Joshua Wiggins
Mrs. Baker
Honors English 12
23 March 2023
How Hip-hop Can Have a Positive Influence on Society
"I would say that hip-hop is the main and dominant subculture of youth today” (Preface to). Hip-hop has quickly become the main influencer of popular music and youth culture. Despite its popularity, the genre's polarizing lyrics and controversial themes make the music implausible to some. Hip-hop positively influences society through its lyrics, cultural impact, and voice to the younger generation. Hip-hop can have a positive influence on society through its lyrics. Lyrics that are used in a positive light, enacts change and inspires people to do good things. Lyrics are powerful. “Hip hop started with a political, anticapitalist
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He sees the genre as entertainment only. “Hip-hop music is music—its intention is to entertain. It is wishful thinking to claim that hip-hop and rap music have increased awareness of the problems that African Americans face and must endure” (McWhorter). The point McWhorter takes subjects hip-hop’s educational value to African Americans alone. McWhorter also believes that hip-hop has a negative influence on society. “The idea that hip-hop, because it makes the body feel good to move to it and it makes the soul feel good to hear out angry young black men, can be transmuted into changing the world is narcotic but nonsensical” (McWhorter). McWhorter’s use of the words, “narcotic,” and “nonsensical,” support a negative idea that hip-hop lacks educational value and actually is not a positive influence. Hip-hop does have negative aspects, but its positive ones make up for …show more content…
Leroy F. Moore, Jr., the founder of krip-Hop nation, uses his movement to support artists in hip-hop with disabilities. “In my research I found that the industry has always had trouble supporting and promoting musicians with disabilities” (Moore). With his new platform, Moore is able to promote disabled hip-hop artists as equal to the artists who are not disabled. This movement is an example of the positive change people can bring through music. With so much hip-hop music out, it is also important to distinguish the negative themes from the positive ones. Hip-hop’s themes are polarizing at times, but values such as monetary gain are a productive influence on society.“Some criticize the focus on money and power as overly materialistic. However, for black people who are often stigmatized, the focus on advancing through capitalism is ultimately a positive thing” (Yates). This theme of materialism is a common message in mainstream music today and can aim to motivate listeners by portraying a classic rags-to-riches