Library

Find the Allusion! (Rap/R&B version)

By David Kwan
Last updated over 6 years ago
10 Questions
Note from the author:
This Formative is by: Claire Doyle

This Formative uses popular rap songs to help students practice finding and analyzing allusions.
Part 1. Allusions are everywhere! Find at least three allusions to stories, songs, parts of history, other texts, or famous people in each of these songs. Do some research on google if you spot an allusion you don't understand. Mrs. Doyle started that for you. (Click the blue links!)


Explain each allusion, then analyze its purpose. What does it add to the song? Review Mrs. D's presentation (below) if you need to.
As you work, remember the four main reasons a text might make an allusion:
1. To convey complicated information quickly
2. To make meaningful connections between texts
3. To provide new information or insight into the plot, characters, setting, or overall meaning of a text
4. To engage the reader or audience in an inside joke

Ready? The first song is coming up.

"Hey Mama" Lyrics

I want everybody to put they hands together for me I want to talk about somebody real special tonight (whoa) Ok, come on
Hey mama, I want to scream so loud for you 'Cause I'm so proud of you, let me tell you what I'm about to do (hey mama) I know I act a fool, but I promise you I'm going back to school I appreciate that you alive for me, I just want you to be proud of me (hey mama)
I want to tell the whole world about a friend of mine This little light of mine, I'm feelin' let it shine I'm feelin' take y'all back to them better times I'm feelin' talk about my momma if y'all don't mind (hey mama) I was 3 years old when you and I move to the chi Late december, harsh winter gave me a cold You fix me up something that was good for my soul Famous homemade chicken soup, can I have another bowl (hey mama)
You work late nights just to keep on the lights Mommy got me training wheels so I can keep on my bike And you would give me anything in this world Michael jackson leather and the glove, but didn't give me a curl (hey mama) And you never put no man over me, and I love you for that mommy can't you see Seven years old, caught you with tears in your eyes Cause a nigga cheat and telling you lies, then I started to cry (hey mama) As we knelt on the kitchen floor, I said mommy I'm a love you 'till you don't hurt no more And when I'm older, you ain't got to work no more And I'm a get you that mansion that we couldn't afford (hey mama) See your unbreakable, unmistakable, highly capable, lady that's making loot A living legend too, just look at what heaven do, send us an angel, and I thank you Hey mama, I want to scream so loud for you 'Cause I'm so proud of you, let me tell you what I'm about to do (hey mama) I know I act a fool, but I promise you I'm going back to school I appreciate that you alive for me, I just want you to be proud of me (hey mama) Forest gump momma said, life was like a box of chocolates My momma told me go to school, get your doctorate Something to fall back on, you can profit with But still supported me when I did the opposite (hey mama) Now I feel like there's things I gotta get, things I gotta do Just to prove to you, you was getting through Can the choir please, gimme a verse of you, eyes so beautiful, to me (hey mama) Can't you see, you're like a book of poetry, maya angelou, nikki giovanni Turn one page and there's my mommy (hey mama) Come on mommy just dance with me, let the whole world see you dance with thee Now when I say hey, y'all say mama Now everybody answer me Hey mama, I want to scream so loud for you 'Cause I'm so proud of you, let me tell you what I'm about to do (hey mama) I know I act a fool, but I promise you I'm going back to school I appreciate that you alive for me, I just want you to be proud of me (hey mama) I guess it all depends though, if my ends low Second they get up you gon' get that benzo, tint the windows Ride around the city and let your friends know (hey mama) Tell your job you gotta fake 'em out Since you brought me in this world let me take you out To a restaurant, up a echelon ? I'm a get you a jag whateva else you want (hey mama) Just tell me what kind of s-type donda west like Tell me the perfect color so I make it just right It don't gotta be mother's day, or your birthday, for me to just call and say Hey mama, I want to scream so loud for you 'Cause I'm so proud of you, let me tell you what I'm about to do (hey mama) You know I love you so, I'll never let you go I wrote this song just so you know no matter where you go I'm a love you

Choose 3 allusions that you see in this text. List them here and explain what each is an allusion to. Please use complete sentences when you write your explanations.


Now choose one allusion and analyze its purpose in the text. Look back at the list of reasons to use an allusion, but don't stop there. Comment on how the allusion adds to the text, or explain how it enriches your understanding. Please use two or three complete sentences.

For example:

Kanye West makes an allusion to the book "Chicken Soup for the Soul" while he is describing how his mother nursed him through a childhood cold. This book series specializes in heart-warming, faith-infused stories about family relationships. The reference to the book gives the listener a deeper understanding of Kanye's feelings about his mother; it suggests that he remembers her as someone who filled his life with faith and daily caring.


It's time for song number two. How are you doing?

Lyrics
Uh, hit em with a little ghetto gospel
Those who wish to follow me My ghetto gospel I welcome with my hands And the red sun sinks at last Into the hills of gold And peace to this young warrior Without the sound of guns
If I could recollect before my hood days I sit and reminisce Thinking of bliss and the good days I stop and stare at the younger My heart goes to em They tested with stress that they under And nowadays things change Everyone's ashamed of the youth 'cause the truth look, strange And for me it's reversed We left em a world that's cursed And it hurts 'Cause any day they'll push the button And all come in like Malcolm X or Bobby Hutton died for nothing Don't it make you get teary The world looks dreary When you wipe your eyes see it clearly There's no need for you to fear me If you take your time and hear me Maybe you can learn to cheer me It ain't about black or white 'cause we human I hope we see the light before it's ruined, my ghetto gospel
Those who wish to follow me My ghetto gospel I welcome with my hands And the red sun sinks at last Into the hills of gold And peace to this young warrior Without the sound of guns
Tell me do you see that old lady Ain't it sad Living out of bags Plus she's glad for the little things she has And over there there's a lady Crack got her crazy Guess who's giving birth to a baby I don't trip or let it fade me From out of the fryin' pan We jump into another form of slavery Even now I get discouraged Wonder if they take it all back Will I still keep the courage I refuse to be a role model I set goals, take control, drink out my own bottles I make mistakes but learn from every one And when it's said and done I bet this brother be a better one If I upset you don't stress never forget That God isn't finished with me yet I feel his hand on my brain When I write rhymes I go blind and let the Lord do his thing But am I less holy 'Cause I chose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homies Before we find world peace We gotta find peace and end the war in the streets My ghetto gospel
Those who wish to follow me My ghetto gospel I welcome with my hands And the red sun sinks at last Into the hills of gold And peace to this young warrior Without the sound of guns
Lord can you hear me speak To pay the price of being hellbound

Choose 3 allusions that you see in this text. List them here and explain what each is an allusion to. Please use complete sentences when you write your explanations.


Part 2. Stump Mrs. Doyle

As you all know by now, Mrs. Doyle lives under a rock and doesn't pay attention to music, television, or movies. Now it's your turn to stump her.

1. Use google to find a song, a poem, an advertisement, or a movie clip that contains at least 2 allusions you think she won't know.
2. Analyze the allusions.
3. Call Mrs. D. over. If she can't find and explain the allusions--and if you can explain them to her--she will give you one extra credit 100%.

A few rules:
1. Whatever you find MUST be school-appropriate.
2. Mrs. D has a 3 minute time limit for finding and explaining at least two allusions. Yes, you may time that.
3. In order to win, you must be able to explain the allusions and say how they add to the text.
4. If Mrs. D spots and explains the allusions, you can still get the 100% by writing your own explanations. (Questions 7 & 8)

Now choose one allusion and analyze its purpose in the text. Look back at the list of reasons to use an allusion, but don't stop there. Comment on how the allusion adds to the text, or explain how it enriches your understanding. Please use two or three complete sentences.


Paste whatever you find into this question box or the one below. (This one works for text and URLs.)


If you chose an image or images, put them in this question box.

What allusions do you see in the text or media you chose? List and explain them.


Now choose one allusion and analyze its purpose in the text. Look back at the list of reasons to use an allusion, but don't stop there. Comment on how the allusion adds to the text, or explain how it enriches your understanding. Please use two or three complete sentences.


You are ready to call Mrs. Doyle!