: Jill Scott "Hate On Me"
hiddenbeachmedia, Uploaded on Aug 9, 2007
-snip-
LYRICS: HATE ON ME
If I could give you the world
On a silver platter
Would even matter
You'd still be mad at me
If I can find in all this
A dozen roses
Which I would give to you
You'd still be miserable
In reality
I'm gon be who I be
And I don't feel no faults
For all the lies that you bought
You can try as you may
Break me down when I say
That it ain't up to you
Gon on do what you do
[Chorus:]
Hate on me hater
Now or Later
Cause I'm gonna do me
You'll be mad baby
(Go head and hate)
Go head and hate on me hater
I'm not afraid of
What I got I paid for
You can hate on me...
Ooh if I gave you peaches
Out of my on garden
And I made you a peach cobbler
Would you slap me out?
Wonder if I gave you diamonds
Out of my on womb
Would you feel the love in that
Or ask why not the moon
If I gave you sanity
For the whole of humanity
Had all the solutions for the pain and pollution
No Matter Where I live
Despite the things I give
You'll always be this way
So go ahead and ...
[Chorus x2]
You Cannot...
Hate On me
Cause my mind is free
Feel my destiny
So Shall it Be
[Repeat x2]
[Chorus]
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jillscott/hateonme.html
-snip-
"Hate on me hater" is a statement that indicates that the speaker isn't going to let the hatred (expressed by putdowns, and other statements or actions) bother him or her.
As an aside, at .05 of this video, Jill Scott makes a "side eye" gesture. That gesture shows what she feels about those who "hate on" her. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/puttin-on-black-side-eye-videos.html for a post about side eye.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Five Foot Stomping Cheers & Their R&B/Hip-Hop Sources
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision - April 24, 2022
This pancocojams post features five examples of foot stomping cheers whose words were inspired by Rhythm & Blues or Hip-Hop records. There are a number of other children's foot stomping cheers which have their source in R&B or Hip-Hop records.
My thanks to those who contributed the words to these cheers. My thanks also to the composers, musicians, and recording artists songs are featured in this page, and also to the uploaders of these featured videos.
These video/foot stomping cheer examples are presented in alphabetical order.
****
Footstomping Cheer #1: "Candy Girl"; R&B record source: New Edition - "Candy Girl"
Uploaded by dakwa4life on Mar 19, 2009
Official Video (1983)
**
Foot stomping Cheer Words:
CANDY GIRL
Candy girl, all my world,
look so sweet special treat
this is the way we (then they name a dance i.e the whop)
Candy girl
do the whop the whop
all my world
do the whop whop
look so sweet
do the whop the whop
special treat
do the whop the whop...
goes on with different dances mostly what is in at the time.
-Guest KLC,(East Harlem, New York, New York); http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 ; Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes? ; July 11, 2008
****
Foot stomping Cheer #2: "Fly Girl"; Hip-Hop record source:
A Fly Girl - The Boogie Boys (1985)
Uploaded by djbuddyloverootsrap on Apr 25, 2011
The Boogie Boys were an American old school hip-hop group from Harlem, New York. They scored one big hit in 1985 with "A Fly Girl", from the album "City Life", that peaked at number six on the R&B charts. William 'Boogie Knight' Stroman, Joe 'Romeo J.D.' Malloy, and Rudy 'Lil Rahiem' Sheriff comprised the group. But things went downhill after that promising start, and by 1988 Sheriff had left the group, and they soon disbanded. This channel is dedicated to all the great rap music from back in the day. The music that started the whole hip-hop revolution, the incredible music from the 70s, the 80s, and the early 90s . . . The Roots Of Rap are here!
**
Foot Stomping Cheer Words:
FLY GIRL
All: Fly girl
Fly girl
Fly girl One
Fly girl Two
Pump it up Teresa
See what you do.
Soloist #1 (Oh) my name is Teresa
and I’m a fly girl
It takes a lot of men
to rock my world.
‘cause I can fly like a butterfly
sting like a bee
and that’s way they call me
Sexy
-Tazi M. Powell, (African American female, memories of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, mid 1980s); posted by Azizi Powell ; from audio tape transcription; 1996
[Italics mean to substitute the first name, nickname, or first name initial of the current soloist.]
****
Foot Stomping Cheer #3: Hollywood Swinging (and similar titles) - Rhyth & Blues source
Kool & The Gang - Hollywood Swinging 1976
zman291977, Jul 18, 2011
Another Bad Creation - Playground
Uploaded by AnotherBCreationVEVO on Dec 24, 2009
Music video by Another Bad Creation performing Playground. (C) 1991 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
**
Foot stomping Cheer Words:
All: I’ve fallen.
I can‘t get up.
I’ve fallen
And I can‘t get up.
Smack, Jack!
Homie don’t play that.
Kick off your shoes [or "Put up your dukes"]
and let’s get loose!
We kick our beat at the playground. playground
You know.
All except the soloist:
Bust it "T", Bust it "T", Bust it! [Use first initial of the soloist’s name or nickname]
Swing it "T", Swing it "T", Swing it!
Kick it, "T", Kick it "T", Kick it!
She kicks her beat at the playground,
you know, playground.
- African American girls ages 7-12 years old; Lillian Taylor Camp; Pittsburgh, PA, early
1990s; collected by T.M.P. ; transcribed from audio tape by Azizi Powell, 1996
-snip-
This cheer text was corrected on June 11, 2017 to add missing words (as per my daughter T.M.P who collected it from that summer camp attendees.
****
Foot stomping Cheer #5: "Rock The Boat"; R&B record source:
Hues Corporation - Rock the Boat
Uploaded by denisemartha on Sep 9, 2008
Mom's favorite
**
Foot Stomping Cheer Words
ROCK THE BOAT
(Rock the boat,
Rock, rock the boat
[repeat]
My name is Yasmin*
(rock the boat)
I know I'm fine
(rock the boat)
Just like my sign
(rock the boat)
My sign is Leo**
I go bang-bang choo choo train
Wind me up and I do my thing
Reeses pieces butter cup
Don't mess with me,
cause I'll mess you up,
Rock the boat,
rock rock the boat...
-Yasmin H., (Latina; memories of East New York, New York in the late 1980s) sent to cocojams.com by email on 2/ 25/2004
*Italics indicates that each soloist uses their own first name, nickname, or first name initial.
** Italics indicates that each soloist gives the name of their astrological sun sign.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Latest revision - April 24, 2022
This pancocojams post features five examples of foot stomping cheers whose words were inspired by Rhythm & Blues or Hip-Hop records. There are a number of other children's foot stomping cheers which have their source in R&B or Hip-Hop records.
My thanks to those who contributed the words to these cheers. My thanks also to the composers, musicians, and recording artists songs are featured in this page, and also to the uploaders of these featured videos.
These video/foot stomping cheer examples are presented in alphabetical order.
****
Footstomping Cheer #1: "Candy Girl"; R&B record source: New Edition - "Candy Girl"
Uploaded by dakwa4life on Mar 19, 2009
Official Video (1983)
**
Foot stomping Cheer Words:
CANDY GIRL
Candy girl, all my world,
look so sweet special treat
this is the way we (then they name a dance i.e the whop)
Candy girl
do the whop the whop
all my world
do the whop whop
look so sweet
do the whop the whop
special treat
do the whop the whop...
goes on with different dances mostly what is in at the time.
-Guest KLC,(East Harlem, New York, New York); http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 ; Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes? ; July 11, 2008
****
Foot stomping Cheer #2: "Fly Girl"; Hip-Hop record source:
A Fly Girl - The Boogie Boys (1985)
Uploaded by djbuddyloverootsrap on Apr 25, 2011
The Boogie Boys were an American old school hip-hop group from Harlem, New York. They scored one big hit in 1985 with "A Fly Girl", from the album "City Life", that peaked at number six on the R&B charts. William 'Boogie Knight' Stroman, Joe 'Romeo J.D.' Malloy, and Rudy 'Lil Rahiem' Sheriff comprised the group. But things went downhill after that promising start, and by 1988 Sheriff had left the group, and they soon disbanded. This channel is dedicated to all the great rap music from back in the day. The music that started the whole hip-hop revolution, the incredible music from the 70s, the 80s, and the early 90s . . . The Roots Of Rap are here!
**
Foot Stomping Cheer Words:
FLY GIRL
All: Fly girl
Fly girl
Fly girl One
Fly girl Two
Pump it up Teresa
See what you do.
Soloist #1 (Oh) my name is Teresa
and I’m a fly girl
It takes a lot of men
to rock my world.
‘cause I can fly like a butterfly
sting like a bee
and that’s way they call me
Sexy
-Tazi M. Powell, (African American female, memories of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, mid 1980s); posted by Azizi Powell ; from audio tape transcription; 1996
[Italics mean to substitute the first name, nickname, or first name initial of the current soloist.]
****
Foot Stomping Cheer #3: Hollywood Swinging (and similar titles) - Rhyth & Blues source
Kool & The Gang - Hollywood Swinging 1976
zman291977, Jul 18, 2011
HOLLYWOOD GOES SWINGIN
All: Hollywood goes swingin
Hollywood goes ___swingin
Swingin for the good times
Swingin for the bad times
Soloist #1: My name is Zizi
I’m cool and the gang
Mess with me. I’ll do my thang
If you see me walkin down the street
You betta speak.
Long time, no see
Sexy as I wanna be
Some hittin me high
Some hittin me low
Some hittin me on my-
Don’t ask what
Group: What?
Soloist #1: My b-u-tt butt
That's what.
- T.M.P, (African American female, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1985-1986); also collected by Tazi Powell (from African American girls, Pittsburgh [Lillian Taylor Camp], 1989, 1990
****
Foot Stomping Cheer #4: "Playground"; Hip-Hop record source:
Hollywood goes ___swingin
Swingin for the good times
Swingin for the bad times
Soloist #1: My name is Zizi
I’m cool and the gang
Mess with me. I’ll do my thang
If you see me walkin down the street
You betta speak.
Long time, no see
Sexy as I wanna be
Some hittin me high
Some hittin me low
Some hittin me on my-
Don’t ask what
Group: What?
Soloist #1: My b-u-tt butt
That's what.
- T.M.P, (African American female, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1985-1986); also collected by Tazi Powell (from African American girls, Pittsburgh [Lillian Taylor Camp], 1989, 1990
****
Foot Stomping Cheer #4: "Playground"; Hip-Hop record source:
Another Bad Creation - Playground
Uploaded by AnotherBCreationVEVO on Dec 24, 2009
Music video by Another Bad Creation performing Playground. (C) 1991 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
**
Foot stomping Cheer Words:
All: I’ve fallen.
I can‘t get up.
I’ve fallen
And I can‘t get up.
Smack, Jack!
Homie don’t play that.
Kick off your shoes [or "Put up your dukes"]
and let’s get loose!
We kick our beat at the playground. playground
You know.
All except the soloist:
Bust it "T", Bust it "T", Bust it! [Use first initial of the soloist’s name or nickname]
Swing it "T", Swing it "T", Swing it!
Kick it, "T", Kick it "T", Kick it!
She kicks her beat at the playground,
you know, playground.
- African American girls ages 7-12 years old; Lillian Taylor Camp; Pittsburgh, PA, early
1990s; collected by T.M.P. ; transcribed from audio tape by Azizi Powell, 1996
-snip-
This cheer text was corrected on June 11, 2017 to add missing words (as per my daughter T.M.P who collected it from that summer camp attendees.
****
Foot stomping Cheer #5: "Rock The Boat"; R&B record source:
Hues Corporation - Rock the Boat
Uploaded by denisemartha on Sep 9, 2008
Mom's favorite
**
Foot Stomping Cheer Words
ROCK THE BOAT
(Rock the boat,
Rock, rock the boat
[repeat]
My name is Yasmin*
(rock the boat)
I know I'm fine
(rock the boat)
Just like my sign
(rock the boat)
My sign is Leo**
I go bang-bang choo choo train
Wind me up and I do my thing
Reeses pieces butter cup
Don't mess with me,
cause I'll mess you up,
Rock the boat,
rock rock the boat...
-Yasmin H., (Latina; memories of East New York, New York in the late 1980s) sent to cocojams.com by email on 2/ 25/2004
*Italics indicates that each soloist uses their own first name, nickname, or first name initial.
** Italics indicates that each soloist gives the name of their astrological sun sign.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Five Children's Cheers Or Rhymes Inspired By Popular Records
Edited by Azizi Powell
Kool & the Gang: Hollywood Swinging (Live from New Orleans 1984)
Johan Nilsson, Uploaded on Aug 5, 2010
One of the funkiest songs ever made! Live from New Orleans in 1984.
-snip-
This pancocojams post showcases five examples of playground rhymes or cheers that were inspired at least in part by a R&B, Rock, or Hip-Hop record.
The examples that are showcased are "Hollywood Swinging", "We Will Rock You", "Candy Girl", "Fly Girl", and "Playground".
These examples are posted in chronological order with one example of the children's rhyme given after the embedded video of that record. The category of rhyme or cheer is given in brackets after the example's title.
Click the links that are provided for additional information & versions of the children's playground cheers & rhymes featured on this page, and for other children's playground cheers & rhymes.
Enjoy!
****
Example #1
See video of "Hollywood Swingin" that is posted above.
**
HOLLYWOOD ROCK SWINGING [no category given]*
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see my just step aside
'Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see me just step aside
'Cause mighty Natasha don't take no jive
-Barbara Michels, Bettye White, editors (Apples On A Stick, The Folklore of Black Children; Coward-McCann, Inc, 1983, p.14)
*"Hollywood Swingin" ("Hollywood Rock Swingin" and other similar names) appears to usually be performed as a partner handclap rhyme. However, in the mid 1980s I observed African American girls chanting a very similar composition as a foot stomping cheer.
****
Example #2
Queen - 'We Will Rock You' (1974)
Uploaded by queenofficial on Aug 1, 2008
The official 'We Will Rock You' music video. Taken from Queen - 'Greatest Video Hits 1'.
**
WE WILL ROCK YOU (cheerleader cheer)
hey...this is a foot stompin cheer.........
we will we wil rock you down
shake you up like a volcano will arupt
sooo fassin ur seat belt
step on the gass
(team names) will kick your (run up and smack your butt}
every body you think ur bad
you think ur mean
richards red raiders are the number 1 team
-Tori; http://cocojams.com/content/childrens-cheerleader-cheers ; 10/28/2006
****
Example #3
New Edition - Candy Girl official video (1983)
Uploaded by dakwa4life on Mar 19, 2009
**
CANDY GIRL (foot stomping cheer)
Candy girl, all my world,
look so sweet special treat
this is the way we (then they name a dance i.e the whop)
Candy girl
do the whop the whop
all my world
do the whop whop
look so sweet
do the whop the whop
special treat
do the whop the whop...
goes on with different dances mostly what is in at the time.
-Guest KLC,(East Harlem, New York, New York); http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 ; Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes? ; July 11, 2008
****
Example #4
A Fly Girl - The Boogie Boys (1985)
**
FLY GIRL (foot stomping cheer)
All except the soloist: Fly girl
Fly girl
Fly girl One
Fly girl Two
Pump it up Teresa
See what you do.
Soloist #1 (Oh) my name is Teresa
and I’m a fly girl
It takes a lot of men
to rock my world.
‘cause I can fly like a butterfly
sting like a bee
and that’s way they call me
Sexy.
-TMP, (African American female, memories of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, mid 1980s); http://cocojams.com/content/foot-stomping-cheers-0
(This foot stomping cheer repeats from the beginning with the next soloist who gives her name or nickname and says the same words as found above. This pattern continues until everyone in the group has one turn as the soloist).
****
Example #5
Another Bad Creation - Playground (1991)
Uploaded by AnotherBCreationVEVO on Dec 24, 2009
**
PLAYGROUND (foot stomping cheer)
All: I’ve fallin. I can‘t get up.
I’ve fallin. I can‘t get up.
Smack, Jack! Homie don’t play that.
Kick off your shoes (or "Put up your dukes")
And let’s get loose!
All except the soloist whose is indicated by the first letter of her name or nickname:
Kick it "T", Kick it T! Kick it T!
Bust it "T", Bust it "T", Bust it!
Swing it "T", Swing it "T", Swing it!
Soloist: I swing my beat at the playground!
(Repeat the entire rhyme with next soloist, andcontinue repeating in this manner until
every one in the group has had one turn as the soloist). The beat used for this cheer is stompstomp clap stompstomp clap.
-African American girls ages 7-12 years old; Lillian Taylor Camp (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, early 1990s; collected by TMP); http://cocojams.com/content/foot-stomping-cheers-0
Text Analysis:
“Playground” is a dance style foot stomping cheer that demonstrates the creative way that children’s folk rhymes and cheers are created from a number of different mass media sources. That cheer has the same tune as the 1991 hit rap song “Playground” by ABC (Another Bad Creation), a group of young African American teenage boys.
ABC's "Playground". In addition, that foot stomping cheer uses the title of that recorded song and includes lyrics from that song, beginning with “Kick off your shoes and let’s get loose”.
However, that foot stomping cheer also includes lines from other sources. The lines “I’ve fallin’ and I can’t get up” are from a low budget television commercial for security telephone equipment for the elderly. That commercial featured an elderly woman falling down and then saying those exact words. In a weird way, that commercial struck some people’s funny bone.
“Smack, Jack. Homey don’t play that” was the signature lines of “Homie D. Clown”, a character created by comedian Damon Wayans on the innovative comedy television show "In Living Color". Unable to find any other job after being released from prison, Homie worked as a clown at little children’s birthday parties. But Homie had no aptitude for leading children’s party activities and no patience with the little children’s constant questions. At regular intervals in the party, when children asked Homie questions, he would smack them with a plastic baseball bat. Also, Homie would refuse to perform expected “clown” activities at those children's paries. For instance, if a child asked him to make shapes out of balloons, Homie would smack him or her with his baseball bat and say “Homie don’t play that”. "Homie don't play that" became an African American vernacular. That line means that it's unthinkable for you to do what you've been asked to do (it's against your essential nature).
In the context of this foot stomping cheer, “Bust it!”, "Swing it!”, and “Kick it!” all mean “Show us how well you dance.”
"She kicked her beat" means that the girl danced really well.
****
Thanks for reading this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/11/references-to-astrology-in-child for a related text analysis post on children's playground rhymes.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Kool & the Gang: Hollywood Swinging (Live from New Orleans 1984)
Johan Nilsson, Uploaded on Aug 5, 2010
One of the funkiest songs ever made! Live from New Orleans in 1984.
-snip-
This pancocojams post showcases five examples of playground rhymes or cheers that were inspired at least in part by a R&B, Rock, or Hip-Hop record.
The examples that are showcased are "Hollywood Swinging", "We Will Rock You", "Candy Girl", "Fly Girl", and "Playground".
These examples are posted in chronological order with one example of the children's rhyme given after the embedded video of that record. The category of rhyme or cheer is given in brackets after the example's title.
Click the links that are provided for additional information & versions of the children's playground cheers & rhymes featured on this page, and for other children's playground cheers & rhymes.
Enjoy!
****
Example #1
See video of "Hollywood Swingin" that is posted above.
**
HOLLYWOOD ROCK SWINGING [no category given]*
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see my just step aside
'Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see me just step aside
'Cause mighty Natasha don't take no jive
-Barbara Michels, Bettye White, editors (Apples On A Stick, The Folklore of Black Children; Coward-McCann, Inc, 1983, p.14)
*"Hollywood Swingin" ("Hollywood Rock Swingin" and other similar names) appears to usually be performed as a partner handclap rhyme. However, in the mid 1980s I observed African American girls chanting a very similar composition as a foot stomping cheer.
****
Example #2
Queen - 'We Will Rock You' (1974)
Uploaded by queenofficial on Aug 1, 2008
The official 'We Will Rock You' music video. Taken from Queen - 'Greatest Video Hits 1'.
**
WE WILL ROCK YOU (cheerleader cheer)
hey...this is a foot stompin cheer.........
we will we wil rock you down
shake you up like a volcano will arupt
sooo fassin ur seat belt
step on the gass
(team names) will kick your (run up and smack your butt}
every body you think ur bad
you think ur mean
richards red raiders are the number 1 team
-Tori; http://cocojams.com/content/childrens-cheerleader-cheers ; 10/28/2006
****
Example #3
New Edition - Candy Girl official video (1983)
Uploaded by dakwa4life on Mar 19, 2009
**
CANDY GIRL (foot stomping cheer)
Candy girl, all my world,
look so sweet special treat
this is the way we (then they name a dance i.e the whop)
Candy girl
do the whop the whop
all my world
do the whop whop
look so sweet
do the whop the whop
special treat
do the whop the whop...
goes on with different dances mostly what is in at the time.
-Guest KLC,(East Harlem, New York, New York); http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 ; Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes? ; July 11, 2008
****
Example #4
A Fly Girl - The Boogie Boys (1985)
Granuhha, Dec 25, 2008
Boogie Boys were an American old school hip hop group from
Harlem, New York. They had a major hit in America in 1985 with the single
"A Fly Girl" and several successful albums. In 1988, Rudy Sheriff
left the group, and soon after they disbanded.
**
FLY GIRL (foot stomping cheer)
All except the soloist: Fly girl
Fly girl
Fly girl One
Fly girl Two
Pump it up Teresa
See what you do.
Soloist #1 (Oh) my name is Teresa
and I’m a fly girl
It takes a lot of men
to rock my world.
‘cause I can fly like a butterfly
sting like a bee
and that’s way they call me
Sexy.
-TMP, (African American female, memories of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, mid 1980s); http://cocojams.com/content/foot-stomping-cheers-0
(This foot stomping cheer repeats from the beginning with the next soloist who gives her name or nickname and says the same words as found above. This pattern continues until everyone in the group has one turn as the soloist).
****
Example #5
Another Bad Creation - Playground (1991)
Uploaded by AnotherBCreationVEVO on Dec 24, 2009
**
PLAYGROUND (foot stomping cheer)
All: I’ve fallin. I can‘t get up.
I’ve fallin. I can‘t get up.
Smack, Jack! Homie don’t play that.
Kick off your shoes (or "Put up your dukes")
And let’s get loose!
All except the soloist whose is indicated by the first letter of her name or nickname:
Kick it "T", Kick it T! Kick it T!
Bust it "T", Bust it "T", Bust it!
Swing it "T", Swing it "T", Swing it!
Soloist: I swing my beat at the playground!
(Repeat the entire rhyme with next soloist, andcontinue repeating in this manner until
every one in the group has had one turn as the soloist). The beat used for this cheer is stompstomp clap stompstomp clap.
-African American girls ages 7-12 years old; Lillian Taylor Camp (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, early 1990s; collected by TMP); http://cocojams.com/content/foot-stomping-cheers-0
Text Analysis:
“Playground” is a dance style foot stomping cheer that demonstrates the creative way that children’s folk rhymes and cheers are created from a number of different mass media sources. That cheer has the same tune as the 1991 hit rap song “Playground” by ABC (Another Bad Creation), a group of young African American teenage boys.
ABC's "Playground". In addition, that foot stomping cheer uses the title of that recorded song and includes lyrics from that song, beginning with “Kick off your shoes and let’s get loose”.
However, that foot stomping cheer also includes lines from other sources. The lines “I’ve fallin’ and I can’t get up” are from a low budget television commercial for security telephone equipment for the elderly. That commercial featured an elderly woman falling down and then saying those exact words. In a weird way, that commercial struck some people’s funny bone.
“Smack, Jack. Homey don’t play that” was the signature lines of “Homie D. Clown”, a character created by comedian Damon Wayans on the innovative comedy television show "In Living Color". Unable to find any other job after being released from prison, Homie worked as a clown at little children’s birthday parties. But Homie had no aptitude for leading children’s party activities and no patience with the little children’s constant questions. At regular intervals in the party, when children asked Homie questions, he would smack them with a plastic baseball bat. Also, Homie would refuse to perform expected “clown” activities at those children's paries. For instance, if a child asked him to make shapes out of balloons, Homie would smack him or her with his baseball bat and say “Homie don’t play that”. "Homie don't play that" became an African American vernacular. That line means that it's unthinkable for you to do what you've been asked to do (it's against your essential nature).
In the context of this foot stomping cheer, “Bust it!”, "Swing it!”, and “Kick it!” all mean “Show us how well you dance.”
"She kicked her beat" means that the girl danced really well.
****
Thanks for reading this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/11/references-to-astrology-in-child for a related text analysis post on children's playground rhymes.
Viewer comments are welcome.
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