Shakespeare was the First Gangster Hip-Hop Artist | Doug Rappaport | TEDxEdgemontSchool

Summary

This script explores the surprising parallels between Shakespeare's works and modern hip-hop, arguing that the Bard would be a rapper today. It highlights common themes such as racism, sex, partying, and violence found in both, suggesting that Shakespeare's plays were as raw and relevant to their audiences as hip-hop is to ours. The speaker encourages a reevaluation of both art forms, emphasizing their shared tradition of social commentary and storytelling.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Shakespeare was an entertainer who wrote for a popular audience, similar to how modern rappers aim to reach a broad audience with their music.
• 👑 The Globe Theater experience, with its penny admission and boisterous atmosphere, was akin to attending a modern music festival.
• 📝 If Shakespeare were alive today, he would likely be a rapper, combining his poetic words with beats to engage with his audience.
• 🔍 Central themes of contemporary rap music, such as racism, political injustice, sex, partying, and violence, were also prevalent in Shakespeare's works.
• 🎵 Rap artists like Tupac Shakur and A Tribe Called Quest address racism in their music, and Shakespeare similarly tackled the theme through characters like Othello and Shylock.
• 🍻 Shakespeare's plays are filled with references to drinking, partying, and sexual innuendo, much like the content found in modern hip-hop.
• 🗡 The theme of gang warfare and violence in hip-hop is mirrored in Shakespeare's plays, with examples such as the feuding families in 'Romeo and Juliet'.
• 🕊️ Shakespeare's message of unity and equality, emphasizing that all people are the same regardless of race or religion, is timeless and relevant to both his era and today's society.
• 📚 The script encourages an open-minded approach to appreciating the poetry and artistry in both Shakespeare's works and modern hip-hop.
• 🎵 Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'Hamilton' is highlighted as an example of successfully merging hip-hop with theater, creating a new form of art that resonates with contemporary audiences.
• 💡 The script concludes with an encouragement to not dismiss unfamiliar art forms and to embrace the opportunity to experience diverse expressions of creativity.

Q & A

Who is considered the original hip hop gangster artist according to the speaker?

The speaker considers William Shakespeare as the original hip hop gangster artist.

What is the significance of the 'Groundlings' in the context of Shakespeare's audience?

The 'Groundlings' refers to the general audience who paid a penny to stand in the yard of the Globe Theatre, similar to how people today might attend a popular music festival.

What is the connection between Shakespeare's plays and modern rap music according to the speaker?

The speaker suggests that both Shakespeare's plays and modern rap music share common themes such as racism, political injustice, sex and partying, and gang life, which are relevant across different eras and cultures.

How does the speaker relate Shakespeare's 'Othello' to themes of racism in hip-hop?

The speaker relates 'Othello' to hip-hop by pointing out the character's struggle as a Black Muslim in a predominantly white society, similar to the experiences of racial discrimination depicted in hip-hop songs.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate Shakespeare's focus on racism?

The speaker cites 'The Merchant of Venice' where the character Shylock, a Jew, questions the humanity of Jews in a monologue that resonates with the theme of racial equality.

How does the speaker link Shakespeare's works to the theme of sex and partying in rap music?

The speaker provides examples of bawdy language and references to drinking and sexual encounters in Shakespeare's plays, drawing parallels to the celebratory and hedonistic themes found in rap music.

What Shakespearean play does the speaker use to discuss the theme of gang warfare?

The speaker uses 'Romeo and Juliet' to discuss gang warfare, highlighting the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues as an example of this theme.

How does the speaker compare the level of violence in Shakespeare's plays to that in hip-hop?

The speaker argues that the level of violence depicted in Shakespeare's plays, with numerous murders and acts of cruelty, is as intense, if not more so, than the violence often criticized in hip-hop music.

What message does the speaker intend to convey about the relationship between art, poetry, and hip-hop?

The speaker aims to convey that there is a continuous tradition of art and poetry in the English language that includes Shakespeare's works and modern hip-hop, suggesting that both are forms of expression that reflect societal issues and human experiences.

What advice does the speaker give to those who might dismiss Shakespeare or rap music?

The speaker encourages an open-minded approach to both Shakespeare's works and rap music, suggesting that understanding the themes and messages in these art forms can lead to a greater appreciation of their poetic and cultural significance.