Gangsta Rap Essay

Thesis:Rap music does not promote violent actions by teens because rap music is a very diverse genre, it is mainly for entertainment purposes only, and part of the music is involved in anti-violence efforts.

The corruptness of music today seems to be linked to the crude language and aggression found particularly in hip-hop and rap music. Some rap artists use vulgar language in their lyrics that are easily adoptable by teens (Holden). Not only have certain lyrics influenced the way teens speak but also their actions. An article on Headliners.org stated that “lyrics in the music are too violent and are to blame for many problems.” The problems range anywhere from suicide and aggression towards women to underage drinking and drug use. Lyrics are not only to blame, but also what people see in artists’ music videos can affect what they do (Doaks). The urge to emulate these rap musicians has escalated quickly causing a spike in rebellious tendencies among teens.

The start of hip hop began as creative lyrics. Young urban youth expressing themselves creatively through rhymes spoken to music. A time when groups gathered and had a good time with no fear of violence erupting. However as hip hop evolved, the lyrics changed and it began to take a turn for the worse. The lyrics are no longer a positive outlet to express the problems the youth face, it is no longer “a compelling distraction from the turmoil of inner-city life” (Green 47). Rap has a huge following among youth no matter their socio-economic background. Rap can and has influenced America 's cultures in a lot of ways. The lyrics of some rap songs are very controversial and can contain some very vulgar language and attitudes. Even though hip-hop began as an outlet for urban youth to voice their opinions about the world they experienced, its artist’s choice of words have become so explicit in such a way that it has begun to have the following effects on today’s youth: violence, alcohol abuse, drug use, and sexual behavior.

If rap music appears to be excessively violent when compared to country-western or popular rock, it is because rap stems from a culture that has been seeped in the fight against political, social, and economic oppression. Despite the theatrics sometimes put on for major-label albums, for many artists, rapping about guns and gang life is a reflection of daily life in racially- and economically-stratified inner-city ghettos. Blanchard, author of a Stanford article titled “The Social Significance of Rap and Hip-Hop Culture” argues that violence in rap is not an affective agent that threatens to harm America 's youth; rather, it is the outcry of an already-existing problem from youth whose world views have been shaped by experiencing deep economic inequalities divided largely along racial lines. However, a study conducted by Brad J. Bushman, PhD and L. Rowell Huesmann, PhD, show that violent media, including music, have short-term and long-term effects on both children and adults where the long-term effects were greater for children. These children showed heightened aggressive behavior and the tendency to respond to stimuli in a violent way. Growing up in a violent environment will of course have an affect on an individual, but this isn’t an excuse to not look at the effects the explicit music is adding to increase behavioral change and susceptibility to promiscuous and dangerous behaviors (Senate Committee).

"Obviously rap music is too violent. It serves as a musical accompaniment to the entire underclass culture of violence," says the author of "See No Evil", David Klinghoffer, in an article in the National Review. This extremely narrow minded philosophy has neglected to discover what rap music really is and what it means to its millions of buyers, who are mostly of upper-class status. Rap is not only music, it is also a black cultural expression that prioritizes black voices from urban America, and it is a form of rhymed storytelling accompanied by highly rhythmic, electronically based music. Rap music is a form of art or expression like any other type of music. Rap music in itself is not violent. Rap music of today is merely a reflection of

Like many musical genre before rap, some people believe that rap music influenced teenagers in a negative way that could lead to violence. Some criminals have blamed movies, books, and music as inspiration for their crimes. However, one cannot solely rely on these sources as the main reason for any act whether good or bad. “Millions of heavy metal and gangsta rap fans spend hours with their chosen music genres and never threaten others or themselves. Moreover, most researchers concerned with the causes of suicide and violence point to a broad array of risk factors unrelated to popular culture (e.g., depression, access to guns, substance abuse, etc.) that seem to be precursors of such

Rap music, like all types of music is a forum of art. Though most see it as a fad that won’t go away. Rap music is a forum a music that needs to be appreciated. Rap is an integral part of what is known as the hip-hop culture. The start of rap music in the U.S. started with the now known first DJ and the father of hip-hop was DJ Kool Herc and his sister Cindy.

“Based largely on his lyrics, Steward was arrested and charged with the murders”(Majerol 6-7) because of his rap music lyrics. Do you think that Steward should be arrested? I don’t think so because music is people’s inspiration for fun, and their life poured on them, even though rap music is a different type of music it’s still music. What is rap music and how did rap music get big? Rap music started in West Africa with the tribes of African American people singing about songs or stories with a rhythm.

Many believe that rap music has taken a complete 180 in the industry and has turned their lyrics of inspiration and positivity, to drugs and gang violence. Although several signs can point to this statement being true, rap music does not encourage teens to act violently. In fact, many artists/rappers spread positive messages across, giving solutions, and inspiration to the audience.

Music is everywhere. If we stop and listen, we will hear it anywhere. The buzzing of a bee, the roaring of the ocean, the howling of the wind. All of those can be considered music. When we think of music we think of country, rap, pop, rock and other music Categories. However music can be anything. It is happiness, sorrow, pain, love, lust and much more. Birds singing their song is music. Music is everything, it is what makes up the universe. Music is most definitely a necessity.

First of all, rap music instigates the youth to be violent. For instance, when children watch a WWE wrestling show, they are going be

The results showed a positive correlation between misogynous thinking and rap/hip-hop consumption. Although this article proved that Hip Hop makes people insensitive to misogyny it still did not show if that correlates to people committing violent crimes towards women. Gangsta Rap hits the mainstream with the release of N.W.A’s straight outta Compton. Gave me the background information about the inception of violent lyrics. In the beginning Hip hop lyrics did not have violent content.

According to the research, it says hip hop is one of the popular music genre’s biggest influence to viewers even children. “Over the course of the one-year study, there were three times more likely to hit a teacher, over 2.5 times more likely to get arrested, twice as likely to have multiple sexual partners, 1.5 times more likely to get a sexually transmitted disease, and use drugs or drink alcohol.” (Sid Kirchheimer). The statistics of these examples shows how rap music shouldn’t involve with violence because listeners will most likely to get into a lot of trouble. These problems will change the world in a negative

Rap is a popular type of music in today's society, but it didn't just come to be. In the 1970's rap emerged from other types of music to become what it is today. Rap is influenced and inspired by other types of music. Its influences are closely related to each other. Rap music has derived from various types of music. In a world in which people are constantly confronted with violent acts such as rape, assault, murder, school shootings and other violence's, society is eager and anxious to find and remove all causes of these cultural ills. All the blame can not be put on one particular thing but a heavier degree of blame can be put on one thing. Some of the violent acts listed above are expressed through music. Gangster rap, which followed

“Shootin' shit, Hittin' shit four, five extended clips, y'all be on that snitchin' shit and y’all know what snitches get, No limit shit.” “Real hoes get down on the flo' on the flo' /Real hoes get down on the flo' on the flo'/ like a pimp.” The Hip Hop revolution is expanding; and is channeled through video games, billboards, fashion and the language and lifestyle of young adults. Many youths are easily influenced during adolescence. Rap music is highly influential and can create negative impacts on the youth. Constant exposure to negative issues such as sex, drugs and violence can lead to undesirable behaviors. Thus, youths imitate these negative acts due to repeated portrayals by the media. This behavior is also portrayed through rap music, video games and, TV shows. The negative impact that Rap music influences in the Hip Hop culture is Ubiquitous.