By: Connie Ngo,
on 3/29/2016
It was only after I finished writing The Founding Fathers: A Very Short Introduction that I got to see the off-Broadway version of Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton: An American Musical" at New York City's Public Theater. I was lucky enough to see the Broadway version (revised and expanded) last month.
The post Hamilton the musical: America then told by America now appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Celine Aenlle-Rocha,
on 10/27/2015
When Obama ran for president in 2008, there’s no question that hip hop artists provided a vital soundtrack for his campaign. Energized by the possibility that Obama could become America’s first black president, deeply optimistic tracks like Will.i.am’s “It’s A New Day” and Kidz in the Hall’s “Work to Do (Obama 08)” celebrated Obama’s historic presidency.
The post Hip hop & Obama playlist appeared first on OUPblog.
By: sketched out,
on 12/12/2013
“Christmas Rapping”
(Click for larger view of Santa and his crew gettin’ down with their bad elves.)
Why not hip hop over here and see what the other HoHoDooDa Doodlers are up to!
By: Alice,
on 1/3/2013
English has two great rhyming slanguages, cockney rhyming slang and the dozens, the African American insult game. We’ll leave the parsing of cockney phrases for now and examine the dirty, bawdy, and wonderful world of verbal street duels. While its origins lie in “yo’ mama” jokes, this was language meant for music, as rap and hip-hop today can attest. Here’s a taste with an excerpt from Elijah Wald’s The Dozens: A History of Rap’s Mama.
Gilda Gray, a Polish dancer and singer known as the “Queen of the Shimmy,” had set Broadway on fire that year with her blues singing, and when she was interviewed by the New York Herald she quoted the chorus of “The Dirty Dozen” as an example of the numbers she was featuring in her show. She explained that it had “a wayward sound” and added a comment that, if accurate, suggests a secondary meaning of the title: “I don’t suppose there’d be room enough to give all twelve verses.”
The Herald reporter described the song’s lyrics as “incomprehensible,” and wrote that “the singer fairly froze an atmosphere of red lights.” Indeed, Gray’s whole performance was limned in terms that accentuated its primitive sensuality. Her songs were “a form of art new to Broadway… for as the carvings of Dahomey and the totem poles of Alaska are art, crude, even repulsive tho it is at times, so the ‘blues’ are a form of art, an expression of the moods of a certain class of individuals.” The New York Sun’s Walter Kingsley similarly typed Gray’s blues as “the little songs of the wayward, the impenitent sinners, of the men and women who have lost their way in the world… the outlaws of society.”
Despite such knowing commentary, neither Gray nor the reporters seem to have been aware that “The Dirty Dozen” was connected with an insult game or referred to anything but a large, poor family. The first evidence of our kind of dozens crossing over to Euro-American pop culture is from 1921, when the pianist and composer Chris Smith published “Don’t Slip Me in the Dozen, Please” under the imprimatur of his own Smith & Morgan company. Born in 1879, Smith was touring in African American musical shows by the turn of the century and had a major national hit in 1913 with “Ballin’ the Jack,” a song based on the dance whose “vulgar contortions” the Indianapolis Freeman critic attacked. His dozens song began with a scene-setting verse that included the first printed explanation of the title phrase:
Brownie slipped Jonesie in the dozen last night
Jonesie didn’t think it was exactly right
Slipping you in the dozen means to talk about your fam’ly folks
And talkin’ ’bout your parents aren’t jokes.
Jonesie said to Brownie “Really I am surprised
If you were a man you would apologize,
If you refuse to do what I’m telling you to do
I’ll swear out a warrant for you:
Chorus:
It makes no diff’rence who you are
Please don’t talk about my Ma and Pa
Talk about my sister, my brother and my cousin
But please don’t slip me in the dozen.
Talk about my past or my future life
Talk about my first or my second wife,
I’m beggin’ ev’ry human on my bended knees
Don’t slip me in the dozen, please.”
By the time this song appeared, Smith had formed a partnership with the singer Henry Troy, another show business veteran who had toured England in 1905, formed an act with the composer and pianist Will Marion Cook in 1907, and in 1909 became a sideman to the most famous African American performer of that era, the musical comedian Bert Williams. It is not clear when Smith and Troy teamed up, but by the late teens they had crossed over to white vaudeville, and an ad from 1923 described them as “perhaps the best known and most popular Colored artists on the Keith circuit today.” Given the earlier mention of dirty dozens routines in black theaters, the explanatory lines in their song were presumably intended for Euro-American fans, and the sheet music was specifically targeted at that audience, showing a white singer and pianist on its cover. Smith and Troy recorded “Don’t Slip Me in the Dozen” for the Ajax record label in 1923, with Troy reciting the lyric in a mournful style reminiscent of Williams’s comic masterpiece “Nobody.” After the final chorus, he murmured: “I just can’t stand it. It’s my cup. It’s my bucket. It’s my little red wagon,” and the duo went into a skit that briefly illustrated their theme:
TROY : Look-a-here: Didn’t you say last night that my father was stung by horseflies?
SMITH : Yes, I said that, yes. What about it?
TROY : Well, I suppose you know what a horsefly is, don’t you?
SMITH : Oh, I know what a horsefly is.
TROY : What’s a horsefly?
SMITH : Why, a horsefly ain’t nothing but one of them old dirty flies what hangs ’round the stables and skips over the horses and bites the jackasses.
TROY : Hey, wait a minute! Do you mean to insinuate that my father was a jackass?
SMITH : No, no, no, no! Course I know your old man. Know him good. He’s a blacksmith. But you know, it’s kind of hard to fool them horseflies.
We are a long way from Jelly Roll Morton’s Chicago dives, and Smith and Troy’s whitewashed “Dirty Dozen” is typical of the way African American traditions have regularly been reshaped to suit mainstream commercial needs. Within a half dozen years, another “Dirty Dozen” song would make the phrase more popular than ever, but the bowdlerizing had already begun.
Elijah Wald is a musician and writer who has toured on five continents and written thousands of articles for newspapers, magazines, and album notes. His ten published books include The Dozens: A History of Rap’s Mama, Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues, How the Beatles Destroyed Rock ‘n’ Roll: An Alternative History of American Popular Music, and The Blues: A Very Short Introduction. He has taught blues history at UCLA and won multiple awards, including a 2002 Grammy.
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The post The Dirty Dozens appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Darcy Pattison,
on 9/7/2011
Random Acts of Publicity DISCOUNT:
$10 OFF The Book Trailer Manual.
Use discount code: RAP2011
http://booktrailermanual.com/manual
Interview with Deborah Sloan of Deborah Sloan & Company, “A marketing and promotion firm for books and their creators.”
KidsBuzz is a program that lets children’s and teen authors’ voices shine in an affordable, and effective, way. KidsBuzz puts you directly in touch with readers, reading groups, booksellers, librarians and teachers allowing you to offer trailers and videos, excerpts, phone chats or visits, curriculum tie-ins, material for newsletters, info about contests and freebies, mentions of new reviews and awards — anything and everything you want to buzz directly to the people who buy, read and sell your books. This is YOU saying what you want to share with your readers.
Readers want to hear from authors and illustrators — after all, you know your books better than anyone else, you have interesting behind-the-scenes stories that makes readers what to read — and buy. And once they’re interested, people talk — and others listen. Look at the power of Facebook: often we’re more influenced by what our friends have to say that the most seasoned critic (though we’ll take those positive reviews when we get them for sure!). We’ve run notes from bestselling authors as well as up-and-coming authors and illustrators. Many authors and publishers have had such good success, they’ve booked spots for their other titles (more than 60% of our KidsBuzzers have come back for more!).
By: Darcy Pattison,
on 9/6/2011
Random Acts of Publicity DISCOUNT:
$10 OFF The Book Trailer Manual.
Use discount code: RAP2011
http://booktrailermanual.com/manual
By Barbara Fisch and Sarah Shealy, friends who together run Blue Slip Media
Barb & Sarah of Blue Slip Media
Sarah Shealy and I have worked together for over 20 years. We started out by job-sharing—dividing the work week in two and collaborating on publicity projects at Harcourt Children’s Books. We learned early on that openness and communication were key to making the job-share work. When an author called to find out when her interview was scheduled, we could easily find that information in our shared work basket. It was—and still is—imperative to shed any ego when working together, so we let go of any pride or possessiveness over any particular project. When you work in a marketing department, you learn quickly that it helps no one to be territorial—and in fact, it’s better to share ideas and be open to soliciting others.
A colleague of ours had a favorite saying, and she’d often muse aloud as she walked by the marketing area, “Many hands might light work.” And it was so true that it became our motto. If there was a publicity mailing that had to be done, everyone stopped and pitched in to help. If someone in the department needed ideas for an ad, everyone would contribute something. We found that collaborative attitude was an exercise in a new kind of math: one plus one was MUCH more than just two.
That kind of mindset can be enormously helpful when it comes to brainstorming ideas for book promotion with your friend. Think of ways that can you divide the work and conquer. Are there friends you know who can contribute a blurb, a connection to an influential librarian, a lead to an important media contact? Can you help with the practical things, such as packing or mailing books? Can you help pull together a list of folks who would attend a launch party?
As usual, I agree wholeheartedly with everything Barb has said! Her comment about the launch party has got me thinking . . . this is an area where a friend could really be of tremendous help. One thing that’s nice about being a publicist is that we get to brag about our clients and sing their praises to others— a job that is sometimes very awkward for the author to do him or herself.
How mu
By: Darcy Pattison,
on 9/5/2011
Random Acts of Publicity DISCOUNT:
$10 OFF The Book Trailer Manual.
Use discount code: RAP2011
http://booktrailermanual.com/manual
by Susan Raab, Raab Associates
Susan Raab of Raab Associates
Susan says that focusing your book marketing efforts is essential. To that end, she has designed a short list of questions to ask your Friend about her book. Take time to discuss the questions and help your Friend decide where s/he wants to focus his/her efforts. Be a Friend: listen and cheer. But if you want to do even more, read on!
To qualify, please interview your friend and provide the answers to these branding questions. Then, if you send the answers to us along with your friend’s name, email address, website, title and publisher of their most recent or forthcoming book, they’ll have the chance to be one of our 15 winners.
Here are the rules:
Friend’s Name:
Friend’s Email:
Friend’s Website:
Book Title & Publisher:
By: Darcy Pattison,
on 8/30/2011
Random Acts of Publicity Week was created by Darcy Pattison (www.darcypattison.com), writing teacher and author of Prairie Storms (www.facebook.com/PrairieStorms) , as a way to help create an atmosphere of fun and collaboration in marketing books. It occurs each September, the four days following Labor Day.
By: Darcy Pattison,
on 8/30/2011
Next week is the Random Acts of Publicity 2011 –JOIN us on the Facebook Event Page– and we have lots of prizes for participating. Remember:
It’s all about your Friend’s book (OR, your favorite book).
The week will focus on the basic tasks of publicity and ask you to do a daily Random Act of Publicity: Blog, link, Like, review, or talk about the book . (BLLuRT!)
In addition, three book marketing and publicity professionals have offered to giveaway a FREE marketing consultation.
Susan Raab of Raab Associates
Barb & Sarah of Blue Slip Media
Create Buzz by Connecting with Readers by Deborah Sloan of Deborah Sloan & Company. www.deborahsloanandcompany.com
One-day chance for you to enter your Friend to win a one-hour book marketing consultation provided by Deborah Sloan & Company.
By: ,
on 2/6/2010
SCBWI Regional Adviser (and my critique pal) Erin Dealey has created a rocking amazing rap on why you should read a book.
And if you look closely you'll notice one of my books.
http://ow.ly/14CEN
Librarians and teachers will especially love this as a fun short rap to share with kids.
By: Aline Pereira,
on 7/24/2009
I mentioned last week that Older Brother, Little Brother and I were taking part in a local Community Opera, a modernised version of the 15th Century morality play, Everyman. It was a fantastic experience - a very intense, exhilarating week of rehearsals followed by the performances on Friday and Saturday. So many people of all ages were involved (from 5 to, well, not quite 105!), with all levels of expertise and experience. When I can track down some photos, I’ll link to them - especially of the puppets of God and Death - believe me, they were enormous and scary!
The soothsayers, who provide a sort of choric prelude to the piece and later warn Everyman to make the right choices going forward, were two rappers who have been working with a vibrant local youth project called Connecting Youth Culture. It was amazing to watch these guys arrive at the beginning of the week, absorb what Everyman is all about and then write their raps, ready to perform almost then and there. And perform they did! I am really grateful to James Koppert, Jamie and Sam for giving me permission to reproduce a selection of their raps here to share with you.
The first is an extract from what follows just after Death has told Everyman to “See thou make thee ready shortly.”
Face with eyes open, past is now awoken.
No going back, as God and Death have spoken.
[...]
Now listen, Everyman, you need to sort this out.
Quit your running, find courage and face this now -
No more hide and seek ‘cos God will not rest
So either find support or find the cold touch of death.
You say you’ve worked hard for your family and home,
Lord of the manor sat high on possessions like a throne.
Does not the weight of what’s owned prove the weight of the man?
So put faith in what you know, God’s right hand.
Relax, calm down, you’ve got friends and loved ones.
Maybe they will vouch for you before the darkness comes.
Have you made demands or given a helping hand
With others’ pain - have you dismissed or tried to understand?
Life lays out paths but which path have you walked?
Life lays out battles - did you flee or have you fought?
If the deeds are what you say they are, the job will not be done:
But if the truth has been disguised, run, Everyman, run!
…and the second comes after Everyman realises that he cannot depend on his friends or family to go with him on his journey; and that his reliance on his “Goods and Treasures” is misplaced:
It looks like your hopes have set sail,
For all those things you relied on have failed,
Shot down, meeting the horse that is pale:
But maybe here lies the meaning of the tale.
You start off with nothing; at death you can’t bring
Your possessions. Through life dust is gathering;
They make up weights that pull you down
Closer to hell lying beneath the ground.
When chips are down and it hits the fan,
Everyman only looks out for Everyman -
So loose the threads of relationships woven
And look only to the words your self has spoken;
Look inside to where true deeds reside
Achieved purely, not where pride decides.
It’s your own deeds making you through and through:
Deliver these to Death. Go seek and speak true!
[...]
Who are you? That is the question.
When you have found the answer then you have learnt the lesson.
Rethink your life and let the truth be told;
Remember, Everyman, what you reap is what you sow!
The ending is perfect - this is indeed the lesson that Everyman learns and Everyman’s final words, murmered over and over by all 14 of the actors playing the role, are: “Et sic dicit fibula: Quae seminaveris haec metes” - literally, “And so says the tale: What you have sown, so will ye reap”
This week’s Poetry Friday is hosted by A Year of Reading - head on over!
By: John,
on 4/24/2009
Alex Gorosh has created a project called WordWorms in which he takes old public-domain cartoons and remixes them, adding his own beats and lyrics to create fun rap cartoons geared towards kids.
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 12/10/2008
Today's post comes from Gynae Davalos who kicks off our official coverage of the urban youth media and marketing space with a round-up of go to sites for youth marketers looking to keep tabs on hip-hop culture and multicultural youth today. Expect... Read the rest of this post
By: Allan L.,
on 11/20/2007
Howdy folks. It's been a long time. Too long! Here are my five of the 20 limited edition album covers done exclusively for the release party of Pip Skid's Pip Donahue Show (which you can download, legally, FOR FREE! Go here. It's some really nutty/"out there"/lo-fi rap stuff. Loads of fun!)
Click on any one of them to view larger! I also helped out with the EP's actual cover.
Hey! Hooooo! Santa’s in da house. Come oooon, evry bahday!
I am loving your illustrations they are so much fun.
LOL, awesome
I love getting your post notifications in my Inbox! Your work is just delightful!
Perfect, Julie! I can hear it now!
Thanks so much, Cecilia!
Hee hee! Thanks Karen!