Changing Images of Violence in Rap Music Lyrics: 1979-1997

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(a) Read the article, The Influence of Rap/Hip-Hop Music. What is the premise of the article? What are the main findings in the article? How does rap music affect attitudes toward domestic violence?
The premise of the article, “Changing images of violence in rap music lyrics: 1979-1997” is that from 1979-1997, there was a drastic increase in the level of violence in rap music that is being viewed in a more progressively positive light. As a result, social conditions must change in order to reduce youth violence. These results indicate that there has been a dramatic and sustained increase in the level of violence in rap music. The percentage of songs mentioning violence increased from 27 per cent during 1979-1984 to 60 per cent during 1994-1997. In addition, portrayals of violence in later songs are viewed in a more positive light as shown by their increased association with glamor, wealth, masculinity, and personal prowess. Additional analyses revealed that genre, specifically gangster rap, is the most powerful predictor of the increased number of violent references in songs.
The discussion suggests that 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 1980s and changing commercial practices within the music industry (Herd, 2009, p. 395). The media violence prevention implications are that is imperative that social scientists suggest strategies to limit the prevalence and/or impact of these themes (Herd, 2009, p. 403). 'Parental advisory' labels were used by record companies to identify albums and compact discs with explicitly violent lyrical content, but this strategy was proven ineffective because “ the music rating ...

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...11, January).
(MEMORANDUM in SUPPORT of APPLICATION, 2011, p. [Page #]).
5. Cundiff, G. (2013). The Influence of Rap/Hip-Hop Music: A Mixed-Method Analysis. The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, 4(1).
(Cundiff, 2013, p. [Page #]).
6. X is Coming Lyrics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2014, from Lyrics Freak website: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/dmx/x+is+coming_20041248.html ("X Is Coming Lyrics," n.d.).
7. Nelly Tip Drill from Da Derrty Versions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2014, from You Tube website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb0YT1f8bRc
("Nelly Tip Drill From," n.d.).
8. Gabbidon, S., & Greene, H. (2013). Race and Crime. Los Angeles, California: Sage Publications.
9. Criminal District Court No. 2 Dallas County, Texas, AGREED FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, Dupree (Tex. 2011). (Criminal District Court No. 2 Dallas, 2011).

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