Our Youth have Questionable Role Models from the Music Indusry

We as human beings are all influenced by one thing or another in our lifetime. It’s not necessarily always a bad thing, but when does it become serious enough to cause an epidemic to our society? One such instance is through music, songs, videos, and lyrics, specifically related to the song, “I Love the Way You lie”, by Eminem Ft. Rihanna. This song has become number one on almost all pop charts and has become popularly honored by people of our society, myself included. At first what seemed like a powerful song about tough love, was soon discovered as a parent’s worst nightmare. As I’m replaying the song over and over again trying to decide my opinion on the overall message, I’m

     Many people believe that music should be filtered because it provokes violence or sex within society. There may be some truth in this but for the most part it is merely myth. People who have any common sense or are not legally insane can understand fact from fiction and what not to imitate. Anyone who listens to Eminem and decides to go and kill their wife should have been locked up long before the actual crime. When people do things that resemble what an artist says in a song, it is usually by pure coincidence and all are negative incidents. Frank Zappa was quoted to have said “I wrote a song about dental floss but did anyone’s teeth get cleaner?”(Jackson 1).

The urban youth of today are highly influenced by the lyrics of the music they listen to. This music can be narrowed down to today’s version of hip-hop, or more commonly called rap. The youth are influenced by the lyrics and want to be like the rappers and live their lifestyle. What do these artists specifically talk about that want the youth to act this way? Most rap artists today produce the images of drug abuse, prostitution, money, and other topics such as drug dealing. What can be done by parents to stop this widespread urge in youth to become an idol to others? The fact is that with the United States constitution, not much can be done due to our freedom of

Hip hop has clearly influenced our society in a controversial way. Although people don't like the negative influence hip hop can have on their young, it’s an industry that is growing commercially. Legally, there isn't much that can be done about an artists’ expression, but education and parental guidance will reduce the impact of hip hop’s negative

Now a days, we are used to shocking lyrics and eye catching looks. It seems that every artist now is fighting to be so different that everyone is drawn to them. It was not always like this. In the late nineties and early two-thousands, most artists tried to fit in with the other blonde, processed pop stars that the industry was spitting out. When there was an artist who was not always happy and did sing about PG rated topics, they were blamed for what was wrong with the world, especially teenagers. In his article ‘I’d Sell You Suicide: Pop Music and Moral Panic in the Age of Marilyn Manson”, Robert Wright delves into and debunks claims that rock music, especially that of Marilyn Manson, is a main cause for teenage suicide.

In 2003, <management of the Six Flags Amusement Park in Darien Lakes, New York, banned Marilyn Manson from performing at the park as part of the Ozzfest tour. In 2003, radio stations across the country removed songs by the Dixie Chiks from airplay because of a comment from the group’s lead singer saying that she was “embarrassed the U.S. President George W. Bush was from her home state of Texas. ”The list of examples, as extensive as it is, only includes some of the major events in music censorship history. The reality of censorship is, as common or persistent as it may be, it really does not constrict the music that is heard. It is becoming increasingly easy to discover and download music online, where, faced against the infinite expanse of the Internet, censorship can be borderline humorously ineffective. There are not even any studies proving the exact effects of music on youth, or people in general for the matter. As Victor Lombardi put it, “An extensive study encompassing psychology, physiology, behavioral studies, sociology, and music would have to be do to prove a form of music is capable of causing harm. The researches would have to be trained not only in research methods but in all these fields and the music involved. A willing, impartial musicologist proficient in the music of

The corruptness of music today seems to be linked to the crude language and aggression found particularly in hip-hop and rap music. Some rap artists use vulgar language in their lyrics that are easily adoptable by teens (Holden). Not only have certain lyrics influenced the way teens speak but also their actions. An article on Headliners.org stated that “lyrics in the music are too violent and are to blame for many problems.” The problems range anywhere from suicide and aggression towards women to underage drinking and drug use. Lyrics are not only to blame, but also what people see in artists’ music videos can affect what they do (Doaks). The urge to emulate these rap musicians has escalated quickly causing a spike in rebellious tendencies among teens.

Many people just look at the negative songs that come out but what they fail to realize is that there are many positive songs out too like: Live Your Life by T.I, Just A Kiss by Mishon to encourage the children not to move fast in a relationship. While many blame Hip Hop what about rock music, it promote the same things that Hip Hop do maybe more because rock promotes: sex, drugs, murder, and even suicide at some points.

This conception that music has the power to influence someone to commit a violent act is a belief that has been continuously controversial throughout history. For example, Elvis Presley’s gyrating hip movement that began when he performed his song “Hound Dog” was considered highly controversial (Caywood). It was seen as too sexual and was highly criticized, then there was rock and heavy metal. The bands subject to scrutiny in these categories were the likes of Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Marilyn Manson and many more. The genre of heavy metal rock has been the target of most people because of the amount of reports that show that fans of heavy metal fans have the most problems with suicide and problems with authority in schools. However, now a new popular genre of music known as rap has taken center stage as being the cause for violence and problems that people are dealing with. These genres are the most controversial because of the lyrical material, in a study it was found that of the top 10 selling cd in 1999, found that forty two percent of the songs contained sexual content and that the rock and rap songs contained material that related to death, suicide, homicide and substance abuse (Pediatrics). In a study conducted it was found that twenty five percent of male and seventeen percent of female adolescents liked their favorite song because the "lyrics were a reflection of their feelings” (Pediatrics). This

Though rap started out as a force for positive social change, popular subgenres of hip-hop such as "gangsta rap" have since eroded much of the art form's value to society. Impressionable young people are negatively affected by rappers' obsession with guns, drugs, sex, and material possessions. Since record companies do not seem to care about negative content as long as it sells albums, parents should assume a greater role in regulating their children's listening habits. Hip-Hop is the proclamation that young people are independent and intolerant of what they consider to be adult society, which they frequently view as hypocritical.

Music is one of the most popular ways of expression and has been for generations. It makes us want to dance, inspires, soothes, relaxes, and sometimes tells us a story. Music is something the whole world shares and has brought together different kinds of people. However, there has been a question on whether some music has affected society negatively and crossed the line with some of its lyrics, content, and the persona of the artists. Certain music has been boycotted and even banned in the U.S. Pro-censorship supporters say that music is something that can deeply affect our society especially children who should not have to be subjected to things like violence, sex, drugs, or hate. However, being that music is a form of expression,

Most popular music today is driven by violence and sex. These musicians put out albums that glorify violence and promote causal sex. When the albums are being produced, the artist does not think of how it will affect the perspective merchant. When

Today we face many problems in society such as school shootings and social issues that affect everyone who is exposed to the real world. Kids are being corrupted at a young age, and since as a whole we cannot come up with answers, we immediately point fingers at the music industry. However, the world does not see what these artists try to do in order to mold the minds of the young to make them better and overcome adversity to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Songs such as “John” by Lil Wayne and Rick Ross, and “Crack” by 2 Chainz influence behaviors such as shooting people and selling drugs. “John” talks about how they have an AK-47 in their trunk and Lil Wayne says load it up and “hit them where it hurt.” Later in the song Lil Wayne says, “You know the rule, kill them all and keep moving.” This means just shoot and act like nothing happened. In 2 Chainz’s song he talks about how he is standing on the corners selling crack, cooking it in his kitchen, and has over one thousand grams of it on him. The future generations of America are listening to this stuff, and it is corrupting their minds.

Music is an important part of life. Its role as a form of art and entertainment is a significant one but more important is that it serves to reflect and reinforce societal norms and values. It is not only used to entertain but also serves as a form of social commentary (Baran, 2009). For instance, the emergence of Rhythm and Blues (R&B) in America after the Second World War was a means of advancing the black race and it helped blur the line between white and black as more young white people became aware of the distinctions that existed in the society. The Hip-hop and rap of the 1980s and 1990s had almost the same effect, awakening in Black Americans a sense of