Blikololo, Rendra Kusuma (2025) RACIAL DISCRIMINATION DEPICTED BY NAS’S SONG. Undergraduate thesis, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya.

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Abstract

This thesis explores racial discrimination as expressed in Nas’s songs “I Can” and “Cops Shot the Kid,” with a primary focus on extrinsic analysis through a sociological lens. Using Hernán Santa Cruz’s framework, the study examines how the lyrics portray racial injustice, its processes, and its impacts, particularly on African-American communities. Nas’s lyrics are shown to reflect real-world issues such as racial profiling, police brutality, and generational trauma. While the main emphasis is on the social critique embedded in the lyrics, the study also
incorporates stylistic analysis to highlight Nas’s use of diction, figurative language, and imagery in delivering his message. The research finds that Nas uses music not only as artistic expression but as a vehicle for resistance and awareness,
encouraging critical reflection on systemic inequality. This study affirms hip-hop as a form of cultural discourse that engages with and challenges racial injustice in contemporary society.
Keywords: racial discrimination, sociological approach, African-American
experience, Nas, hip-hop lyrics

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