Chi-Rap, 1989-2016 EP

The game consists of the dealers, police, politicians, and people living in the areas afflicted by the effects of decentralization of industries form cities especially in the rust belt. I call the game "Petty People Playing Politics because it involves players of it to conform to strict images according to their role. These images can be the hyper-masculinity seen in black youth or the pandering, and pleasing of the populace that participates in the voting process done by politicians for example the wave of tough on crime candidates that arose to be elected after Michael Dukakis was defeated by the infamous Willy Horton Ad for the 1988 presidential election.

 

The game is life and the goal is survival. The term survival looks differently for different people though since for the middle class it is about climbing the company ladder, but also the intricacies of a school district’s PTA for those playing the game for their children in a more suburban manner non-street manner. It can be the dance between police and gang bangers at the same time it could be someone knowing exactly what numbers to put for them to qualify for food stamps.

 

The urban crisis & mass incarceration are by-products of the game which have amounted to the economic and political stifling of communities of color. Decreasing social mobility and spun to blame the victims in policy and in the media, these institutional activities are nuanced and insidious. There are entire books articles and documentaries focusing on these topics so none will be talked about in-depth in this exhibit. Instead I implore the viewer to find the overlaps effects through the various songs and visual aids.