I have analysed a couple of songs to show the meaning behind the lyrics in a positive light. The first example is ‘Answer’ by Tyler, the Creator' is a song based on his father’s non-existence as he left when he was born, and had never seen or heard of him since.
The first line:
'Hey Dad, it's me, um...
Oh, I'm Tyler, I think I be your son'
shows that he's calling out for his father and talking to him for the first time. The awkward wording and delivery is deliberate to show that he is extremely nervous as he is about to tell his dad all the reasons he hates him. Tyler goes on to say:
'But if I ever had the chance to ask this n**ga
And call him…
I hope he answer‘
It shows that despite how much Tyler hats his father and believes it was totally wrong for him abandoning him, he hopes that he will one day be able to talk to him, because he owes him an explanation.
The hook of the song is not rapped, but sung:
‘I hope you answer (x4)
Because when I call (When I call, baby)
I hope you pick up your phone (Please pick up)
I'd like to talk to you’
The repetition in the first line suggests that Tyler is frustrated with his father’s absence, but still wishes he could contact him. The next few lines reveal that if he does get a hold of his father, he hopes that he will pick up the phone and talk to him. It suggests that under all the anger and hate, he is almost pleading to his father to talk to him. The final line reinforces the ira that under all the anger and hate, Tyler wants nothing more than to talk to his father.
Teenagers facing the same circumstances can relate to this song and provides a gateway to release their feelings. Also, it gives the listener hope that they aren't the only the person with the difficult situation. Music Video (explicit language):
The first line:
'Hey Dad, it's me, um...
Oh, I'm Tyler, I think I be your son'
shows that he's calling out for his father and talking to him for the first time. The awkward wording and delivery is deliberate to show that he is extremely nervous as he is about to tell his dad all the reasons he hates him. Tyler goes on to say:
'But if I ever had the chance to ask this n**ga
And call him…
I hope he answer‘
It shows that despite how much Tyler hats his father and believes it was totally wrong for him abandoning him, he hopes that he will one day be able to talk to him, because he owes him an explanation.
The hook of the song is not rapped, but sung:
‘I hope you answer (x4)
Because when I call (When I call, baby)
I hope you pick up your phone (Please pick up)
I'd like to talk to you’
The repetition in the first line suggests that Tyler is frustrated with his father’s absence, but still wishes he could contact him. The next few lines reveal that if he does get a hold of his father, he hopes that he will pick up the phone and talk to him. It suggests that under all the anger and hate, he is almost pleading to his father to talk to him. The final line reinforces the ira that under all the anger and hate, Tyler wants nothing more than to talk to his father.
Teenagers facing the same circumstances can relate to this song and provides a gateway to release their feelings. Also, it gives the listener hope that they aren't the only the person with the difficult situation. Music Video (explicit language):
IFHY clean version:
Love and relationships are topics often rapped about in hip hop. 'IFHY' by Tyler, the Creator is a great example of the difficulty of love, which is a story about a 16 year old boy expressing his hate for the girl he loves, because she is seeing another guy. Tyler has said that this song was based on an experience with a girl back in 2007 when he was 16 and can help teenagers cope with the pain going through the same experience.
‘ten minutes can't go past without you brushing my thoughts
That's fourteen forty a day so I'll say a hundred and forty four times
I think about you or something like that’
Tyler expresses his love for her and is obsessed with the girl. He can't stop thinking about her, which is the usual feelings a teenage boy has towards a girl he likes.
‘Crazy who makes me the happiest
Can make me the saddest’
The characters in this song are Sam, Tyler and Salem, the girl. Everything was going perfectly between Tyler and Salem, until Sam came to the camp. Salem started hanging out with Sam which made Tyler depressed. However, these lines show that no matter who Salem talks to or no matter what she does, he will always lover her and she is the person that makes him the happiest in his life. He is confused how differently he feels about her. Nonetheless, he still loves her.
‘See I get jealous
And if I see that n**ga (If I see him)
I just might kill him (look)’
Tyler realises at this point that he has fallen victim to jealousy, which is a powerful force in relationships and is captured nicely in these lines. However, he becomes very aggressive and has thoughts of killing him. This is an example of the negative messages that can be conveyed in rap music with its violent nature.