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J. Cole is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. This song, being one of his most popular and successful releases to date, takes into account the struggles of life, materialism, and being content with what you have.

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Always gon' be a bigger house somewhere, but brother feel me
'Long as the people in that motherf*cker love you dearly
Always gon' be a whip that's better than the one you got
Always gon' be some clothes that's fresher than the one's you rock
Always gon' be a girl that's badder out there on the tours
But you ain't never gon' be happy 'til you love yours

(Lines 58-64)

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Shaq Attaq by Shaquile O'Neal with Jack McCallum

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Shaq Attaq by Shaquile O'Neal with Jack McCallum

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My reading journey commenced as far back as I can remember. My toddler years. My mom and my older sister, Jaime would read me all of Roald Dahl's and Dr. Suess's old picture books, and many other classics like The Big Bad Wolf, Disney stories, and things of that nature. Fast-forward a couple of years, and my mom and I started a new nighttime tradition. She would read to me every night before bed. We would read all kinds of books, but my favourite was the Harry Potter series which is the series that made me fall in love with reading. I'd let my mind roam free as she went through each page, imagining myself in the magical wizard world. As time went on, getting older with social media taking the world by storm, my love for reading sadly faded away. I regret not reading as much as I do, and this project is a perfect opportunity for me to get back into it.

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In these lines, J. Cole reflects on the fact that there will always be something or someone seemingly better than what you have, whether it's a bigger house, a fancier car, or more stylish clothes. He emphasizes the importance of appreciating and finding contentment in what you have, especially the love and support from the people around you. The phrase "you ain't never gon' be happy 'til you love yours" suggests that true happiness comes from appreciating and valuing the aspects of life that are already present, rather than constantly seeking external validation or material items.

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Title and background information on the piece

Favorite passage

Explanation/Analysation of passage

What were some reoccurring writing techniques?

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Read at least 4 books

Make reading a regular habit

Expand my commonly explored genres (fantasy, adventure)

Continue to recognize writing moves in all reading I indulge in

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Alliteration/Rhyming:

Adds a euphonic layer throughout the whole song, which increases enjoyability through listening, and assists J. Cole in getting his message across

Repetition:

Adds emphasis to the song's message

Realism:

Talks about real-life struggles, challenges, and the hard realities of chasing success

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Shaq Attaq by Shaquille O’Neal with Jack McCallum is a memoir that starts with a narration from the author's point of view from his childhood, all the way to the time of publication in 1993, the end of his rookie season in the NBA. Shaq describes his upbringing and the beginnings of his basketball career. O’Neal’s personality shines through his writing, giving perspective on the life of a professional athlete. The purpose of writing this book was to show onlookers and fans that just because he appears mean and intimidating due to his size, he’s truly a pure-hearted, friendly giant.

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"Be true to yourself, embrace your uniqueness, and never be afraid to stand out." (171)

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Throughout this whole novel, O'Neal promotes qualities such as staying true to yourself, positivity, and work ethic. In the quote above, this is apparent. Shaq has always been unapologetically himself since the dawn of his career which is highly inspirational and seems to be a light in the darkness in a modern world of fabricated personalities viewed in the media.

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Humor

Anecdotes

Flashback

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"On Writing: A Memoir of Craft" By Stephen King

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"On Writing: A Memoir of Craft" By Stephen King

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Published 2021

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"Concrete Rose" is a fictional novel by Angie Thomas. It serves as a prequel to her bestselling book "The Hate U Give." The story revolves around the character Maverick Carter, who is the father of Starr, the protagonist of "The Hate U Give." Set in the same fictional universe of Garden Heights, the novel explores Maverick's teenage years as he navigates the challenges of gang involvement, early fatherhood, and the choices that shape his future. The narrative covers themes of identity, responsibility, and the impact of one's decisions on the people they love.

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"My folks named me Maverick 'cause it mean independant thinker. Thats who they wanted me to be. Who do we want her to be?"

"Intelligent. Independant. Outspoken. I doubt there's a name that means all of that."

"A'ight. Let's think 'bout what she already is to us. I gave Seven his name 'cause it mean perfection. He perfect to me. What is she to us?"

"One of the few good things during all the bad stuff."

I look up in the night sky. It's pitch black, and yet that somehow make the stars shine brighter. Hundreds of lights in all that darkness. Wait a second. A light in the darkness. I smile, and I look at Lisa. "I think I got a name." (322-323)

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To me, this insert is the most beautiful moment of the book. Maverick and his girlfriend, Lisa are brainstorming on what to name their second child. Mav wants her name to be meaningful, and as they reflect on what she means to the couple, he gets an idea. Lisa says that she's one of the few good things in all the negative going on in their lives. As Maverick observes the stars, he notices the darkness makes the stars seem to shine brighter. He realizes what his daughter's name would be. Starr. This is a beautiful representation of seeing the light, even when times are as dark as ever, and a great segway into the next book in the timeline, The Hate U Give, with Starr as the protagonist.

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Published 2009

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"The Help" is a novel by Kathryn Stockett set in the 1960s in Mississippi. It explores the lives of African-American maids and their relationships with the white families they work for. The story follows Skeeter Phelan, a young white woman aspiring to be a writer, as she interviews maids to document their experiences. The maids, particularly Aibileen and Minny, share their stories of discrimination and mistreatment. The novel has themes of racism, social injustice, and the power dynamics of the era, emphasizing the dire need for change and equality.

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Stephen King's memoir; "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" combines personal anecdotes and useful advice to aid aspiring writers in their careers. King speaks on his insights into his own life, including alcohol addiction, a near-death experience, and habits that helped him gain success. This book also gives general advice on the art of writing, acting as a guide for aspiring writers.

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"You don't have to do this," I said. "You volunteered--"

"You know what the nicest thing a white woman's ever done for me? Given me the heel of her bread. The colored women coming in here, they're just playing a big trick on you. They'll never tell the truth lady." (259)

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This insert is from the point of view of Skeeter, the white woman interviewing one of the black maids. She's interviewing Gretchen, who snaps at her. She claims all of the other black maids have lied to her, saying only positive things about their employers and experience. This insert says a lot, one thing being expressing that the maids have fear towards the whites, and don't want to get in trouble for saying anything bad or questionable about them. It saddens me they had to lie to keep their safety and employment, knowing what could happen to them if they told the truth. This says a lot about the equality, blatant racism, and power dynamics of the 60's.

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"Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life." (54)

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King suggests that while writing is obviously separate and distinct from living life, it has potential to reconnect individuals with the essence and vitality of life. This message implies that writing can serve as a tool of rediscovery, self-exploration, and a return to deep connection with one's experiences, emotions and memories.

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4/4 books read

I've explored the genre of memoirs in "On Writing: a Memoir of the Craft", and "Shaq Attack", as well as historical fiction in "The Help", and finally, realistic fiction in "Concrete Rose".

I've opened up my eyes to all of the subtle writing moves that make a book entertaining and engaging. I didn't expect myself to notice these moves, but after picking up on them, I now realize how important and effective they are.

In my analysis of the song Love Yourz by J. Cole, I now appreciate deeper meanings behind songs, rather than solely enjoying the musical aspect of them.

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This project successfully encouraged me to get back into reading and regain my love for it. I'm proud to say I think I've grown as a reader in a few ways. First of all, it rekindled the reading habit I used to enjoy so much but had since lost. For example, on nights that I had no homework I would read some of my book. Maybe after school or practice to wind down. It's a very peaceful, positive habit to practice and it feels like my mood is improved after a good reading session. Secondly, as previously mentioned in my goals, my reading horizon has expanded. Before this semester if you told me I might enjoy reading a memoir I'd laugh in your face, but I didn't realize how much personality goes into it. For example, Shaq Attack was a very entertaining read due to the subject, message, and humor used throughout the book. Finally, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I'm proud of the fact I read as much as I did and it's a milestone after completing each book. Overall, I understand the impact this assignment and course are having on me. It has rekindled my passion for reading and has given me a new perspective on reading and how it makes me feel.