You may not know this about me, but I love Britney Spears and rap. I don’t mean Jay-Z and Kanye rap, I mean good rap – like 50 Cent, Ludacris, Chamillionaire, and DMX. I’ve loved it for years, named my new Denali Curtis, and channel my inner Ice-T whenever I need to feel in charge of things. Turns out, my love for these artists has served as an integral part of my graduate school experience and its gotten me through some tough times over the last two years. In June, I finally graduate with my Master’s in Public Policy and to say thanks, I’d like to give a shoutout to the artists who helped get me through it.
Who knew? How @BritneySpears and @50Cent got me through grad school. Click To TweetBritney Spears
I’m a Britney Spears fan. And when I say that, I mean I’m a lifer – I’ve been a fan since Baby, One More Time came out and I’ve been hookrf ever since. So, when I started graduate school in the Fall of 2013, I was pretty excited that she had a new motivational song come out. You know the one – I’m talking about Work B**ch. It was the perfect song – peppy, a great morning reminder to get things done, and has a shout out to the governor (my academic adviser was governor, so this was particularly appropriate for me). For the past two years, I have listened to this song before every class, every forum, and while writing every paper. Ditto for exams, interviews, and filling out job applications. Work B**ch is, my friends, my grad school jam.
Favorite lines:
Go call the police
Go call the governor
50 Cent
I love 50. Not only is he talented, but he is very pleasing on the eyes and owns a publishing company, which has only deepened my appreciation for the man. I’ve been a fan since Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and have channeled my inner P.I.M.P. every time I need to be on point and it never fails to put a smile on my face. That said, now that I’ve finished, I’ve moved on to a new song by him because I’ve finally reached the end. My new song? Winner’s Circle. I actually saved this song until I defended and passed my thesis because I didn’t want to jinx myself.
Favorite lines:
Consider this the theme song for victory
I’m focused, I’m disciplined, I’m ready
Mentally on point, sharp as a machete
Chamillionaire
Sometimes the haters are just going to hate. Life is hard and grad school can be competitive, so sometimes I just needed a reminder that there are people who see you rollin’ and are hatin’. Granted, it wasn’t the police, but you get the point. Every time I felt singled out or targeted for the successes I worked hard for, I would blare this song and feel instantly better.
Favorite lines:
They see me rollin
They hatin
Patrolling they tryin to catch me ridin dirty