Drug Use In Rap Music

Rap has been around since 1973, when Kool DJ Herc introduced this new mash of jazz, soul, gospel, and reggae. This culture has been focused around African Americans, and since has served as a voice for the underrepresented, that is spreading violence, alcohol, and drugs. In this genre the most popular and successful boast about who has murdered more foes as breezily as other artists sing about love. Rap music tells stories of drugs, violence, and alcohol. The youth of America is constantly exposed to this kind of music, and our teenagers are being desensitized to the effects of these stories.
References to illegal drugs use in rap music jumped sixfold in the two decades since 1979. Previously, rap music was more likely to depict dangers

and negative consequences of drug abuse, but today illegal drugs are linked to wealth, glamour, and social standing. Example lyrics that include drug references include Jay Z’s, 2009 song Empire State of Mind. In which he raps “MDMA got you feeling like a champion. The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien” (Jay-Z). While Snoop Dogg, has consistently rapped about weed in songs including his Weed Iz Mine collaboration with Wiz Khalifa in 2001, and references to “real sticky icky” (Snoop Dogg) in Still D.R.E with Dr Dre in 1999.
“In 2007, 77 percent of Billboard's most popular songs portrayed substance abuse” (Yang 2). In a study done by Daily Mail, 11 percent of the most popular rap songs between 1970 and 1989 contained a drug reference. In the early 1990s, 45 percent of these songs had a drug reference, and between 1994 and 1997 it increased again to 69 percent.
The increase in the drug references in rap music is strongly in correlation with nationwide drug trends.

“The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducts the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a major source of information on substance use, abuse, and dependence among Americans twelve years and older” (DrugFacts 1). Illicit drug use in the United States has been increasing. In 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans (9.4 percent of the population) had used an illicit drug in the past month. This number is up from the 8.3 percent in 2002. This is increase reflects the recent rise in the use of marijuana since 2007. In 2013, there were 19.8 million users, making it the most commonly used illicit

drug.
“They try to shut us down, so buy another round” croons hip-hop star B.o.B, in his single We Still in This B****. In rap, hip-hop and R&B music, nearly 38 percent of the tracks mentioned alcohol in some way. Most common were references to tequila, vodka, cognac, and champagne. Today, almost every major rapper has some kind of relationship with an alcohol company, and beverages mentioned in songs such as Pass the Courvoisier by Busta Rhymes have shown an increase in sales. “The 2009 hit track Shots, by LMFAO, could be considered the perfect storm, referencing alcohol (by brand or otherwise) 89 times in 4 minutes, 14 seconds- one reference for every 2.85 seconds of music” (Wallace 2).
It’s common knowledge that youth begin experimenting with alcohol at an early age- a National Institute of Health study found the average age of first use is now at 14 years old, but the study’s authors think there is a correlation between alcohol consumption and popular music consumption. “Given the heavy exposure of youth to popular music, these results suggest popular music may serve as a major source of promotion of alcohol among youth”, David Jernigan, PhD. In 2013 youth ages 12 to 20 were exposed to 66 percent more advertising for beer and ale, and 81 percent more advertising for distilled spirits.
As a society we choose to push away these facts, and instead ignore the harmful effects this music has on our youth. In 2008 only $800,00 was spent on PSA for alcohol and young people drinking, compared to the $100 million we spend on illegal drugs and tobacco. Young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent, seven more times more likely to be in an alcohol related motor vehicle accident, and eleven times more likely to suffer from violence and involved in a fight after drinking. If the music stars our youth look up to are doing it, why wouldn’t they?
Hip-hop and rap music are rooted in violent, raunchy, and profane themes.

These are the kinds of music that often use violent lyrics and violent beats, depicting urban street gangs. Typical themes and ideas deal with street life including pimping, and hustling as well as killing and shooting (Malek 108). “I’m bout to bust some some shots off. I’m ‘bout to dust some cops off” (Ice-T). The lyrics of Ice-T’s Cop Killer evoked a loud outcry about whether ideas about killing police officers should be expressed publicly. It is not only the violent ideas expressed within the lyrics, but the context of which they are expressed. Rap is criticized because rappers are known to “sing of guns with almost lascivious glee”. They talk about their “pieces” or “glocks”, “ninas” or pistols as the “object of their affections”

(Malek).
Violent crimes in the US remains higher than in all other developed countries. The United States 2013 murder rate was at 4.7 murders per 100,000 people, compared to .4 in Japan, .8 in Germany, 1.0 in Australia, 1.1 in France, and 1.2 in Britain. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that violent crimes inched up .7 percent in 2013 from the previous year (France-Presse 1). It is no surprise that the countries with lower crime rates, don’t idolize rap as the United States does.
Rap music makes its impact everyday, it fills our youth with negative ideas every time they listen to it. Drugs, violence, and alcohol are all prevalent in their lyrics, making a lasting impact on everyone that listens to it. These rappers are becoming role models in society and slowly gaining more followers who want to be just as they are. We allow ourselves to believe this destructive behavior is acceptable, and continue to follow in their footsteps. As rap continues to remain a popular its reach will continue to grow, leaving us with a society that is battered with drugs, alcohol, and violence.