So what do the Brooklyn rap group, Flatbush Zombies, and Shakespeare have in common? Shakespeare’s 
most popular plays came from his tragic outlook on the world and twisted mentality when writing. Macbeth, a tragedy written hundreds of years ago, still captivates modern audiences and is considered one of the most taboo productions in history. although at times it can be confusing, this quick video should help you out--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFtCYESosDw. Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses themes like the corrupting power of unchecked ambition to portray Macbeth’s tyrannical activity. He does this by 
including motifs of blood and gruesome violence to expose some of the most twisted corners of the human mind. The Flatbush Zombies pride themselves on their boastful attitudes and violent tyrannical mentality sometimes pushing them towards the brink of insanity. Their lyrics and instrumentals often allude to current horror films and super villains. Their twitter is filled with some outlandish and vulgar content that reflects their personality. (https://twitter.com/flatbushzombies) It’s not hard to infer that Shakespeare had a similar mentality to this three man hip hop group. 
Shakespeare took part in the creation of the modern day storyline including an exposition, climax, and resolution, that most movie directors follow today. An educated guess would be that horror film directors have a natural love for the tragedy section of Shakespeare’s literature. The Flatbush Zombies share a desire for horror films giving them this same natural love for tragedy. Every great super villain has a deep desire for power; they’re willing to do anything they can to reach the top. Macbeth, a super villain in this case, is a courageous Scottish general who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement. He kills Duncan against his better judgment which begins to show the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints. “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Act 1, Scene 4). Here Macbeth is explaining his ambition and ability to move in silence and suppress all that stand in his way. The Flatbush Zombies have a recurring theme of corrupted actions in stride for power by staying one step ahead of their enemies. “Cut my own head off ‘cuz I needed to balance / Ego to big to manage / Not to kill a ni**a everyday probably my biggest challenge” (Did You Ever Think?, Flatbush Zombies) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIoMfcyYXJw). What Macbeth and the Flatbush Zombies have in common is their sense of self-awareness and a powerful ego. Throughout the play, Macbeth’s ego drives him to commit heinous acts of violence to fuel his ego and constant desire for progression. The Flatbush Zombies claim it’s a challenge to hide their violent personality and suppress their egos every single day. Macbeth also had people around him, such as his spouse, Lady Macbeth, that would take
most popular plays came from his tragic outlook on the world and twisted mentality when writing. Macbeth, a tragedy written hundreds of years ago, still captivates modern audiences and is considered one of the most taboo productions in history. although at times it can be confusing, this quick video should help you out--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFtCYESosDw. Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses themes like the corrupting power of unchecked ambition to portray Macbeth’s tyrannical activity. He does this by 
including motifs of blood and gruesome violence to expose some of the most twisted corners of the human mind. The Flatbush Zombies pride themselves on their boastful attitudes and violent tyrannical mentality sometimes pushing them towards the brink of insanity. Their lyrics and instrumentals often allude to current horror films and super villains. Their twitter is filled with some outlandish and vulgar content that reflects their personality. (https://twitter.com/flatbushzombies) It’s not hard to infer that Shakespeare had a similar mentality to this three man hip hop group. Shakespeare took part in the creation of the modern day storyline including an exposition, climax, and resolution, that most movie directors follow today. An educated guess would be that horror film directors have a natural love for the tragedy section of Shakespeare’s literature. The Flatbush Zombies share a desire for horror films giving them this same natural love for tragedy. Every great super villain has a deep desire for power; they’re willing to do anything they can to reach the top. Macbeth, a super villain in this case, is a courageous Scottish general who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement. He kills Duncan against his better judgment which begins to show the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints. “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Act 1, Scene 4). Here Macbeth is explaining his ambition and ability to move in silence and suppress all that stand in his way. The Flatbush Zombies have a recurring theme of corrupted actions in stride for power by staying one step ahead of their enemies. “Cut my own head off ‘cuz I needed to balance / Ego to big to manage / Not to kill a ni**a everyday probably my biggest challenge” (Did You Ever Think?, Flatbush Zombies) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIoMfcyYXJw). What Macbeth and the Flatbush Zombies have in common is their sense of self-awareness and a powerful ego. Throughout the play, Macbeth’s ego drives him to commit heinous acts of violence to fuel his ego and constant desire for progression. The Flatbush Zombies claim it’s a challenge to hide their violent personality and suppress their egos every single day. Macbeth also had people around him, such as his spouse, Lady Macbeth, that would take
“Look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under it” (Act 1,
Scene 5). The people you trust have a great impact on your actions
and decisions. Lady Macbeth spurs her husband mercilessly to kill
Duncan and urges him to be strong in the murder’s aftermath. This
gave Macbeth a grounding that would convince himself his actions are
justified. The Flatbush Zombies are a group of three men that have a
great impact on each other. Explained in their music, they claim to be
an unbreakable bond that can’t be influenced by record labels or other
people in and around their field. They share common goals and don’t want their mentality to be
infringed upon by outside entities. “Got no time for hate statements / They try to keep the bests caged
in that’ why we ragin’ / Sittin’ on some heat that could probably melt a glacier” (Did You Ever think?)
(https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/nyregion/flatbush-zombies-guide-to-flatbush.html). The power
of influence is a common theme between the Flatbush Zombies and Macbeth. It goes to show the
potential power that is harnessed when multiple minds band together with a common objective. In
this case, the objective is power and overlooking all moral constraints to obtain.
As mentioned above, with power comes blood and violence. In order to reach the top Macbeth was forced to discard people’s lives. In his own eyes, these decisions are justified and he was just taking necessary steps to fulfill his fate. “It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood” (Act 3, Scene 4). Blood is a common motif throughout the play representing the constant struggle for power. Violence seemed to be the only way to achieve Macbeth’s ultimate goal. This aligns with the views of many musicians today, especially the Flatbush Zombies. Coming from a neighborhood of drugs and murder, that’s the life they were accustomed to before they entered the
bloodshed. The more people you murder, the
higher in rank you are. “Filled with rage, I split
they face, I’m deranged / Cannot be tamed, I
break they cage / When in range, i twist they face
with six inch blades” (Did You Ever Think). The
“blood is blood” mentality that Macbeth and the
Flatbush Zombies share fuels their ego and at times can even drive them to the brink of insanity.
Dwelling in a world of blood and violence can take a toll on one's mental state. Macbeth takes the life of Duncan and Banquo and quickly begins to spiral downward into a frantic, boastful madness. He begins to hallucinate and see Banquo in his afterlife while at dinner with his faction. “O, full of scorpions is my mind!” (Act 3, scene 2) Macbeth shouts these words as he’s battling to
even further into insanity making the people
around him fear for their own safety. In the final
scene, his castle is crumbling around him and he
proceeds to drench himself in alcohol before
engaging in a knife battle with Macduff. The
Flatbush Zombies combine their boastful attitudes with pure insanity with every verse. “I promise
you that I’m type demented / My mind state? Crime infested / I think I lost my would three years ago
still tryna’ catch it” (Did You Ever Think?). Similar to Macduff, the Flatbush Zombies mental in
plagued with flashbacks of murder
of a traumatic thought and how it can leave a
burn in your mind. Macduff and the Flatbush
Zombies both act as if their souls are lost.
Deteriorating mental states in the direct outcome
of the blood and violence that these figures face
all too often.
Shakespeare’s literature stands the test of time because of his intelligence and ability to tell a gruesome, captivating story. As explained, Macduff can be compared to a modern day rap group, Flatbush Zombies, in all major themes and symbols. The constant strive for power when unchecked by moral constraint drives Macduff and the Flatbush Zombies to commit acts of violence in order to make progression. Through these acts of violence both begin to achieve a demented way of thinking along with a super ego and a boisterous attitude. Macbeth and the Flatbush Zombies would make an epic supergroup if they ever had to chance to collaborate.
Charlie Russo
5/22/18
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