'I Gave You Power': The Weaponization of Literary Intertextuality in HipHop Lyricism

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This creative-critical thesis explores the presence and function of literary intertextuality in the hip-hoptradition by analysing the bodies of work of four emcees from key eras in its history: Rakim, Nas, BlackThought and Kendrick Lamar. Specifically, it examines how these artists 'weaponize' intertextuality,empowering themselves and other socially and politically marginalised subjects through a complexanalytical and artistic critique of their social positions, structural conditions and wider culturalenvironment. It will investigate the use of literary intertextuality as a conceptual and political weaponagainst socio-structural conditions of oppression, and as such, make a significant theoreticalcontribution to extant understandings of the links between hip-hop culture and traditionally-conceivedliterary culture.The thesis comprises two parts. The first is an in-depth textual analysis of the bodies of work of theaforementioned lyricists, analysed thematically (Braun and Clarke, 2006) and systematically usingNVivo software, with a focus on their uses of literary intertextuality. This investigation (40,000 words ofcritical prose) will be complemented by the creation of an original collection of lyrics (presentedalongside an original musical accompaniment in the form of a music album) centred upon literaryintertextuality as a 'weapon', with a selfreflexive critical commentary.This project builds upon my twenty years' experience in the music and media industries, a history ofprofessional music publication (Adey, 2003, 2010, 2016) and over a decade of experience in tutoringlyricism with various organisations (including an upcoming short course in conjunction with NTU, 'TheEmcee, Lyricism, HipHop and the Art of Rap'). For my proposed project, I will be expanding uponthese experiences in combination with the skills of literary and poetic analysis acquired during my BAhons English with Creative Writing (First) and MA Creative Writing (Distinction).