As a genre, hip-hop is often stereotyped. Many assume that every song is either about sex, violence, or absolutely nothing at all. Hip-hop is not the only genre that is stereotyped, as many of the same can be said for genres like country and metal, but hip-hop has such a negative stigma that many parents feel as though they should not let their children listen to any hip-hop. While it can be argued that much of the hip-hop that is made mainstream by the radio is highly inappropriate, statements like those are blanket statements made by people that have never actually taken the time to listen to any of those stations. Also, it completely ignores the rest of artists that never get to see that mainstream success, whether that is their choice or …show more content…
In the case of Crooked Smile, the song is uplifting and motivational. J. Cole’s “Crooked Smile” is about the insecurities that many women and men have regarding their physical appearance. This song is important because while songs like “Little Weapon” are about people that need help, “Crooked Smile” is a song that was made specifically for people that need help. He begins his first verse by admitting that he too struggled with insecurity about his teeth. He then states that he decided to keep his “twisted grill, just to teach the kids it’s real”. He then goes on to emphasize the standards of beauty placed upon women, and how much pressure that women go through to try and meet those standards. The chorus is just as motivational as the first two verses, stating that “Like the sun though, you know I found my way back ‘round”. The music behind the words is also a mixture of peaceful and exciting, making one feel as though nothing can bring them down. However, while the first two verses are strictly positive, the third and final verse begins to equate society’s standards of beauty with Hollywood’s standard of beauty. He goes on about how after seeing predominately people who are white and thin be glorified, people of color then get the idea that they are different, and therefore will not be as confident. But he then encourages listeners that just because they don’t look like the “picture perfect beauty queens” doesn’t mean that they cannot succeed. Crooked Smile highlights many issues today in America’s culture, but does it in an optimistic and uplifting way. The Rolling Stone, when talking about “Crooked Smile”, referred to it as a “lush soul rap that's uplifting but never boring – making self-affirmation sound like a hot night at a velvet-rope club”
J. Cole tends to tell stories about life subjects through his lyrics, while also utilizing a repetitive beat and hook. The songs that fall into this category are “Power Trip” and “Love Yourz”. He is also known for the song “Nobody’s Perfect”, which is about the troubles and hardships that all relationships and couples go through. Although “Crooked Smile” are similar to those songs, it has a different message other than about love and relationships. He created it to uplift everyone, especially women.
Hip hop’s recieved a bad reputation within the last decade. It is known to negatively influence the younger generation. In the article, “America’s Hip Hop Double-Standard” Perkins asserts that the real issue is that men, black and white, no longer are able to financially support their families. This could be leading to poor behavior and decisions, and could be cqausing people of all ages to listen to hip-hop. In other words, Perkins believes that “as a genre, it references, violance, poor choices, drug use, and a general disrespect towards authority and towards women. The fact that its popularity at all just says a lot about us” (“Does Hip”). Maybe if hip hop wasn’t around, the degrading of women wouldn’t be so bad, maybe drugs wouldn’t be
One of the main reasons why I don’t like hip-hop is because it's sending a bad message to younger generations. Everytime I seem to listen to hip-hip it's always talking about how you're going to harm someone or do drugs. So this is causing younger kids to make bad choices based on what they hear.
Hip hop and rap as a musical genre is a very controversial subject for nearly everyone. Its influences are powerful, both positive and negative. There are many positive influences of hip hop, and a few examples are the breaking down of cultural barriers, the economic impact, and political awareness of pressing and urgent issues. Though there are many positive influences, there are many negative influences as well. Some of the more heated debates of the negative influences of hip hop are that it glorifies violence, and the fact that the music sexualizes women and degrades them as well. Attached to the negative outlook on hip hop, there are also many stereotypes assumed by society towards this type of culture
Doug E. Fresh, a popular beat-boxer in rap music today, has been quoted saying, “Hip-hop is supposed to uplift and create, to educate people on a larger level and to make a change.” Although this is the original intention of hip-hop music, public opinion currently holds the opposite view. Since the 1970’s musical artists have changed the face of hip-hop and rap and worldwide, people – mostly teens—have been striving to emulate certain artists and their lyrics, which has created negative stereotypes for hip-hop music and also for those who choose to listen to it. With vulgar lyrics referencing drugs, alcohol, sex, and aggression, it’s no wonder these stereotypes exist. However, is music really the direct cause of how teens act,
One of the biggest ways hip hop is demeaning towards women is the objectivity of women. Women in the hip hop industry and basically seen as disposable sex toys. Rose says that hip hop divides women into groups, one that is worth respect and protection and the other that just isn’t. “In this hip hop does not break from the fundamental logic of mainstream masculinity so much as convey it with excess, bravado, and extra insult” (Rose 119). Many ask the question why many other topics have standards such as “rap[ping] against police…[or] against gay…” (Rose 120) but it’s all fair game against women. However it is not only the men in the hip hop game that are objectifying women. Rappers like Lil’ Kim, Trina, and Foxy Brown use the same “sex sells” method to grow on the hip hop ladder, but they feel like they have to. That’s the only way to be noticed and get attention (Rose 123). “Kim herself admitted that she uses her identity as Lil’ Kim to get money, ‘a character I use to sell my records’” (Rose 124). If even girls in hip hop feel the need to have to go by this method, what are the chances that younger females will do any differently?
In today’s society African Americans are expected to listen to “Hip-hop” when honestly not all of us do. I personally don’t listen to rap much at all. Don’t get me wrong I don’t hate it but it’s not in my top 25 favorite songs category. I listen to hardcore stuff weather that would be metal or electronic music like dubstep. It bothers me when people are shocked that I listen to that kind of music when music is meant for everyone not for just
Since its emergence in the 1980s, hip-hop has taken the world by storm; it has impacted and revolutionized the way people behave, dress, and think. Hip-hop music enables people to connect in a way they would never be able to with any other genre of music. Although, hip-hop has swayed different generations over the years, its influence has not always been positive. In the past, hip-hop focused more on current events in society, personal struggles, life experiences and serving as a voice for the youth. However in recent years, hip-hop music has begun to promulgate a lust for material affluence, and in doing so romanticizes violence, drug usage, and the exploitation of women. No longer is hip-hop about what moves the audience rhythmically and makes them think; today it’s all about what sells, sex. In the past, sexual content and appeal was simply i in lyrics and music videos to spice things up, but now it is virtually an essential.
In black media today the hip hop culture is often referred to when defining what it means to be a black person in society. In particular the hip hop culture is where many young black men pull both positive and negative aspects of black masculinity. Many mainstream hip hop songs often create a common misogyny by objectifying and stereotyping women. An example of this can be heard in the song Nasty Girl by The Notorious B.I.G. where he states:
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
It has been instrumental in the election of political figures and has given the youth an outlet they can turn to in order for their concerns and issues to be heard. It has been used to support social movements and call attention to issues of poverty, positive and negative effects of pop culture and art. Hip-hop is often seen as a negative aspect of our society due to the violence, occasional sexual advocacy, and explicit lyrics that are sometimes broadcasted within the music. It has been a part of our reality and social culture as a way to reach multiple generations and genres. While we realize the social impact it has on everyday culture, we may not realize how truly important hip-hop is to the general population.
The start of hip hop began as creative lyrics. Young urban youth expressing themselves creatively through rhymes spoken to music. A time when groups gathered and had a good time with no fear of violence erupting. However as hip hop evolved, the lyrics changed and it began to take a turn for the worse. The lyrics are no longer a positive outlet to express the problems the youth face, it is no longer “a compelling distraction from the turmoil of inner-city life” (Green 47). Rap has a huge following among youth no matter their socio-economic background. Rap can and has influenced America 's cultures in a lot of ways. The lyrics of some rap songs are very controversial and can contain some very vulgar language and attitudes. Even though hip-hop began as an outlet for urban youth to voice their opinions about the world they experienced, its artist’s choice of words have become so explicit in such a way that it has begun to have the following effects on today’s youth: violence, alcohol abuse, drug use, and sexual behavior.
Hip-Hop culture objectifies both men and women as both violent and aggressive and very sexual beings. For women, it shows them as simply sexual objects, whether it be half naked in music videos dancing in a sexual manner or through the lyrics which talk about the plethora of women these men have had sexual relations with. For men, it shows this hyper masculine misogynistic aggressive male body displayed in the video as well as in the lyrics with multitudes of underdressed women in the background dancing often being groped without any actual consent. This sends the message that women do not have avoice and are simply there to please the
I understand why some people may hate hip hop as a genre and all rappers in general. Rap has, well, a bad rap. As a genre, rap has been marginalized because many of its songs incorporate topics such as drugs, crime, domestic abuse, and sex. Fuck tha Police by famous group N.W.A comes into mind as significant piece during the late 80s that led to many assumptions being formed about the genre.
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.