What is the Impact of Rap Music on Teenagers?

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According to several media and interest groups, rap music is responsible for pregnancy, anti-social behavior, poor academic performance and other other bad traits amongst teenagers. The truth, however, is slightly more complex.

Sexual Deviance

Hormones and human experience influence a person quantity of sexual partners.

According to Sid Kirchheimer, a 2003 study links urban African-American teenage girls' tendency of having numerous sex partners to watching gangsta rap videos. The study does not include the sexual deviance amongst African-American boys, and Kirchheimer points out that white suburban youth are the majority audience for gangsta rap videos and that white suburban youth have more access to MTV and BET, in fact, than urban African-American teens. Susan Buttross defends rap by noting that other forms of music also promote negative stereotypes and behaviors.

Violence

Many rap songs promotes nonviolence.

Jennifer Copley reports that studies link rap videos to children having a positive view on violence and criminal activity. Although Copley recognizes that some rap videos have very violent themes, she notes that teenage fans are exposed to many different themes in rap, including opposition towards violence. The lyrics and video for Coolio's 1995 smash hit "Gangsta's Paradise," for example, deplored violence. The song criticizes the gangster lifestyle, particularly in the verses, "Tell me why are we so blind to see/That the ones we hurt are you and me."

Parents

Studies, media and interest groups often overlook a child's home. UCLA Professor Cheryl Keyes believes that the home structure is far more important and influential than pop culture. Keyes also believes that it is up to parents to monitor what their children watch. If a parent is not there to nurture and mentor a child, then listening to rap music is the last thing that will negatively impact a child.

Scapegoating

Sid Kirchheimer readily admits that edgy, popular music is always blamed for deviance. In 1985, the Parents Music Resource Center infamously targeted and blamed artists with their "filthy music" list. Although there were no rap artists listed among the PMRC Filthy Fifteen that included Judas Priest and Prince, many rappers were also considered "filthy" for encouraging sex, masturbation, and violence.

Censorship

The Parents Music Resource Center demanded warning stickers on album covers, but the demand was adamantly opposed by artists such as Twisted Sister's Dee Snider and Frank Zappa. One website (see "Censorship: Limits on Communication" in Resources) quotes Snider as explaining that the sticker was a form of censorship, which not only infringes on speech, but also corrupts communication.

References

• Does Rap Put Teens at Risk?
• Censorship: Limits on Communication
• Rap Music's Psychological Effect
• The Importance Of Teaching Responsibility and Trust
• The PMRC Filthy Fifteen