Summary: The Influence Of Violence In Rap Music

Although many don’t see a relationship between music and behavior, rap music causes aggression, objectification of women or misogyny, and even influences acts of violence. Therefore, there should be regulations as to what rappers can say in their songs.

All around the world, rappers are huge influences on others, but what do they really influence? Studies and experiments have shown that being exposed to rap music can cause aggressive behavior, misogyny, and acts of violence. If rappers didn't put such a positive spin on violent activities in their music, those exposed to it would not have such a change in behavior. Regulations on the lyrics in rap music could easily make a positive change to every community.

Many see music as just

Misogyny is the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women. For example, Robin Thicke’s famous song “Blurred Lines” has been said to actually condone sexual assault. Although Thicke denies the accusation of condoning assault, and actually calls the song a “feminist movement within itself”, his lyrics contradict his statement (Teitel, 2013). The song gives an idea that consent is a blurry concept. Sexual assault is represented in the media as if it is a positive thing, which is what it driving many to doubt the accuracy of rape allegations. Vulgar lyrics such as the ones in Robin Thicke’s hit song is what leads critics to realize that rap music and misogyny are directly related, however, Thicke isn’t the only artist to objectify women through song. A wide variety of rappers and pop culture artists also record music in which objectifies females, counting Justin Timberlake, Eminem, Earl Sweatshirt, and many more. Many will make the assumption that white artists like Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke use misogyny in their music in order to have something to talk about because they didn’t grow up with racism or poverty, which many other rappers did, and they speak of their struggle and hardships. But, those artists also treat women as objects through their music, and many believe that because of their hardships, they feel free to oppress others and for some reason, they take that out on women in their songs. In an article, “On the Real: Agency, Abuse, and Sexualized Violence in Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette””, hip-hop feminist Joan Morgan claims that hip-hop is “the only forum in which young black men...are allowed to express their pain” (Jones, 2013). But lines are being crossed in music everywhere, yet the issue is being