The Decline an' Fall o' da Roman Empire
“I like Brutus, and I cannot lie.”
“I don't give a shit”
“Et tu Brute...? Then fall Roman Empire”
The Decline an' Fall o' da Roman Empire is a gangsta rap album, later republished as a book, by the famous gangsta rapper Edward Gibbon depicting typical gangsta life in Los Angeles, California, also known as the Roman Empire. It was the first book to use African American Vernacular English and is usually considered to be the Bible of being gangsta.
Even today, all gangstas attempt to imitate Gibbon's style of prose, but few truly succeed. When you listen to rap music, you will hear the rapper expostulate about valour, perfidy, the Roman Senate, and the virtues of Emperor Antoninus Pius.
The Author[edit | edit source]
Edward Gibbon, a well-known gangsta rapper and children's book author, is widely regarded as the inventor of Ebonics. Gibbon was born on March 14, 1737 in Los Angeles, CA, the son of Edward the Confessor and a gibbon. Gibbon's grandparents thought his parent's marriage would never last but they showed them; how they showed them.
Tragically, Edward Gibbon was shot by members of a rival gang on March 15, 1984. It is thought that the motive was revenge for Gibbon's dissing of Emperor Caracalla. His last words were "Et u, brotha?"
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Quintus Theodosius: "I be da main character o' dis here story? I Wants ta be known as Quintus Theodosius Catullus. Ya' know what I'm sayin'?"
Alaric: "Wha da dilly yo??"
To resume, in uh few werdz, da system o' da Imperial da system, as it wuz instituted by Augustus, an' maintained by those princes who understood they own interest an' dat o' da peeps, it may be defined an absolute monarchy disguised by da forms o' uh commonwealth. The masters o' da Roman world surrounded they throne wiff darkness, concealed they irresistible strength, an' humbly professed themselves da accountable ministers o' da senate, whose supreme decrees dey dictated an' obeyed. You know das right!
Galerius: "Christianity iz phat sho 'nuff!"
Alaric: "I wants ta visit da city o' Rome. What 'chew thinking man?"
And brothas lived happily afta all. in the hood (empire)
THE END
Examples of Influence on Gangsta Rap[edit | edit source]
Gibbon:
The principal conquests of the Romans were achieved under the republic; and the emperors, for the most part, were satisfied with preserving those dominions which had been acquired by the policy of the senate, the active emulation of the consuls, and the martial enthusiasm of the people. The seven first centuries were filled with a rapid succession of triumphs; but it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into the public councils. Inclined to peace by his temper and situation, it was easy for him to discover that Rome, in her present exalted situation, had much less to hope than to fear from the chance of arms; and that, in the prosecution of remote wars, the undertaking became every day more difficult, the event more doubtful, and the possession more precarious, and less beneficial. The experience of Augustus added weight to these salutary reflections, and effectually convinced him that, by the prudent vigour of his counsels, it would be easy to secure every concession which the safety or the dignity of Rome might require from the most formidable Barbarians. Instead of exposing his person and his legions to the arrows of the Parthians, he obtained, by an honourable treaty, the restitution of the standards and prisoners which had been taken in the defeat of Crassus.
Jay-Z:
Yo whassup everybody this is Mariah Davis, Mad Wednesday's
we here tonight to have a good time ("Yo! Start the show! Start the show!")
Wait a minute; I see my man over there Jay-Z
Jay-Z, Dam Deass let me hear that lil' tape of yours, and it's fat
Why don't you come up here and kick a lil' freestyle
Put that champagne down, and kick a lil' freestyle for me tonight
As you can clearly see, Edward Gibbon's style lives on in the work of Jay-Z.