Rap Music And Its Effects On The Lives Of Those Who Experience It

Rap music is derived from Hip Hop culture which is deeply rooted in the African American community. The word, rap, has a Middle English origin. Originally, rap means to beat or strike. Beginning in the 1960s, African Americans gave the word another definition. In the black community, rap meant that someone was conversing about everyday life. However, Africans who were captured against their own will would tell stories while playing instruments way before the idea of rap was conceptualized as it is today. The origin of

Music and society have always been closely related. For years now music has been apart of people’s everyday lives all around the world. Having so many different genres out there, it makes it easy to be appealing to so many different ethnic backgrounds. However, one type of genre in particular has seemed to grab the attention of a younger generation. Rap music has undoubtedly had its utmost impact on African American youth, since many of the performers themselves are African American. An overtly masculine culture dominates rap music and creates gender stereotypes that become abundantly popular to the youthful audience. Three constant themes that are found within the rap culture are encouragement of violence, the misogynistic representation of women, an extreme hatred of homophobia. Each theme plays a detrimental role in the process of defining black masculinity as well as shaping the values, morals, and beliefs that its younger audience adopts after tuning into this “gangster lifestyle”.

Like many musical genre before rap, some people believe that rap music influenced teenagers in a negative way that could lead to violence. Some criminals have blamed movies, books, and music as inspiration for their crimes. However, one cannot solely rely on these sources as the main reason for any act whether good or bad. “Millions of heavy metal and gangsta rap fans spend hours with their chosen music genres and never threaten others or themselves. Moreover, most researchers concerned with the causes of suicide and violence point to a broad array of risk factors unrelated to popular culture (e.g., depression, access to guns, substance abuse, etc.) that seem to be precursors of such

People in society tend to feel that rap music has a certain effect on the mind of its audience. Rap music has always been judged based upon its lyrical content because it often includes explicit lyrics that consist of vengeful and violent crimes. Associating violent acts that people commit every day to what they are hearing over the radio is complete nonsense. The reasons that rap music is not responsible for violence in our society is because violence has always been a part of our society, you have to consider the person who listens to rap music's upbringing, and you have to consider the video games and tv shows that are being portrayed and played by the public.

The impact music has on the life of people is very powerful. It can easily revamp the way people act and take control of people’s emotions. Rap music is a very common and popular type of music within the world today. Rap music has existed since the mid 1970s, nowadays it is practically everywhere. It is easily a central focus of many young people’s lives. Rap music was essentially intended to create a voicing of one’s frustrations and disappointment with society, it has recently taken a turn and is creating a negative impact on the youth. It is the root that influences and encourages degrading women, violence, and is filled with sexual content.

Music is subjective which means people will often voice their opinions on it, and undoubtedly one of the most controversial genres that has sparked a barrage of disapproval is rap. It is believed and further encouraged by the media that rap music promotes a bad lifestyle. With corruption being apparent around the world it is easy for the media to put the blame on a genre of music that is filled with explicit lyrics about violence, drugs, and rebellious subject matters. However, further investigation will reveal that because of its accurate depiction of reality, and wide variety of categories, rap music does not encourage an unhealthy lifestyle.

In society today, it is highly noticed that the role of rap music messages and video images of violence causes an increase in negative emotions, thoughts and behaviors which could lead to violence amongst youth. Rap music has been at the center of concern in regards to the potential harmful effect of violent media on social behavior amongst youth. This potential behavior could be seen in the music video titled “Kim” by Eminem. In this music video, the storyline, language and sound encourages hostile thoughts and feelings amongst its audience. In the music video, Kim husband catches her cheating on him in their home with another man, while he is away. However, when Marshall gets home and finds out that his wife is cheating on him, he gets upset, angry, and abusive and becomes violent towards his wife Kim. He screams at her saying that, if she moves again, he will “beat the shit out of her” (Line 11). Violence in rap music has increased in response to the complex interplay of changing social conditions such as the elevated levels of youth violence in the changing commercial practices within the music industry. Hence, the media influences violence in four negative ways, which contributes immensely to anger amongst youth which leads to aggressive behavior such as social violence, substance abuse, domestic violence, and negative perceptions of women.

Music is seen as a damaging influence toward teenagers because of the language and message that is mainly sent out in several songs. It is seen as an encouragement for teens to react with violence towards the situations that are occurring worldwide. For example, there are rap songs that mostly talking about how they do not accept President Donald Trump as their president; people think that teenagers are taking a different message than what artists trying to transmit. They believe that teenagers might want to take action towards Trump with violent. Rap music is not meant to be an incorrect influence to teens or any other person. This type of music is a way for society to express their feelings towards situations that they might not have the

Music is a form of expression that delivers a message. However over the years, the message of music has changed. Hundreds of years ago, music started with slaves. The slaves would sing spiritual hymns to motivate them and help keep up their spirits. Later, R&B and Hip Hop formed and at first there were motivational songs and rappers even rapped about a better life. But over the last thirty years the motivational songs have ceased. R&B and Hip Hop now is degrading to women, less subtle, and influences bad behavior.

Drugs and alcohol play a big part in rap as well. Trying to listen to a rap song without drugs in it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. When the artists rhymes about their street life they go on and on about how they are never sober. An article on the web called "The Impact of Rap and Hip-Hop Music On American Youth." Makes a vary alarming claim that “Studies show that ever since these genres of music became

More people are being exposed to these types of songs and are getting a false sense of amusement. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine made a study about songs relating to drug and alcohol. They noticed that seventy seven percent of rap songs contained references to alcohol and drugs. They also noted that music represents a persuasive source of exposure to positive images of substance use (Parker-Pope). With more exposure among these drugs, come more young teens going and trying them.

A song on the radio starts off with a pleasant melody. Suddenly, another form of heavy-beat music enters. Numerous icons of guns, skulls, hoods, lighters, darkness, and graffiti art were demonstrated by typing in three simple letters into the Oxford English Dictionary word search bar: R-a-p. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the definition of rap is accompanied with the synonyms “whack, strike, bash, bang, pound…” (Simpson). All with negative connotations, this reflects how rap affects our society today. Rap can be catchy, but it is harmful to our society for freedom of speech is being taken advantage of and, as a result, other political issues have arisen from them. Freedom of expression can extend a little bit too far.

While there are many positive things associated with rap music, the negative aspects must also be considered while assessing the true value of the genre. In several studies, rap music has been found to promote violent behavior due to its aggressive nature and questionable messages. One study, for example, showed that when listening to rap songs that contained violent lyrics, college students were more likely to associate with violent words and commit hostile actions. In contrast, music that contained no violent lyrics had no discernable effect on the subjects’ behavior (Palmer 15). Along with its violent nature, there is also the issue that some rap music is degrading to women by portraying them as sex symbols and playthings for men. When this type of attitude is broadcasted for young people to listen to, the false idea that it is acceptable to mistreat women is presented. In addition to the degradation of women, some rappers also use their lyrics to create distrust in the police and question the justice system (Giovacchini 2). Some rappers have no respect for the law and glorify their criminal actions. This can leave the impression on young, susceptible minds that criminal behavior can be considered “cool” or justifiable. While all of these points are valid and must be addressed, one also cannot ignore the positive ways in which rap music impacts youth and these aspects must be considered when assessing the value of the genre as a whole.

     Imagine an inner city kid having grown u in an environment where real life street violence is a way of life. His body, having survived personal experiences of violence, endured barely life sustained conditions, and many sleepless nights caused by the constant yet unpredictable call of death. His mind doubtful over where his next meal will come from, lost in search of some higher guidance, struggling through a world, not of innocent childish fantasies, but trapped in a forced reality. His only outlet is the loud blaring music coddling his already pent-up rage, an escape from these harsh realities, seducing him to a life of violence. In him is created a “me against the world” mentality that is manifested in

Throughout history, music has been used to express the feelings of people or groups whom may have no other outlet to express themselves. The best example of this occurrence would be the lower class of America’s use of rap music. Rap music started out as a fun variation of disco with the purpose to make people dance and enjoy themselves, but it later transformed into one of the best outlets to express the struggles of poverty in the United States. The genre gained popularity when the song “Rapper 's Delight” hit the charts in the early eighties; rap evolved into a plethora of different styles from there, Gangster Rap formed with NWA in the late eighties, and rap really hit it’s zenith in the mid nineties. Modern rap began in the early starts of the twentieth century. Because of the storytelling that rappers do in the music, it gained notice in the inner city where the demographic could relate. Many young teen in the inner city environment built dream to be famous rappers just like their own favorite artists . Rap connects to me by its style, its purpose, and its political incorrectness.