Hip Hop and Oral History: Turning Students into “Griots for a New Age”

In an era of cell phones, iPods, and computers, the oral traditions and storytelling skills once prized among community elders in rural areas and city neighborhoods are in danger of dying out once and for all, leaving young people without an organic connection to the lives of people that came before them. [Jay-Z's Mom:] Sean Carter was born December 4th Weighing in at 10 pounds 8 ounces He was the last of my 4 children The only one who didn't give me any pain when i gave birth to him And that's how i knew that he was a special child [Jay-Z then enters with his voice, recounting his personal struggles after his father left and his family fell into poverty.] i feel worthless cause my shirts wasn't matchin my gear Now i'm just scratchin the surface cause what's burried under there Was a kid torn apart once his pop disappeared I went to school got good grades could behave when i wanted But i had demons deep inside that would raise when confronted The next portion of the song continues to juxapose JZ's voice with that of his mother, showing two different perspectives on this very talented, angry youngster's growing disaffection from school and immersion in the street economy.