Category: Commonplace Books

My Commonplace books served as a journal to dive deeper into the most meaningful songs in my repertoire of rap, soul, and pop music. Indeed, the task at hand was to analyze, deconstruct, and reflect on any piece of literary art, whether that meant a tweet or a book quote. I tend always to find… Continue reading Commonplace Book Reflection

Emotionless By Drake And all she did was post pictures for people at home  ‘Cause all that mattered was impressin’ everybody she’s known  I know another girl that’s cryin’ out for help  But her latest caption is “Leave me alone”  I know a girl happily married ’til she puts down her phone  I know a… Continue reading Commonplace #8

4 Your Eyez Only By J. Cole I pray you find a nigga with goals and point of views  Much broader than the corner, if not it’s gon’ corner you  Into a box, where your son don’t even know his pops  And the cyclical nature of doing time continues In his “4 Your Eyez Only,”… Continue reading Commonplace #7

LAND OF THE FREE By Joey Bada$$ In the land of the free, it’s full of freeloaders  Leave us dead in the street to be their organ donors  They disorganized my people, made us all loners  Still got the last names of our slave owners In Joey’s “LAND OF THE FREE,” the struggles of being… Continue reading Commonplace #6

Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan How many roads must a man walk down  Before you call him a man? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind  The answer is blowin’ in the wind In his song “Blowin’ in the Wind,” Bob Dylan makes multiple obscured political statements during its release during… Continue reading Commonplace #6

Another Sad Love Song by Khalid I fought the demons that lie in between us  They’d think we’re perfect if they’d ever seen us, but  I guess this sounds like another sad love song  I can’t get over how it all went wrong Khalid’s “Another Sad Love Song” is about a love that was thought… Continue reading Commonplace #5

Song: Same Drugs by Chance the Rapper When did you change? Wendy, you’ve aged I thought you’d never grow up I thought you’d never Window closed, Wendy got old I was too late, I was too late A shadow of what I once was ‘Cause we don’t do the same drugs no more  When we… Continue reading Commonplace #4

Song: New Light by John Mayer Oh you don’t think twice bout me And maybe you’re right to doubt me but But if you give me just one night You’re gonna see me in a new light Yeah if you give me just one night To meet you underneath the moonlight In his song “New… Continue reading Commonplace #3

Painting: Guernica by Picasso The painting above was done by Pablo Picasso right after the German bombing during the Spanish Civil War. It represents the death, suffering, and bloodshed of Spanish civilians during a time of heightened political unrest. Picasso’s style is consistently geometrical, which explains the sharp shapes and faces that are put together… Continue reading Commonplace #2

Song: Bound 2 by Kanye West “Close your eyes and let the word paint a thousand pictures One good girl is worth a thousand b*tches, bound” This song by Kanye West, when heard entirely, is filled with verses with double meanings and symbolism of his life. In the first line “Close your eyes,” Kanye refers… Continue reading Commonplace #1