Week 2 Discussion (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985)

Started by DKC, May 17, 2021, in Life Add to Reading List

  1. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    May 17, 2021
    @BookClub

    Feel free to keep discussing the first week's chapters as well!

    Picks
    1982: Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - "The Message"
    1983: Run-DMC - "Sucker MCs"
    1984: Whodini - "Friends"
    1985: Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick - "La Di Da Di"

    Rebuttals:
    1982: Busy Bee - "Making Cash Money"
    1983: Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel - "White Lines (Don't Do it)"
    1984: Roxanne Shanté - "Roxanne's Revenge"
    1985: Run-DMC - "King of Rock"

    Questions:
    1. Which picks do you agree with?
    2. Which picks do you disagree with—and do you agree with the rebuttals? If not, what song would you nominate?
    3. Importance (or lack thereof) aside, which of these songs do you like or dislike?
    4. Were there songs you'd never heard before?
    5. Discuss any interesting facts that stood out to you!

    Please ask any other questions you come up with!
     
    Mar 28, 2024
  2. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    May 17, 2021
    Something that stood out to me when looking for all these songs on youtube: so much of this early stuff was on Sugarhill Records—which obviously makes a lot of sense, but I think it's important to highlight just how big of a role they had in early recorded hip-hop.
     
    Mar 28, 2024
  3. jankland
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    jankland In My Cringe Arc.

    May 17, 2021
    Im gonna start reading tonight and I'm probably gonna listen to the songs tomorrow and then skim through the chapters again for added context

    Also I've definitely heard some of if not all of the message and I know of la di da di but I don't remember listening to it at least not fully
     
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  4. jankland
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    jankland In My Cringe Arc.

    May 18, 2021
    I stopped at 1984 which I'm gonna read tomorrow but for some bullet points so far

    Someone in a different thread it actually might've been @Donkey Kong Country was schooling Stans (such as myself) on who Melle Mel was and even though the message was a huge classic song I never knew he was a part of the whole Grandmaster Flash movement and I can't really argue with The Message's significance from the little I know but I will say that Making Cash Money is a pretty fun song

    I probably feel the least strong about Sucker MC's not as much stood out to me as other songs and it's probably one of my least favorite of the bunch but that might change if I decide to listen to it again but idk

    I remember hearing the hook to White Lines in some media before but I never knew the name of the song and that s--- probably has my favorite sound of any of the songs I've heard from this week's chapters so far

    Friends by whodini is a f---in weird one lol I was really caught off guard by the hook but I enjoyed it by the end when I thought of it as more of a pop song like the book said

    And from a culturally significant standpoint Roxanne's Revenge doesn't seem like that big of a deal in the bigger picture but I can see women who maybe felt inspired in being more comfortable and confident while on the mic and stuff like that

    also she was f---ing flowin in the second half of that song lol
     
    Mar 28, 2024
  5. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    May 18, 2021
    Yup that was me lol, that was actually what spurred the idea of a hip-hop book club!

    I think this is as good a time as any to admit that I’ve never really liked Run-DMC. They’re obviously an influential and super significant group, but they never did much for me. As far as 80s rap goes I prefer NWA and early jungle brothers/de la soul...even the beastie boys tbh.
     
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  6. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    May 20, 2021
    @BookClub reading The Message chapter and the fact that Grandmaster Flash isn’t even a part of the song reminded me of how Lil Troy doesn’t have a verse on “I Wanna Be A Baller” and that’s the only song he’s known for lol
     
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  7. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    May 20, 2021
    Also of note: ghostwriters were present in hip-hop even this early in its history
     
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  8. theg
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    theg got that pma

    May 24, 2021
    d--- this looks neat if i had the time i would def be in on this
    will keep monitoring in case i can join in later
     
    Mar 28, 2024
  9. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    May 24, 2021
    Would love to have you join in at any point—I’ll DM you the ebook just in case!
     
    Mar 28, 2024
  10. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    May 25, 2021
    Are people still reading/wanting to do this or nah? @BookClub
     
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  11. Winter
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    Winter Super Comfy

    May 25, 2021
    Still reading, will make a post with my thoughts on the first six chapters later when I have time. Still think this is a great idea and hope it doesn’t die out.
     
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  12. The Product
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    May 25, 2021
    I’ve fallen a little behind but I’ll be on a flight most of the day Wednesday so I’m going to read during that time.
     
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  13. jankland
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    jankland In My Cringe Arc.

    May 25, 2021
    I would still like to do it I haven't gotten the chance to read the last song of the second week but I understand if you want to stop it if it becomes only like 2 to 3 people doing it
     
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  14. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    May 25, 2021
    Nah as long as there's even 2-3 people who want to do it I'm absolutely game to keep it going. Most real life book clubs I've been in have been anywhere from 3-8 people and it gets hard with any more than that. Really I think 4-6 people is the sweet spot for irl book clubs but there's a lot of room for more people on a forum cuz we don't have to all meet at one specific time per week/month.

    Do you guys want me to give another week before I post week three? Would you guys rather do 2 or 3 chapters a week than 4? I was originally gonna do 3 a week but at first it seemed like people were gonna blaze past that.
     
    Mar 28, 2024
  15. jankland
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    jankland In My Cringe Arc.

    May 25, 2021
    I can do whatever is good for anyone else if people want less chapters I can just pace myself better lol
     
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  16. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    May 25, 2021
    Sweet let’s see where others are at/what they wanna do! How caught up are you guys @Winter @The Product @icecube @Chrollo etc
     
    Mar 28, 2024
  17. Winter
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    Winter Super Comfy

    May 25, 2021
    One chapter ahead, read up to 86
     
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  18. icecube
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    icecube West Coast is the Best Coast

    May 25, 2021
    I'm still 100% in for this. Love the idea and love the book so far.

    I'm back to work this week though for the first time in 5 months and cycling again after shoulder surgery recently. So as expected, I just don't have the time I did a month ago. Life really does move at 100mph.

    I'm gonna keep trying to keep up. Keep at it. Things like this take time to get going.
     
    Mar 28, 2024
  19. Chrollo
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    Chrollo ♱ كرولو

    May 25, 2021
    I'm at 1989. Couldn't really disagree with any of the picks. The Message is an extremely important song for Hip Hop, we got Run DMC and the master of storytelling rap Slick Rick (I would have cancelled the book if he didn't get a spot). I never heard of the group Whodini before so I atleast learned something new
     
    Mar 28, 2024
  20. Winter
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    Winter Super Comfy

    May 25, 2021
    d--- fr? Their music is obviously super dated now, but they got some hits
     
    Mar 28, 2024