The Self Destruction of the Maternal Health Care Crisis

     In the most recent U.S. election, citizens chose between President bama and Senator Romney. One issue widely scrutinized during the election was abortion. President Obama defended the  right to pro-choice while Senator Romney promoted pro-life. With this issue, the candidates touched on women's rights, which has its roots from the 1800s. However, women's rights goes beyond on the choice of abortion; it  is the idea of if a woman truly has control of her own body. Many women are asking themselves this very question with an increase in the maternal health care crisis. This is predominately present in poverty stricken nations. One such nation is Africa where half of the 340,000 deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes occur each year.

     In South Africa life has changed greatly after the apartheid. However, discrimination is still present and takes the form of a health care crisis. There is the choice of private health care, however most citizens cannot afford this care because it is too expensive and have to resort to public health care. Unfortunately, public health care has proven to be inadequate especially for women's health care. For example, in 2010 nearly 1 in 39 women died in childbirth. Women and girls are offered very little sexual education and are not properly protected from sexual violence, although it is against the law. In Uganda, there is a growing rate of women dying due to child birth. Uganda does receive foreign aid to help the nation develop. Yet, at hospitals in Uganda half the positions of doctors are vacant, there's a shortage of midwives and health workers, and numerous clinics and hospitals have regularly reported that they have run out of essential medicines. Furthermore, only a third of facilities delivering babies are equipped with basics like scissors, cord clamps and disinfectants. Last year the nation admitted  that it had paid more than half a billion dollars for fighter jets and other military hardware which is almost triple the amount of its own money dedicated to the entire public health system. Simply put, Uganda is spending more money on its military (and other things) than it is on its citizens.

     As a young girl living in the U.S., I find these facts astonishing. I think its misguided that public health care in South Africa is inadequate  when it is the most needed care. Also, in a nation where 1 in 39 women dies in childbirth, it is imperative that women have the right to sexual education and proper care. However, this is lacking in South Africa when it is clearly needed. Uganda's maternal heath care crisis has become an epidemic with a simple lack of conscious care for the women in this nation. Women give birth to life; its almost a paradox that the women who are giving birth to Uganda's human military, where most of its money is spent, is cared for recklessly and barely even thought of. It furiates me that these women are dying because their leaders choose to spend more money on their military than on the health of the mothers of their nation. More importantly, these dying women are leaving motherless children behind. I can't imagine a life without my mother. A mother provides discipline, support, and love for a child. With a growing rate of child birth deaths, nations like Uganda and South Africa, will become mother less nations. Without mothers there will be corruption and hurt leading to self destruction.  

The Beastie Boys vs. Eminem

Hip Hop
     Some say, "hip hop is dead." Is that true? Hip Hop has a extensive and complex history compiled of various, rappers, songs, and cultural stigmas. As our culture evolved, so has hip hop. However, some are questioning whether or not it has changed in a constructive way. The style and lyrics of rap has changed. This can easily be seen when comparing The Beastie Boys and Eminem. What makes the Beastie Boys and Eminem even more unique is the fact that they broke the racial barriers of hip hop and became successful in the process. This said, there is still formidable differences between the artists.


The Beastie Boys

     The Beastie Boys consists of three group members: Mike D. (Mike Diamond), MCA (Adam Yauch), and Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz). All three boys came from wealthy, middle class, Jewish families. They began as a hardcore punk group, but slowly found themselves enveloped by rap. They believed, "hip hop and punk weren't far apart." They did, however, find it challenging to "fit in" with hip hop. At times, they were accused of cultural pirating and received harsh criticism from various hip hop musicians. However, they found a way to break the barriers of the stereotypes of hip hop and become known as the first white rap group.


Life In The 80s

     The Beastie Boys made their debut in 1981. Culture and life in the U.S. was very different from our modern world. During the introduction of the Beastie Boy's music, Ronald Reagan was president, the Cold War was still present, the cost of a superbowl ad was $275,000, and with a growing rate of teenage pregnancies, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could require parental notification when teenage girls seek abortion. The popularity of teenage pregnancies was also accompanied with high rates Bulimia. However, out of all the events that occurred in the 1980s, the most primary concerning the Beastie Boys was the launch of MTV. On August 1,1981, MTV made its debut on cable television, changing the music world forever. 

The Beastie Boys Rap

     The Beastie Boys rapped about things that appealed to the youth of America. Most of their fans were teenagers and college students. Their first single, "Fight For Your Right (To Party)" attracted college students and sent a message of fun and livelihood when our nation was under extreme tension with the Cold War. It simply was what was needed at the time. At first, the group rapped about redundant things like partying and getting girls. This concept was widely seen in their first album Licensed To IlI. The album was criticized for being too disparaging to women and was implicitly classified as something else other than rap. Despite this fact, Licensed To Ill was named the best selling rap album of the 1980s. 
     As the Beastie Boys gained popularity, their music and style of rap changed. Yes, there were a few allusions to women, but for the most part, their messages were deeper. For example:

• In Sabotage, they allude to the Watergate scandal:

     "I can't stand it, I know you planned it. I'm gonna set it straight, this Watergate.     Lord, I can't stand rockin' when I'm in this place because I feel disgrace because you're all in my face"   

• In Sure Shot, they talk about respect for women:

     "I want to say a little something that's long overdue. The disrespect to women has got to be done. To all the mothers and sisters and the wives and the friends I want to offer my love and respect to the end."

• In No Sleep Till Brooklyn, they talk about being famous rappers:

     "On location, touring around the nation Beastie Boys always on vacation. Itchy trigger finger but a stable turntable. I do what I do best because I'm willing and able."

The Beastie Boys rapped about themselves, their feelings, their popularity, and music in general. Almost all their songs were clean with one or two profanities, but nothing that was overtly obscene. 


The Beastie Boys and Sampling
     In 2003, the Beastie Boys were involved in a sampling lawsuit with James Newton. Newton accused the group of sampling his song, Choir, in their track Pass the Mic. The federal judge ultimately ruled that the group was not liable on the basis of quantity and quality. Recently, this year, the group once again found themselves in another sampling lawsuit. Tuff City Music Group accused the group of sampling passages from two songs by the group Trouble Funk. The music corporation claims that the Beastie Boys used this sampling in four of their songs, Including songs in their debut album. For the most part, the Beastie Boys own their music. They have sampled music and admitted it; they also have proof of their copyright.


The Beastie Boys Tell All: Interview
Courtesy of LA Weekly: By Danny Weizmann (1989)

"Real life is much stranger than fiction, man." Mike D speaks from the turntables in the den of King Ad-Rock's Hollywood apartment. He haphazardly scratches a reggae dub record, repeating the same section over and over. "Jamaica, Jamaica ... J-J-Jamaica, Jamaica … Jamai-ca, Ja-mai-ca …" the record blurts over the loudspeakers. "Much stranger than fiction."

MCA: It's like, we were the big ****, right, and then like Bon Jovi and U2 and those *************  got big and we rolled up to this U2 party and they wouldn't even let us in and we said: "**** this, man, we've gotta make another record, otherwise how we gonna get into all these U2 parties?!"

AD-ROCK: I told the doorman at the U2 party: "Why are you such an *******?!"

MCA: There were, like, all these cameras and videos and news stations and police and hundreds of people and we pull up in this limo and they won't let us in right front of everybody.

MIKE D: There's a lot of **** we wanna do right now. It's just a matter of time.

AD-ROCK: When the **** hits the fan, I'll be under the table.

MCA: When the **** hits the fan, I won't be scraping it off the walls. I'll tell you that much ... there won't be any umbrellas, man.

WEEKLY: Do you think you'll play your instruments on this tour?

MIKE D: We bust out and jam ALL THE TIME, man.

MCA: Any requests from the hardcore set?

WEEKLY: What about some Germs?

MCA: We could do Lexicon Devil. Darryl Jennifer of the Bad Brains used to always say that Mike D sounded like Darby Crash.

AD-ROCK: Darryl Jennifer of the Bad Brains must be really pissed off that his last name is Jennifer.

MCA (on the broken shards of watermelon on Ad-Rock's street): Is that a whole watermelon or a half one that you threw?

AD-ROCK: Whole.

MIKE D: I heard if you break watermelon open like that it ***** with the ozone.

MCA: What is up with the ozone?

MIKE D: We have ROCKED the ozone radically, man. They could probably fix the ozone if everybody stopped what they were doing and they put some cement up there.

MCA: We're gonna do a Bowling for Dollars-type thing, but it'll be Breakdancing on Cardboard for Yen for the ozone layer so it'll be called Breaking in Space.

MIKE D: Like, you remember positive ******* at Woodstock and all the people were like "No more rain!" and it stopped raining.

MCA: Now it'll be help John Ozone.

MIKE D: It's an underrated and forgotten pastime.


Eminem

     Eminem made is debut into the rap world in 1996. Unlike the Beastie Boys, he was a soloist and stuck to the conventions of hardcore rap. He was a new character in the hip hop scene. Eminem began rapping at the early age of 4. At just 14 years old, he began performing in the basement of his high school friend. Finding it challenging to fit in with other rappers, he became a battle rapper. His success in these battles won over the underground hip hop society and led to his performance in several clubs and his songs being showcased on the radio. Through his battle skills, Eminem made his name in the hip hop world. 


Life In The 90s

     When Eminem first stepped out on the scene in 1996, a lot was happening. It was an election year with President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore fighting for another term in the White House against Bob Dole. They would late in the year prove victorious. The U.S. was hosting the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia where Michael Johnson won the 200 meter finals with a world record time of 19.32 seconds. The Supreme Court ruled against in the Romer v. Evans case a law that prevents any city, town or county in the state of Colorado from taking any legislative, executive, or judicial action to protect the rights of homosexuals. This was also the year the O.J. Simpson trail began. One event that is quite relevant to hip hop in this year was the loss of hip hop icon Tupac Shakur; he was shot on September 7, 1996 after attending the Mike Tyson - Bruce Seldon boxing match. His death left a legacy in the hip hop world. 


Eminem's Rap

     Over the years, there has been much controversy over Eminem's lyrics. His rap has been criticized for being too violent and harsh to homosexuals. There are even allusions of domestic violence and drugs in some of his songs. Through his lyrics, we hear his passion and story because truthfully most of his anger and violence stems from his own life. Eminem was born to a 15 year old mother who is later described as being abusive. He had challenges with his girlfriend Kimberly Ann Scott and the birth of their daughter Hailie. At one time, he was restricted from seeing his daughter. Eminem's on again off again relationship with Kim played out in the media. His plight in life influenced his music. This can be directly heard in his songs like Mama, Kim, Hailie's Song, and When I'm Gone. Through these songs, he expresses his emotions. While much of his music is harshly criticized and seen as a negative influence on teenagers, others connect with his music claiming, "lyrics go straight to the soul of many of society's underpriviledged....has said his music speaks for the underclass whose lives of quiet desperation leave them with nothing but television, drugs, and elaborate fantasies of self-gratitude and bloody vengeance."


Eminem and Sampling
     Eminem has used numerous samples in his music:

•  No Love samples the 1993 hit What Is Love
•  Cum On Everybody samples Le Pamplemousse's "Gimme What You Got"
• Under The Influence samples a guitar loop in Michael Jackson's Give It To Me
• With Me samples Malcolm McLaren's Buffalo Girls
• Like Toy Soldiers samples the melancholic acoustic riff from Paul Simon's 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover 

In 2003, Eminem and Dr. Dre were sued by 70 year old Harlene Stein. Stein claimed that their song Guilty Conscience was composed of snippets from a piece her husband wrote for the score of the 1970 film Getting Straight. Eminem has rarely been involved in sampling litigations. That said, he does utilize a numerous amount and varying types of samples in his music. 

Eminem Tells All: Interview

Courtesy of The New York Times: By Deborah Solomon (2010)

On your new album, “Recovery,” which comes out on Monday, you assume a confessional tone and back off from the misogyny and demented violence you pushed in your earlier work. Would you agree?
I think I’d have to go back and listen to it. Did I?

Does Slim Shady, your raping and killing alter ego, still exist? Or have you split with him?
Shady still exists. But I don’t think the subjects on this record call for, you know, bring the chainsaws and axes out and murder everyone on this record. There was so much stuff like that off the last record that I felt like I was starting to run it into the ground. I think consciously I went in a different direction with this record.

Do you regret having written so many songs that refer to women as “b******” and “h**” who exist solely for your pleasure?
Anything I’ve ever said, I certainly was feeling at the time. But I think I’ve calmed down a bit. My overall look on things is a lot more mature than it used to be.

Even your mother sued you for defamation. Is she still in Detroit, where she raised you as a single mom? 
I’m not sure, to be honest. It’d be very hard to repair that relationship.

You’ve been accused of writing gay-bashing lyrics in the past. Would you like to see gay marriage approved in Michigan, where you live?
I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want.

Is this the new, 37-year-old tolerant you?
It’s the new tolerant me!

Compared with other rappers, you are often praised for your complex rhyme schemes. Do you read poetry?
I don’t think I’ve ever read poetry, ever. I’m not really book-smart.

What does the title of your album refer to? What exactly are you recovering from?
Vicodin, Valium and Ambien, and toward the end, which caused my overdose, methadone. I didn’t know it was methadone. I used to get pills wherever I could. I was just taking anything that anybody was giving to me.

Where did you go to rehab?
The first time I went it was in Brighton, Mich. The second time I didn’t go to rehab. I just went to a regular hospital. I detoxed in the hospital, and then I came home. I couldn’t go back to rehab. I felt like I was Bugs Bunny in rehab.

What does that mean?
When Bugs Bunny walks into rehab, people are going to turn and look. People at rehab were stealing my hats and pens and notebooks and asking for autographs. I couldn’t concentrate on my problem.

Billboard magazine has ranked you as the best-selling artist of the past decade.What do you do with all your money?
Save it. I save a lot of money by not buying drugs anymore. I invest. I always try to be smart. I try to treat all the money I’m making like it’s the last time I’m going to make it.

Do you think rap has peaked creatively?
No. Hip-hop right now — there are certain artists who put hip-hop in a good state. There are a lot of talented people, and there’s a lot of young talent coming up, like B.o.B, Jay Electronica, Lupe Fiasco and Drake.

Why haven’t you planned any kind of big tour for your new album,other than two concerts with Jay-Z in September?
Touring is hard on the body. It used to be a big trigger for me with drinking and drugging.

How do you stay sober?
My kids, and also I see a rehab counselor once a week. I’ve been clean for two years.

Happy Father’s Day, by the way. As a divorced father of three daughters, are you a good dad? 
Yes. My kids — I love them so much, and they’ve helped me through so many things.

I wonder what they’ll think of your rousing new song,“W.T.P.,” which stands for a white-trash party. You tell the listener, “Hop in my minivan/let’s get rowdy.” 
Just going back to my white-trash roots
.

Comparing The Past To The Present

     There is no doubt that hip hop and rap has changed. Evidence can be seen with the Beastie Boys and Eminem. Both broke the stereotypes of hip hop, but brought forward different music. The Beastie Boys remixed hip hop while Eminem stuck to the conventions but inspired emotion in rap. The Beastie Boys were not as controversial as Eminem. Eminem's music gives him permission to speak his mind and expression his rage and passions.  Hip hop has become just that: freedom of speech. Rappers simply say whatever they want in their music. 

No Sleep Till Brooklyn Lyrics

Foot on the pedal, never ever false metal Engine running hotter than a boiling kettle My job ain't a job, it's a damn good time City to city, I'm running my rhymes

On location, touring around the nation Beastie Boys always on vacation Itchy trigger finger but a stable turntable I do what I do best because I'm willing and able

Ain't no faking, your money I'm taking Going coast to coast, watching all the girlies shaking While you're at the job working nine to five The Beastie Boys are at the Garden, cold kickin' it live

No sleep till

Another plane, another train, another bottle in the brain Another girl, another fight, another drive all night Our manager's crazy, he always smokes dust He's got his own room at the back of the bus

Tour around the world, you rock around the clock Plane to hotel, girls on the jock We're thrashing hotels like it's going out of style Getting paid along the way 'cause it's worth your while

Four on the floor, Ad Rock's out the door MCA's in the back 'cause he's skeezin' with a w**** We got a safe in the trunk with money in a stack With dice in the front and Brooklyn's in the back

No sleep till No sleep till Brooklyn No sleep till Brooklyn

Ain't seen the light since we started this band MCA, get on the mic my man Born and bred in Brooklyn, the U.S.A. They call me Adam Yauch, but I'm MCA

Like a lemon to a lime, a lime to a lemon I sip the def ale with all the fine women Got limos, arenas, TV shows Autograph pictures and classy h**

Step off homes, get out of my way Taxing little girlies form here to L.A. Waking up before I get to sleep 'Cause I'll be rocking this party eight days a week

No sleep till No sleep till Brooklyn No sleep till Brooklyn No sleep till Brooklyn No sleep till Brooklyn
No sleep till Brooklyn No sleep till Brooklyn No sleep till Brooklyn
No sleep till Brooklyn No sleep till Brooklyn No sleep till Brooklyn

Love The Way You Lie (Feat. Rihanna) Lyrics

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn Well that's alright because I like the way it hurts Just gonna stand there and hear me cry Well, that's alright because I love the way you lie I love the way you lie

I can't tell you what it really is, I can only tell you what it feels like And right now there's a steel knife in my windpipe I can't breathe but I still fight while I can fight As long as the wrong feels right it's like I'm in flight

High off of love, drunk from my hate It's like I'm huffin' paint and I love it, the more I suffer I suffocate and right before I'm about to drown, she resuscitates me She f*****' hates me, and I love it

Wait, where you going? I'm leaving you, no, you ain't Come back, we're running right back, here we go again It's so insane, 'cause when it's going good, it's going great I'm Superman with the wind at his back

She's Lois Lane but when it's bad, it's awful, I feel so ashamed I snap, "Who's that dude?", I don't even know his name I laid hands on her, I never stoop so low again I guess I don't know my own strength

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn Well that's alright because I like the way it hurts Just gonna stand there and hear me cry Well, that's alright because I love the way you lie I love the way you lie I love the way you lie

You ever love somebody so much, you could barely breathe when you with 'em? You meet, and neither one of you even know it hit 'em Got that warm fuzzy feeling, yeah, them chills, used to get 'em Now you're gettin' f*****' sick of lookin' at 'em

You swore you'd never hit 'em, never do nothing to hurt 'em Now you're in each others face spewing venom in your words when you spit 'em You push, pull each others hair, scratch, claw, bit 'em Throw 'em down, pin 'em, so lost in the moments when you're in 'em
It's the race that took over, it controls you both So they say you'd best to go your separate ways, guess that they don't know ya 'Cause today, that was yesterday, yesterday is over, it's a different day Sound like broken records playing over

But you promised her, next time you'd show restraint You don't get another chance, life is no Nintendo game But you lied again, now you get to watch her leave out the window Guess that's why they call it "window pane"

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn Well that's alright because I like the way it hurts Just gonna stand there and hear me cry Well that's alright because I love the way you lie I love the way you lie I love the way you lie

Now I know we said things, did things that we didn't mean And we fall back into the same patterns, same routine But your temper's just as bad as mine is, you're the same as me But when it comes to love, you're just as blinded

Baby, please come back, it wasn't you, baby, it was me Maybe our relationship isn't as crazy as it seems Maybe that's what happens when a tornado meets a volcano All I know is I love you too much to walk away though

Come inside, pick up your bags off the sidewalk Don't you hear sincerity in my voice when I talk? Told you this is my fault, look me in the eyeball Next time I'm pissed, I'll aim my fist at the drywall

Next time? There won't be no next time I apologize, even though I know it's lies I'm tired of the games, I just want her back, I know I'm a liar If she ever tries to fuckin' leave again, I'ma tie her to the bed And set this house on fire

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn Well that's alright because I like the way it hurts Just gonna stand there and hear me cry Well that's alright because I love the way you lie I love the way you lie I love the way you lie

 

No Sleep Till Brooklyn vs. Love The Way You Lie

     No Sleep Till Brooklyn tallks about partying and what its like to go around the world touring coming from Brooklyn and the experiences the Beastie Boys developed on the way. There are comments objectifying women, but for the most part, the song is clean and ordinary; it speaks about partying, girls, and the crazy things they did. Love The Way You Lie talks about domestic violence and Eminem's struugle to control himself with violence in his relationships. The Beastie Boys didn't rap about controversial topics; they rapped about ordinary things and their rap was poetic with rhymes, introductions, and repetitions. Eminem's rap is much more controverial with topics that most people would prefer not to talk about about. His rap is more a narrative than a poem.

Comparing The Past To The Present

     There is no doubt that hip hop and rap has changed. Evidence can be seen with the Beastie Boys and Eminem. Both broke the stereotypes of hip hop, but brought forward different music. The Beastie Boys remixed hip hop while Eminem stuck to the conventions but inspired emotion in rap. The Beastie Boys were not as controversial as Eminem. Eminem's music gives him permission to speak his mind and expression his rage and passions.  Hip hop has become just that: freedom of speech. Rappers simply say whatever they want in their music. 



Disaster In My New Hometown

     When the Twin Towers were attacked, I was just 6 years old. Interesting enough, I had just moved from Guyana to the U.S. (living specifically in Queens, NY). The attack was during my first few days of school in a whole new  country and I honestly didn't know much. It's one thing not knowing much about where you're living, it's a whole other situation not knowing how to react to a disaster in a whole new place. To be honest, I don't remember a lot of what happened that day. However, what I do remember is being rushed to the cafeteria in school and being picked up from school early. On television, the news was on all day. One thing I vividly remember is watching someone jump off a building on television. It was pretty traumatic and in that moment, I understood the gravity of what had happened, but I didn't understand the emotions of what everyone was feeling around me. No one has ever shared with me their memories of 9/11. However, over the years I have become more educated and aware of the emotions associated with this day. Watching memoirs, movies, and interviews has helped me reached this understanding.

      I often believe that after 9/11, Americans have become united through the emotional aspect of the attack and its aftermath. For example, a 34 year old mother expresses her pain of the war after the attack stating that, "Our five year old asks why daddy has to fight the bad guys." I can't imagine losing my father at that age. Coinscedently, my cousin did join the army and was fighting in the war. Thankfully, he is well and no longer serving. However, the war has taken an emotional toll on him. Soldiers are brave people and have to witness and go through things that no one should have to. Coming back from these circumstances to live a normal life again can be a difficult transition. I almost feel that the more people we send off to war, the more we are wrecking their lives. As detrimental as terrorism is, I still think that sending our citizens away to fight in these harsh conditions is just causing more pain for our nation and is making it more difficult to heal the pains of 9/11.