By: Kristen English
For my last blog entry, I have decided to compare the remix of My Shot from The Hamilton Mixtape to the original as a way to broaden my prospective for the final remix and adaptation project. The lyrics in the remixed adaptation of the song are from a modern viewpoint as they reference scenarios such as a “young tot applyin’ a sticker to his Spiderman lunchbox”, which obviously did not exist in Hamilton’s time era. The song is from the viewpoint of an oppressed modern day citizen who has to work hard to achieve his goals. The remixed version, much like the original, tells the story of a man who wants more out of his life and is not going to miss his chance to achieve his dreams and goals.
While both the original and the remixed piece have the same underlying argument of one fulfilling their dreams, the differing lyrics and delivery of each song give a different feel to each piece and evoke different emotions. Busta Rhymes’ remixed version is a classic hip-hop anthem telling the story of a young troubled man’s rise to fame through dedicated hard-work while out-lining the struggles he faces along the way. This theme is very common among hip-hop music and while the remixed song itself is very motivating in lyrics, the delivery of the song is smoother and more laid back than the original. Also, in comparison to the original version, which has a very upbeat and strong delivery, the remixed version tells the same story with the classic old-school hip-hop feel. The remixed version gives a different perspective on a classic piece with a classic storyline through the use of different lyrics and differing delivery. This is important because it shows viewers that no matter what era, people still face the same issues regarding oppression and the drive to succeed despite all odds. This story needs to be told because it sheds light on the topic of success through oppression, which can often be overlooked this day in age.
I believe reviewing the remixed version of this song has given me the different perspective that was needed for my project. As my project is telling the modern story of the song My Shot, this remixed version was perfect to analyze. The lyrics gave me insight into modern struggles that people from differing backgrounds can face and inspired my own ideas into how I am going to tell the story through my blog. While many argue that the original piece cannot be beat, I say that both are great for different purposes and I am glad to have taken the time to analyze both and broaden my knowledge and outlook on the topic.
Pictured Busta Rhymes with Lin-Manuel Miranda
