Irrespective of race, hip hop/rap music is the most popular genre among teens and young adults, including many Millennials and Gen Xers. I don’t often listen to music, but when I do listen, my taste in music ranges from classical music to jazz to Gregorian chant to -- brace yourself -- hip hop (did I make you wince?) While working out or doing the dishes, I plug in my earbuds and listen to Korean hip-hop/pop such as MFBTY, G-Dragon and the like, which for years, catapulted by YouTube, have been wildly popular throughout the world. Part of the reason why hip-hop gets a bad press is due to its projected image. Gangster persona has become an emblem of hip-hop industry, dissuading talented artists from producing wholesome music, as that …show more content…
But, insufficient investment in impoverished communities is yet another formidable social barrier. Sometime last year, I read an article, featured in a Korean news website, that hailed the economic pact established between the City of Baltimore and one of the cities in South Korea during Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and his Korean American wife Yumi’s visit to Korea. Hogan’s commitment to bilateral prosperity, however, at least on the domestic front, seemed to have stalled, when, months later, his administration became mired in legal woes facing allegations that the governor’s decision to cancel the proposed rail line and shift hundreds of millions of dollars that had been slated for the rail line into highway projects around the state had a disparate impact on African-American Baltimoreans, further contending that whites will receive most of the benefits of the new road spending, while African-Americans living in Baltimore will face longer transit rides as a result of the rail project’s cancellation. No matter what the legal outcome may be (it’s still pending), the fact is, America’s recent history is replete with such scandalous incidents. In light of this, it’s worth repeating: rap music/hip-hop, warts and all, is not the primary culprit for unemployment and poverty, which in turn spawns violence. (Sabastien …show more content…
Paul, having figuratively died and rose again with Christ, demonstrates a profound change in his outlook. Armed with a transformed mindset, the once vitriolic man who had been possessed by the demonic “Us vs. Them” mentality, goes on to champion unity and equality -- “In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal” (Gal. 3:28; The Message). He then implores fellow Christians to defy conformity, exhorting them to be transformed by gauging their values against the credo that holds ultimate significance -- the will of God, which Micah defines as acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God (Rom 12:2; Micah 6:8). Enamored with the rich and famous and wishing to propagate the narrative that certifies the American Dream, we readily accept Forbes’ unproven claim that of the nation’s riches 400, 70 percent “made their fortunes entirely from scratch,” despite the fact that based on investigation of Forbes’ misleading claim, “most of our super rich were born on third base and think they hit a triple.” We, as a society, are quick to give the benefit of the doubt to the rich; it’s a pity the same cannot be said about the
Many Americans today embrace the culture of hip-hop. Since hip-hop became mainstream its influence has surrounded most Americans. People engage in social issues from the hip-hop culture In his recent work, How Hip-Hop Holds Blacks Back, John H. McWhorter have offered harsh critiques of hip-hop for delaying and marring the success of black people. McWhorter asserts hip-hop music “celebrates a ghetto life of unending violence and criminality(10).” He believes hip-hop contributes to the stereotype nearly all Americans maintain in regard to black people. Reflecting on harsh song lyrics McWhorter attempts to strengthen his argument. McWhorter acknowledges not all hip-hop promotes violence in people. He concedes “not all hip-hop is belligerent
Rap music has become one of the most distinctive and controversial music genres of the past few decades. A major part of hip hop culture, rap, discusses the experiences and standards of living of people in different situations ranging from racial stereotyping to struggle for survival in poor, violent conditions. Rap music is a vocal protest for the people oppressed by these things. Most people know that rap is not only music to dance and party to, but a significant form of expression. It is a source of information that describes the rage of people facing growing oppression, declining opportunities for advancement, changing moods on the streets, and everyday survival. Its distinct sound, images, and attitude are notorious to people of all
As we move closer to the 2016 national elections in the United States, claims of a growing wealth gap between the supposed “haves” and “have-nots” becomes more pronounced. Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton even went so far as to caution us that we are advancing towards a repeat of the “Gilded Age of the robber barons”. The insinuation in this claim creates a perception that there are a growing number of individuals within American society using questionable methods to increase their wealth, all at the expense of the not so fortunate. So-called culprits of these activities are often referred to as the “top 1 percent”; a term gaining a strong foothold in our current vernacular. Although the existence of an income inequality gap is evident, subjectively misinterpreted data is the primary culprit driving the perception that the income inequality gap is expanding.
As you can see hip hop is a mixture of good and bad like most things. What makes this music bad is the person listening to it not the music itself. This music can inspire you to do better or make you think bad things are good. Everything about this music’s goodness or badness comes from our opinions not the singer or the people who are fans of this genre of music. It all comes down to what you think
Indeed, McDonald's, Coca Cola, Sprite, Nike, and other corporate giants have capitalized on this phenomenon. Although critics of rap music and the hip hop culture seemed to be fixated on the messages of sex, violence, and harsh language, this genre offers us a paradigm of what can be. The potential of this art form to mend ethnic relations is substantial.
Their music consisted of police brutality,gun violence, hardships and overall insight from a perspective America was unfamiliar with. The group received large criticism by the press and most notably the government as they were credited for the massive violence in inner cities.That same mindset has carried over carried over to modern media today.For generations the impact that hip hop has on the youth has been over exaggerated by the media. Hip-hop has been used as a scapegoat, instead of identifying and fixing the real problems such as drugs, gangs, and the environment itself. Kids are more influenced by their families and environment then they are by rap music. Even if a person listens to music that portrays violent crimes and overall violent lifestyles, there is no guarantee they will go out in their neighborhood and commit a violent crime. Society itself does not give teens enough credit, and ultimately sells them short. For a lot of kids in the inner city, hip hop is a stimulus for what they see or do in
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
How does one earn the title of wealthy? Authors Dr. Thomas J. Stanley and Dr. William D. Danko have studied how people become wealthy for over twenty years. They have conducted research, written books, conducted seminars, and advised major corporations on whom the wealthy are and what are the characteristics of the affluent in America. The research for The Millionaire Next Door was comprised of personal, as well as focus group interviews, with more than 500 millionaires. A survey of 1,115 high net worth and/ or high income respondents was also compiled. The authors define the threshold for being wealthy as having a net worth of $1 million or more. This is one distinction that the authors make in comparison
In a world increasingly inundated with apathy towards the social disparities in America, music serves an invaluable tool in conveying to the masses the importance of action and empathy. As Class on Class continually demonstrated, the power of music holds especially strong in impoverished America, where socioeconomic and racial violence is not only permitted to occur but actively conducted by institutions like the police force. The hip-hop and rap movements from the late 20th century catapulted the issues of inner-city African American communities, from drug abuse to police brutality, to center stage of America and continue to bring to attention the issues of socioeconomic disparities. Moreover, Tupac Shakur’s contributions to the rap movement,
It’s a culture that has gotten so big that its influence can be seen everywhere from movies, commercials, and even pop songs. “We live in a popularity contest now,” says the rapper Chuck Inglish. The genre has become so recognized to the point of over saturation, in addition the music industry has monopolized the radio to dumb down the masses with homogenous rap songs made by a handful of people. So it’s up to the listener to “Put our money where our ears want to be,” and support fresh, creative, and unique hip hop. If the listeners become intent with such sub standard expectations, then the authenticity of Hip Hop will die
Are you a Christian that loves Hip-Hop Music? Well, I do. From about the age of 5 years old till today I have always been fascinated by just how men and women were able to put rhythm and rime together. It has far surpassed the expectations of many that has not only those that have created the art form. From expressing political and social views of modern society to know becoming multi-million and billionaires with endorsements, advertisements, TV and movie spots, who knew that a craft such as this would bring so many people together. But since the early 90's, when the art form known as "Gangsta Rap" came into play, certain groups of people despised and hated this form of music. You see, on its face, the music became more vulgar, sexually explicit, misogynistic, and promoted a lifestyle of having lots of money, drugs, big houses, and flashy car. But we forget is that there are powers
Normal stereotypes of the rap music genre is to glorify a gangster image and a lifestyle of drugs, money, violence, etc. Tupac did touch address these topics in many songs but it was not to promote them as glamorous but rather to educate and make aware of the problems within the community.
Yet, some of the images that are shown in the media are the reason why hip hop culture is viewed as an infectious genre of music that will put kids in jail. This culture has come a long way from what it used to be. It has reached from one end of the globe to the other. It has spanned across all ages, all races, and all ethnicities.
From the beats to the lyrics, the current generation of youth is engrossed in hip-hop culture, tending to idolize the artist behind the songs. Since the 1970s, hip-hop has influenced American culture tremendously. In the past, hip-hop held a central focus around inequality, empowerment and overcoming hardships. Today, hip-hop talks more about sex, money, a male dominant social standing, and drugs. Hip-hop, from then to now, has drifted to the darker side of the social spectrum. The majority of today’s youth were subconsciously thrust into a time when the darkness of hip-hop was nearing its climax. Young African American males
Hip Hop in the most popular genre of music between all African American communities, not just in America, but worldwide. Hip Hop has expanded itself into music, fashion, advertisement, movies, and it’s given many rappers, and those associated with the genre, the chance to influence their communities, societies and their culture in general, but commercial Hip Hop in the U.S. has branded Hip Hop in a negative way. (The Young and The Hip-Hop, Hip Hop Culture Center in Harlem, 2012, Web, Oct. 27, 2014) This is all due to the negative imagery and negative lyrics like the term nigga, negative implications of Hip Hop include exploiting black adolescent girls, promoting unhealthy lifestyles, and implying that the open use of the word nigga is not harmful. Hip Hop has become a global phenomenon where it has evolved from a genre of music to a lifestyle for the African American community.