Creating a Critical Pedagogy of Place with Marginalized Youth in Barrio Logan
Rap as Testimonio
The writing and recording of rap music at Seeds Records is central to this practice-based research because of its importance in the lives of the students. Conversations about their raps, as in-between spaces between the writing and performing of the music, are moments of resistance as students discuss issues facing themselves and others. Much of the music recorded at Seeds Records could be characterized as Chicano rap due to the ideologies, symbols and use of bilingual lyrics. The rap below, by Ricky, ‘Narco Journalists’, reflects the political nature of Chicano rap. Through his words Ricky is identifying injustices and inequalities.
Narco Journalists by Ricky
“A lot of people don’t know why we don’t get much news about the drug trade in Mexico and most are too worried about their own problems to worry about what is happening all the way in Syria so I wanted to write a rap that made people think about about these issues” (Ricky).
figure 9: Nate recording a verse of his rap
The rap lyrics of "Black Snake" by Alberto III includes several elements of Chicano rap including reference to Aztlán and resistance to political and economic forces that are threatening destruction of the land.
The audio recordings below were also recorded at Seeds Records as part of this practice-based research.
"Starvin" by Sam and Nate
"How do I Tell You" by Inka
"Bloody Mary" by Sam