Drugs and the Music Industry

Drugs were used as a means to escape reality. Drug use was already running rampant in the ghettos but was minimal among middle class white youth. Music helped popularize the use of drugs on college campuses.10 The use of marijuana peaked in 1967 with the release of the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" whose cover has marijuana leaves on it.11 The use of drugs by mainstream teens can be compared to the way a society accepts a new type of music or a new hairstyle. Using drugs was

Their dissatisfaction with the consumerism values and goals, with the work ethic, and with the dependence on technology (Edgar and Sedwick, 2008) fuelled their belief to set themselves free from this mainstream culture using drugs such as LSD to open their minds and become spiritual and free. Their fashion consisted of floral headbands and clothing, flared jeans and bare feet. In January of 1967, a Human Be-in in Golden Gate Park San Francisco publicised the culture and this lead to the Summer of Love (The Naked Truth……….., 2014). According to Philippa(Toturhunt.com, 2015), this culture has since moved on and developed, in the sense of beliefs, to become what is now known as the rave culture. Which followed on from the hippie culture of listening to music in fields, with spiritual and honing on values that counter the popular culture whilst using recreational drugs to open the mind and push the beliefs of the hippie culture of their predecessors. Rather than psychedelics this new culture used amphetamines such as MDMA and brought together every different kind of person. Either way, drugs have played part in counterculture for a very long time, and it didn 't end at with the hippies.

There are two ways that popular songs portray drugs there are the songs that glorify them and tell the story of the “party-life” and others tell the “after-story” that tell of the addiction, of hitting rock-bottom, of how it can ruin your life. More and more of the popular songs are pro-drugs and pro-“party-life” or they are slyly double sided such as Eminem’s Drug Ballad, songs that tend to be lesser known or less popular tell the story of the addiction, about hitting rock-bottom, and of recovery such as D.L. Downer A.K.A. James Williams’ Suga Boom Boom (Chasing Dragons). Drug Ballad, was released on May 23, 2000 in the album The Marshall Mathers LP (www.sing365.com). Suga Boom Boom (Chasing Dragons) was written and sung by D. L. Downer a.k.a. James Williams and his 16-year-old niece Laleazy was produced as a single by MajorEpic music label and was released on October 26, 2014. Both of these songs are within the rap and hip-hop genres. When analyzing and comparing and contrasting these two songs we need to consider why one is more popular than the other, why and how has drugs become such a prevalent problem, why are drugs portrayed differently, and how can we help those that are addicted and keep others from becoming addicted themselves.

By the end of the 1960’s psychedelic influence had gained traction, from the London and San Francisco underground movements. These underground movements consisted of newspapers, local and regional bands, clubs and shops. Surfacing from these gatherings the psychedelic movement became a part of mainstream pop culture influencing the rock culture.Values of the 1950’s were viewed by young adults as being to focus on being “normal” thus they pushed back and rebelled against this values pursuing new views on life and culture. Marijuana and LSD played critical roles in the psychedelic movement. There are two approaches to psychedelic music, those who use music to amplify/enhance the drug trip, and those who want the music to be a trip of itself not

Throughout the evolution of popular music in American culture, many factors have been instrumental in the inspiration musical artists. The wide range of sources reflects the variety and creativity of music in the modern day that musicians claim as their muses, ranging from religious beliefs to love interests. However, the primary driving force behind the creative minds in music in the United States has undeniably been the drug subculture that was the largest at the given time period. Without the use of recreational drugs by artists, popular music would have taken an entirely different and unimaginable evolutionary path, resulting in a completely different musical world. Music is what is taken from drug culture to be incorporated and sold

Rock and roll helped break many people out of the pre-war mindset and into a new, fresh one. Although many adults detested rock, the younger generation felt that it symbolized a break from the war and the “age of anxiety” that the previous World War had caused. In addition, it promoted a promiscuous lifestyle that celebrated sex and drugs. Rock and roll seemed to be associated with this because many of the “rock stars” endorsed in a loose and laidback standard of living. Because many of the performers practiced recreational drug use, followers felt compelled to do so as well, feeling that that way of life was acceptable. Rock and roll was thought to be outlandish, primarily because of the performers’ gyrating and grinding of their hips, their suggestive lyrics, and rebellious undertones that provoked erotic senses in teenagers and upset parents. Rock and roll was said to establish a sense of identity and power in teenagers, mostly because of the new energy that came from the new style of music. Rock music was seen as satanic by the older generation because it seemed to lead to the

Drugs highly influence music in the sixties with bands such as The Byrds, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Strawberry Alarm Clock, and The Beatles. These bands took inspiration from the affects that the drugs had on them with their psychedelic properties. Drugs were also just starting to get introduced and people were highly influenced with positive drug propaganda (“The 60 's”). So, the positivity about drugs were influencing the bands and the bands were influencing the people and the more dugs being bought, the more people heard about them, and the more people heard about them, the more they were used, so basically it was just an endless cycle of drug positivity.

Chuck D of Public Enemy stated, “City by city, this white tornado was swirling on; just wiping out black America. We said we had to do something to make this seem very unattractive to a young audience.” Public Enemy’s in your face track, “Night of the Living Baseheads”, became an anti-crack epic. It was consensuses, among the group, that crack cocaine was appalling. “4, 5 o’clock in the mornin’, wait a minute y’all/ The fiends are fiendin’/ Day to day to day they say no other way/ This stuff is really bad, I’m talkin’ ‘bout … BASS” (Public Enemy).

Just the effect sex had on their chance to find their new sexuality during the beat generation, the idea of drug usage to expand the brain became popular. Drugs have been around for many centuries, from the early hallucinations to the heavily chemical based drugs becoming popular now and each one had a specific effect on the brain. These drugs have been and will always be a part of society; no matter how much the government regulates them. Drugs became very popular during this period with all of the experiments upcoming drugs

As effective as music, and drugs for that matter, is in escaping from the perils of life, it provides only a temporary solution to a permanent problem. However, unlike drugs, music can be developed into a permanent career and consistently fights the numbness of suffering. Music creates life; drugs breed destruction.

Beginning with the late 1960’s counterculture in San Francisco, music and drugs will forever be inter-linked. Hippie bands such as the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, and Phish are associated with marijuana, mushrooms, and LSD. Modern electronic “rave” , or club music is associated with MDMA or Ecstasy. When one thinks of rock and roll, sex and drugs immediately come to mind. While the use of drugs is not essential for the creation or performance of all new music, it was certainly in important factor for the counterculture music of the late 1960’s. While some of the most important and influential music was made with the help of psychoactive drugs, it was often to the detriment of the artist. Janis

The use of drugs has improved society by never having to worry about anything. It brings you into a state of mind where you feel careless about

“Share and Discover Research.” ResearchGate, www.researchgate.net/.../6663887_High_notes _The_role_of_drugs_in_the_ma... Web. 6 Nov. 2017. This article looks at the role illicit drugs played in jazz.

Throughout the years celebrities have been accused of drug abuse. Many will deny it and blame it on the media, but for one rocker this was not so. Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the American band Red Hot Chili Peppers, was blatant about his drug addiction. He even wrote a book about his life called Scar Tissue. Throughout his life there were ups and downs that shaped him to be who he is today. It is not the drug abuse that fascinates me about Kiedis but it is how he overcame who he was back then to whom he is today. When analyzing Anthony Kiedis’ life, his childhood, early band years, the present day rocker, and whom he has influenced, including myself, must be broken down. Due to his struggle and high off of life, Anthony Kiedis is

Encyclopedia Britannica defines music as, “art concerned with combining vocal or instrumental sounds for beauty of form or emotional expression, usually according to cultural standards of rhythm, melody, and, in most Western music, harmony”. Music was considered beautiful at one time. Musical artist in this day and age are putting their drive to succeed well before their personal morals. The explicit language warnings on music covers are not enough. The foul language used in music is not the only thing that is influencing the younger generation. Pop, country, R&B, and rap music is having a big impact on influencing the American youth. Most of these music lyrics are just flat out detrimental to all involved.