Rap is one of the most influential genres of music in today’s time. Rappers are looked up to like rockstars and it seems that everyone wants to be just like them. They set the trends, they do what it takes to stand out, and the youth follows. Are the things that these rappers are doing to stand out leaving a positive impact on the youth? I believe that many artists are leaving an extremely negative effect on the youth on their quest to gain “Clout”. Clout is a term commonly used by today’s rappers to describe their power, fame, money and influence. Although this term may not have always been around, the concept has always been present in the world of rap. The newest generation of artists have taken this concept too far in a way that is negatively …show more content…
Artists such as Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G told stories through their music. Tupac, who is believed to be the greatest rapper ever by many, often wrote about social issues such as racism and inner city violence. He told stories through his music that had a positive impact on people, or at least attempted to. Kanye West, Eminem, J Cole, and Kendrick Lamar are some of the few artists left who have made influential music in today’s time. In 2004, Kanye West released his debut album “The College Dropout” in which he says “All that’s saying is make your own decisions. Don’t let society tell you, ‘This is what you have to do.” These are the type of messages that have peaked my interest in Hip-Hop. The motivation that Kanye gives through his songs and the confidence that he displays and encourages is something that helps people to do what they want to do and follow their dreams. J cole’s newest album “KOD” which is an acronym meaning “kids on drugs” and “kill our demons”, summarizes a lot of the problems that current rappers have created and the things that he wants to change. The main problem that Cole tries to tackle is substance abuse and his battles with it as well as encouraging people to “chose wisely” when thinking about doing drugs. The phrase “choose wisely” is used with emphasis several times throughout the album. In J coles song “Friends”, he describes that many …show more content…
Robert Preidt of ABC news wrote in an article “Rap music is glamorizing drug use, according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, who found a sixfold increase in drug references in songs over the past two decades.” The article later goes on to back this up with research saying “Of the 38 most popular rap songs between 1979 and 1984, only four (11 percent) contained drug references. By the late 1980s, that increased to 19 percent and by 1993, to 69 percent.”(Preidt). Today, I struggle to find music that isn’t glorifying drugs in some way. On November 15, 2017, the up and coming rapper Lil Peep died from an overdose of xanax. This was different from what usually happens because it seems like in the past, rappers would get into drugs and overdose after their fame. Lil Peep however received all of the attention he was getting, from rapping about drugs. It was apart of his brand. Lil Peeps brother said “It’s what he made his name on. It’s what his image was in a sense.” In the Standford daily, columnist Sejal Jhawer writes “At times, it might seem like the mentality of rappers today is that the more drug references they insert, the more fame they will achieve — that somehow, alluding to drugs is a guaranteed pathway to fame.” This is an example of what could happen to many on their quest for fame in the rap game, or even just as a fan of the
Hip-Hop became characterized by an aggressive tone marked by graphic descriptions of the harshness and diversity of inner-city life. Primarily a medium of popular entertainment, hip-hop also conveys the more serious voices of youth in the black community. Though the approaches of rappers became more varied in the latter half of the 1980s, message hip-hop remained a viable form for addressing the problems faced by the black community and means to solve those problems. The voices of "message" hip...
Hip-hop can demolish citizen. For instance violence in some songs cause the youth to starts fights and also kill citizens. On the other hand, gangs and street thugs are a few examples. However teenagers kills, steals, vandalize, and etc. Therefore, hip hop has produce an negative impact in the world today. It has promoted an unhealthy lifestyle. This is due to attitudes and behaviors of American Youth. In addition, it teaches African American youth to use profanity. Furthermore, american youth does not have no role model when listening to hip-hop.
...atching MTV music shows or any music channel on television. As we continue to watch these programs, we will then notice that almost all the rap and hip-hop artists being shown are African-Americans. It is the particular lifestyle, and behaviour that is connected to what particular artists chose to vocalize about. This usually can harm the image of African-Americans due to the fact that many artists aid in the misconceptions of their particular race such as the example provided with 50 Cent’s song entitled P.I.M.P. These lyrics and song titles simply reinforce the negative image some individuals may have of both Caucasian’s and people of colour. Rap and hip-hop is one of the most intimate, personal, legitimate and important art form. Instead of perpetuating injustice, and prejudice artists should be addressing these different issues in a different matter.
Blair, M Elizabeth. "Commercialization of the Rap Music Youth Subculture." Rpt. in That’s the Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Reader. Ed. Murray Forman and Mark Anthony Neal. New York, NY: Routledge, 2004. 497-504. Print.
Knowing the purpose of the Hip-Hop culture was to be the new improved of the civil rights movement is devastating. Jay Z and Kanye West are not looked at as being a Martin Luther King Jr. or a Malcolm X but they are still idealized as being the best. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X fought for our rights where Mr. Jay and Kanye only fighting for album sales. There is a difference between what Hip-Hop supposes to be and what Hip-Hop turned out to be. The black youth is seeing Hip-Hop as being a culture where nothing is important, but wealth and not realizing the crisis they are in. Taking a break and looking back in history, the youth will notice, “denial of education played an important part in the legalized status of Blacks as inferior and immoral” (Burris 2011, 4).
Hip-hop began in the undergrounds in Bronx New York in the early 1970s and has gradually grown to become mainstream music. According to Lori Selke a professional writer for Global post, “hip-hop is the term that refers to more than just a musical genre; it includes culture, dance, art, and even fashion” (Selke). Since it originated in the 1970’s, hip-hop has had profound influence on society, and has grown into the lives of listeners worldwide; hip-hop’s influential power is astonishing. Within the last decade, hip-hop artist like Jay-Z, Nas, and Young Jeezy helped to increase voting in the 2008 presidential campaign by informing a hip hop audience consisting of a majority of African Americans on soon to be 44th President of the United States, by using their voice and lyrics as their tool to encouraging people to stand up for a change by voting. According to Emmett Price in his book Hip Hop Culture (2006), “in the early years prior to the rise of recorded rap music via Sugar Hill Gang’s controversial “Rapper’s Delight” (1979) hip-hop was a growing culture driven by self-determination, a love for life, and a desire to have fun [through entertaining fans and expressing themself].” (Price) Although artists today accomplish the same things, the focus of the lyrics has changed consisting of “extolling violence, drug and alcohol use, and detailing sexual exploits” (Selke). If one were to observe the most popular music from artist in the 80’s until now, they would notice a definitive change in its overall message. If hip-hop continues on its current route it will become a musical genre known solely for its references to sex, drugs, and violence.
Hip hop has permeated popular culture in an unprecedented fashion. Because of its crossover appeal, it is a great unifier of diverse populations. Although created by black youth on the streets, hip hop's influence has become well received by a number of different races in this country. A large number of the rap and hip hop audience is non-black. It has gone from the fringes, to the suburbs, and into the corporate boardrooms. Because it has become the fastest growing music genre in the U.S., companies and corporate giants have used its appeal to capitalize on it. Although critics of rap music and hip hop seem to be fixated on the messages of sex, violence, and harsh language, this genre offers a new paradigm of what can be (Lewis, 1998.) The potential of this art form to mend ethnic relations is substantial. Hip hop has challenged the system in ways that have unified individuals across a rich ethnic spectrum. This art form was once considered a fad has kept going strong for more than three decades. Generations consisting of Blacks, Whites, Latinos, and Asians have grown up immersed in hip-hop. Hip hop represents a realignment of America?s cultural aesthetics. Rap songs deliver a message, again and again, to keep it real. It has influenced young people of all races to search for excitement, artistic fulfillment, and a sense of identity by exploring the black underclass (Foreman, 2002). Though it is music, many people do not realize that it is much more than that. Hip hop is a form of art and culture, style, and language, and extension of commerce, and for many, a natural means of living. The purpose of this paper is to examine hip hop and its effect on American culture. Different aspects of hip hop will also be examined to shed some light that helps readers to what hip hop actually is. In order to see hip hop as a cultural influence we need to take a look at its history.
References to illegal drugs use in rap music jumped sixfold in the two decades since 1979. Previously, rap music was more likely to depict dangers
Has Hip-Hop given us a warning of change or is it simply a part of musical evolution? In “Hip Hop Planet” by James Mcbride he argues that hip hop is destructive to our society. Hip hop provides a variety of beats, intense rhymes, and yet provocative language. The author has many negative views on the genre but sees some positive influence. With this said, his warning to our future generations can be challenged. Hip hop can have a negative impact on young adults but it also provides large amounts of support to people who struggle with similar complications.
In Stanley Crouch's view, the only messages that rappers put in the minds of todays' youth is that they need to have sex, kill people, and do drugs all the time.
In recent discussions of hip hop culture, a controversial issue has been whether hip hop makes people believe that money is everything they need to get respect and power. Some argue that you need to build respect and by building respect you become powerful and that will lead you to money. On the other hand, however, others argue that hip hop life helped them a lot by writing the lyrics and saying the things that they can’t do or say. One of this view’s main proponents, “money brings power,” according to this view, people who have more money will get more power and then they usually use this power to do the most disturbing activities, such as crime. In sum, then, the issue is whether having too much power is good or it’s just a life destroyer.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar Says That Hip-Hop’s Promotion of Drug Use Is Not Cool." N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2014. .
Have you ever wondered what was making that horrible racket coming from a teen’s car. The odds are that it would be some type of rap song, yet the beat was too loud for you to hear the lyrics. Based off what the mass knows about rap music, you were lucky to not hear the lyrics right, wrong. Rap lyrics have many senses of great poetry and life lessons that should be heard. At least some of rap songs relate to struggles, deaths they have suffered, or even respect of women that many do not believe that rappers would ever do. Rap music is becoming increasingly meaningful for not only adults but for older youth as well to comprehend about respect and an improved understanding of life with struggles and oppressions.
In today’s culture where rap music has become increasingly popular, many teens aren’t realizing what they are listening to. A lot of teens would argue that the music they listen to has no effect on them, but they are wrong. Rap music, especially, has had a major impact on teenagers in today’s society. The lyrics of many rap songs encourage violent and aggressive thoughts in teenagers.
The Effects of Hip-Hop Music on Today’s Youth Does hip-hop music effect today’s youth in a positive or negative way? The effects of hip-hop music have been disputable following the time when its rise into the social standard in the late twentieth century, but hip-hop music is not just one sided but can be both positive and negative in today’s youth. What is hip-hop about? Assuming that you address hip-hop fans, the term alludes to more than simply a musical type - it incorporates an entire society, including dance structures, graffiti symbolization, and fashion (Selke INT).