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Mainstream and Alternative Media's Depiction of Nipsey Hussle

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Mainstream and Alternative Media's Depiction of Nipsey Hussle More than Just a Rapper: Mainstream and Alternative Media’s Depiction of Nipsey Hussle By Jonathan Joshua Hazlewood Master of Arts, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2020 THESIS Submitted to the Department/Faculty of Criminology In partial fulfilment of the requirements for Master of Arts in Criminology Wilfrid Laurier University © Jonathan Joshua Hazlewood 2020 Abstract Mainstream and alternative media depict individuals differently from one another. In stories covering African American rappers and homicide victims, mainstream and alternative stories use images, phrases, and people to portray certain ideas to their audience. In terms of mainstream news outlets, stories associate criminality onto African American homicide victims and rappers through labeling them as brutes, focusing on the crimes they commit, and highlighting criminal associations (Aquil, 2018; Cochran, 2015; Dukes & Gaither 2018; Wright & Washington, 2019). While alternative outlets have offered sympathetic and well-rounded representations that depict the life, personal accomplishments, and good deeds of an African American victim (Irene, Deckard, & Rodriguez, 2016). Using a Social Constructionist lens, this thesis examines alternative and mainstream media’s depiction of Nipsey Hussle. The goal of this paper was to determine if narratives and labels used with African American homicide victims and rappers are present in the media’s depiction of Nipsey Hussle. From the findings, I found mainstream and alternative outlets to align with their standard presentations of African Americans and show new ways a rapper can be depicted. i Acknowledgements I would like to thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Popham for helping me achieve all I have during my time at Wilfrid Laurier. If it were not for you, I would not have developed my writing style and critical reasoning skills. I appreciate the numerous hours spent reviewing my work, giving me detailed feedback, and your undivided attention. I will use many the skills you instilled with me into the workforce and I will never forget it. Thank you to Dr. Welsh for being my seconder reader. I appreciate the feedback and the insight you gave me to help complete my thesis. I would also like to thank my friends and family. Without you all pushing and reassuring me to complete my thesis, I could not have done it. Knowing I was able to finish this thesis made, I hope to make all of you proud. To the Criminology Department of Wilfrid Laurier, I would love to thank you all. Whether it was discussing my thesis or career planning, I appreciated every moment of it. Lastly, I would like to thank Lauren London and all of Nipsey Hussle’s family and friends. The music and the message that Nipsey Hussle was able to deliver was profound and impacted so many. I am truly sorry for your loss and THE WILL MARATHON CONTINUE. ii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 Research Questions ............................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Literature Review: ............................................................................................................................... 8 Media and Criminology ....................................................................................................................... 8 Crime and Othering ............................................................................................................................. 8 Social Constructionism ...................................................................................................................... 11 Social Constructionism and the Media ................................................................................................... 11 Claims-making and Claims-makers .................................................................................................... 12 Mainstream and Alternative media..................................................................................................... 13 Claims-makers in Mainstream Media and African Americans ............................................................ 14 Claims-makers in Alternative media and African Americans .............................................................. 15 The Construction of African Americans Offenders in Mainstream Media. .............................................. 16 The Construction of African Americans Offenders in Alternative Media ................................................ 17 African American Homicide Victims Portrayal in Mainstream media................................................. 19 Alternative Media and How African American Homicide Victims Are Portrayed ............................... 19 How Living Rappers Are Depicted in Mainstream media ................................................................... 21 How A Dead African American Rapper is Portrayed in Both Mainstream and Alternative Media ....... 23 Limitations in Existing Literature .......................................................................................................... 24 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 27 Chapter 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 29 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Research Design and Questions ............................................................................................................. 29 Source Collection .................................................................................................................................. 30 Purposive Sampling ........................................................................................................................... 30 Sampling Frame .................................................................................................................................... 30 Web-based resources ......................................................................................................................... 30 Incognito Mode ................................................................................................................................. 31 Search Terms ..................................................................................................................................... 31 Time Span ......................................................................................................................................... 32 Data Sources ......................................................................................................................................... 32 iii Mainstream Sources ........................................................................................................... 32 Alternative Sources ............................................................................................................ 33 Coding and Data Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 35 Descriptive Coding ............................................................................................................ 35 Memo Writing ................................................................................................................... 37 Themes .............................................................................................................................. 40 Qualitative Comparative Analysis ...................................................................................... 41 Chapter 4 ............................................................................................................................................... 42 Findings/Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 42 Mainstream Media: Gang Narratives with African Americans ................................................................ 42 Nipsey’s Gang Affiliation .................................................................................................. 43 Nipsey Hussle’s Murder ..................................................................................................... 44 The Issues of Gangs in Los Angeles ................................................................................... 45 Alternative Media: Gang Narrative ........................................................................................................ 46 Nipsey’s Gang History ....................................................................................................... 46 Denouncing Gang Association ........................................................................................... 47 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 48 Chapter 5 Rappers in The Media ...........................................................................................................
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