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How Does Rap Music Affect Pop Culture

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Girls, money, cars, and sex. This is what rap music seems like from afar, but when observed closely, the assortment of topics expand tremendously. Listeners can see beyond the surface and take away more than what is presented. Developed in the early 1970’s, hip hop music progressed rapidly from the underground of New York (Mize) and has grown into an influentially wide genre of music. Even though rap music has impacted pop culture, it is still viewed as negative because of its transition into an “inappropriate” style. With messages like sexism, rap music has its negative connotation but it is not all as bad as it may seem. Rap music has a positive influence of today’s youth. In today’s society, rap music is mostly positively received by the …show more content…

Supporters of rap can relate to messages expressed in hip­hop, such as relationships and heartbreak, violence and abuse, and financial instability. Along with the therapeutic effects, rap positively gives back to its younger audience. Rap music gives the youth of today role models to look up to and certain issues to relate to. “Many youth like rap for the way its lyrical expression represents the realities of their lives and struggles. Likewise some youth are attracted to the message promoted by rap” (Elligan 28). Individual and even group rappers such as A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Chance the Rapper, and Macklemore constantly address topics like sexism and racism, and discuss the need for positivity when dealing with today’s issues. Rap music is an useful way to freely express emotions and thoughts. Most that are not accustomed to rap may not see the various styles and genres of the music. “Political/Protest rap focuses on political issues, racism, sexism, equality, and ethnic identity. Positive rap promotes the values of education, responsibility, and ethnic pride” (Elligan 28). The many styles are ways rappers can express their feelings or desires in this world with their art. With the beats and melodic flows, rappers and listeners utilize these tools to create rhythmic escapes. This escape from reality is universally

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