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Effects of hip hop in todays culture
Hip hop's effect on popular culture
Hip hop's effect on popular culture
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Celebrities have the ability to change the way people think in an instant. Currently in society, it is easy for an individual to get their opinions noticed. With the help of social media and instant news, celebrities can post something and the whole world can have access to it in the blink of an eye. Due to this quick form of communication, it is no wonder celebrities use their access to inform their audience not only about their personal life but also about issues that are affecting their communities, such as poverty and violence. Hip- Hop is the perfect platform for this. It is rare that you will find a teenager following politics. Therefore, through Hip-Hop culture, it is made possible for issues such as gun violence, drugs and high prison rates in cities to be noticed by the youth. One way in which Hip-Hop addresses these social issues is through lyrics of Hip-Hop songs. There are many artists who have songs that contain lyrics that both outwardly and subliminally state the issues that minority communities face. One such artist is J.Cole. In many of Cole’s songs, you can...
When looking at the landscape of Hip-Hop among African Americans, from the spawn of gangsta rap in the mid 1980s to current day, masculinity and an idea of hardness is central to their image and performance. Stereotypical to Black masculinity, the idea of a strong Black male - one who keeps it real, and is defiant to the point of violence - is prevalent in the genre. This resistant, or even compensatory masculinity, encompasses: the hyper masculinity rife in the Western world, misogyny, and homophobia, all noticeable in their lyrics, which is in part a result of their containment within the Black community. The link of masculinity and rap music was established due to this containment, early innovators remaking public spaces in their segregated neighbourhoods. A notion of authentic masculinity arose from the resistant nature of the genre, but the move to the mainstream in the 90s created a contradiction to their very image - resistance. Ultimately, this in part led to the construction of the masculinity defined earlier, one that prides itself on its authenticity. I’ll be exploring how gender is constructed and performed in Hip Hop, beginning with a historical framework, with the caveat of showing that differing masculine identities in the genre, including artists
Over time, some rap artists might adapt the stated sexist and racial beliefs, and think that they become something better and consciously place themselves above their audience and pretend to be more superior than women Hip-Hop Culture + Politics). The following lyrics provide examples and show how misogynistic beliefs are represented in rap music. The presented excerpts are highly offensive and controversial, but they show the contemporary type of rap that has been and is still produced by well-known recording studios (Adams and Fuller 949).
Hip hop has gone from just DJ-ing, graffiti, break dancing and just rapping to self-expression, mannerisms and demeanor. Hip-hop has made its way to mainstream tv such as Wild N Out, Love and Hip-hop, and Growing up Hip-hop. Hip-hop has influenced the lives of today’s youth, mostly African American youth. The influence that hip hop has on today’s youth can be both positive and negative. Unfortunately, it has more negatives because of the lyrics can be rather aggressive, the want for material gain, and encouraging misogynistic behaviors. Hip-hop has been positive, when a rapper such as T.I raps about a song it brings awareness to the community, it gets everyone talking and wanting to make a change. The Black Lives Movement going on he wrote a song called “We Will Not”. The meaning behind this song is to bring awareness, for police brutality and justice for African Americans. Hip-hop has become a platform for people to be able to
Hip hop has permeated popular culture in an unprecedented fashion. Because of its crossover appeal, it is a great unifier of diverse populations. Although created by black youth on the streets, hip hop's influence has become well received by a number of different races in this country. A large number of the rap and hip hop audience is non-black. It has gone from the fringes, to the suburbs, and into the corporate boardrooms. Because it has become the fastest growing music genre in the U.S., companies and corporate giants have used its appeal to capitalize on it. Although critics of rap music and hip hop seem to be fixated on the messages of sex, violence, and harsh language, this genre offers a new paradigm of what can be (Lewis, 1998.) The potential of this art form to mend ethnic relations is substantial. Hip hop has challenged the system in ways that have unified individuals across a rich ethnic spectrum. This art form was once considered a fad has kept going strong for more than three decades. Generations consisting of Blacks, Whites, Latinos, and Asians have grown up immersed in hip-hop. Hip hop represents a realignment of America?s cultural aesthetics. Rap songs deliver a message, again and again, to keep it real. It has influenced young people of all races to search for excitement, artistic fulfillment, and a sense of identity by exploring the black underclass (Foreman, 2002). Though it is music, many people do not realize that it is much more than that. Hip hop is a form of art and culture, style, and language, and extension of commerce, and for many, a natural means of living. The purpose of this paper is to examine hip hop and its effect on American culture. Different aspects of hip hop will also be examined to shed some light that helps readers to what hip hop actually is. In order to see hip hop as a cultural influence we need to take a look at its history.
Music is very powerful. It can control people’s emotions and change the way they act. What people see in music videos or lyrics may affect what they do, especially teens. Hip hop song lyrics include violence, sex, vulgar language, drugs, and alcohol use. Unfortunately, teenagers are the number one fans of this types of music. Most people worry about the negative influences of hip hop and rap on the teenagers still too young to choose what is right or wrong. I believe that hip hop and rap music has lots of dangerous effects on today’s youth, especially the violence, sex, and bad
Ever since it became popular in the late eighties, hip-hop music has been a target of moral disapproval. Many critics have labeled the music as an offensive, vulgar, misogynist form of expression, which negatively influences its listeners, particularly children. Early in rap music's' development "concerned citizens" and various government officials held protests against the release of certain rap albums. Rap music's opponents demanded strict censorship. But hip-hop was increasingly attracting large audiences and its supporters were ready to fight the censors who they believed were taking away their constitutional right of freedom of speech, and the freedom of the urban black culture to express itself. What critics of rap music don't comprehend is that rap music is a part of our culture, which is impossible to ignore. Although it may be untraditional, it is a very eloquent form of expression that illustrates the conditions and feeling of a vibrant African -American young culture
“To understand how any society functions you must understand the relationship between the men and women” (Angela Davis). Artist such as Tupac and J Cole use hip-hop as a form of expression to bring attention to the social issues within the African American community. Songs such as Keep Ya Head Up, Brenda’s Got A Baby, Crooked Smile, and Lost Ones communicates the social issues affecting the black community, during the 90’s as well as the current matters in today’s society. All of the songs touch on topics such as abortion, rape, drugs, and poverty. Within the African American community, it has not changed as it relates to how we act as a race when dealing with situations we encounter as African Americans.
Through the past about thirty years, music has evolved into new forms of expressions. Hip-hop has become a world widespread form of communication and it is enjoyed around the world. It is no longer limited to rap and break dancing; in this cultural it represents a multi-billion dollar industry that influences the nation from design and fashion to television and professional sports, mass media marketing and advertising. Hip-hop today is involved in numerous aspects of young people’s lives in addition to sending a lyrical message that influences positive actions. Hip-hop is a positive guide, such as helping to understand what people in the world are going through, gets teens to understand that they are not alone, and writing lyrics along with composing music giving people a voice when they are scared to speak.
Music producers have an influence on the music that today’s youth listen to that many are affected by, even though the producers are unaware of it. Today there’s a lot of drug abuse, violence, and sexuality all on the rise, even though hip hop itself is not to blame. Imagine our youth all over the country being exposed to this explicit language. There is no need to imagine, because it is already happening. Ever since the rise of Rap and Hip Hop music, teens have been turning to them to help solve their problems.
Hip Hop culture has come from a inner city expression of life to a multi-billion dollar business. At the beginning of the new millennium it was the top selling genre in the pop charts. It had influences not only on music, but on fashion, film, television, and print. In 2004 Hip Hop celebrated its 30th year anniversary. It wasn’t big for the fact that it was still kicking. It was big because the once Black/Brown inner city culture had grown into a multi-billion dollar global phenomenon (Reeves). Hip Hop culture has provided a platform for all walks of life to speak their mind. Over the past 36 years it has provided us with both entertainment and controversy alike and had a huge impact on our nation’s history. `
Since start of its genre, hip hop music has been the reason behind masses of debates and disagreements. There are many who contend hip hop music to be a mere glorification of violence, and nothing more than bad influences on those who listen to it. However, there are others who oppose this opinion and consider hip hop music to be a voice for the unheard. The true impacts of hip hop music cannot be represented by taking this debate, and can rather be realized by the increasing variation of this form of music across the globe.
Hip-hop is everywhere. The genre possesses a distinct function, operating as a perfectly accessible medium that simultaneously soundtracks a high school, middle-class house party and an authentic, bleak representation of inner city anguish. To most youth, rap is this generation’s interpretation of punk rock. Insubordinate. Aggressive. Crass. Yet, to many older individuals or parents, hip-hop is synonymous with ignorance. To them, hip-hop is the manifestation of musical illiteracy and immaturity of not particularly the African-American community, but youth culture as a whole. The disconnect mostly resides within the content and topics discussed within the music, and how said topics and content are presented. In the current climate, there seems to be no middle ground between teens and young adults
I believe that when we look at this question the main issue that one must confront is one of content and the use of that content. Any type of music whether it be rap, rock and roll, opera, country, or even Christian music is about expression. Expressing ones ideas and emotions though music is as old as music itself. Take for example the latest craze of Latin music. The vernacular of the people in which the music comes from is reflected in the music in the form of Spanish words and phrases throughout the songs. The history of the Latin culture can be seen in the rhythms and instruments played by performers as well as in the lyrics. In rock and roll music of today the rebellious words of the times can be heard in the lyrics of the music. In Christian music, the Word of God and of the scriptures can be heard in the lyrics of that type of music as well. The 'history' and beliefs of the church can be heard in the type of words that are heard. In ancient Indian verses and song warriors would chant before they went to war and to the gods. These chants and songs reflected the image of the culture and a small piece of each participant can be seen and heard in the music.
As one of the most popular genres of music, hip-hop has an extremely wide reach to a global audience no longer limited based on age, race, or gender. With each new single, artists such as Drake, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Nicki Minaj occupy spaces at the top of the billboard charts. The current success of rap is unlike what it was when hip-hop was emerging in the early 90s. Originally as a subculture in opposition to the mainstream culture, hip-hop was an extremely diverse genre that placed importance on lyrical genius. It was socially conscious, politically aware, and often challenging of the dominant power struggles seen in modern society. As the majority of rap and hip-hop artists were underprivileged minorities, they spoke of their experiences
“We teenagers are growing up in a society where the media has a great impact on our lives,”said a teenage author of an article on Teen Ink. Hip-Hop, is the most influential source of media that is affecting today’s teenagers. How is it affecting them? The Hip-Hop and Rap music industry rap about drugs, money, women, and cars causing them to want to experiment with new drugs, steal, sell drugs, have sex, vandalize, disobey the law and try to be someone they aren 't. Even though some teens from the ghetto look up to rappers that were once like them and became successful, hip-hop music still has a negative influence on teenagers because they want to model the rap artist lifestyle and listening to hip-hop music encourages teenagers to try drugs.