Outkasts-Aquemini critique essays

Outkast's-Aquemini critique essays It is not typical that hip hop music is viewed to be a form of art. It has received a great deal of negative publicity since becoming mainstream in the early to mid 1980s. It is believed, by many, that the lyrical content of this type of music deals with only guns, alcohol, sex, violence, and crime. It is understandable for them to have these beliefs, because there was a period of time when that was true. Though there are still the artists whose lyrics say very little; recently, hip hop has become a form of expression with deeper meaning. It is my opinion that this type of rap has a large amount of artistic value. A song which blends rhythmically, significant lyrics and a beat that sets the mood, should certainly be considered a work of art. The group that I believe is most successful in accomplishing this feat is Outkast. Outkast is the duo of Andre Benjamin and Antwan Patton, more commonly know as Andre 3000 and Big Boi. The work I have chosen to critique is titled Aquemini. It is the fifth track off of their third album which is also titled Aquemini. The word Aquemini is the combination of Aquarius and Gemini; Big Boi being the Aquarius and Andre 3000 the Gemini. With this paper I am including lyrics printed off of the internet and a copy of this song. Please excuse the obscenities used in the songs. Aquemini starts with the chorus which leads to the beginning of the relaxing and slow tempo beat. The meaning of the chorus is summed up by the lines: nothing is for sure, nothing lasts forever. In the first verse Big Boi says, we prayed together through hard times and swung hard when it was fitting, but now we tappin the brakes from all them corners that we be bending in Volkswagons and Bonnevilles, Chevrolets and Coupe De Villes. Big Boi is talking about their hard times together; which I feel refers to their growing up in a poor neighborhood of downtown Atlanta. ...