Shakespeare vs Hip Hop by Julia Flake

Shakespeare or Hip Hop?

Recently in class, we did an activity where we heard a specific line and we had to decipher whether it was from a hip hop song or from Shakespeare. Although this may seem easy, it certainly was not. When people hear Shakespeare, they think of really Old English that they can't easily understand. However, it is not all that hard to understand. In reality, it sounds similar to what we hear on the radio today! Let's put you to the test...

These examples are taken from a talk by Akala at TedTalk and you will be surprised. 

1. “To destroy the beauty from which one came”
2. “Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit”
3. “Men would rather use their broken records than their bear hands”
4. “I was not born under a rhyming planet”
5. “The most benevolent king communicates through your dreams”
6. “Socrates, philosophy and hypotheses can’t define me”

Answers:

1. Hip hop: Jay-Zee
2. Hip hop: Eminem
3. Shakespeare: Othello
4. Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing
5. Hip hop: Wu-Tang Clan
6. Hip hop:  Wu-Tang Clan

Crazy right?! I find it very interesting how we cannot even interpret our modern language today. This goes to show how much we pay attention to the world around us. Shakespeare isn't that crazy with his writing. He could actually be considered the first gangster!

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