When I think of music that embodies Marx’s concept of commodities, rap music is a loud and glaring example. When rap music mentions commodities, it usually talks about commodities with high exchange values, or items that produce a perception of value.
A commodity is any item beneficial to a human that can be bought or sold. Some simple examples include socks, food, and pencils. When Marx talks about the exchange value of a given commodity, he explains it as the amount of other commodities it can be traded for (See Marx in Commodities and Money). Commodities with a high exchange value are usually luxury items –Rolex watches, diamonds, caviar, etc. The exchange value of a commodity is not concrete, and is subject to change depending on the place, person whom you are trading with, and the time. Exchange value is independent of use-value, or the function value of a commodity.
One of the more popular (disclaimer: not my favorite) themes of rap music is possessions, from diamond-encrusted jewelry, expensive cars, and even women. Rappers talk about these and other commodities in different contexts.
One way high exchange value commodities are used in rap music is to prop up the performer as wealthy members of the bourgeoisie. Rapper 2 Chainz (I have bit of animosity towards him) uses various items in his song to make this known. In Birthday Song, 2 Chainz gives instructions on his funeral arrangements with When I die, bury me inside the Gucci store/ When I die, bury me inside the Louis [Vuitton] store. Gucci and Louis Vuitton are two high end clothing lines that 2 Chainz is mentioning to remind the listener that he has the means to purchase commodities. He loves these two high exchange value commodities so much, that he cannot bear to die without them.
Another 2 Chainz song, Money Machine features more high exchange value commodities with the lyrics Got the city on swole with my Louis bandana/ my car is shitting on niggas/ I should ride with a Pamper. Again, 2 Chainz is telling the listener that he prefers commodities with high exchange value when he mentions the Louis Vuitton bandana and his car that did not come with a pair of Huggies. These commodities are associated with the lifestyle of the well to do members of society, and since 2 Chains is associating himself with them, he himself is also well to do.
Another method high exchange value items are utilized in rap music is shown to us by Lupe Fiasco. Lupe uses commodities with high exchange value that he likes and compares them to the commodities mentioned in most forms of mainstream rap to conclude that he has better taste than rappers like 2 Chainz. It the song Gold Chain, Lupe mentions that in the usual song It's just, yea, yea now look at what I wear, and goes on with Good morning Singapore I’m bringing the sun with me , and I like Monte Blanc pens and Moleskine paper. In this song, Lupe uses his preferred high exchange value items (traveling the world and writing supplies) to suggest that his tastes are more diverse and atypical of most rappers in the mainstream today.
A third way that rap artists use high exchange value items to humble themselves. In the song Juicy performed by The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie), he uses various items to demonstrate how grateful he is to live the (short) life that he has. With the lines When I was dead broke, man I couldn't picture this/ 50 inch screen, money green leather sofa/ Got two rides, a limousine with a chauffeur, Biggie is dumbfounded by what his success has brought on and conveys it to us by listing the high exchange value items he has been able to acquire since becoming a famous artist.
Marx’s concept of commodities can be found almost everywhere. In rap music, high exchange value commodities are prevalent. The range of how high exchange value commodities can be applied is shown through the words of very diverse subject matter found in every song by hundreds of different artists.
A commodity is any item beneficial to a human that can be bought or sold. Some simple examples include socks, food, and pencils. When Marx talks about the exchange value of a given commodity, he explains it as the amount of other commodities it can be traded for (See Marx in Commodities and Money). Commodities with a high exchange value are usually luxury items –Rolex watches, diamonds, caviar, etc. The exchange value of a commodity is not concrete, and is subject to change depending on the place, person whom you are trading with, and the time. Exchange value is independent of use-value, or the function value of a commodity.
One of the more popular (disclaimer: not my favorite) themes of rap music is possessions, from diamond-encrusted jewelry, expensive cars, and even women. Rappers talk about these and other commodities in different contexts.
One way high exchange value commodities are used in rap music is to prop up the performer as wealthy members of the bourgeoisie. Rapper 2 Chainz (I have bit of animosity towards him) uses various items in his song to make this known. In Birthday Song, 2 Chainz gives instructions on his funeral arrangements with When I die, bury me inside the Gucci store/ When I die, bury me inside the Louis [Vuitton] store. Gucci and Louis Vuitton are two high end clothing lines that 2 Chainz is mentioning to remind the listener that he has the means to purchase commodities. He loves these two high exchange value commodities so much, that he cannot bear to die without them.
Another 2 Chainz song, Money Machine features more high exchange value commodities with the lyrics Got the city on swole with my Louis bandana/ my car is shitting on niggas/ I should ride with a Pamper. Again, 2 Chainz is telling the listener that he prefers commodities with high exchange value when he mentions the Louis Vuitton bandana and his car that did not come with a pair of Huggies. These commodities are associated with the lifestyle of the well to do members of society, and since 2 Chains is associating himself with them, he himself is also well to do.
Another method high exchange value items are utilized in rap music is shown to us by Lupe Fiasco. Lupe uses commodities with high exchange value that he likes and compares them to the commodities mentioned in most forms of mainstream rap to conclude that he has better taste than rappers like 2 Chainz. It the song Gold Chain, Lupe mentions that in the usual song It's just, yea, yea now look at what I wear, and goes on with Good morning Singapore I’m bringing the sun with me , and I like Monte Blanc pens and Moleskine paper. In this song, Lupe uses his preferred high exchange value items (traveling the world and writing supplies) to suggest that his tastes are more diverse and atypical of most rappers in the mainstream today.
A third way that rap artists use high exchange value items to humble themselves. In the song Juicy performed by The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie), he uses various items to demonstrate how grateful he is to live the (short) life that he has. With the lines When I was dead broke, man I couldn't picture this/ 50 inch screen, money green leather sofa/ Got two rides, a limousine with a chauffeur, Biggie is dumbfounded by what his success has brought on and conveys it to us by listing the high exchange value items he has been able to acquire since becoming a famous artist.
Marx’s concept of commodities can be found almost everywhere. In rap music, high exchange value commodities are prevalent. The range of how high exchange value commodities can be applied is shown through the words of very diverse subject matter found in every song by hundreds of different artists.