Five Percenter Rap

by Miyakawa, Felicia M.

• ISBN13: 9780253217639
• ISBN10: 0253217636
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-01
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr

Summary

The Five Percent Nation is a controversial organization and a substantial cultural force. An offshoot of the Nation of Islam, the group grounds its beliefs in Black Muslim traditions, black nationalism, Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) symbolism, Masonic mysticism, and Gnostic spirituality. Members are often recruited in prison, and non-African Americans are allowed to join as secondary members only after an initiation period of thirty-five years. The Five Percenters employ commercial rap, or "God Hop," to proselytize their beliefs, comment on relevant issues, and recruit new members.

Author Biography

Felicia Miyakawa is Assistant Professor of Musicology at the Robert W. McLean School of Music, Middle Tennessee State University. She lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction: God Hop	1	(8)
History and Theology of the Five Percent Nation
1 Building a Nation	9	(14)
2 The Five Percenter "Way of Life"	23	(1)
God Hop's Tools	23	(113)
3 Lyrics	41	(32)
4 Flow, Layering, Rupture, and Groove	73	(27)
5 Sampling, Borrowing, and Meaning	100	(23)
6 Album Packaging and Organization	123	(13)
Conclusion: Reaching the Blind, Deaf, and Dumb	136	(5)
Appendix: Five Percenter Rap Musicians	141	(2)
Glossary	143	(2)
Notes	145	(24)
Bibliography	169	(8)
Discography	177	(2)
General Index	179	(8)
Index of Songs and Performers	187	(4)
Music Credits	191