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

words and feelings on a piece of paper. But those people don't think about the influences these famous musicians have on people all around the world. If a young person sees a rich and famous person, they want to be just like them, so the words spoken in songs eventually will grow on those listening to it. Rap music especially speaks to youth negatively and although it may not necessarily cause crimes to happen, the bashing, objectifying, and vulgar lyrics do glorify crime. The violent lyrical content is unavoidable, and sways listeners to think and even act differently and in a more violent manner. Sadly, record producers pollute the minds of youth for profit, because violence happens to be what sells best (Rebollo-Gil, 2012). But what these producers haven't noticed is the violent change in the personalities of those who listen to their music. It is true that not all rappers’ references to violence serve to draw attention and create others to act, but sex and violence being present in music is solely because they sell (Rebollo-Gil).

Not only does rap music create a sense of violence in youth, rappers also influence the objectification of women with the misogyny in their lyrics.

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

ignored.

Many may hear the lyrics in a song and not instantly decide that they hate women, or are going to commit a crime simply because they heard of the actions in the song, but the lyrics will create a behavioral difference and most likely cause a person to become more aggressive than they were in the past. Experiments have shown that those who are exposed to rap music compared to those who are exposed to “world music” such as reggae or country are more likely to become more aggressive people. This experiment showed that those exposed to rap music expressed more acceptance of the use of violence against others, and had a higher probability of engaging in criminal activity (Johnson, 1995). In a song by Eminem, he says, “Acting like in the first rapper to smack a [woman],” which stereotypes that many rappers are violent, objectifies women, and condones violences all in one (Teitel, 2013). This may not mean that a listener is going to then commit a crime or begin to hate women, but it will influence the listener to become more aggressive and have a stronger acceptance of using violence.. Now for those who look up to rappers, it gives them the idea that rappers are supposed to act a certain way (Johnson, 1995).

Allowing lyrics to say such vulgar and violent things is only negatively influencing our communities and everyone in them. Glorifying crimes, abuse, drugs, and hate are what cause it all to happen. Regulating lyrics in music will not only help stop these acts of violence, aggression, and objectification of women, but it will also help put a much more positive outlook into the minds of youth.