Bad Rap Research Paper

Elijah Simmons

Mrs Baker and Mrs Fritz

English 12

26 February 2016

Hip Hop Gets a Bad Rap

The genre of hip hop, rap and “Gangsta rap “ looks marginalized and discriminated against, nevertheless feels treated unfairly by society compared to other genres of music such as rock, pop, and country. Although other genres can get away with actions that hip hop cannot, the genre of hip hop is being blamed for problems in communities. A popular opinion towards hip hop music according to Edward Rhymes who is an academic in sociology with an emphasis on African American and United States History: The violent, misogynistic, drug-celebrating, and sexualized lyrics of rap and hip hop music remains unjust and scrutinized because of the racial double standard” (Rhymes 1). This can be supported by songs from other genres of music. It is peculiar that a song “Like So Hott” by Kid Rock and “Cover You In Oil’’ by AC/DC do not receive as much criticism as rap music does (Rhymes 2).

Other forms of media have gratuitous violence and racist misogynist tones and remain praised such as “Birth of a nation” by DW Griffith. A movie about the creation

and glorification of the KKK should result in an international outrage, because of the double standards that exist within groups that are fueled by racism. Examples of this racism that exists include: sex and the city (by Darren Star) a show about the sex life of four white women was critically acclaimed and was “promoting female empowerment”(Rhymes 2).
However, Hip Hop and rap artists are criticized for the sexual content in their music and videos. An example is from Kim Deterline and Art Jones on their essay “Fear of a Rap” planet when they pointed out that :”the issue with media coverage of rap is not whether African Americans engaged in a campaign against what they perceive as violent, sexist, or racist imagery in rap should News media, films, and advertisements not treated, similarly. The answer maybe in the white-owned corporate media’s historical role as facilitator of racial scapegoating” ( Rhymes 2).
Often critics bash rap for demeaning women but those ideas exist in society itself. ,along with blaming a genre of music for society's problems which is not fixing the problem the problem starts with people along with the way people think. The fact that other forms of media have not acquired as much negative attention as hip hop shows how hypocritical people show themselves, specifically with the argument that rap has a negative influence on the youth, like when any genre of music it is a way for the youth to express themselves.
An English and Humanities teacher at Ballou senior High School in Washington says “It's important for young people to know that their stories remain relevant to their ,lives also their Histories”(Hip-Hop Gives Youths A Needed Outlet For Expression).

The genre at its earliest was telling the story of poverty in their urban area which young adults can relate to because whether or not it is safe or not, it is the life these people live. Rap artists can motivate them to evolve out of “that life”. Rap can moreover be used as a preventative measure for at risk teens, letting the youth know there are other ways to make money telling stories from when the artist were in the same position as the audience to where the artist are now.(Carolee Walker

1)
A majority of teens are missing a mentor moreover a father figure. The only person the youth has to teach them is that artist that they listen to, Somebody who has been in the same shoes as them someone they can relate to. The genre of hip hop is one of the most influential music genres when it comes to bringing a culture of people together and exposing the injustices of society, mainly how to change a person for the better. There is a list of actions to question when it comes to society and how people think and the racial bias that the majority of people have when it comes to hip hop. What makes it different from other genres ?