text:
School prayer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
School prayer, in the context of religious liberty, is state-sanctioned or mandatory prayer by students in public schools. Depending on the country and the type of school, state-sponsored prayer may be required, permitted, or prohibited. Countries which prohibit or limit school prayer often differ in their reasons for doing so: In the United States, school prayer cannot be required of students in accordance with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. In Canada, school-sponsored prayer is disallowed under the concept of Freedom of conscience as outlined in the Canadian Charter on Rights & Fundamental Freedoms. School-sponsored prayer is disallowed in France as a byproduct of its status as a laïcist (religiously neutral) nation. Countries that allow or require school and other state-sponsored prayer include Greece, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Australia, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Contents
[hide]
1 Countries that prohibit school-sponsored prayer
1.1 United States
1.1.1 School prayer prior to 1962
1.1.2 A Turning Point: The "Regents' Prayer" and Engel v. Vitale
1.1.3 1963 and after
1.1.4 Controversy
1.2 Canada
1.2.1 British Columbia
1.2.2 Ontario
1.2.3 Russow v. British Columbia
1.3 France
1.4 Turkey
2 Countries that permit school-sponsored prayer
2.1 United Kingdom
3 Ongoing debate
3.1 Arguments for and against school prayer
3.2 "Moment of silence"
4 See also
5 References
Countries that prohibit school-sponsored prayer[edit]
United States[edit]
Main articles: Education in the United States and Religion in the United States
In the United States, public schools are banned from conducting religious observances such as prayer. The legal basis for this prohibition is the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which requires that
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...
The first part of the amendment ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion") is known as the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, while the second part ("or prohibiting the free exercise thereof") is known as the Free Exercise Clause.
Though each of these clauses originally applied only to the central US government, the Fourteenth Amendment extended the scope of the entire First Amendment to all levels of government, including the state level,[1] thus compelling states and their subject schools to adopt an equally detached approach to religion in schools.
School prayer prior to 1962[edit]
In the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, it was common practice for public schools to open with an oral prayer or Bible reading.[2][not in citation given] Catholics would sometimes object to the distinct Protestant observations performed in the local schools. For instance, in the Edgerton Bible Case (Weiss v. District Board (1890)), the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in favor of Catholics who objected to the use of the King James Bible in Wisconsin public schools. This ruling was based on the state constitution and only applied in Wisconsin.
A Turning Point: The "Regents' Prayer" and Engel v. Vitale[edit]
The media and popular culture often erroneously credit atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair with removing school prayer from US public schools, when the case against recitation of the Lord's Prayer in Baltimore schools was decided by the Supreme Court in 1963. A more significant case had reached the Supreme Court one year prior, suddenly changing the legal climate for school prayer in the US.[3]
In 1955, the New York Board of Regents developed a prayer recommended (but not required) for the school districts under its purview. The prayer was relatively short: "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence on Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country."[1][4] The board stated that the prayer would "combat juvenile delinquency and counter the spread of Communism."[4]
Seven years later, Steven I. Engel, a Jew, was upset to see his son’s hands clasped and his head bent in prayer. He told his son that this was “not the way we say prayers.” Engel, a founding member of the New York Civil Liberties Union, brought action along with Daniel Lichtenstein, Monroe Lerner, Lenore Lyons, and Lawrence Roth, all parents of children in the Long Island, New York public school system, against Union Free School District No. 9 for its adoption and subsequent prescription of the so-called "Regent's prayer", arguing that it constituted the state-sponsored establishment of religion in violation of citizens’ First Amendment rights via the Fourteenth Amendment.[5]
Use of the Regent's prayer was initially upheld in both New York State Court and in the New York Court of Appeals, prompting Engels to petition the US Supreme Court in the Engel v. Vitale case in 1962. With its 8–1 vote to make public recitation of the Regents' Prayer in public schools unlawful, the U.S. Supreme Court made its first-ever decision on prayer in public schools. It made its second in 1963—the Abington School District v. Schempp ruling, which made the corporate reading of the Bible and recitation of the Lord's Prayer unlawful in public schools.[3]
1963 and after[edit]
In these two landmark decisions, Engel v. Vitale (1962) and Abington School District v. Schempp (1963), the Supreme Court established what is now the current prohibition on state-sponsored prayer in US schools. While the Engel decision held that the promulgation of an official state-school prayer stood in violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause (thus overruling the New York Courts’ decisions), Abington held that Bible readings and other public school-sponsored religious activities were prohibited.[6] Madalyn Murray's lawsuit, Murray v. Curlett, contributed to the removal of compulsory Bible reading from the public schools of the United States, and has had lasting and significant effects.
Until the lawsuit, it was commonplace for students to participate in many types of religious activities while at school, including religious instruction itself. Nonreligious students were compelled to participate in such activities and were not usually given any opportunity to opt out. The Murray suit was combined with an earlier case, so the Court might have acted without Murray's intervention. With the success of the lawsuit, the intent of the Constitution with regard to the relationship between church and state again came under critical scrutiny and has remained there to this day. While students do continue to pray in public schools, even in organized groups such as "See You at the Pole", the lawsuit disallowed schools from including prayer as a compulsory activity required of every student. The success of O'Hair's lawsuit led to subsequent lawsuits by Mormon and Catholic families in Texas in 2000 to limit compulsory prayer at school-sponsored football games.
Following these two cases came the Court's decision in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), a ruling that established the Lemon test for religious activities within schools. The Lemon test states that, in order to be constitutional under the Establishment Clause, any practice sponsored within state-run schools (or other public state-sponsored activities) must adhere to the following three criteria:[7]
Have a secular purpose;
Must neither advance nor inhibit religion; and
Must not result in an excessive entanglement between government and religion.
Controversy[edit]
Reactions to Engel and Abington were widely negative, and many school districts and states have attempted to reestablish school-sponsored prayer in different forms since 1962.[8] Since the 1990s, controversy in the courts has tended to revolve around prayer at school-sponsored extracurricular activities. Examples can be seen in the cases of Lee v. Weisman (1992) and Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe (2000), where public prayers at graduation ceremonies and those conducted via public address system prior to high school games (at state school facilities before a school-gathered audience) were, respectively, ruled unconstitutional.
Despite their attempts to present a clear stance on school-sponsored religious activity, Engel, Abington, and the cases for which these serve as precedent are cited by some proponents of school prayer as evidence of a contradiction between the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses.[9] While the Establishment Clause proscribes the state sponsorship of religion, the Free Exercise Clause forbids state interference in individual religious exercise. Where a state entity moves to accommodate the right to individual religious expression under the latter clause, opponents of that "expression" may cite such accommodation as state "promotion" of one religious activity over another.[10] Regarding the Free Exercise Clause, the courts have consistently stated that students' setting forth of religious views through prayer cannot be forbidden unless such activity can be shown to cause disruption in the school, yet it remains beyond the scope of the state to require such practice.[11] Thus, anyone is allowed to pray in schools in the United States, as long as it is not officially sponsored by the school and it does not disrupt others from doing their work.
The United States Supreme Court: A Political and Legal Analysis discussed the results of a 1991 survey, stating that: "The Court's school prayer decisions were, and still are, deeply unpopular with the public, many politicians and most religions organizations. 95 percent of the population believe in God and some 60 percent belong to a religious organization. In a 1991 opinion poll, 78 percent of Americans support the reintroduction of school prayer."[12] As a result of public support for school prayer in the United States, The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States reports, "the public's support for school prayer was translated by various state legislatures into statutes aiding religious schools and practices."[13] Analysis of multiple polls since the 1970s by sociologist Philip Schwadel showed support for school prayer dipped slightly but remains popular with the majority of Americans, with a recent 2011 poll showing 65 percent support.[14]
Canada[edit]
British Columbia[edit]
Prior to 1944, in British Columbia, the Public Schools Act (1872) permitted the use of the Lord’s Prayer in opening or closing school. In 1944, the government of British Columbia amended the Public Schools Act to provide for compulsory Bible reading at the opening of the school day, to be followed by a compulsory recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. This amendment appeared as section 167 of the Public Schools Act, and read as follows:[15]
167. All public schools shall be opened by the reading, without explanation or comment, of a passage of Scripture to be selected from readings prescribed or approved by the Council of Public Instruction. The reading of the passage of Scripture shall be followed by the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, but otherwise the schools shall be conducted on strictly secular and non-sectarian principles. The highest morality shall be inculcated, but no religious dogma or creed shall be taught. 1948, c.42, s.167
The compulsory nature of the Bible reading and prayer recitation was slightly modified by regulations drawn up by the Council of Public Instruction. These regulations provided that either a teacher or student who has conscientious ground for objecting to the religious observances may be excused from them. The procedure to be followed in such cases was outlined in the regulations, which follow in full:
Division (15)—Scripture Readings (Section 167)
15.01 Where a teacher sends a written notice to the Board of School Trustees or official trustee by whom he is employed that he has conscientious objections to conducting the. ceremony of reading prescribed selections from the Bible and reciting the Lord’s Prayer (as provided by Section 167 of the Public Schools Act), he shall be excused from such duty, and in such case it shall be the duty of the Board of School Trustees or official trustee concerned to arrange with the Principal to have the ceremony conducted by some other teacher in the school, or by a school trustee, or, where neither of these alternatives is possible, by one of the senior pupils of the school or by some other suitable person other than an ordained member of a religious sect or denomination.
15.02 Where the parent or guardian of any pupil attending a public school sends a written notice to the teacher of the pupil stating that for conscientious reasons he does not wish the pupil to attend the ceremony of reading prescribed selections from the Bible and reciting the Lord’s Prayer at the opening of school, the teacher shall excuse the pupil from attendance at such ceremony and at his discretion may assign the pupil some other useful employment at school during that period, but the pupil so excused shall not be deprived of any other benefits of the school by reason of his non-attendance at the ceremony.
In 1982, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms received royal assent. Section 2 of the charter guaranteeing freedom of conscience and freedom of religion trumped Section 167 of the Public Schools Act (1872). Sixteen years later in 1996, based on precedent that would be established in Ontario (1989), required recitation of the Lord’s Prayer as outlined in the Public Schools Act would be held to violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Ontario[edit]
The challenges to Christian opening and closing exercises occurred mainly in Ontario with the crucial case being fought in The Ontario Court of Appeal in 1988.[16]
Zylberberg v. Sudbury Board of Education (Director) The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the use of the Lord’s Prayer in opening exercises in public schools offended the Charter s. 2(a). 1988. (1988), 65 O.R. (2d) 641, 29 O.A.C. 23 (C.A.). Education regulations did not require the use of the Lord's Prayer and there was an exemption provision. The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the regulation infringed religious freedom because schools could use only the Lord's Prayer rather than a more inclusive approach. It was argued that the exemption provision effectively stigmatized children and coerced them into a religious observance which was offensive to them.
The Ontario Court of Appeal was persuaded by the argument that the need to seek exemption from Christian exercises is itself a form of religious discrimination. The judges described as insensitive the position of the respondents that it was beneficial for the minority children to confront the fact of their difference from the majority.
Russow v. British Columbia[edit]
In 1989, Joan Russow challenged, in the British Columbia Supreme Court, the Public Schools Act’s requirement that in British Columbia all public schools were to be opened with the Lord’s Prayer and a Bible reading. The argument was similar to the Zylberberg case and the result was the same: The offending words in the Public Schools Act were removed as being inconsistent with freedom of conscience and religion guarantees in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Further following the Zylberberg case to strike down use of the Lord’s Prayer in schools,[17] the British Columbia Supreme Court incorporated the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in Zylberberg in its entirety.
From 1871 to 1989, observance of school prayer had declined.
With the unfavorable court decision, the requirement for Christian morning exercises was replaced with the following clauses found in the School Act (1996) in British Columbia.[18]
Conduct:
76 (1) All schools and Provincial schools must be conducted on strictly secular and nonsectarian principles.
(2) The highest morality must be inculcated, but no religious dogma or creed is to be – taught in a school or Provincial school.
France[edit]
As a declared 'laïque' (roughly 'religiously neutral', secular) state, France has no school prayers. Instead, public servants are advised to keep their religious faith private, and may be censured if they display it too openly. The French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools goes beyond restricting prayer in schools and bans the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols by pupils in public primary and secondary schools.
Turkey[edit]
The predominantly Muslim country of Turkey is in the public sphere a strongly secular nation. In this regard, it is much like France, on whose system of laïcism its founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk modelled the rules on religion when he reformed his country in the early 20th century. School prayer is therefore unknown, and suspected religious motivations can cause serious difficulties for public servants. Despite its primarily secular stance, however, courses of religion and morals (which are dominantly Islamic) are compulsory to all students during the last years of elementary and throughout high school. In these instances, various Islamic prayers and verses are both taught and tested for.
Countries that permit school-sponsored prayer[edit]
United Kingdom[edit]
Main articles: Education in the United Kingdom and Religion in the United Kingdom
This section needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (March 2018)
In England and Wales, the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 states that all pupils in state schools must take part in a daily act of collective worship, unless their parents request that they be excused from attending.[19] The majority of these acts of collective worship are required to be "wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character", with two exceptions:
Religious schools, which should provide worship appropriate to the school's religion (although most religious schools in the UK are Christian.)
Schools where the local education authority's Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education has determined that Christian worship would not be appropriate for part or all of the school.
Despite this statutory requirement for schools to hold a daily act of collective worship, most do not. Ofsted's 2002-03 annual report, for example, stated that 80% of secondary schools were not providing daily worship for all pupils.[20]
Ongoing debate[edit]
Arguments for and against school prayer[edit]
The issue of school prayer remains contentious even where courts as diverse as those in Canada, the United States, Russia, and Poland attempt to strike a balance between religious and secular activity in state-sponsored arenas.[11] Some arguments have held that religion in schools is both an effective sociomoral tool[21][22] as well as a valuable means to psychological stability.[23] On the opposing side, others have argued that prayer has no place in a classroom where impressionable students are continually subject to influence by the majority.[16] The latter kind of claim holds that, to the extent that a public school itself promotes the majority religion, the state is guilty of coercive interference in the lives of the individual.[24]
In recent years, programs derived from yoga, a Hindu religious practice, have been introduced into public schools in the U.S. Advocates for the programs say they help children to relax and concentrate, but critics counter that the programs violate the separation of church and state.[25][26]
"Moment of silence"[edit]
Despite ongoing debate, there are some instances where religious freedom and secular stability have been temporarily balanced. In the United States, some administrations have introduced a "moment of silence" or "moment of reflection" in which a student may, if he or she wishes to, offer a silent prayer. The US Supreme Court decision in Wallace v. Jaffree (1984) held that a moment of silence in schools for the purpose of individual prayer or meditation constituted a valid application of the Free Exercise Clause, while a moment of silence for the clear intended purpose of a state-approved devotional activity constituted a violation of the Establishment Clause.[8] In this same case, the issue of school prayer was further complicated by a distinction made between a public assembly attended by participants of their own free will, and a public event where attendance is legally required. A voluntarily attended Congress may open sessions with a prayer, but schools full of public pupils may not. Here the US Supreme Court has interpreted the issue as revolving around the degree of a government’s ability to indoctrinate its citizens.[8] If it appears that participants at a state-sponsored event are more likely to influence the State itself, courts may treat prayer as "legislative prayer". If, on the other hand, the State is more likely to influence participants at its events, courts may treat prayer as "state-sponsored" prayer and thereby rule it unconstitutional.[27]
See also[edit]
Freedom of religion
Moment of silence
Madalyn Murray O'Hair
Separation of church and state
Status of religious freedom by country
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b Marshall, W. P. (1999). The School Prayer Decisions. Constitutional Commentary, 16(3), 535. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Jump up ^ Edgerton Bible Case (Weiss v. District Board [1890]): case in 1890 centering around in-school prayer.
^ Jump up to: a b LAATS, ADAM. "Our Schools, Our Country: American Evangelicals, Public Schools, And The Supreme Court Decisions Of 1962 And 1963." Journal of Religious History 36.3 (2012): 319-334. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Boston, Rob. "How Five New York Families Ended Coercive Prayer In America's Public Schools." Church & State 65.6 (2012): 12. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
Jump up ^ Engel v. Vitale. (1999). Supreme Court Cases: The Dynamic Court (1930–1999), N.PAG. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Jump up ^ School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp. (1999). Supreme Court Cases: The Dynamic Court (1930–1999), N.PAG. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Jump up ^ Lemon v. Kurtzman. (1999). Supreme Court Cases: The Dynamic Court (1930–1999), N.PAG. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
^ Jump up to: a b c Wallace v. Jaffree. Great American Court Cases. Ed. Mark Mikula and L. Mpho Mabunda. Vol. 1: Individual Liberties. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 7 Sep. 2011.
Jump up ^ Lee v. Weisman. Great American Court Cases. Ed. Mark Mikula and L. Mpho Mabunda. Vol. 1: Individual Liberties. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 7 Sep. 2011.
Jump up ^ Establishment Clause. (2006). In L. J. Fundukian & J. Wilson (Eds.), American Law Yearbook 2005 (pp. 60-64). Detroit: Gale.
^ Jump up to: a b Preface to "Does Separation of Church and State Threaten Religious Liberty?" (2003). In J. D. Torr (Ed.), Current Controversies. Civil Liberties. San Diego: Greenhaven Press.
Jump up ^ McKeever, Robert J. The United States Supreme Court: A Political and Legal Analysis. Manchester University Press. 1997. p 34.
Jump up ^ Hall, Kermit. Ely, James W. Grossman, Joel B. The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. Oxford University Press. 2005. p 1061.
Jump up ^ Jason Koebler. "Study: Catholic, Protestant Support for In-School Prayer Falls". US News & World Report.
Jump up ^ "BCCLA Position Paper Religion in public schools, 1969" Archived 2010-01-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 04,2006
^ Jump up to: a b *"Charter section 2(a) cases" Retrieved December 04, 2006
Jump up ^ Zylberberg v. Sudbury Board of Education [Director], 1989, and Russow v. AG [BC], 1989)
Jump up ^ "School Act". British Columbia Revised School Statues.
Jump up ^ ""Collective Worship" and school assemblies: your rights". British Humanist Association. Archived from the original on 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
Jump up ^ "Standards and Quality 2002/03". Ofsted. 2004-02-04. Archived from the original on 2010-10-30. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
Jump up ^ There Should Be Prayer and Bible Study in Public Schools. (2009). In B. Rosenthal (Ed.), Opposing Viewpoints. Atheism. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.
Jump up ^ "The U.S. Supreme Court Should Not Limit the Role of Religion in Public Life" by Robert Bork. The U.S. Supreme Court. Margaret Haerens, Ed. Opposing Viewpoints Series. Greenhaven Press, 2010. Robert Bork, Coercing Virtue: The Worldwide Rule of Judges. Washington, DC: The AEI Press, 2003
Jump up ^ Francis, L. J., Robbins, M., Lewis, C., & Barnes, L. (2008). Prayer and psychological health: A study among sixth-form pupils attending Catholic and Protestant schools in Northern Ireland. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 11(1), 85-92.
Jump up ^ Dierenfield, B. J. (2007). "The Most Hated Woman in America": Madalyn Murray and the Crusade against School Prayer. Journal of Supreme Court History, 32(1), 62-84. doi:10.1111/j.1540-5818.2007.00150.x.
Jump up ^ "Yoga causes controversy in public schools". Associated Press. January 28, 2007.
Jump up ^ "Parents, Religious Leaders Want Yoga Out of New York High School". Associated Press. October 2, 2008.
Jump up ^ School Board Meeting Prayer Ruled Unconstitutional. (2011). Education Week, 31(1), 4. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
[hide]
v
t
e
Social conservatism in the United States
Issues
Anti-pornography movement
Drug prohibition
Eminent domain
Euthanasia
Family values
Homosexual agenda
Pro-life
School prayer
Advocates
Michele Bachmann
Chuck Baldwin
William Bennett
Pat Buchanan
William F. Buckley, Jr.
Ben Carson
Darrell Castle
Tom Coburn
Ted Cruz
James Dobson
Jerry Falwell
Robert P. George
Louie Gohmert
Mike Huckabee
Alan Keyes
Steve King
Rush Limbaugh
Roy Moore
Sarah Palin
Michael Peroutka
Rick Perry
Howard Phillips
Pat Robertson
Gayle Ruzicka
Rick Santorum
Tom Tancredo
Organizations
Alliance Defending Freedom
American Decency Association
American Family Association
American Life League
Concerned Women for America
Focus on the Family
Foundation for Moral Law
Moral Majority
Morality in Media
National Organization for Marriage
National Right to Life Committee
Think tanks
Eagle Forum
Family Research Council
Heritage Foundation
Institute on the Constitution
Traditional Values Coalition
Political parties
America First Party
American Solidarity Party
America's Party
Christian Liberty Party
Constitution Party
Prohibition Party
Republican Party
See also
Christian Right
Culture wars
Manhattan Declaration
Paleoconservatism
Conservatism portal
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=School_prayer&oldid=831702441"
Categories:
Prayer
Religion and education
Religion and children
Hidden categories:
Webarchive template wayback links
All articles with failed verification
Articles with failed verification from February 2016
Wikipedia articles in need of updating from March 2018
All Wikipedia articles in need of updating
Navigation menu
Personal tools
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Namespaces
Article
Talk
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
More
Search
Navigation
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Wikipedia store
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact page
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Wikidata item
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version
Languages
Deutsch
Edit links
This page was last edited on 21 March 2018, at 21:03.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Contact Wikipedia
Developers
Cookie statement
Mobile view
Enable previews

values: mw-page-base noprint

values: mw-head-base noprint

values: firstHeading firstHeading en

values: siteSub noprint

values: jump-to-nav mw-jump

values: /wiki/Schools mw-redirect Schools

values:
/wiki/Freedom_of_conscience
mw-redirect
Freedom of conscience

values: /wiki/Laicism mw-redirect Laicism

values: Edit section: Countries that prohibit school-sponsored prayer

values:
/wiki/Public_school_(government_funded)
mw-redirect
Public school (government funded)

values: Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment

values: Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

values: Edit section: School prayer prior to 1962

values: The material near this tag failed verification of its source citation(s). (February 2016)

values:
/wiki/King_James_Bible
mw-redirect
King James Bible

values: Edit section: A Turning Point: The "Regents' Prayer" and Engel v. Vitale

values:
/wiki/New_York_Board_of_Regents
mw-redirect
New York Board of Regents

values:
/wiki/Lord%E2%80%99s_Prayer
mw-redirect
Lord’s Prayer

values: Edit section: Russow v. British Columbia

values: Edit section: Countries that permit school-sponsored prayer

values: plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Update

values:
/wiki/State_schools
mw-redirect
State schools

values: Collective Worship (schools in England and Wales)

values:
/wiki/Secondary_schools
mw-redirect
Secondary schools

values: Edit section: Arguments for and against school prayer

values: -moz-column-width: 30em; -webkit-column-width: 30em; column-width: 30em; list-style-type: decimal;

values: Template talk:American social conservatism

values: Anti-pornography movement in the United States

values:
/wiki/Drug_prohibition
mw-redirect
Drug prohibition

values:
/wiki/William_F._Buckley,_Jr.
mw-redirect
William F. Buckley, Jr.

values:
/wiki/Morality_in_Media
mw-redirect
Morality in Media

values:
/wiki/Christian_Right
mw-redirect
Christian Right

values: Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience

values: nowraplinks hlist collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner

values: Category:Webarchive template wayback links

values: Category:All articles with failed verification

values: Category:Articles with failed verification from February 2016

values: Category:Wikipedia articles in need of updating from March 2018

values: Category:All Wikipedia articles in need of updating

values: Discussion about edits from this IP address [ctrl-alt-n]

values: A list of edits made from this IP address [ctrl-alt-y]

values: You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory

values: You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [ctrl-alt-o]

values:
/wiki/School_prayer
View the content page [ctrl-alt-c]
c

values: Discussion about the content page [ctrl-alt-t]

values: About the project, what you can do, where to find things

values: A list of recent changes in the wiki [ctrl-alt-r]

values: portal navigation p-interaction p-interaction-label

values: List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [ctrl-alt-j]

values: Recent changes in pages linked from this page [ctrl-alt-k]

values:
/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard
Upload files [ctrl-alt-u]
u

values: A list of all special pages [ctrl-alt-q]

values: Permanent link to this revision of the page

values: Link to connected data repository item [ctrl-alt-g]

values: Printable version of this page [ctrl-alt-p]

values: mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-School_prayer rootpage-School_prayer skin-vector action-view


text:
Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
hideThis article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (October 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
(Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show
Created by
Ego Trip
Directed by
Mike L. Taylor
Starring
MC Serch
Country of origin
United States
Original language(s)
English
No. of seasons
1
No. of episodes
8
Production
Executive producer(s)
Sacha Jenkins, Elliott Wilson, Chairman Jefferson Mao, Gabriel Alvarez, Brent Rollins
Producer(s)
Ken Mok / 10x10 entertainment
Running time
60 minutes
Release
Original network
VH1
Original release
January 8 – February 26, 2007
Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show is an American reality television series created by Ego Trip magazine that first aired on VH1. In the show, ten white rappers compete with each other for the chance at a $100,000 grand prize. The show is based in the South Bronx, with MC Serch (from the group 3rd Bass) serving as the host. At the end of each show, one rapper was eliminated.
Each episode followed a different theme in hip hop culture and music, evolving the contestants from wannabe white rappers to full-fledged and multi-faceted hip hop acts.
Contents
[hide]
1 Episode Progress
2 Episodes
2.1 Episode 1
2.2 Episode 2
2.3 Episode 3
2.4 Episode 4
2.5 Episode 5
2.6 Episode 6
2.7 Episode 7
2.8 Episode 8
3 External links
Episode Progress[edit]
Cast
Rank
Contestants
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
$hamrock WIN WIN LOW LOW WIN IN IN WIN
2
John Brown LOW LOW IN WIN LOW IN LOW OUT
3
Jus Rhyme WIN WIN IN WIN WIN LOW OUT
4
Persia WIN LOW IN WIN WIN OUT
5
Jon Boy LOW WIN IN WIN OUT
6
Sullee WIN LOW LOW LOW QUIT
7
100 Proof LOW IN LOW OUT
8
G-Child WIN WIN OUT
9
Misfit LOW OUT
10
Dasit OUT
The contestant won the competition
The contestant was the runner-up.
The contestant was safe.
The contestant won the challenge but put up for elimination.
The contestant was eliminated
The contestant won the challenge.
The contestant was up for elimination.
The contestant quit the competition.
Episodes[edit]
This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. Please help by spinning off or relocating any relevant information, and removing excessive detail that may be against Wikipedia's inclusion policy. (October 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Episode 1[edit]
The first episode details the casting audition; out of all of the rappers that show up, ten are chosen: Dasit, Jon Boy, Misfit, Sullee, Persia, John Brown, 100 Proof, $hamrock, Jus Rhyme, and G-Child. The 10 chosen are then introduced to their new home in the South Bronx, "Tha White House," which has been designed and furnished to "keep the true essence of hip hop," as opposed to a typical, lavishly designed and furnished reality show house. Early on, trouble brews between John Brown and Persia. Due to John Brown's vague talk about a "ghetto revival" and his claims of his status as "King of the 'Burbs," and due to her pent up frustration, she challenges him to a freestyle battle, which John Brown seems hesitant to do. Sullee enters the fray, as well, but Persia restrains him. Next, she grabs her dildo and shoves it in John Brown's face.
The next day, because of her constant use of the word "nigga" during the altercation, she has to wear an exceptionally large and heavy "N-Word chain" for 24 hours, while the cast goes to a miniature golf course. While leaving the golf course, Persia breaks down, claiming that she "made herself look like an idiot," and she learned her lesson.
The next day, the cast is split into two teams: one group consists of Misfit, Dasit, 100 Proof, Jon Boy, and John Brown as captain; the other has $hamrock, Sullee, Jus Rhyme, G-Child, and Persia as captain. Persia's team receives good reviews on their rapping skills by their neighbors in the South Bronx, but John Brown's team does not.
The team who lost the "Meet the Neighbors" challenge is sent to elimination. At elimination, where contestants are supposed to write a verse about their experiences that day, Dasit is eliminated because he did not prepare a verse; when asked why, he claims that "he likes to hear music" when writing songs, and he also criticized the challenge which demanded he write a rhyme in time for the elimination. An infuriated MC Serch tells him off for his lack of effort and announces his elimination. As Dasit leaves the house he is ambushed by someone costumed as a giant cockroach wielding a large can of "Step Off!" spray that, "Eliminates Wackness with Quickness."
Episode 2[edit]
After Dasit's exit, the others wonder why he refused to write a rap for the previous elimination round. Meanwhile, Sullee and Misfit strike up a flirtation.
A jail bus arrives to take the white rappers to meet hip hop pioneers such as Fabel, from the Zulu Nation, and Kurtis Blow, one of the first mainstream rap artists. The rappers are offered the opportunity to dance, but only Jus Rhyme, G-Child, and Sullee dance; while none necessarily excels at their breakdance attempts, all of the rappers feel that Jus Rhyme did particularly bad, with one rapper noting he "looked like he was trying to dance bad on purpose." After they meet Fabel and Kurtis Blow, the rappers are brought to a church, where they are tested on their rap trivia knowledge, in a "Name That Tune" style competition called "U Betta Recognize." Persia, 100 Proof, and John Brown make it to the final round, but 100 Proof wins, which earns him a "ghetto pass," excusing him from elimination activities.
The other eight participants are split into two groups and told to create a group rap on the topic of respect. One group consists of G-Child, Jon Boy, Jus Rhyme, and $hamrock; the other group consists of Persia, Misfit, John Brown, and Sullee. G-Child's group encourages her to feel confident and participate. In the other group, Misfit disappears for a while, while the other three write lyrics. Grandmaster Caz helps MC Serch judge the competition. While the judges agree that both presentations are good, Grandmaster Caz voices his objections over the first group's use of profanity, which he deems "not necessary," and G-Child, Jon Boy, Jus Rhyme, and $hamrock win the competition.
In the morning, the competitors receive a "Mayo" (video mail) message from MC Serch, hinting that they will battle their own worst enemy — themselves. The rappers facing elimination begin thinking about what they can say to make fun of themselves, with the exception of Misfit, who says she has "plenty of stuff" to say about herself, but none of it bad.
At the elimination competition, Persia, Misfit, John Brown, and Sullee are put in the "Ice Ice Chamber" to write their self-deprecating raps. After 30 minutes, they emerge. Sullee goes first and delivers a light-hearted self-attack, even poking fun at how he "slept with Misfit for three nights but didn't seal the deal." John Brown mentions each of his catch phrases ("ghetto revival," "hallelujah hollaback," etc.), and makes fun of it. Persia's rap starts off well, but she forgets the end and gives up. Misfit's rap is not actually self-deprecating, and contains many of the same ideas as her other raps.
MC Serch and Prince Paul deliberate. They agree that Sullee's rap was excellent and clever; John Brown's rap was unexpectedly self-deprecating, but not that interesting otherwise; Persia started well, but lost points by giving up; and that Misfit seemed to be resting on her laurels and not really following the rules. For that reason, they decide to eliminate Misfit, a decision which MC Serch says "hurts [his] heart a little."
Misfit hands over her sneakers and MC Serch throws them over the clothesline, saying, "Sorry, Sullee, [but] you're not gonna get to close the deal."
As Misfit leaves the house, she is stopped by a Nuyorican popsicle vendor and is given a popsicle by a group of girls, who tell her to "Step off!" Then, Misfit bites into the popsicle and the screen shatters into frozen pieces.
Episode 3[edit]
In the morning, the rappers get a Mayo-mail, in which Serch tells them that they look terrible and so he's arranged for them to go a barber shop to get cleaned up. G-Child claims that she's been feeling sick, vomiting and feverish, and decides to stay home. At the barber shop, the white rappers attempt to win over the customers, with varying degrees of success.
$hamrock, G-Child, Sullee, and 100 Proof now face elimination. For the elimination challenge, each rapper selects a slice of bread from the "white loaf," each with a somewhat different topic: Sullee gets "white power"; G-Child gets "white trash"; 100 Proof gets "whitewash," and $hamrock gets "white guilt." They go to the Ice Ice Chamber to write their raps, and return 30 minutes later to perform them.
Afterward, Serch and Prince Paul confer to discuss the performance and who should be cut. They agree that 100 Proof's flow and energy was great (though his rhymes are too simple); that G-Child's performance was too halting, reminiscent of Vanilla Ice's style; that $hamrock was intense, heart-felt and "tremendous"; and that Sullee very much let them down because he completely forgot half his rap for several moments. It comes down to Sullee and G-Child. Sullee says he should stay in the house because he's "hungry," even though he made some mistakes. G-Child says that whatever will be, will be — but that she thinks she can win and wants to win. Serch tells Sullee that he was a disappointment, but then reveals that G-Child is eliminated. She hands in her sneakers, hugging Serch before she leaves. Serch tosses her shoes up on the clothesline, saying, "Alright, G-Child, be easy."
The show fades out with a shot of G-Child on a milk box (labeled with "Sour Milk" and "You Ain't Fresh"), as if she's a lost child.
Episode 4[edit]
This episode starts with a closer view into Jus Rhyme's white-deprecating personality.
The first challenge starts with the rappers split into two teams, The red team consists of Jus Rhyme, Persia, Jon Boy, and John Brown; and the blue team consists of $hamrock, 100 Proof, and Sullee. The teams are to come up with some lyrics to record in a professional studio. While planning their performance, Sullee and 100 Proof break out the liquor to loosen their nerves. They later travel to the studio in Manhattan where the audio will be mastered by producer Just Blaze and his associates, DJ Nastee and Ryan West. Each team is allocated two hours to record a song. During the recording session, the white rappers are continuing to show their disinterest in Jus Rhyme's unique perspective on things. Persia later describes him as "an odd soul." During the recording, $hamrock hears himself on a sour note and appears surprised at himself. The red team ends their record with a shout-out from Just Blaze. The results of the competition will be determined later when the recordings are played at a local club.
After the recording session, the members of La Coka Nostra come by Tha White House to chill out with the white rappers. They share experiences of being white rappers with the competitors.
The white rappers awaken and are soon met by MC Serch to take the white rappers to a local New York strip club called Sin City. The winner of the recording competition will be determined by how well two strippers dance to each team's song. Kool Keith, whose songs usually pertain to strippers and strip clubs, is there to help in the judging of the competition. When the dancing starts to the blue team's song, Sullee and $hamrock begin tossing dollar bills at the strippers. The red team was criticized for "rapping separately" and lacking unison. The blue team was criticized for being too choppy. The red team wins and they were awarded with lap dances.
The next day starts out with a scene of 100 Proof peeing in the sink after a long night of drinking. The rappers have "Mayo" — the blue team is facing elimination. Prince Paul is assisting in judging the elimination challenge. The blue team blindly grabs objects from the Mayo jar and is asked to put them on their heads. The objects are G-strings with a word on them. $hamrock's word is "Ballers," Sullee's is "Booze," and 100 Proof's is "Broads." The contestants are to make a verse about their words in the Ice Ice Chamber. Sullee stumbles again with a blank. The suspense continues when 100 Proof also hits a blank. 100 Proof is given criticism for being redundant and not modern. Sullee is criticized for stumbling again. In the end, 100 Proof is asked to step off.
The exit scene contains the same "step off" roach from the first episode as well as a damsel in distress hiding behind 100 Proof while the roach is chasing her. During the episode, the same roach (someone in a costume) can be seen enjoying the club, as a young woman smiles at it graciously and counts a large amount of money in her hands.
Episode 5[edit]
This episode gets started right away with a fashion-themed challenge. After a meeting with fashion entrepreneur Marc Ecko the contestants are asked to go shopping and put together the most stylish look. The contestants are split into two teams. Team one is $hamrock, Jus Rhyme, and Persia; team two is Jon Boy, John Brown, and Sullee. The contest will be judged by Marc Ecko.
Again, Jus Rhyme annoys his teammates with his incompatible style. Team one names their theme "Gangsta's Paradise," while team two name themselves "Grown-Ass Men." After all of the shopping is done, Jon Boy puts on a gratuitous exhibition of his rhymes in front of a seemingly unimpressed crowd.
Later, over dinner, the contestants discuss their disapproval of Jon Boy's "public appearance" on the street.
The teams gets in "Tha Vans" and go to the fashion show. Upon arrival, they see that Kwamé is there to help judge. The contestants are surprised to see that they won't be modeling their clothes, but a bunch of well-behaved dogs — as in a dog show. Persia wins the contest for her team with her use of matching red pumps on her dog. Sullee is immediately faced with a realization that he'll be up for elimination for the third time in a row. He's not at all happy about the situation.
Upon returning to Tha White House, the contestants are presented with a second challenge. The teams are given some CDs and asked to study and plan that night, and shoot a music video with some stylish and some not so stylish props. After the teams select their props, MC Serch rolls out an enormous, rattling animal cage, covered by a red sheet and containing Bushwick Bill (of the Geto Boys) wearing a Hannibal Lecter mask. MC Serch announces that Bushwick Bill will be helping team one to make their video.
Some candid footage shows that Grown-Ass Men (John Brown, Jon Boy, and Sullee) are not working well together and are having some trouble showing their creativity with each other. The teams begin recording the audio of their videos with sound engineer, Frankyee. In the studio, Grown-Ass Men are again showing their creative differences. Meanwhile, Gangsta's Paradise (Persia, Jus Rhyme, and $hamrock) is having a great time making their recording.
For the video recording phase, Choke shows up to direct Gangsta's Paradise, and Israel shows up to direct Grown-Ass Men. Gangsta's Paradise has the advantage of Bushwick Bill's guest appearance, but also has to use elderly women in their video. Meanwhile, Grown-Ass Men are taking full advantage of the young ladies in their video.
After the teams finish the videos, they get a “Mayo” message about the judging of the videos. Little X is coming to judge. Grown-Ass Men presents their video called “She's a Stunner,” and Gangsta's Paradise presents their video called “Old School Music.” Little X criticizes Grown-Ass Men for using typical elements and falling into the hip hop "trap." MC Serch criticizes Gangsta's Paradise for being “too cheesy” and criticizes Grown-Ass Men for putting together a mediocre video. Nevertheless, Gangsta's Paradise is declared the winner.
The challenge for the losing team is go in the Ice Ice Chamber and write 16 bars about the flaws of their other team members. MC Serch warns them that he will eliminate all of them if they all come out "soft." While sentencing the team, MC Serch becomes furious that John Brown is giggling. The interviews show that none of the team is happy about the latest challenge: None of them wants to be a “snitch.”
For the elimination challenge, Sullee insists on reading his rhymes, during which he concedes and kicks off his sneakers mid-verse. After giving him a second chance, MC Serch politely shows Sullee the door. Jon Boy raps but his verses are about taking personal responsibility for the team's loss and refusing to criticize his team members. John Brown is the only one who raps about his team members' flaws. Despite Sullee quitting, Jon Boy is also eliminated for not fulfilling the challenge.
After seeing two pairs of shoes being hanged, the exit scene shows the roach directing a scene as a bikini-clad girl yells, “Step off!” and smacks a clapper-board shut.
Episode 6[edit]
The overarching theme of the episode is "thugism." In beginning of Episode 6, the four remaining rappers appeared on the Miss Jones in the Morning radio show on New York hip-hop station "Hot 97". The rappers introduced themselves, and got a chance to freestyle. Listeners called in and said that the rappers would not make it in New York. During this event, a comment that John Brown made in reference to Clear Channel Communications gets him thrown out of the room; Miss Jones later explains that Hot 97 was, at the time, in a legal dispute with Clear Channel, who owns rival New York hip-hop station "Power 105.1". After the interview, mainly due to John Brown's comments, Persia reignites her rivalry with John Brown, blaming most of the embarrassment of the interview on him. Later on, $hamrock also questions John Brown's authenticity; he claims that Brown acts like a "robot," mainly due to Brown's "ghetto revival" statements and choosing not to open up to his roommates.
Later in the episode, a fashion designer came and fitted the rappers with "thug" clothing that he felt represented the areas where the rappers were from. $hamrock comments on the irony pertaining to the clothes that he was given: He, initially, wore long shorts and a black shirt, and ended up with, basically, long shorts and a black shirt, albeit with the small addition of a bandanna and hat.
The remaining four rappers were faced with a "thug challenge" obstacle course. They had to catch three bags in a shopping cart (catch a case); run it (push weight) to a (rat) piñata; destroy it and collect two dollars worth of (drop dime) dimes; run the dimes to a store and exchange for lock cutters; steal (boost) a bike; and return to Tha White House. Jus Rhyme won this challenge.
During this challenge, Persia experienced difficulties in breathing. After the challenge, she was found unconscious in the bathroom. An ambulance took her to the hospital. After being told she was simply dehydrated, Persia left the hospital on her own.
Since Jus Rhyme won the previous challenge, he was invited to have a dinner with hip hop and reggaeton star, N.O.R.E.. He was allowed to pick one fellow contestant to go with him; he chooses John Brown. While the two are away, $hamrock and Persia comment on how absurd a dinner with the "King of the 'Burbs," a completely "non-thug" rapper, and N.O.R.E. would actually be. At the dinner, N.O.R.E. appears to leave early. However, Jus Rhyme explained in his exit interview with VH1 that N.O.R.E. had been waiting for over an hour and a half for him and Brown and had an engagement he needed to get to within a half-hour of their arriving.
At elimination, all four rappers were required to participate. The theme of the rap was "thug" versions of old nursery rhymes. They picked crayons out of a "Thugola" crayon box to determine which rhyme they had to base off. When the rappers went to perform, Persia stumbled on her rhyme halfway through. After everyone went, MC Serch told her to get back up and try again, but she refused.
During Serch and Prince Paul's discussion of who should be eliminated, both agreed that Jus Rhyme's verse was horrible and embarrassing, and that he was merely attempting to be a thug when he really wasn't. When discussing Persia, Prince Paul made mention of her stumbling under pressure, while Serch stated that the ten lyrics that she did recite were far superior to anything that Jus Rhyme had said.
When they go back to the rappers and are about to announce who will be eliminated, Serch comments that Persia's rhymes, before her stumble, "crushed" Jus Rhyme's. However, Persia ends up being eliminated because she would not try to continue her rap, and she leaves Tha White House in tears.
Persia leaves in the back seat of an undercover police cruiser, after being told that she's held down the block for long enough, in her exit scene. The license plate of the car says "STEP OFF."
Episode 7[edit]
John Brown, $hamrock, and Jus Rhyme are the last three left in the house, and the tension seems crazier as they prepare for their next challenge. MC Serch enters the house and tells the three to pack their bags because they are going to Detroit, "The Mecca of White Rap" (a tongue-in-cheek reference to the city being the birthplace of white acts Kid Rock, Insane Clown Posse, and Eminem). But before they leave, Jus Rhyme gets bad news: He lost his fellowship at the University of Southern California for his Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies due to being on the show.
Upon arriving in Detroit, the three meet up with Serch, who introduces them to their temporary home — a trailer appropriately named "the House of D," (which wasn't really in the inner city of Detroit). He also tells the trio what their next elimination challenge will be: a battle. He explains that the three will be at a distinct disadvantage participating in a battle as a white "foreigner," so Serch gives the three the opportunity to quickly practice their battle rhymes on him. $hamrock is having trouble coming up with a rap, admitting that he doesn't freestyle. Serch offers each contestant advice, telling them to stay on their game ($hamrock), not try to make a song (John Brown), and make sure the people get what you're saying by keeping with a distinct rhyme pattern (Jus Rhyme).
After settling in, Serch takes the group to Detroit's legendary Hip Hop Shop, where they learn about the early Detroit scene. The group later meet up with Insane Clown Posse at their Royal Oak headquarters and Kid Rock in his Clarkston, Michigan home. Both discuss growing up in suburbia as well as Detroit, as well as having to deal with being the white kid in a predominantly black city.
Next up for the three is a challenge entitled "Marshall's Law" based on the contestants' knowledge of Eminem's responses given in various interviews. The first contestant to answer eight multiple choice questions correctly, advancing one space (Mile) along a game board from 1 to 8 Mile, wins the game. John Brown wins the challenge and the prize — accommodations at the five-star Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan. He opts to share his prize with $hamrock, leaving Jus Rhyme at the trailer alone. While $hamrock and John Brown are enjoying the lavish treatment of the "baller suite," Jus Rhyme writes and practices his battle raps for the next day's elimination.
The next day, Serch brings Jus Rhyme, $hamrock, and John Brown to the legendary Shelter in the basement of St. Andrews Hall, the inspiration for the film 8 Mile. Each of the three chooses an elite Detroit battle rapper to go against. $hamrock battled against Bareda. He was able to get in a few insults but stumbled, unable to continue in the second round of his battle. Jus Rhyme battled against La Peace. Similar to $hamrock, he also stumbled a bit, but he had some trouble getting in his punchlines over the crowd noise. John Brown got in the most punchlines but also got crushed the worst by Detroit rap legend Lo Louis from the Cardiboys. After deliberating with their opponents, Serch chooses to eliminate Jus Rhyme. He vows to continue working towards his Ph.D., despite losing his fellowship grant, and continuing with his group, AR-15. His shoes are "thrown from Detroit," where they land on the wire back in the Bronx.
Jus Rhyme walks out of The Shelter in shame and is left with a message from Kid Rock telling him to "step off." In a pre-recorded clip, Kid Rock hits a billiard 8-ball, which appears to crush Jus Rhyme — the ball has the number "8" replaced with "step off."
During commercial breaks, VH-1 included Behind the Music footage of Persia, which revealed that she was able to secure a record deal since leaving the show.
Episode 8[edit]
After eight eliminations, only John Brown and $hamrock remain in the competition for $100,000. Serch tells the two that the final challenge will involve performance. But before the two can perform, they must prepare.
Fat Joe visits the two rappers and gives them a pep talk about performance. He tells them to feel and enjoy what they do. Serch then gives $hamrock and John Brown an opportunity to practice: They are going to perform at halftime of a basketball game at Harlem's Rucker Park.
The performances for $hamrock and John Brown are polar opposites; while John Brown is able to flawlessly get through his 16-bar rhyme and entertain the crowd, $hamrock has problems with his microphone not working. Later, as he is rapping, his grill becomes loose in his mouth and he nearly swallows and chokes on the mouthpiece. Later, Serch gives critiques on the rappers, stating that while John Brown was able to get through his rhyme flawlessly, he was visibly nervous, clutching the mic with both hands as they shook.
Eventually, it's time for the rappers to begin their final challenge: to not only write an entire song (verses, chorus, hook), but to also write a 16-bar verse and be prepared to perform both of them. They are both given CDs of beats and sent to create. The next day, Serch brings a gift for the two — close friends of $hamrock and John Brown are invited to hang out with them for a while. While $hamrock is excited to see his friend, Black Josh, whom $hamrock credits for getting him to actually get out and rap in public, John Brown is less-than excited by his guest, Blaise Delacroix II, who isn't even a member of his "Ghetto Revival" crew. John Brown also says that he is only focused on the task at hand, and has no time for visitors at the time. Eventually, the guests leave, and it's only John Brown and $hamrock left to finish their preparations.
The next day, $hamrock and John Brown pack up and leave Tha White House for the last time. They are also given a clue as to their final performance: that it's going to be "hell." The two are brought to an unnamed club, where they walk down a series of stairs into the basement. There, R.A. the Rugged Man, dressed in a Satan outfit, is finishing his own set, while "flames" spew. Backstage, John Brown and $hamrock are going through their final preparations, and Serch tells the two rappers that he is proud of them for making it this far.
It's performance time. In front of a capacity crowd and four judges — producer Clinton Sparks, former A&R executive Dante Ross, Prince Paul, and Serch himself — John Brown and $hamrock come out to a chorus of applause. Round one of the performance challenge is for the rappers to perform their 16-bar rap. Both make it through their songs without a hitch, but while John Brown is stationary on the stage, combining deft wordplay with a tight flow, $hamrock is energetic, playing to the audience and bouncing all over the stage. Round two of the challenge is the performance of the rappers' songs. John Brown performs "Car Wars," a song about how the suburban lifestyle is maintained by taking resources from other countries. $hamrock's song is called "Fly Away," a song telling haters to leave him alone and let him do his thing. Once again, both rappers successfully perform their songs in their own way, with a stationary John Brown reciting clever lyrics, while $hamrock energizes the crowd.
The judges convene and discuss the two performances. While John Brown had superior lyrics to the "been-done-before" $hamrock, he appeared nervous. Dante Ross maintains that current mainstream rap music isn't about lyricism; "it's about making good records;" $hamrock was able to work the crowd much better and make that "hot" song. $hamrock is chosen as the winner, and is told by Serch to "Step Up!" $hamrock receives a large trophy and states that his winnings will be going towards repaying Black Josh for paying $ham's rent while he was away, and also taking care of his parents and his sister who was starting college.
External links[edit]
The (White) Rapper Show – Official Website
Audio interview with Brent Rollins and Gabriel Alvarez on public radio program The Sound of Young America
Elliott Wilson (show producer) interview
John Brown Interview
hide
v
t
e
VH1 original programming
Current
America's Next Top Model (since 2016)
Baller Wives (since 2017)
Basketball Wives (since 2010–13; 2017)
VH1 Beauty Bar (since 2018)
Black Ink Crew (since 2013)
Black Ink Crew: Chicago (since 2015)
Hip Hop Squares (since 2017)
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta (since 2012)
Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood (since 2014)
Love & Hip Hop: Miami (since 2018)
Love & Hip Hop: New York (since 2011)
Leave It to Stevie (since 2016)
Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party (since 2016)
RuPaul's Drag Race (since 2016)
Scared Famous (since 2017)
Signed (since 2017)
Teyana & Iman (since 2018)
Former
2000s debuts
America's Most Smartest Model (2007)
Breaking Bonaduce (2005–06)
Brooke Knows Best (2008–09)
But Can They Sing? (2005)
Celebracadabra (2008)
Celebrity Fit Club (2005–2010)
Celebrity Paranormal Project (2006–07)
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (2008–2012)
Charm School (2007–09)
The Cho Show (2008)
Confessions of a Teen Idol (2009)
Daisy of Love (2009)
Dice: Undisputed (2007)
Eddie Griffin: Going For Broke (2009)
The Fabulous Life of... (2003–2013)
Flavor of Love (2006–08)
For the Love of Ray J (2009–2010)
Free Radio (2008–09)
Glam God with Vivica A. Fox (2008)
Hogan Knows Best (2005–07)
I Know My Kid's a Star (2008)
I Love Money (2008–2010)
I Love New York (2007–08)
I Want to Work for Diddy (2008–2010)
Kept (2005)
Megan Wants a Millionaire (2009)
Ego Trip's Miss Rap Supreme (2008)
Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show (2007)
My Antonio (2009)
My Fair Brady (2005–08)
New York Goes to Hollywood (2008)
New York Goes to Work (2009)
The Pick-up Artist (2007–08)
Real Chance of Love (2008–09)
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels (2007–09)
The Salt-N-Pepa Show (2007–08)
Scott Baio Is 45...and Single (2007)
Scott Baio Is 46...and Pregnant (2008)
Scream Queens (2008–2010)
Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew (2009)
So Notorious (2006)
Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House (2009–2010)
Strange Love (2005)
The Surreal Life (2004–06)
The Surreal Life: Fame Games (2007)
The T.O. Show (2009–2011)
Tool Academy (2009–2010)
Tough Love (2009–2013)
¡Viva Hollywood! (2008)
2010s debuts
The Amber Rose Show (2016)
Atlanta Exes (2014)
Barely Famous (2015–16)
Basketball Wives LA (2011–16)
Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business (2010–11)
The Breaks (2017)
Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It (2010)
Candidly Nicole (2014–15)
Chrissy & Mr. Jones (2012–13)
Couples Therapy (2012–15)
Dad Camp (2010)
Daytime Divas (2017)
Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn (2016)
Fantasia for Real (2010)
Frank the Entertainer in a Basement Affair (2010)
The Gossip Game (2013)
Hit the Floor (2013–16)
Hollywood Exes (2012–14)
K. Michelle: My Life (2014–17)
Mario Lopez: Saved by the Baby (2010–11)
Miami Monkey (2013)
My Big Friggin' Wedding (2010)
Mob Wives (2011–16)
Mob Wives Chicago (2012)
Mob Wives: The Sit Down (2012)
Money Hungry (2010)
Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch (2010)
The OCD Project (2010)
Real and Chance: The Legend Hunters (2010)
Ricky Martin: Behind the Vegas Residency (2017)
Stevie J & Joseline: Go Hollywood (2016)
This Is Hot 97 (2014)
T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle (2011–17)
Ton of Cash (2011)
VH1 Live! (2016)
What Chilli Wants (2010–11)
The X-Life (2011)
You're Cut Off! (2010–11)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ego_Trip%27s_The_(White)_Rapper_Show&oldid=835884142"
Categories:
2000s American television series
American reality television series
VH1 television series
English-language television programs
2007 American television series debuts
2007 American television series endings
Hip hop television
Hidden categories:
Articles that may contain original research from October 2016
All articles that may contain original research
Articles lacking sources from October 2016
All articles lacking sources
Articles with multiple maintenance issues
Wikipedia articles needing style editing from October 2016
All articles needing style editing
Wikipedia articles that are excessively detailed from October 2016
All articles that are excessively detailed
Navigation menu
Personal tools
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Namespaces
Article
Talk
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
More
Search
Navigation
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Wikipedia store
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact page
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Wikidata item
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version
Languages
Add links
This page was last edited on 11 April 2018, at 10:38.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Contact Wikipedia
Developers
Cookie statement
Mobile view
Enable previews

key: html

type: local

value: div

attrs: id class

values: mw-page-base noprint

values: mw-head-base noprint

value: a

value: i

attrs: id class lang

values: firstHeading firstHeading en

values: siteSub noprint

attrs: class href

values: mw-jump-link #mw-head

values: mw-jump-link #p-search

value: img

attrs: alt src width height srcset data-file-width data-file-height

value: td

value: span

attrs: class role tabindex

value: b

attrs: href title

value: small

values: plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Original_research

values: Help:Introduction to referencing with Wiki Markup/1

values: plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced

values:
mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible
width:95%; margin: 0.2em 0;

values: plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-multiple_issues compact-ambox

values: text-align:center;font-size:125%;font-weight:bold;font-style: italic; background: #CCCCFF; padding: 0.25em 1em; line-height: 1.5em;

values: text-align:center;background: #CCCCFF; padding: 0.25em 1em; line-height: 1.5em;

values:
/wiki/Bronx,_New_York
mw-redirect
Bronx, New York

attrs: alt src width height class srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: background-color:limegreen; color:black; border:1px solid darkgray; text-align:center;

values: background-color:lightblue; color:black; border:1px solid darkgray; text-align:center;

values: background-color:white; color:black; border:1px solid darkgray; text-align:center;

values: background-color:orange; color:black; border:1px solid darkgray; text-align:center;

values: background-color:tomato; color:black; border:1px solid darkgray; text-align:center;

values: background-color:cornflowerblue; color:black; border:1px solid darkgray; text-align:center;

values: background-color:pink; color:black; border:1px solid darkgray; text-align:center;

values: background-color:purple; color:white; border:1px solid darkgray; text-align:center;

values: plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-style ambox-overly_detailed

values:
/wiki/La_Coka_Nostra_(hiphop_group)
mw-redirect
La Coka Nostra (hiphop group)

values:
/wiki/Clear_Channel_Communications
mw-redirect
Clear Channel Communications

values:
/wiki/Freestyle_battle
mw-redirect
Freestyle battle

values:
/wiki/8_Mile_Road
mw-redirect
8 Mile Road

values:
/wiki/The_Sound_of_Young_America
mw-redirect
The Sound of Young America

values: nowraplinks hlist collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible

values: Category:2000s American television series

values: Category:American reality television series

values: Category:2007 American television series debuts

values: Category:2007 American television series endings

values: Category:Articles that may contain original research from October 2016

values: Category:All articles that may contain original research

values: Category:Articles lacking sources from October 2016

values: Category:Articles with multiple maintenance issues

values: Category:Wikipedia articles needing style editing from October 2016

values: Category:All articles needing style editing

values: Category:Wikipedia articles that are excessively detailed from October 2016

values: Category:All articles that are excessively detailed

values: Discussion about edits from this IP address [ctrl-alt-n]

values: p-namespaces navigation vectorTabs p-namespaces-label

values:
p-variants
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-variants-label

values: Past revisions of this page [ctrl-alt-h]

values: p-views navigation vectorTabs p-views-label

values:
p-cactions
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-cactions-label

values:
mw-wiki-logo
/wiki/Main_Page
Visit the main page

values:
/wiki/Main_Page
Visit the main page [ctrl-alt-z]
z

values: Featured content – the best of Wikipedia

values: Find background information on current events

values:
/wiki/Special:Random
Load a random article [ctrl-alt-x]
x

values: portal navigation p-navigation p-navigation-label

values: Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia

values: /static/images/wikimedia-button-1.5x.png 1.5x, /static/images/wikimedia-button-2x.png 2x

values: /static/images/poweredby_mediawiki_132x47.png 1.5x, /static/images/poweredby_mediawiki_176x62.png 2x

values:
suggestions
display: none; font-size: 13px;

values: mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Ego_Trip_s_The_White_Rapper_Show rootpage-Ego_Trip_s_The_White_Rapper_Show skin-vector action-view