Music, in some cases, can be a reflection of life experiences. Each genre has a different set of emotions and reactions felt by the listener. Rap music’s popularity has grown dramatically over the past decade. However, it has been the center of controversy regarding promoting violence in society. While some of its mainstream content can be rather explicit, rap lyrics altogether do not promote violence. Instead; they endorse positive messages, provide social commentary, and detail everyday life in urban cities. Hip Hop emerged from the dilapidated South Bronx, New York in the early 1970’s. Since then, Hip Hop has evolved several times to reach its current stage. To be exact, rap has changed about three times since its origin (Cummings Pg 1). …show more content…
Misconceptions of Hip Hop are based on only a small spectrum of the genre but end up being a general judgement of the whole genre itself. Since most criticism swirls from what people hear on the radio, people are only exposed to more of a watered down version of rap and not the more traditional Hip Hop. As explained by Justin Hunte of HipHopDx, radio is the perfect example of how Hip Hop is currently run by the singles era: “Kendrick Lamar made some of the most important albums in history, however he doesn’t have many chart topping singles” (Hunte). Kendrick Lamar’s most recent album To Pimp A Butterfly, explores a variety of political and personal themes concerning African-American culture, racial inequality, depression, and institutional discrimination. Hunte then states that: “Whereas Drake is the singles king, but he doesn’t have as many critically acclaimed albums. Who’s more quotable? Who's the better artist? Who’s made the bigger impact” (Hunte). Drake also released a relatively recent album. However, his album comes off more as boasting about his expensive and materialistic lifestyle and the success he has seen from his music. Kendrick Lamar might have a more positive message for his listeners, but Drake’s ability to make more radio accessible music suits a more mainstream audience which may send the wrong message about the genre. Prior to …show more content…
There needs to be a more consistent spectrum where all media are judged fairly. If there is a need for social responsibility from the music industry, the same should be expected from its audience. What good does it do censor the material that is found offensive if the people will continue to blame something else anyway. Music is subjective. If Hip Hop is not a preference for that individual, they could listen to other genres. There should be a stop to blaming others for the problems we have created. The issue is not the music, nor is it the artists themselves. The issue is the people are unable to look past ignorance and judge all media equally. Social responsibility is a two way road, it cannot be one sided. Until both parties are willing to compromise, fingers will continue to pointed at each other for years to
The hip hop culture began in the suburbs of New York over 30 years ago and has gone through drastic changes over this time. Hip Hop contains four different elements including: graffiti, rap, disc jockey and break-dancing. In the 1970’s, musical artists began to express themselves like Kool DJ Herc. Rap music began to spread through the urban neighborhoods of New York City and people used a new form of expression that gave a chance to sing about anything.
Music can be reflection of our life experience. Each genre of music invokes different emotions and reactions in it's listeners. Rap has become a very popular genre in today's society. Is today “Gangster rap” and rappers exploiting society, introducing drugs and instigating violence? In the mid-1980s Gangster rap came to be portray images of violence, guns, gangs, drugs, and sexism. By the 1990s rap music became a major part of the industry and topped the charts. As people begin to operate different things; different music was engendered and that contributed to the variety of music that we have today. This is one of the many things that makes America different but is astringently under looked by everyone. There are many types of different raps
Hip hop originated from groups of Afro-Caribbean, and African Americans in Bronx. These musicians combined different kinds of music and used the traditions of their own culture to approach music. Hip hop in the beginning of its time was more of artis...
A race issue that occurs within the rap and hip-hop musical genre is the racial stereotypes associated with the musical form. According to Brandt, and Viki rap music and hip- hop music are known for fomenting crime violence, and the continuing formation of negative perceptions revolving around the African-American race (p.362). Many individuals believe that rap and hip-hop music and the culture that forms it is the particular reason for the degradation of the African-American community and the stereotypes that surround that specific ethnic group. An example is a two thousand and seven song produced by artist Nas entitled the N-word. The particular title of the song sparked major debates within not only the African-American community thus the Caucasian communities as well. Debates included topics such as the significance and worth of freedom of speech compared with the need to take a stand against messages that denigrate African-Americans. This specific label turned into an outrage and came to the point where conservative white individuals stood in front of the record label expressing their feelings. These individuals made a point that it is because artists like Nas that there is an increase in gang and street violence within communities. Rap and hip-hop music only depicts a simple-minded image of black men as sex crazed, criminals, or “gangsters”. As said above, community concerns have arisen over time over the use of the N-word, or the fact that many rappers vocalize about white superiority and privilege. Of course rap music did not develop these specific stereotypes, however these stereotypes are being used; and quite successfully in rap and hip-hop which spreads them and keeps the idea that people of color are lazy, all crimin...
The area in which hip hop first became a popular music was the Bronx. The Bronx is often labeled as the birthplace of hip hop. In its early stages hip hop was mostly a black and hispanic thing. As hip hop has evolved over the past 20 some odd years its
Music is one of the greatest forms of art. It inspires many individuals and generations. As music continues to develop, so will society. As of today and what has been going on for decades is rap music and how it portrays women. Rappers often use females as a way to gain success and fame. Although rap is extremely popular and obtains a lot of attention, especially from teenagers, it is causing a lot of negative attention towards females. Younger generations are looking up to rappers and feel what they are rapping about are true. Because of this, women all over the globe are outraged at the fact that they are being portrayed in such a derogatory manner.
The most popular new music to emerge from the ‘80’s was rap music. It first developed in the mid ‘70’s in New York City, and soon in other urban areas, primarily amongst African-American teen-agers. It became very popular with the urban public that it soon began to spread throughout the United States and much of the world. It replaced rock music as the creative force in music of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. However, as popular as it was then and it is now, the lyrics of many rap songs have caused controversy. Many believe and have charged that these lyrics promote racism and violence and show contempt for women.
This violent theme continues to be prevalent within rap music because just recently have white capitalists overtaken ownership of many of these artist’s recording labels, thus selfishly dictating how the music must be portrayed in order to produce revenue. Within this rhythmic poetry, artists will assume hyper-masculine roles in demands of a respected reputation and an attempt to disrupt peace solidified and enjoyed by the racially privileged. This only reinforces and attempts to justify institutional interventions, such as racial policing, police brutality, and high incarceration rates, in which Rebollo Gil and Moras refer to as “hip hop in crisis” (2012, pg. 120). Today, rap music continues these same narratives, while other musical genres, such as heavy metal group, Metallica, have also became more active in describing violence through song lyrics, although they experience far less criticism and branding from audiences when doing so. There is an assumed exception among white critics and white artists themselves who deem their expression of violence as more appropriate than rap’s, simply because they lack imposing stigmas attached to their race and
...or what it is - entertainment, and not be taken so seriously as people try to make it. Music, be it rap, alternative, country, or bubble gum pop, is merely another form of expression. If you don't like what you hear, don't want your children exposed to it, or are offended by it, just turn it off. Thousands of people have attended concerts by the most hated artists in America. Millions watch Marilyn Manson prance about in music videos. Yet, the general majority of the population is not inspired to murder innocent people. Teens that are depressed, troubled, or rejected and taunted by their peers need to get help before they let their warped sense of fantasy and reality mix too far. Don't deprive more mature listeners all because it's something that frightens you. Music may be a huge influence, but it cannot be blamed for all of society's problems.
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”
Have you ever wondered what was making that horrible racket coming from a teen’s car. The odds are that it would be some type of rap song, yet the beat was too loud for you to hear the lyrics. Based off what the mass knows about rap music, you were lucky to not hear the lyrics right, wrong. Rap lyrics have many senses of great poetry and life lessons that should be heard. At least some of rap songs relate to struggles, deaths they have suffered, or even respect of women that many do not believe that rappers would ever do. Rap music is becoming increasingly meaningful for not only adults but for older youth as well to comprehend about respect and an improved understanding of life with struggles and oppressions.
Hip hop originated in the South Bronx of New York City in the 1970s. The term rap is often used synonymously with hip hop, but hip hop can also be described as an entire subculture (“Hip Hop”, 2004). The term Hip Hop is said to have come from a joke between Keith Cowboy, rapper with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and their friends (“Hip Hop”, 2004). Although Hip Hop was created on American soil, it's influences are global. It can be said that Hip Hop might be a result of ethnic globalization. Hip Hop has roots in African, Caribbean, and Latino culture (“Hip Hop Globalization and Youth Culture”, 2005). Spoken word, which is still popular today is also an influence in Hip Hop music and culture. Spoken word is a style of poetry spoken in a rhythmic fashion. Hip Hop ranges from rap music, to B-boy dance. It was a platform to empower ethnic youth without violence...
Richardson, Jeanita W., Kim A. Scott. “Rap Music and Its Violent Progeny: America’s Culture of Violence in Context.” The Journal of Negro Education 71.3 (2002): 175 – 192.
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 music is portrayed by an entertainer rapping over a track that regularly comprises of loops or specimens of other music woven together (Selke INT). Hip-hop originally appeared in the Bronx around the 1970s and steadily turned into the predominant mainstream music structure by the 1990s, representing a multi-billion dollar industry today (Selke INT). Hip-hop music can additionally have some positive impacts. For example, its verbal imagination can motivate audience members to play with dialect, and acknowledge musicality and rhyme (Selke INT). Just like poetry, hip-hop can be a way of expressing oneself.