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Textual Analysis Essay 1st Draft

Inside of a Rappers Rap Tupac once said, “All I’m trying to do is survive and make good out of the dirty, nasty, unbelievable lifestyle that they gave me.” The truth is, there were many rappers like Tupac who had a difficult lifestyle. That involved, living in the projects with little money where their families struggled to have a good meal and live in a good home environment. A popular rapper, who, like Tupac, went through a tough time and made it as a well-known, successful rapper, is The Notorious B.I.G. Biggie Smalls had courage and in his song, “Juicy” he not only shows courage, but he also shows struggle, success, and change. Struggle is a big issue in life. Believe it or not, even the wealthiest people go through it, because it’s part of life. Biggie grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant. He grew up not having the support he needed in life to do what he dreamed of doing, which was rapping. There are many kids in the world who go to school and rely on teachers to support their dreams even if they sound impossible. Additionally, there are many students I’ve encountered who wanted to be basketball players and eventually go from college basketball to the NBA. However, since their attitude towards school was negative, and they behaved badly towards classmates and teachers, they were not believed in and supported. Like Biggie said in his song, “This alum is dedicated to all the teachers that told me I’d never amount to nothin’, to all the people that lived above the buildings that I was hustlin’ in front of that called the police on me when I was just tryin’ to make money to feed my daughter, and all the niggas in the struggle, you know what I’m sayin’?” People involve themselves into situations in life that may seem wrong to others, but that are good for themselves or the people who benefit from them. Dealing drugs is a bad habit to involve yourself in because it comes with a big amount of consequences but, it helps the people who are involve with selling drugs to live their life and make money for their family. Having the courage to do something even if it’s risky shows how people struggle in life to get their families on the right path. Struggling and being successful in the future isn’t the only way to show courage but also having success and being able to do so with the family and friends they struggled to support. Maybe not to a lot of people, but change shows perseverance in what you want to do, and going through all the obstacles to get there, means having courage. It’s a life journey when you are trying to not only make your dreams come true, but to make your dreams come true and be successful at it, and live the life you always wanted to live. Biggie said in his song, “Now I’m in the limelight ‘cause I rhyme tight time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade… sold out seats to hear Biggie Small speak… Now my mom pimps Ac’ with minks on her back And she loves to show me off, of course Smiles every time my face is up in The Source.” Being successful is not all about money and fame and being materialistic, but also being surrounded by friends and family. Being able to go from negative to positive in this case means, going from a home that doesn’t feel like home, to a home where it feels like home, because there’s more then one bedroom, a nice kitchen, heat, and a good neighborhood. Going to a positive lifestyle after to many years, not only shows courage, struggle and success but also change. Change is scary word because you don’t know where life might take you. Ever had a parent give you the phrase, “life will always give you 3 paths, one that goes to the right, one that goes to the left, and one that goes straight.” Straight is no change, but the left path and the right path is change, but no one knows how it will turn out. However, change can mean many things like change that is good, bad, in someone else’s life, and in your own life. Everyone goes through change from the time of infancy and over the years, as one grows bigger. Your body changes and so does your mind. Depending who surrounds us, and the area in which we live in. Many people grow up in a bad neighborhood and they believe the way they are suppose to live life is based on how they see everything as a child. When they learn, very young what to do and the consequences that come with the decisions they make. However, some people who are minorities go through a life-style of being in bad positions and doing things they’re not suppose to do, but end up making changes to move forward instead of staying in the same place forever. Many people want to leave bad neighborhoods to a world where they can afford to buy an actual home and make sure they have dinner every night. Biggie mentioned his success and his change as he rapped, “Livin’ life without fear Puttin’ 5 karats in my baby’s ear… Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis when I was dead broke, man I couldn’t picture this 50 inch screen, money green leather sofa Got two rides, a limousine with a chauffer … Celebraitin’ every day, no more public housin.’” Imagine the change he’s been through where his change does not only affect him, but his family as well. Having the advantage to give his mom a place to live where there’s heat, and give his daughter what she, in his eyes, deserves, shows courage. People like Christopher George Latore Wallace, also known as, The Notorious B.I.G. lets people like his old self to believe that there’s hope for people who had to be cold in the winter and not have the money to celebrate a birthday party. It’s all about having the courage to do whatever has to be done to overcome struggle, to succeed, and cause overall change. In Biggie Small’s song, “Juicy,” he tells his story through obstacles he’s been through and how he overcame them. This rap unfolds what he means, and how it connects with his struggles, change, and success. He had the courage to go against what the teachers in his school believed he couldn’t do, and he went into the world and did what he could do. Not that many believe they have the opportunity in the world to expand their goals and make it. There have been people like Biggie Smalls who were born in projects or in bad neighborhoods, like Tupac, Jay-Z, 50 cent, and Eminem. Having courage having the ability to do things beyond your limit, just like Biggie Smalls did with his success, change, and struggle.