Violence In Today's Music

Music is one type of media that has a profound effect on individuals. Over the years, music has changed a great deal, both in its musical sounds and in the lyrics sung in accompaniment to those sounds. Music lyrics are becoming more violent and sexually explicit than ever, and the violent portrayals in today’s music have a notably negative effect on its listeners. While music lyrics have become much more violent in recent years, the violence in music did not originate in hip-hop, rap, or rock. In fact, many of the acts of violence in today’s music, especially those acts against women, were previously expressed in both folk music and the blues. As far back as the 1920s, singers such as Lonnie Johnson were singing songs about shooting their

In his song “Little Boy Blue”, Robert Lockwood threatens to whip and stab his lover, and in “Murderin’ Blues”, Robert Nighthawk proclaims that prison would be better than having his lover cheat and lie to him. However, this type of scenario is not limited to the folk and blues. The Beatles’ “Run for Your Life”, is a frightening combination of the same premeditated, homicidal attitudes and threats sung directly to the target along with mentions of stalking (Hamerlinck, 1995). These violent lyrics have endured in the music of today. Many of today’s genres have even expanded upon the violent acts and imagery. Genres such as hip-hop, rock, punk, and especially rap, portray violence in nearly every song. Perhaps the most controversial and violent of today’s genres is gangsta rap. This form of rap often portrays life for inner-city African Americans as violent and unpredictable. The lyrics of this genre encourage youths to build a reputation for themselves by showing others that they are tough and willing to commit acts of

This is the problem of sexually explicit lyrics. The sexual messages portrayed in the lyrics are often unrealistic and misleading, but children often accept them as fact (Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media, 2001). The issue of teenagers becoming sexually active at an earlier age is becoming an ever more concerning issue. More are admitting to being sexually active and even to having multiple partners. About 61% of high school seniors report that they have had sex in the past, half say that they are currently sexually active, and 21% have had four or more partners (Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media,