Coval ends his poem by repeating part of a line from “Peter Piper” (and includes an entire additional verse leading up to this line in the recording I played for my students) where Reverend Run refers to Jay as the Big Bad Wolf and ...
From: bwall05.com
“Peter Piper” – Run-D.M.C. (Words: Darryl McDaniels and Joe Simmons, music arranged by Jason Mizell, available on Raising Hell, Profile / Arista 1986) Earlier this week, I gave my students a poem by Chicago based author Kevin Coval. This poem, titled “The Day Jam Master Jay Died,” eulogizes legendary DJ Jam Master Jay after his murder in a Queens’ recording studio. Coval’s poem also contains characters who are caught between different worlds – such as a light skinned Hispanic male mistaken for being white and a Spanish speaking, Hindu practicing girl in his class – the same way that Coval felt alienated by his Jewish upbringing. It was Run-D.M.C.’s music that eased him “over the bridge of whiteness and rock,” and, eventually, led him back to his faith. It’s an influence that Coval carries with him, infusing his knowledge and love of hip hop in both his writing and his works with young authors.Coval ends his poem by repeating part of a line from “Peter Piper” (and includes an entire additional verse leading up to this line in the recording I played for my students) where Reverend Run refers to Jay as the Big Bad Wolf and clarifies that it’s “not bad meaning bad but bad meaning good.” It led me back to “Peter Piper,” and it makes sense why Coval’s poetic eulogy would end with this track. Not only do Reverend Run and DMC put Jay in the same mythical category as a litany of fairy tale creatures, but Jay’s turntable skills on this track make the bragging redundant. He effortlessly transitions from an a-go-go breakbeat to the distinctive, rhythmic record scratches. Somehow, he toes the line between supporting his two MCs and stealing the show. If nothing else, it’s easy to see why Run and DMC made such outlandish claims in the mid ‘80s, and how a poet could put Jay in the same breath as John Lennon a decade and a half later.
More on Run-D.M.C.: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm
Written by Tracy Morgan. Directed by Tracy Morgan. Hair and Make-up by Tracy Morgan. Produced by Tracy Morgan and Melvin Goldfarb. This has been a Morgan/Goldfarb Production.
Categories: Lifestream. No comments... »
Name (required)
Mail (will not be published) (required)