Art Imitates Life: Violence and the Music of Metal and Rap Dr. Gordon A. Crews & Dr. Angela D. Crews Washburn University Southern Criminal Justice Association, 2006

Abstract  Evolutions of Black Metal and Gangsta Rap and histories of each  We argue the following similarities:  Different cultures/statements, but violence is a common thread (outcomes of violence and societal responses)  Music and lyrics reflect cultures, histories, and lives  Musical and lyrical expression of violence related to the behavioral expression of violence among the artists and the fans  Question whether art imitates life or life imitates art Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Black Metal: An Evolution First Wave Early 1980s Second Wave Early 1990s-present Venom Welcome to Hell (1981) Black Metal (1982) Bathory Bathory (1984) The Return (1985) Satanic Themes “Black Metal” Coined Low Production Medieval Dress Adopted Pseudonyms Fast Tempos Fast Drums Norse Melodies Norse Mythology- based Lyrics Mayhem Death Crush (1987) De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994) Corpse Paint Nordic or Satanic Monikers Anti-Christian Themes Viking Theme Cultural Roots Mythology/Folklore Darkness EVIL Low Fidelity Recordings Enslaved Hordanes Land (1993) Vikingligr Veldi (1994) Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Gangsta Rap: An Evolution Early Period After present L L Cool J Radio (1985) “Gangsta” used Schoolly D PSK (1986) Gang Violence Alcohol Drugs Police Involvement Poverty Partying More Aggressive Violent Lyrics Poverty Violence in Life Questioning Issues NWA Straight outa Compton (1986) More Violent Lyrics Descriptive Language Anti-Law Enforcement Calling for violence against others ICE T OG (1991) Cultural Roots Political Commentary Violence Only Option 1980s Influences Revisited MONEY & DRUGS Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill (1986) Dr Dre The Chronic (1992) ICE T 6 n the Mornin (1986) Ice Cube Predator (1992) Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Black Metal: Characteristics Lyrics Satanic Pagan Occult Anti- Christianity Celebrate Nordic Heritage War/Violence Misanthropy Desolation Human Nature Style Limited Production “Rasped Vocal Style” Screeching Anti-Mainstream Fast Guitar Blast beat Drumming Fast and Repetitive Appearance Corpse Paint Leather Spikes Bondage Gear Neo-Medieval Archaic Armor Heavy Weapons Logos Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Gangsta Rap: Characteristics Lyrics Homophobic Misogyny Promiscuity Lack of Morals Celebrate Inner-City Gang Life Gangs Violence Racism Greed Drugs Appearance Gang Gear Colors Women Drugs/Alcohol Guns Street Gang Member Jewelry/Cars Exaggerated Wealth Drug Style Bling/Party Style Sub Genre of Hip Hop Rhymes Language Spoken Personification of Gang Life Materialism Aggression Lost Social Consciousness Disrespect Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Black Metal: Expressions of Violence Past Late 1980s-1990s Anti-Christian & Non-Scandinavian Religions Return to the nation's Norse roots (associated with NSBM) Movement directed by an “Inner Circle” First BLACK CIRCLE Øystein Aarseth (Euronymous/Mayhem) Varg Vickernes (Count Grishnackh/Burzum) Church Burnings Across Norway Terrorize other “Death Metal" Bands Swedish Death Metal vs. Norwegian Black Metal Rivalry Dead/Mayhem Suicide (1991) (Photo & Bones) Vikernes killed Aarseth (1993) (Jealously and Money) Present 2000-present Same Themes & Beliefs Glorify The Pagan Roots/Indigenous Folk Music Violent Eastern European Black Metal Scene Primitive Nature of The Early Norwegian Artists/Neo-Nazi Growing Number of American Bands Playing Black Metal (Sometimes Called USBM Bands) Church Burnings/Burglaries/Vandalism Talk/Show/Con? Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Gangsta Rap: Expressions of Violence Past MC Schoolly D/P.S.K. (1986) Gang & Violence Against Another Rapper The Beastie Boys/Licensed to Ill (1986) “Gangsters" Talked about Violence, Drug and Alcohol use Ice-T/6 n the Mornin/The Coldest Rap (1986) First Gangsta Rap Song (Ho, Nigga, Guns, and Pimping) Political Commentary Vs. Glorification Criticizing it as a No-win Situation Boogie Down Productions 1986 Say No Brother/South-Bronx/9mm Goes Bang Describes Shooting Rival Drug Dealers N.W.A./Straight Outta Compton/ Fuck Tha Police (1988) Violent lyrics/Rougher Music Established West Coast Hip Hop Present 1900-present East Coast vs. West Coast Battle Glorify The Pagan Roots/Indigenous Folk Music West Coast/Death Row Records Dr. Dre/The Chronic Snoop Doggy Dogg/Doggystyle Tupac Shakur/Me Against the World East Coast/Bad Boy Records Puff Daddy/Mobb Deep /Notorious B.I.G. Deaths Death Row's Tupac Shakur Bad Boy's Notorious B.I.G. Talk/Show/Con? Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

National Socialist Black Metal Impetus (Ideology Vs. Sub-genre) Neo-Nazi IdeologiesRacial Separatism Anti-SemitismEuropean Pagan Religions Increasingly Being Sold At White Power Music Outlets Church Burning = Credibility Absurd, Ad Hominem, Burzum, Astrofaes, Gontyna Kry, Grand Belial's Key, Graveland, Hate Forest, Infernum, Lord Wind, Nokturnal Mortum, and Pantheon Prison = Credibility Absurd/Sondershausen, Germany 1992 Hendrik Möbus and Sebastian Schauseil Murdered Sandro Beyer (15) in 1993 Dr. William Pierce/National Alliance (USA) Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Gangsta Rap Impetus (Social Issues Vs. Acting Out) Street Violence Prison = CredibilityInjury = Credibility Prior Neighborhood/Past Increasingly Being Sold to White Youth EAST COAST: Puff Daddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Cease, Lil' Kim, Mobb Deep, Capone- N-Noreaga, Nas, Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Chino XL, and Da Brat WEST COAST: 2Pac, Outlawz, Suge Knight, Puff Daddy, Tha Dogg Pound, and Snoop Dogg Violence = Credibility Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Gangsta Rap: Evolution of Lyrics I Can’t Live Without My Radio (1985) LL Cool J My story is rough, my neighborhood is tough But I still sport gold, and I’m out to crush My name is Cool J, I devastate the show But I couldn’t survive without my radio Terrorizing my neighbors with the heavy bass I keep the suckas in fear by the look on my face My radios bad from the boulevard I’m a hip-hop Gangsta and my name is Todd Just stimulated by the beat, bust out the rhyme Get fresh batteries if it won’t rewind Cos I play everyday, even on the subway I woulda got a summons but I ran away I’m the leader of the show, keeping you on the go But I know I cant live without my radio 6'n The Mornin (1986) Ice T 6'n the morning' police at my door Fresh Adidas squeak across the bathroom floor Out the back window I make a escape Don't even get a chance to grab my old school tape Mad with no music but happy 'cause I'm free And the streets to a player is the place to be Gotta knot in my pocket weighin' at least a grand Gold on my neck my pistols close at hand I'm a self-made monster of the city streets Remotely controlled by hard hip hop beats But just livin' in the city is a serious task Didn't know what the cops wanted Didn't have the time to ask Fuck The Police (1988) NWA Fuck tha police, Comin straight from the underground Young nigga got it bad cuz I'm brown, And not the other color so police think They have the authority to kill a minority Fuck that shit, cuz I ain't tha one, For a punk muthafucka with a badge and a gun To be beatin on, and throwin in jail, We could go toe to toe in the middle of a cell Fuckin with me cuz I'm a teenager, With a little bit of gold and a pager Searchin my car, lookin for the product, Thinkin every nigga is sellin narcotics Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Black Metal: Evolution of Lyrics Black Metal (1982) Venom Black is the night, metal we fight, Power amps set to explode Energy screams, magic and dreams Satan records the first note. We chime the hell, chaos and hell, Metal for maniacs pure. Fast melting steel, fortune on wheels, For BLACK METAL lay down your sold to the gods rock `n' roll Freaking so wild, nobody's mild, Giving it all that you've got. Wild is so right, metal tonight, Faster than over the top. Open the door, enter hells core, Black is the code for tonight Atomic force, feel no remorse, Trunk up the amps now it's night BLACK METAL Deathcrush (1987) Mayhem Demonic laughter your cremation Your lungs gasp for air but are filled with blood A sudden crack as I crushed your skull The remind of your life flashes by, A life that soon won't be Smiling with axe in my hand, Evil's rotten hand you'll see I come forward ~ Deathcrush I'll send you to your maker, I'll send you to your death Death nicely crucified, Death, heads on stakes The barbeque has just begun In The Glare Of Burning Churches (1993) Graveland Gods! give me the power to destroy the Christian gods give me the rule over the fire to burn the houses of god Give me the power over the wind to crush the forest of crosses give me the black sword to kill all those who swore him the faith I will desecrate the holy temples destroy and burn churches and chapels black smoke of the burning temples will cover the sky, the fear will offend sons of only god 12

Commonalities Underground Mainstream Underground –(increasing harshness & violence each cycle) Fans = Musicians = Fans Appearance/Style = Lifestyle/Story Themes –Pride in Culture, History,& Lives Embedded –Violence Common Thread (Credibility & Advocation) –Human Nature/Realities of Life –Credibility = Most Important Early Period = 1980s/Later Period = 1990s Pseudonyms & Monikers & Tags & Nicknames Ideology vs. subgenre vs. social issues vs. acting out Regional Battles (East vs. West/Norway vs. Sweden) Underground Remains = violent/aggressive/original roots Talk/Show/Con? Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall

Common Evolution/Cycle Non-Conformity Sub-Culture/Lifestyle Underground Description/Exposure/Music Success/Money Mainstream/Fad Views: Sell Outs/Lost Vision Urgency to Return to Underground Status Harsher/More Violent Efforts Pushes Limits Call to Action Fans/Listeners Conformity Accepts Non Conformity 14

Any Questions? Southern Criminal Justice Association, Fall