African American Music Influence

In the world today, music has become a big influence on everyone. With the power of music, each person has the ability to accomplish goals even if the music is country or rap. Most people believe that music can change a person’s mood or behavior which is true. Without music people could not control the way they act. Most music has the power to affect a person’s mood and other music can get them out of control. If music did not exist the world would be tedious. Without having music, people would not be able to motivate their moods. With the magic of music all people tend to have clear minds and better spirits. Music has the ability to put a smile on their face and a special song in their hearts. Even though most people feel confident about a special song, this can change their mind about how country music is better than rap music.

As a cultural perspective Hip Hop has had an overwhelming influence on the black community. Hip Hop is more than just music is a culture. Hip Hop is a formed of communication through lyrics. It has helped individuals speak up for generations and provide a voice for their people as well send a message. Additionally, Hip Hop culture can as well be viewed as a response to the socio-economic issues that spawned in the black community. It was done through the power of musical expression.

African American influence in music has been an ever present and controversial subject in American history. Stemming from many different cultures, religions and backgrounds, large portions of American music was introduced by, and credited to African Americans. Although in many cases, this music was used for entertainment by the masses or majority, contrary to popular belief, black music served a greater purpose than just recreation. Dating all the way back to the beginning of slavery in the U.S. during the 17th century, music has been used to make a statement and send a message. As African American music progressed over the years, there were common themes expressed as the genres evolved. It has been an open letter to the world, documenting and protesting the ongoing oppression faced by blacks in the United States, as well as an outlet for frustration. For many African Americans, the music gave them the only voice that couldn’t be silenced by their oppressors.

For as long as mankind has walked on this earth, music has been an important part of our culture and lifestyles. Each walk of life beats to a different drum. Different cultures use music for many aspects of their lives; for religious purposes, for celebrations, for comfort, for sorrow, for relaxation, for sports, for dances, for energy, for learning, for sleeping, and for sexual experiences. Everyone uses music for something. Music connects with people and reaches them in ways that words simply cannot. Music is a representation of what feelings sound like. It expresses emotion and brings that characteristic out from within us; it tells us a story. Every generation has its’ own sound and different music styles have emerged and become

If we look back at the origins of hip hop it is clear that rap began as a form of expression that allowed black people to stand up to prejudice. The soul that hip hop music communicates is rooted in oppression and marginalization from white people as far back as slavery, to the long time fight for freedom and equality. Hip hop is a

Music has been known throughout time. It can help us through everything. There are so many solutions with music to help a person go through so many situations. Music can affect many people in many different ways. Without music some people would be lost and would have no motivation. Music can provide inspiration and insight through education. Music has influence on suicides, killings and shootings, and provocative actions. It can also influence good morals, respect, allowing differences, health, and much more. Music can come in many forms and categories and music is very good for the world.

As the dawn of chattel slavery began to rise in america, Africans from all over the continent were forced to emigrate to America. Many of them did not even speak the same language. However, all of these people were increasingly brought together because of their forced bondage. It was this shared connection that eventually brought all of these slaves together under one shared culture: The African American culture. Increasingly, music became the major component of this shared culture when it was just starting to form. Perhaps one of the reasons why music was so central for African Americans was because people didn't need to speak the same language in order to appreciate a good piece of music. However, even as slavery progressed and all African Americans could speak english, music continued to be a central component of African American culture. Ultimately, it helped slaves maintain a sense of humanity and hope.

Hip Hop is more than music, it's more of a culture. Hip Hop has socially affected America especially the African American community. Hip Hop has influenced Americans over the past three decades, giving people a voice to speak out against and for things throughout the generations. Hip Hop has allowed

Even with the seemingly endless list of negative influences, there are countless positive influences deeply rooted in the soul and culture of hip hop. Hip hop is facing the same criticisms that every new type of music has faced in the development of that genre of music. Blues, Jazz, and Rock (in their beginnings) all scared parents and were criticized by the media, but they are now widely accepted and considered “clean” music. New music of any generation is always scary to the non-youth in society because the media only focuses on bad points and downfalls, but always fail to mention the good being done. Breaking down cultural barriers is the most positive influence rap has had on society. It creates/sustains community, is the voice of the people, defines generations, fuels needed protest, and calls attention to injustices. This new style of music allows anybody to control their destiny from the ground up, and has become a new medium for social commentary. Hip hop allows the underprivileged and discriminated to express their feelings, and

When people think of African American music it is most commonly associated with rap and R&B. However, most do not know that the influence of their music runs much deeper in the American history. As slaves were brought over, their music changed the styles and evolved much of the music that is heard today. From soul to blues, to even the overall-wearing hillbilly sitting on the porch playing his banjo, they were

In today’s day and age, it’s easy to hear black culture represented in most hip-hop; that is the dominating music genre that expresses African American views. It’s not so easy to remember where African Americans influence on music al began. Black influence on music today is really unrecognized but it’s important to bring to light just how much African Americans really have contributed to the sound, style, and feel of today’s music. Not just hip-hop or rap, but all kinds of music.

Hip-Hop is often mistaken solely as a genre or style of music, but it is more than that, it is an entire cultural movement born out of the ghettos of america where underprivileged and impoverished youth created a culture that would take not only America but the entire world by storm. Many people think of Hip-Hop as a historical phenomena that was created through a capitalistic economic system and a very racist government that was trying its best to segregate and oppress the minorities (mainly Black and Latino youth) in our country. DJ Kool Herc, a pioneer of hip hop music and hip-hop culture, could not have said it better when he said “Hip-hop is the voice of this generation. Even if you didn’t grow up in the Bronx in the ’70s, hip-hop is there for you. It has become a powerful force. Hip-hop binds all of these people, all of these nationalities, all over the world together” (Chang, Intro). Hip-Hop and Rap music have deep roots dating back from as early as the 15th and 16th century but since this culture and genre of music has made its way into the mainstream in the mid 1980’s and early 1990’s this culture has greatly impacted American society and nearly every part of the world. Due to the increased popularity of hip hop in the american culture, the corporate music industry has commercialized and capitalized off of this gaining popularity, which has diluted the content of the music changing the whole initial intention behind the music and

There is no disputing that society is influenced by its choices of entertainment. Some ways in which people are influenced are positive, but others are harmful. In the society we live in, the harmful ways always outnumber the positive. If we gravitated toward the positive forms of entertainment a little more often than the negative, then our society would have fewer problems. Popular music has a negative effect on society and endorses a lack of creativity.

Hip Hop music became one of the primary constructive outlets for Black Americans to release their thoughts, pain, and anguish about the injustices and mistreatments of Black people. Even though most of the pioneers in Hip-Hop either were not born in America or are 2nd generation immigrants that proves that common oppression can lead to unity. The fact that that these individuals were impoverished and felt marginalized is what brought them together and lead to the culture today. Deep rooted racism in the United States kept the genre of music suppressed for a while before it was allowed to even be played on the airwaves. Now, in 2011, the main consumers of byproducts of hip hop are White Americans.

Hip hop has been around for years and plays a big part in culture. For some it's the best way for them to express themselves which mean it doesn’t degrade society. Many will argue that hip hop is leading to deaths and kids not finishing school because they heard it in their favorite song. While others may disagree saying hip hop is a culture and it uplifts people that it’s something you turn too in your time of need. “Urban neighborhoods across the country feed off of the energy that hip-hop derives from due to the social connection that it has with many of its listeners” says Danielle B . While Deejay says “Not only has mainstream hip-hop promoted a lifestyle of materialism, it has also helped promote an ideology of misogyny and violence