Rap and Politics

Some might find my title ODD. However, I do not. Well... I do, but I think it is funny. These are two entirely different yet somewhat similar domains. My final project is on Rap because I know next to nothing about it. I like listening to rap, but I do not necessarily understand why or how it became. I am a very conservative woman and some might think it strange that I am writing a paper on rap. My boyfriend is a rapper, currently cooking at Carraba's and he too has political views believe it or not. Yes, that's right, rappers have thoughts and brains too. Although we do not always agree, we stand on some common grounds and have some very interesting conversations. It is an awesome relationship because by God allowing us to meet each other it's almost as though he has allowed us to be more well rounded and whole. My boyfriend and I are sending out different texts to people we meet. While I as a politician knock on doors to spread my visions, thoughts, and ideas my boyfriend as a rapper knocks on ears to do the same. We are giving out these texts in hope to be accepted by our targeted audiences. We are both trying to sell a product and in order to be successful we both have to work hard every day and hope people don't just hear us, but they really hear us. While a rapper has to be lyrically clever a politician has to have a strong voice. These two very different professions have a lot in common when thinking of them in the media's eye. Our lives will no longer be private but showcased for people to see, for people to take in. We will share much of the same media, such as the radio eg. 107.9 FM rap and r&b, 1480 A.M. politics and news, the t.v. eg. MTV, VH1, BET(rap), CNN,Fox, NBC(politics), ETC ETC ETC. There are a lot of similarities about these two very different semiotic domains. Both are under an immense amount of political pressure. Whose songs get played? Who gets a record deal? Who gets backed by what lobbyists? Who gets financial support in the primary? These are all very important questions in relating the two ideas. Hopefully our media texts are powerful enough that I might be the youngest woman to hold a seat in the Ohio state house and make some really great laws. That my boyfriend may be the next star to make it and change the game of rap with his style forever. Different but the same.