I have had friends who turned on me because they wanted to hang out with people they thought were cooler, more popular, or who had better toys. Those friendships rarely lasted, though. In high school, the kids who had cars were more able to get friends, but those friends were only hanging out because of the car and not because they actually liked each other. I managed to remain friends with some people who I still consider close even though we go to different schools. The superficial aspects of our lives are meaningless and transitory. Money, looks, and other superficial traits fade, and what really counts is our character. I have seen people in my family bicker over money and other materialistic things that do not matter, when I really wish they would just love each other for who they are. This is why I find Timbaland's song to be so inspiring. For once, a hip-hop artist is genuinely "keeping it real." Finally, I appreciate "The Way I Are" because of what it can do for self-esteem. Many young people who listen to hip-hop and other forms of music might buy into the materialism that is embedded in the lyrics. I have seen people become wrapped-up in the pursuit of money or power. Those people are invariably unhappy on the inside and make terrible friends. I believe we can derive significant value from songs like "The Way I Are." There are several self-esteem values...
Moreover, the rape symbolism becomes pronounced in "How Low." First, Ludacris walks through the mirror into the girls' room. Initially there were only a few females but when he steps inside, somehow there are several more girls in the room. His stepping through the mirror is a gross violation of their privacy and personal space. The act is a symbolic rape as Ludacris enters the room uninvited while the women
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