How are 'ghetto mentalities' explained in terms of ego?

Philosophy Forums Philosophy
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I have been thinking how the ghetto mentality of rappers and people from the slums who want to ‘make it big’, be it in terms of respect or any other means, relates to our ideas of ego and self esteem. I would imagine that people with this mentality, rather than having self-esteem, have a big ego which ‘protects them’ from the self getting wounded any more by the hardships they have faced. They want to accumulate all this respect and wealth (society’s superficial standards) because they think it will answer their problems. All most rap songs talk about, apart form exceptions like Immortal technique (please give me other exemplars like him if you have any, I have yet to find any who come close) is how much material wealth they possess, the power they have over others in the form of gunz and such, and any other manner of self aggrandizement.

I find it sad that most black people, having been oppressed by this materialistic mentality in the first place, fall into it all the more by thinking that if they just possess MORE of that which caused their suffering and oppression, they will some how beat the system.

Thoughts?

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Immortal Techniue asserts a violent streak that serves the same purpose in him that the big ego serves in some others - but youre mostly right - if youre born with 3 strikes against you (or, at least, trying to sell yourself as such) then you need to compensate somehow.

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To feel BIGGER most feel as if they must PROVE themselves.

You Braxton has stated, in many ways, you are correct in your opinions for which people have evolved into the term, “ghetto.”

If not to prove oneself after having undergone severe conditions, it may be a matter of proving oneself to those around him. That he may be raised…or lowered - depending upon how you look at it…to the level at which his companions around him are currently placed in society.

It is all psychology and fear, really.

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Braxcton I agree with you that in both cases, in Immortal tech and in other rappers, they are just expressing themselves and thus satiating their ego’s need for recognition. How one expresses themselves is down to their life situation and experience up to that point.

Dirt, I wasnt quite clear on what you are talking about, could you be a little clearer? There seeemd to be some good potential morsels in there but I wasnt quite able to decipher them.

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What I was attempting at stating, Agape, was as follows:

Human psychology works in a manner in which a person must constantly PROVE himself or his actions to others – whatever the case may be.
In the matter of a “ghetto” lifestyle, you were correct in stating that many Black people have evolved into the term because of past severe conditions, historically speaking that is.

If one is not after Proving themselves after having undergone severe conditions either during his lifetime, or at some major historical period with has transformed his very culture (this is not at all pertaining to one race of people), he may transform into a “ghetto” façade simply to fit in with those around him OR to feel BIGGER.

Just as many wear clothing three sizes larger than they should be – it is to feel BIGGER. Because he or she is not comfortable with themselves.
And so, the “ghetto” term applies.

If you tend to be in a society or area in which there are many people living within the boundaries of a “ghetto” lifestyle, one tends to also adapt this culture. This is simply to Prove oneself in society. It does not pertain to any severe past histories.

Hence, I stated, that one follows his or her own fears into attempting at looking BIGGER than others. He or she feeds off their Fear, thinking it will eliminate their own.

When in actuality, Fear never leaves them at all. The more they strong they attempt at becoming, the weaker they become.
It is a matter of human psychology.

I hope I have come out somewhat more clear, my friend. :wink:

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Being quite the rap fan myself (and having access to the underground rap scene) here is what my take on your question is.

My friend (middle class african canadian) started rapping in grade 10.

my other friend (middle class white canadian) is also a rapper and a very skilled free-styler.

I know intricately their childhoods and here’s what i see when analysing their lyrics.

My white friend doesn’t really rap about material things. He was born into a fairly wealthy family (they own a cottage that is bigger than my old house) and he has lived the care free suburb life.

He raps about dominance. Like me he is very competitive, his lyrics usually are to the point of showing superiority (like all egotistic raps) but he likes to do it in a more creative way than just saying how much money he has.

To quote one of my favorite lines of his “You’re fuckin’ stupid, like sex with a dumb person”. This is the typical genre of his lyrics.

The other friend (the african canadian) is actually an extremely skilled lyricist. He doesn’t rap about dominance. He was always the leder of the gang. (the white one is pretty much his shadow).

He raps about honeys and partying. When we were kids we were obsessed with girls and we didn’t know why. Now he raps about his sucess.

however, there are a few exception aspects of the duo. The africans new songs are absolute dynamite. his lyrics now encompass “life issues” so to speak. And the white guy has an impressive command of the english language, especially in his “rap-battles” (yes i said it, rap battles).

Rap is an art where you sell yourself as an idol through song. You can’t listen to rap without hearing them promoting themselves, it’s just not possible.

that being said we can ask, what should rappers rap about?

well, what should a singer sing about? it’s up to you really, and you should probably sing about more than one thing or risk becoming a one hit wonder.

i feel stupid talking about my 2 best friends as “the white and black guy”. their rap names are Casper and Platinum (respectively)

here is a link to 3 of their very very early songs.

myspace.com/toppghuunz

Atmosphere was their very first song.

don’t judge them too harshly, their new stuff is many times better than the ones on their myspace.

Also here is a “rap-battle” between Casper and Quake.

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K2qifzI3gKE part 1

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2W21AGu3H … re=related part 2

And yes, i am in the crowd.

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Is ego always maladaptive then?

Or,

Is it healthy to the extent that it is used as a motivational tool to satiate the functional needs of the human such as relationships, love, friendship etc. I am not 100% clear of what ego actually is. Is ego only the need for esteem from others or is it also our drives to gather food shelter etc? Id say it wasnt the latter, yet, if one were to gather a disproportionate amount of food than they require then it would be indicative of some sort of ego compensation.

While I am discussing this I am always bearing in mind the Buddhist’s ideal of complete transcendence of ego. I think there are two ways to achieve enlightenment/happiness/fulfuilment whatever you wanna call it; either the satiation of the ego’s needs through achieving the external factors required to necessitate this, or, realising that all the egos needs, as opposed to wants, are fallacious and thus taking a direct route to the source of enlightenment and saving oneself the work of having to achieve these things.

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Funny you should describe the ego’s inability to trancend itself “maladaptive”. The ego adapts at an early age. it can still change thruought your life, but the starting point is firmly fixed.

The rapper does not rap about how he has satisfied his ego, the act of rapping (and being respected for it) is actually the satisfaction he is looking for.

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right, it’s a defensive mechanism - like the cobra inflating itself, or the ruffling of feathers

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Report: Many Rappers May Suffer From Unrealistically High Self-Images

WASHINGTON, DC–According to an American Psychological Association report released Tuesday, a large percentage of U.S. rappers may suffer from unrealistically high self-images, placing them at risk of a host of emotional and interpersonal problems.

theonion.com/content/node/38891

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The ghetto attitude is an assertion of social status. In more violent and un-policed areas, the reputation for being an bad-ass can mean the difference between success or failure. You see it in more than ghetto blacks though.

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Great link eclipse, thanks, that was a good article, and often hilarious in a worryingly ironic way.

Cyrene, of course this isnt isolated to just blacks, big egos are prevalent all over the world. They have spread like locust in step with capitalism. A logical offshoot of the root cause.

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I never mentioned ego!

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BINGO.

Ego is not necessarily evil or horrible. It is simply the outward material significance of everything around you, to YOU. How much you want material things or the attention of people. If you are unable to apologize to someone for a mistake you have made, it is because you do not wish to HURT your ego.

The Zen or Bhuddist meaning of ego is similar to what you have stated above. ^

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Exactly. Just as it was in the news recently that girls who have a high self-confidence are more likely to be bullied.

Simply because they are so cautious of their ego.

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Black Ice
Dead Prez
Paris

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It embraces the alphamale as a naturalistic empowerment rather than a mere primitive social order.

I wear bling bling because people get wood by shiny things. I make rhymes because it makes words play with your mind. I bust a cap because might makes right, and you’re whack.

It is the elimination of indirect psychology and metadata. “Keep it real!”

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i owuld like to sumbit Necro for analysation

look for some of his songs on youtube

key themes to look for : sex violence and death.

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Dead Prez named itself after currency - i don’t know if that particular example works . . .