Shakespeare was the First Gangster Hip-Hop Artist | Doug Rappaport | TEDxEdgemontSchool

Hip Hop is seen as the music of youth, of rebellion, of urban unrest, of the Street, of today.
Yet the stories and themes of hip-hop are as old as literature itself. And if you take a moment to reflect on hip-hop's central themes, you discover that they match those of another revolutionary artist, none other than William Shakespeare a/k/a the Bard of Avon a/k/a the Notorious B.A.R.D.
Doug Rappaport and his family have resided in Edgemont for 17 years. Doug’s son Scott is a sophomore at EHS and his son Matt graduated EHS last year. He is a litigation and securities partner at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in New York, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School. He has also previously served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan.
Doug serves on the board of Ars Nova, a non-profit theater and performing arts organization in New York City. Doug and his wife Debbie are partners of the New York Public Theater and New York Theater Workshop, and supporters of Shakespeare in the Park. Doug has extensively read, seen and studied Shakespeare’s canon, as well as the works of American cultural icons such as Jay-Z, Eminem, the Wu-Tang Clan and Kendrick Lamar.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@quprey]

English homework anyone

[@eunock4118]

just as me ;)

[@sanskarjoshi4409]

Yep ✋✋

[@blainegraham4295]

lo fr bro

[@nottom2789]

@@blainegraham4295 yup

[@veronica_marcelin]

Yeah my teacher sent me here

[@denj4s]

Shakespeare + Gangster Hip-Hop = Teachers: "hippity hoppity this video's now my property"

[@topgurl9313]

We know rap is like poetry and the music videos are theatrical. Those of us who have no biases against the artists and just appreciate the art, are already aware of how similar it is to more 'prestigious' works. We love it.

[@GreenOrchid9]

Akala who is from the UK did this in 2011 on Tedx and globally presents it.

[@lewisrivers4054]

yeah but Akala has too much ego.. he thinks he knows everything..

[@compagniaelvira]

Akala: manages to rap sonnet 18 perfectly and explains perfectly the relationship between Shakespeare and hip hop WAY better than this guy. People: He's arrogant, he thinks he knows everything!

[@jacquirego5060]

@@compagniaelvira Agree!

[@eddieschott9912]

Truly, this guy is a rip off. Some parts are almost word for word stolen from Akala.

[@natsudragneel1676]

Who's here because Of there teacher

[@makaylahwilliams1457]

I’m here because of my dad 😭

[@lukefrazer5642]

Yeah im pashtionate about english and poetry because i had a great teacher and those teachers are so rare. I hope some day i could do the same.

[@veronica_marcelin]

Me 🤦‍♀️

[@lukefrazer5642]

@@veronica_marcelin i loved high school english

[@sansboi3110]

Clearly, your teacher did not teach you proper grammar.

[@adeliabarnwell8621]

I enjoyed this TED talk quite a lot and shared it with several of my friends who teach high school English. They, as I, were distracted by the reference to Shakespeare's time as "Victorian." We wish that could be edited out.

[@TojisBlade]

Thx I think I need this for my English work to get bonus points

[@angelanoon4261]

Also, Shakespeare did not write in Old English. Gah. I wish I could edit that out as well.

[@terrellwills9622]

I really enjoyed this I'm a Emcee and I been telling people Shakespeare was probably the first rapper. I study his stuff for inspiration

[@dudeImPJ]

how can you speak about shakespeare and hip hop and not mention the sonic/musical relationships between the 2? i.e rhyming/flow, iambic pentameter etc

[@jaymillymills]

All hip-hop is not gangsta

[@jenniferlannon8576]

If any teachers are watching this video and trying to decide which one to show about the hip-hop and Shakespeare connection, I suggest skipping this one. The one from MC Lars is pretty good, but Tedx Talk by Akala (Shakespeare Hip-Hop Company) is the best one to use.

[@terrellwills9622]

THIS IS BRILLIANT LOL

[@bundremcgaffie9547]

I HAD STRUGGLE 4 WAY TO LONG , NOW IT'S ON , HERE IS NOT WHERE I BELONG , ANOTHER SAD SONG , BABY ASKING ME , WHAT'S WRONG , SHE TOLD ME , TO BE STRONG, BUT HOW CAN , I BE STRONG , WHEN I POST TO , BE YOUR BACKBONE , TO BE A PROVIDER , I KNO' YOU'RE A RIDER , I JUST GOTTA , PUT MY FAITH , BACK IN THA HOLY BIBLE , WE ALL HAVE SITUATIONS & PROBLEMS , ALL PEOPLE DO IS GOSSIP , TALKING ABOUT ONE OF OTHER , WE NIGGAS LIKE , CRAB'S IN THA BUCKET , ALL MY LIFE , I BEEN TREATED LIKE NOTHING , I'M TURNING MY NOTHING , INTO SOMETHING , THAT'S WHEN THA MONEY START COMING , I DON'T CARE IF IT'S DRUG MONEY , AT LEAST IT'S SOMETHING , I'M TIRED OF OUR STOMACHS , BEING STAVING HUNGRY , I JUST NEED THA OPPORTUNITY , OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT , HAPPENING FAST ENOUGH , EVERYDAY 7 DAY'S OF WEEK , IT'SA SERIES , LORD HELP ME PLEASE , I NEED GROCERIES , I WORRIED IF FAIL , I'M GOING BACK TO JAIL , WHAT YOU KNO' ABOUT , THAT CONCRETE CELL , FOR PUTTING WEIGHT , BACK ON THA SCALE , ALL I NEED IS THA CLIENTELES , SO MY POCKET'S CAN SWELL , SIT ON SWOLE , I'M THUGGING WIT' , (AH ) MOUTH FULL OF GOLD , I'M GOING OUTTA CONTROL , PLAYING THAT ROLE , I'M STRAPPED WIT' THA POLE , IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNO' I'M RIGHT BACK DOING KICK DOOR'S WIT' MY STEEL TOE'S , REAL LIFE EPISODE , (HOOKX2) I STRUGGLE 4 WAY 2 LONG , YOU BETA BELIEVE IT'S ON , SAME TIME , SAME CHANNEL , I'M IN TUNNEL , WIT ' THA 12 GAUGE , GOING ON A RAMPAGE , I'MA SAVAGE , THAT GOTTA HAVE IT , I'M JUST TRYING 2 LIVE LAVISH , BUNDIESEL ONE RAP SONG STRUGGLE 4 WAY 2 LONG 1-11-2021 VY8030ENT. DIESEL GANG STUDIO'S 4 EVER GANG RECORDING

[@compagniaelvira]

Compared to Akala, this guy seems to be speaking in a kindergarten.

[@damianjones9446]

When u have 16 mil subs and gets less than 10k views

[@christellefrancios2038]

you must know how "views" work

[@TojisBlade]

Anyone know what he was wrong about? I get bonus homework points if I get it right! So plz help.

[@yoteyoti2718]

He said Shakespeare was Victorian

[@missseeingthesights]

Shakespeare did not live in the Victorian era in England, he was about 300 years before... and hip hop did not stem from Shakespeare. As a white British citizen I am actually embarrassed for your delivery of such misinformation. Yes, there are definitely comparable similarities such as rhythm and political content, but you can apply those to any art form throughout world culture.

[@dudeImPJ]

spot on, this dude's a mug

[@TojisBlade]

Watch Akalas vid... he shows a different perspective

[@theunknownpotato4365]

thx this helped with my english homework

[@DHRUVAPADAYOGAH]

Not Victorian England

[@eitpfitnesssportscentre1645]

Mockery of hiphop..you sir need to be educated.

[@mshopey32]

Please just skip this and watch the the ORIGINAL that features Akala! You're welcome

[@eddieschott9912]

This is a rip off of Akala.

[@rickshaw60]

But I'm looking for a good rapper doing Shakespeare and well . It has to be done

[@simon_hughes]

Look for Akala

[@yosefineftw]

first?

[@liamskeen2884]

Le Dung Pro good job

[@valenciamcneill2932]

Plays imagined vs. songs lived. Second/Third Person/Omniscient vs. First Person perspectives. Society welcoming the thrill of a great horror story vs. a society wanting you to shut up and stop whining/glorifying your life's horrors. Wispy thread.

[@jacquirego5060]

He butchers pronouncing, John Leguizamo's name. Nerves? It's not like Leguizamo is a Broadway legend and Latinx icon or anything...

[@faisalbaseit7547]

who is also triggered he did not mention Eminem on the beginning lol

[@troll2637]

Me. 😂

[@maedux]

Nas

[@dafak1752]

He say gangster rap, em not

[@mikeaguero2875]

Eminem isn't a gangster rapper, he can't make a song like 'Straight Outta Compton "

[@saymyname2417]

This is pure bs.