Ethnographic interview

Enthograpahic interview Me: Before we get started, I just want to ask, do I have your consent to record this conversation for academic purposes? Your responses may be used in a paper, but your identity can remain anonymous if you prefer. Participant: Yeah, that’s cool. You can record. Me: Thank you, I appreciate that. To start off, can you tell me a little about your relationship with music? Like what role it plays in your everyday life? Participant: Music is a big part of my day, like I’m always listening to something. If I’m driving or just by myself, I got music on. I feel like certain artists really speak for how I’m feeling at the time. Like when I listen to YoungBoy Never Broke Again, it be feeling raw and emotional, like he just saying whatever he going through without holding back. Me: That’s real. Would you say the music you listen to reflects your identity or experiences in any way? Participant: Yeah for sure. Like with Rod Wave, the way he talks about pain, family, and struggling, that hits different. I remember listening to him when I was going through stuff, and it felt like he was telling my story in a way. It makes you feel seen fr. Me: That idea of storytelling is really important. How do you think Black music functions as a form of storytelling compared to other genres? Participant: I think it’s way more personal. Like in rap, people really be telling what’s going on in their life. Even with somebody like Lil Durk, he be talking about loss and street stuff, but you can tell it’s coming from real situations. It’s not just entertainment, it’s like you hearing somebody’s life. Me: That’s interesting, especially thinking about it as something that gets passed down. Do you see any connection between older forms of Black storytelling and modern music? Participant: Yeah it’s basically the same thing, just updated. Like back then it was stories people told out loud, now it’s through music. But it’s still about surviving and explaining what’s going on. Even when I hear older people talk about blues or spirituals, it sound similar to what artists doing now, just different sound. Me: In Adeerya Johnson’s idea of “Dirty South Feminism,” she talks about centering voices that are often overlooked and valuing everyday experiences. Do you see that happening in Black music today? Participant: Yeah especially with women artists. Like Sexyy Red, people might look at her and think it’s just wild or whatever, but she really representing a certain lifestyle and being unapologetic about it. Or even GloRilla, she be talking about where she from and her experiences in a way that feels real, not filtered. Me: How do you think humor, pain, or exaggeration play into that storytelling? Participant: I think it’s all mixed together. Like sometimes artists joke or say something crazy, but it still be real underneath. Even with Drake, he might exaggerate emotions or situations, but it still connects. And then with other artists, it’s more direct pain. It just depends on how they choose to tell it. Me: Do you think there’s a difference between how Black audiences and non-Black audiences interpret this kind of music? Participant: Yeah for sure. Like if you really from that environment, you catch everything they saying. But if you not, you might just like the sound or the vibe. Like with Future, some people just hear turn up music, but others understand the deeper stuff about relationships, addiction, and lifestyle. Me: That’s really insightful. Lastly, what do you think would be lost if Black music wasn’t recognized as a form of storytelling? Participant: Honestly a lot. Like that’s where a lot of real stories come from. Without it, people wouldn’t understand what certain communities go through. Artists like Kendrick Lamar literally tell full stories in their music, like you learning something every time you listen. So without that, it’s like you losing a whole perspective of reality. Me: Thank you, I really appreciate your time and your perspective. That was really helpful. Participant: Yeah, no problem.