Inner+City+Blues+-+Brian+-+April+25th

Gangsta’s Paradise - Coolio

(Spoken) You want to tell me what this is all about?

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I take a look at my life and realize there's not much left Cause I've been blastin' and laughin so long that Even my ma'ma thinks that my mind is gone But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it Me, be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of You better watch how you talkin, and where you walkin Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc'- As they grew I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like On my knees in the night Sayin prayers in the street light

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

They got the situation, they got me facin' I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the strip So I gotta be down with the hood team Too much television watchin' got me chasin' dreams I'm an educated fool with money on my mind Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye I'm a loc'ed out gangsta, set-trippin banger And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool Death ain't nuthin but a heart beat away I'm livin life do-or-die-a, what can I say? I'm twenty-three now, but will I live to see twenty-fow'? The way things are goin' I don't know

Tell me why are we, so blind to see That the ones we hurt, are you and me

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Power and the money, money and the power Minute after minute, hour after hour Everybody's runnin, but half of them ain't lookin What's goin on in the kitchen, but I dont know what's cookin They say I got ta learn, but nobody's here to teach me, If they cant understand it, how can they reach me? I guess they can't; I guess they won't I guess they front; that's why I know my life is outta luck, fool!

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Tell me why are we, so blind to see That the ones we hurt, are you and me Tell me why are we, so blind to see That the ones we hurt, are you and me

Waterfalls - TLC

A lonely mother gazing out of her window Staring at a son that she just can't touch If at any time he's in a jam, she'll be by his side But he doesn't realize he hurts her so much But all the praying just ain't helping At all 'cause he can't seem to keep His self out of trouble So he goes out and he makes his money The best way he knows how Another body laying cold in the gutter, listen to me

Don't go chasing waterfalls Please stick to the rivers And the lakes that you're used to I know that you're gonna have it your way Or nothing at all But I think you're moving too fast

Little precious has a natural obsession For temptation but he just can't see She gives him loving that his body can't handle But all he can say is baby it's good to me One day he goes and takes a glimpse in the mirror But he doesn't recognize his own face His health is fading and he doesn't know why 3 letters took him to his final resting place Y'all don't hear me?

I see a rainbow yesterday But too many storms have come and gone leavin' a trace of not good-given ray Is it because my life is ten shades of gray I pray all ten fade away Seldom praise Him for the sunny days And like His promise is true only my faith can undo The many chances I blew to bring my life to anew Clear blue and unconditional skies Have dried the tears from my eyes No more lonely cries endurin' pain that it keeps 'em in the pourin' rain Who's to blame it's a shame You shoot and aim for someone else's brain You claim the insane and name his day in time For fallin' prey to crime, I say the system Got you victim to your own mind Dreams are hopeless aspirations in hopes Of comin' true, believe in yourself The rest is up to me and you

Don't go chasing waterfalls Please stick to the rivers And the lakes that you're used to I know that you're gonna have it your way Or nothing at all But I think you're moving too fast

Changes - 2Pac

Come on come on I see no changes. Wake up in the morning and I ask myself, "Is life worth living? Should I blast myself?" I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black. My stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch. Cops give a damn about a negro? Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he's a hero. Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares? One less hungry mouth on the welfare. First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers. Give 'em guns, step back, and watch 'em kill each other. "It's time to fight back", that's what Huey said. 2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead. I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin' changes. Learn to see me as a brother 'stead of 2 distant strangers. And that's how it's supposed to be. How can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me? I'd love to go back to when we played as kids but things changed, and that's the way it is

[Bridge w/ changing ad libs] Come on come on That's just the way it is Things'll never be the same That's just the way it is aww yeah [Repeat]

I see no changes. All I see is racist faces. Misplaced hate makes disgrace for races we under. I wonder what it takes to make this one better place... let's erase the wasted. Take the evil out the people, they'll be acting right. 'Cause mo' black than white is smokin' crack tonight. And only time we chill is when we kill each other. It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other. And although it seems heaven sent, we ain't ready to see a black President, uhh. It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact... the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks. But some things will never change. Try to show another way, but they stayin' in the dope game. Now tell me what's a mother to do? Bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you. You gotta operate the easy way. "I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy way. Sellin' crack to the kids. "I gotta get paid," Well hey, well that's the way it is.

[Bridge]

[Talking:] We gotta make a change... It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes. Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live and let's change the way we treat each other. You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do what we gotta do, to survive.

And still I see no changes. Can't a brother get a little peace? There's war on the streets & the war in the Middle East. Instead of war on poverty, they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me. And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do. But now I'm back with the facts givin' 'em back to you. Don't let 'em jack you up, back you up, crack you up and pimp smack you up. You gotta learn to hold ya own. They get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone. But tell the cops they can't touch this. I don't trust this, when they try to rush I bust this. That's the sound of my tune. You say it ain't cool, but mama didn't raise no fool. And as long as I stay black, I gotta stay strapped & I never get to lay back. 'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the pay backs. Some buck that I roughed up way back... comin' back after all these years. Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat. That's the way it is. uhh

Some things will never change

US History Thorough Music

By: Brian Kim Theme: Inner City Blues Date of Presentation: April 25, 2011

Songs to play: 1) Gangsta’s Paradise (Coolio) 2) Waterfalls (TLC) 3) Changes (2Pac)

2 Creations Music video of “Changes” The instrumental cover of “Waterfalls”

Preparations: Keynotes introducing the life of 2Pac, Coolio, and TLC Keynotes introducing the life in the big city such as New York and Chicago during the 80s and 90s. Prizes for those who answer the question at the end of the lesson Handout sheets of the lyrics of the songs with the comments Have videos or youtube videos turned on prior to the presentation so the videos are loaded up to go when they need to be played. You Tube Videos

Objectives: Students will learn about the problems that were prevalent during 80s and early 90s and understand how those problems influence the society today. Also, students will think about the ways to prevent or stop those problems.

Hook: grasp the audience’s attention by asking them the question, “Do you know anyone personally who suffers from the use of illegal drugs or HIV?” If there is any, I will ask him or her to share with the class about the effect of drugs or HIV, and how his or her life has changed from it. Then BRIEFLY I will explain what kind of problems were prevalent in the city during the 80s and 90s. (3 minutes)


 * 1) 1 Gangsta’s Paradise (12 minutes)

Before Song: A BRIEF introduction about who Coolio is and his background using keynotes. (1 minutes) GIve out the handouts go through the lyric and look for specific quotes that address the life of gangs on the street. (3 minutes) Discuss the problems that were caused by gangs and the influence of gangs to the society and many young people in the city. (3 minutes)

Play the music video of the song on Youtube (3 minutes) - tell the audience to make sure to focus on the lyrics which indicate the gang activities.

After the Song: Discuss about the present gangs and compare them with the gangs from the 80s and 90s. (2 minutes)


 * 1) 2 The Waterfalls (16 minutes)

Before Song: A BRIEF introduction to TLC using keynotes. (1 minute) Use the handout and go through each verses and define what are the problems that the song is presenting to us. (2 minutes) Discuss about the defined problems and discuss about the present day issues regarding those problems and ways to prevent them. (3 minutes)

Play the song on Youtube (2 minutes)

After the Song: Choose one or two persons and ask them to share what they think about the music video and if the music video effectively conveyed the message to the viewers. (2 minutes) Teach them about the negative effects of the illegal drugs and unprotected sex and HIV. Use the statistics and visual effects to present the seriousness of the problems. (4 minutes)

Play the instrumental cover of the song. (2 minutes)


 * 1) 3 Changes (16 minutes)

Before Song: A BRIEF introduction to 2Pac and his life as a black person (2 minutes) Go through the underlined quotes in the lyrics, and ask 1 or 2 people to share with class what they think the life was like for black people in the city during 80s and early 90s. (4 minutes)

Play the Song (2 minutes) *THE ENTIRE SONG

After Song: Talk about the life of Huey P. Newton, a black activist who is mentioned in the song, and discuss about his life and his accomplishments. (3 minutes) Talk about the black movement against racism and government efforts to stop racism in the United States. (3 minutes)

Play the music video of “Change” (2 minutes)

Conclusion

i. Play a mini Jeopardy. I ask the questions from the lesson and give prizes to those who answer the questions. (5 minutes)

ii. Conclude to lesson by reviewing all the problems mentioned in 3 different songs. Discuss about our responsibilities and efforts to stop and prevent the problems in the society where we belong to. (2 minutes)