Songs Sampled

1. Baby I’m a Want You – The Fatback Band

2. Funky Drummer – James Brown

3. C.R.E.A.M. – Wu-Tang Clan

4. On and On- Erykah Badu

5.  A Who Seh Me Dun –  Cutty Ranks

6. Criminology – Raekwan feat. Ghostface Killah

7. Body Rock – Mos Def feat. Q-Tip and Tash

8. John Blaze – Fat Joe and Big Pun feat. Jadakiss, Nas, and Raekwon

9. For All My Niggaz & Bitches – Snoop Dogg feat. Tha Dogg Pound, The Lady of Rage, and Lil 1/2 Dead

Works Cited

Burtle, Adam. “Radical Contextualization: An Anthropology of Mathematics.”Structural Violence. Structuralviolence, 13 Apr. 2013. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.

This article is very recent and it has strong analysis of the social meanings in Mos Def – Mathematics. The article uses quotes from individuals, and it also references the work of other authors while breaking down the song.

Nielson, Cynthia R. “Mos Def and Social “Mathematics” from the Remnants of the Ghetto: Giving the Numbers a Voice.” Mos Def and Social “Mathematics” from the Remnants of the Ghetto: Giving the Numbers a Voice. Percaritatem, 09 Aug. 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.

This article was written in the last 5 years, cites various sources, and  provides detailed information that specifically relates to Mos Def, and the song “Mathematics”.

 Shmoop Editorial Team. “Mathematics Meaning.” Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.

This Article is reliable and contains good information, but it also has a few drawbacks. The content was published back in 2008, but the information provided is still relevant to today. The website predominantly uses the U.S. Census and individual’s quotes as sources of information. These are two great types of sources for the article, but more sources could have been used.

Steele, Chris. “How Does Yasiin Bey’s Mathematics Add Up Now.” » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names. CounterPunch, 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.

This article uses a lot of facts to compare the social issues that inspired the song “Mathematics” and how relevant the issues are in modern day. The article was written within the last year, and it quotes information from a variety of sources, The articles largest flaw is that it doesn’t take itself extremely seriously, and that it occasionally mentions some facts that are hardly relevant to the song.

 Administrator. “Songs as Poetry: Hip-Hop, Meaning, and Mos Def’s ‘Mathematics'” The Philippine Online Chronicles. Philippine Online Chronicles, 13 May 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.

This article is well written and it has a lot of good information, but it has one crucial flaw. The article cites sources whenever it borrows information, but the name of the author is not available. The ,website, however, still manages to have an insightful analysis of “Mathematics”.