Negative Influences of Rap & Hip Hop Music

Despite its popularity, hip-hop music is often scrutinized as a negative influence on behavior. People of all races and age groups relish hip-hop and often imitate the most popular artists and memorize the lyrics. Song lyrics can become embedded in the mind and can unconsciously motivate a listener's actions.

History

Hip hop began in the 1970s. The art form, which originated in New York, provided Black and Latino youth with an outlet to express themselves, often speaking out about the poor conditions that exist within their communities. The development of the hip-hop culture created a movement that influenced the way we dress, speak and socialize. The emergence of "gangsta rap" in the 1980s marked the beginning of some disintegration of the positive images in hip-hop culture.

Glorifying Violence

Gangsta rap is a hip-hop genre that focuses primarily on the negative aspects of inner city life. The lyrics often glorify criminal activity and degrade women. This genre of hip-hop has been a source of tremendous controversy and is often cited as the cause of the increase in violence. This is particularly true amongst black youth. According to federal statistics cited by the "Charlottesville Daily Progress," homicide is the leading cause of death for black men between the ages of 15 and 34.

Many gangsta hip-hop artists justify their music by claiming they are only retelling the experiences of their lives on the streets. However, close analysis of the song lyrics often reveals a plethora of curse words and no substance. According to commentators such as those found on Urban Dictionary.com, many artists have been forced to create artificial 'gangsta' images for the sake of a lucrative career. Many young people idolize these artists and imitate their behavior.

Sexualization

The popularity of music videos has reinforced the overt sexuality found in hip-hop music. Women in these videos are often scantily clothed and use their bodies to get material things. Young women are surrounded by these negative images, and many have adapted their lifestyles to fit them. Black Entertainment Television (BET) broadcasts approximately 15 hours of music video each day. According to the research of Carolyn West (University of Washington), as reported in the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette," many of the young women who watch these videos do not believe they can be successful without using their bodies.

Misconceptions

Many people believe that all hip-hop has the gangsta appeal that has such a destructive effect on youth. This is simply not true. There are hip-hop artist that perpetuate positive messages, artists like Mos Def and Common are hip-hop artists of substance with uplifting messages.

Prevention/Solution

Hindering the effects of negative hip-hop music on todays children requires drastic measures. Parents should take a firm stand against the production of this music by refusing to purchase it. A decrease in record sales may trigger an increase in responsibility on the part of the artists. This may mean also blocking the access of music download sites and music video channels to children. Parents may also have to closely monitor the purchases their children make with their allowances.

References

• Post Gazette
• Urban Dictionary
• Daily Progress