01.24.06
Audio Snobbery: How to appreciate american hip-hop music
During my time in Paris, my musical taste has experienced a rap music renaissance. It has nothing to do with being there, though there is a large french hip-hop scene, but rather it was partly inspired from Nic’s recent embrace of the genre and my own subsequent explorations. I originally got into the music just as it was going mainstream, with Ma$e’s “Harlem World” album and Busta Rhymes’ “When Disaster Strikes”, But I all but gave up on it as commercialism took hold. You’ll have to excuse me for not being oldschool enough, but hey I was born in ‘85!
Nowadays, while commercial “hip-pop” is stronger than ever, I’ve noticed the beginnings of a movement that isn’t all about money, hoes, violence, etc. Most people (in my demographic) still dismiss hip-hop as a genre or embrace the most commercial aspects of it in order not to have to worry about musical taste at (frat) parties.
Holla baq fo’: An explanation of the elements of a hip-hop song and a rundown of some great artists at varying levels of obscurity.
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01.05.06
What I’ve learned: France
What I’ve learned.
France
France is a beautiful place and it pains me that I have to spend my last days here wishing for finals to be over.
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09.22.05
Au revoir, Tours
Today is our last day in Tours. Political Science wasn’t a big deal. Everyone’s coming out tonight.
Before coming to France, I thought Tours would be a waste of time, but having been through the experience I understand the benefits of having been here. It’s the little things, really: the “je peux vous aider, monsieur” attitude in the stores (as opposed to the US’ more laissez faire outlook), the fact that French people never look at people while they walk, but will stare with impunity from inside a car, and other petits trucs. It might have been a bit more difficult to jump right into Parisian life.
Speaking of Paris, I’ll arrive in my appartment there tomorrow. I’m in the 19th arrondisement, which is the northeast corner of the city. Paris is divided into districts that are arranged in two concentric circles, thus districts next to each other numerically are not necessarily next to each other physically. I have been cast as far as possible from everyone else: there is no one from the program in the 19th or even the 18th district (which is understandable because the 18th isn’t really a good place to live). I am oalso pretty damned far from the schools I’ll be attending… I’ll need 2 transfers and 30min to commute. The 19th is’t a very nice area either, but it’s better than the 18th. From what I hear and read, the 19th is an ethnic neighborhood, so while there will be lots of (hopefully) good ethnic restaurants and shops, it won’t be a very affluent neighborhood. All I know is, if they don’t have internet, I’m gonna switch to another family… I can’t live like this.
Impressions of the city and my area to come. Stay funky.
-Vic
