Notebook Week 11 - 6o

Pumped Up Kicks - This song by Fosters The People talks about the issues of guns in a time that no one was really talking about these issues. Writing a song that he intentionally wanted it to be a meteorically song. however, he quickly felt the song was best in its literal terms, kids with gun shooting their school and class mates.

This Is America - This is by Childish Gambino an American rapper who wrote This Is America in 2018 in response to gun violence, police violence in America, and other assaults and attacks to the African American community. He wrote this song with messages in the lyrics and the video. This is a really incredible video because it doesn’t pull punches it shows the issues that are occurring plain and simple and demands people to take action against the African American community.

Exception - The little known rapper known as Token wrote this song to shine a light on school shooters and how bullying leads to this. The lyrics walk through a story of a kid getting picked on and bullied extremely the story ends with the bullied kid pulling a gun on the bullies shooting them then he shoots Token, because he was there the whole time, watching and never helped the kid. This really is an amazing point, just because you aren’t the bully doesn’t mean you aren’t affecting the victim.

Don't Let 'Em Take Your Gun - I had never heard this song written by the Grand Fun Railroad Band, but this must be the most pro-gun song I’ve ever heard. It’s actually really a good song and it argues the issue of gun rights and the 2nd Amendment with the singer saying his father used to say “son, don't let 'em take your gun. That's what they tryin' to do. Son, don't let 'em take your gun. They're takin' your bill of rights away from you.” This is the opinion of many individuals in America saying that any gun control laws are breaking their gun rights.

Fuck the Police - A classic rap song by the pioneers of their craft N.W.A Written by Ice Cube, one of the 4 members that made up the group, because he felt that the police were picking specifically on the black community but in a specific case Cube and his friends. After Dr. Dre went to jail Cube wrote Fuck the Police because “enough is enough”

War - One of my favorites growing up, from the talented singer Edwin Starr and the classic movie Rush Hour. Alright it’s not really a classic but it’s awesome and this song makes it better. The song talks about war, how mothers say goodbye to their sons for good and war just needs to stop. I think this plays well to the issue of guns in the world.

Gun Smoke - From 21 Savage and says Gun Smoke a lot. But the specific line “Savage, why you always rappin' 'bout guns for? (Straight up) 'Cause, bitch, I fell in love with the gun smoke (Straight up)” This in context says how he raps about guns because he loves them. If you don’t take this literally fine but its a good point. America loves their guns, they don’t want to change these because its what they know best.

I Gave You Power - Another song I had never really heard from the artist Nas. He talks about how it be if he was a gun. Being used against others and has no say in it. That’s true as a metaphor. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. So in regards to the song, it shows that the gun doesn’t go around shooting for fun if someone dies by firearms it’s because someone else pulls the trigger.

The Guns of Brixton - From The Clash saying “When they kick at your front door How you gonna come? With your hands on your head Or on the trigger of your gun?” In America, 73% of people have guns in their houses or own them too. So I feel these lyrics clearly state how most people think. Many houses have signs warning intruders that guns are stored within the household. So if someone comes into your house, are you going to call 911 or hands on your head, or grab some guns.

Loss For Words - A powerful song from Landon Mcnamara. I love this song very much, it’s I would argue the most emotional song on this list. In the song, he dedicates the song to all the victims in mass shootings through history and demands for change. The video is him walking through the rubble of a mass shooting and pleading for change.