If you want to learn about Hip-Hop music, Eight Mile is your best bet.
The reason why "Eight Mile" has such a high status in the rap circle is 80% due to the starring Eminem (Eminem), hereinafter referred to as Eminem. This film is Eminem's semi-autobiographical film. As a rap legend, let's talk about Eminem's achievements first:
· Highest global record sales in 10 years since the 21st century
· Won more than 10 Grammy Awards
· Globally recognized as the "King of Hip-Hop"
This film symbolizes the story of Eminem before he became famous, and also interprets the true spirit of Hip-Hop. The film revolves around the family/friendship/love/career of the protagonist Jimmy (played by Eminem) . Of course, a person's growth is also inseparable from these.
The protagonist Jimmy lives in Detroit City, a street called Eight Mile. This street is the dividing line between the city and the suburbs, as well as the dividing line between white and black. As a white man, no matter how much he loves rap, in the face of the black mocking expressions off the stage, he doesn't even have the courage to freestyle (improvisational rap). struggling.
Jimmy grew up in a single-parent family, his father left them when he was a child, and his mother was idle all day, and was cheated of money and sex, living in poverty so that he did not have a good education and a stable job. The only thing that can make him feel happy is music, and music is the best psychotherapy for him.
When Jimmy is not easy to encounter life, the girlfriend has chosen to go to a larger city New York, and the Jimmy is also awkward by others.
The only thing fortunate is that Jimmy still has a group of "bad friends" who have always believed in Jimmy's strength. Encourage Jimmy to participate in a Hip-Hop club competition called The Shelter. Although Jimmy is always "stuck" in the face of the audience, he still loves Hip-Hop music and never gives up.
"Eight Mile" is a summary of Eminem, a tragic story under the surface of cool. This film is an R-rated film , which means that the lines of the film are yellow and violent, and it is a slum after all. In this film, the director did not shy away from the cruel reality of the rap world. The origin of rap itself was on the streets, from poor black people and from dilapidated houses. He left the judgment to the audience and let the audience make their own value judgments.
In 2017, iQIYI also released a very popular online variety called "China Has Rip-Hop". It made the public know Hip-Hop music for the first time on the public screen, and it also attracted a lot of fans, and I was one of them. Later, due to the accident of the players, many rappers were beaten back to the "underground". The 18-year-old "The Rap of China" was also censored very strictly, and it almost could not be broadcast. Although it was broadcast in the end, it was "edited" crazily, very unreal, and was complained by countless audiences.
Many people think that playing Hip-Hop music is to wear exaggerated clothes, tattoos, sunglasses, in short, to dress cool, and then step on the rhythm of the music to compete and curse. These people do not see the essence of this culture, what exactly is the Hip-Hop spirit? Three are summarized here.
keep real
At the end of the film, Jimmy becomes the star of the city when he overcomes a "stage jam" and overcomes his opponent in the final. His friend said to him: We're going to be famous soon and we're going to fuck all the bitches in the city. And he said: I'm going back to work . He was referring to returning to the factory and continuing to work because he was on leave to compete.
Here is an interpretation of a spirit of Hip-Hop music: keep real. What is the real me? In the face of a failed love and a bad family, I still have a dream and move forward bravely. In the face of the good news that fell from the sky, he suddenly became a celebrity in this city, and he was still able to keep calm, recognize himself, and work silently without threats or temptations.
poor people
Hip-Hop music comes from black people and is also a bottom culture, but they did not give in. It represents: although I am poor, it is not what you want to pinch. I have my own ambitions .
Just like Jimmy in the movie, although life was forced to be a mess, he always maintained a kind of anger, which was uncompromising on life and insisting on his dream.
Love
Although Jimmy was "dirty" in the game, the person who scolded was powerless to fight back, but when he treated his family, his mother and his sister. All show protection and love.
In "The Rap of China", the most frequently spoken words by the contestants are: peace and love . It is to remind people that when you are rushing forward, never forget that there is a group of people who support you behind you. No matter what happens, you must always guard your family and remember " Family First ".
In fact, I've heard it myself for a few years. Many friends reported that they did not understand and kept talking. I think that's because I didn't hear the tricks in it. Rap is all about a rhyme. I think the most important thing is the lyrics. The rhythm/composition of the lyrics will make the whole song magical. It may be better if you just start listening to the lyrics.
Here's a sentence, if you don't dislike my rap list, then pay attention to the public number: Sword and Slant . Reply: Playlist . Basically it's all Chinese rap, don't spray if you don't like it.
In fact, Hip-Hop music has long been a mainstream culture in foreign countries, but it is still a minority in China. We believe that one day, hip-hop culture will become a culture accepted by Chinese people . Before that, go watch this "Eight Mile" first~
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