According to Perry, “Violence, sexism, and criminal activity are all depicted as horrifying features of rap music” (27). However, people may say rap music is a bad influence. “That image often does not correlate the actual lyrics or the personality of the artist; it reflects the music’s perception as violent ghetto expression”, acknowledges Perry. Regardless of the language hip hop artist use they paint a picture of real life situations of black americans. The realism of these stories causes destructiveness in these areas which fuels the words of an artist.
Music is a powerful force that people make every day. Music expresses what one person is feeling and it can pass on and relate to others. Whether it the beats or the lyrics of music it can make us feel a certain way. Many rappers though out the years use their voice to speak up for the people that believe they do not matter. Music gathers people together because we relate to the lyrics that are being said.
Their lifestyle reflect in their music. The audience who listens to this type of music have usually experienced some of the same situations so they can relate to what the artist is rapping or singing about. For others, who can listen to that music and it not affect my everyday actions because of how I was raised and the community i grew up
Most of it started a long time ago, going back to the 70's maybe even 60's. Most people use it to tell their story, the struggles they lived through. Most rapper used to sell drugs like 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, T.I., the Wu-tang clan, many of the clan members sold drugs. Kendrick Lamar recorded a song with Compton Native YG, talking about the childhood friends he lost that summer. Most Rappers tell stories with their lyrics.
Not everyone thinks this is a problem, but more of a solution to help promote their thoughts and opinions about major issues occurring in the world. For example, hip hop artist Drake is known for his music about the heart and love. Another artist by the name of Kendrick Lamar sings more about deep thoughts and the soul. Not only did a great message of a song allow hip hop to spread, but who was rapping the lyrics had a major effect on the hip hop
Music as Language: Music tells a story to those willing to listen. In the realm of rap and hip hop, Tupac Shakur (2Pac) remains one of the most influential and successful artists of all time. In “So Many Tears” on the album Me Against the World Through, Tupac uses masterful lyricism to reflect on his life and dive into the complexities of living as a Black man living in America. The legacy he left behind lives on forever, and has inspired many rap artists to come. Kendrick Lamar, the rap prophet of our current day and age, uses his craft to offer his own unique narrative.
This relates to a lot of people, as there were a lot of racial tensions in America. Although rap music may address many issues, it also glorifies a lot of the culture of guns, drugs, women, and violence. With this in mind, rap music is criticized for promoting that “gangster life” culture. Rap music itself has a style that focuses a
For example the Rodney King beating lead to a controversial rap song by NWA. Once the beating and LA riots occurred it started the bandwagon for gangsta rap which lead to many artist creating songs. With the rough streets and racial issues in the 90’s lead to NWA creating songs about the street life. Many parents and politicians thought that the gangster rap glamorized a violent life. The events that took place in LA gave a realistic view into their lives and made the music even more realistic to their fans.
For example, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar are two well respected rappers who own the spotlight on these types of influential songs that promote the exact opposite of what a young person should be doing. They start to mimic these artists’ behavior in their own communities and solve problems with violence. Shelby Steele believes that the young black communities need better role models that lead away from violence and other negative activities. Only a small percentage make it to being famous with the values of the hip-hop culture. Young adults often do things to get a reputation to be respected by others that follow the culture.
Even though my parents listened to KRS-One and Public Enemy, while my sisters engaged in Kanye West and OutKast, both eras of the hip hop genre purpose were to discuss economic problems and push people toward the right path of life. In Yan Dominic Searcy’s article, he says, “Many rappers grew up amid violence, police harassment, poverty, drugs and promiscuity. Rappers will tell you they rap about what they know. If the community wants to change rap lyrics, the community must change reality.” (Searcy)
What many people seem to miss is that the culture is meant to express and not repress. Generally speaking, talent is a key importance in rapping. However, the power to address viewers of ethical conflicts in our environment through music should be considered more important than talent. Artists such as Tupac Shakur use music to educate his audience of the specific cultural barriers which negatively impact black communities. In addition, Dr. Dre was influenced by Tupac and began to inspire other artists, such as Nas.
Throughout the past few decades, rap music has grown in popularity and become a powerful force for social change. The impact of rap music on political discourse, the expansion of social consciousness, and social activism It will be shown how this musical style has had a significant and long-lasting impact on societal transformation by examining the messages and lyrics of rap music. Rap music has had a tremendous influence on shifting cultural norms, particularly in the last few decades. Y Madanikia and K Bartholomew (2014) suggest that rap music is a prominent agent of change, as it can challenge traditional values and ideas, while simultaneously constructing and disseminating new cultural norms.
However, many rap songs contain messages of peace, unit, and social justice. For example, Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” addresses police brutality and system racism while promoting hope and resilience in the face of oppression. Chance the Rapper’s “ Same Drugs” explores themes of growing apart from childhood friends and the importance of staying true to oneself. These type of songs can inspire listeners to take action and make better choices in their lives and community. By listening to rap songs and engaging with it’s messages, listeners can broaden their perspectives and develop a deeper understanding of the world around
And while that is true, the artist’s intent was not to glorify drugs, sex, and violence, but to just write songs about those topics to express what they see and give insight into what a day to day life is like growing up in their communities ("Hip-Hop and Rap Music" para 10). And although many songs were filled with negative sayings, there are many songs that contradict that statement. As previously stated, many rap artists that have written songs with positive messages. For example artists such as Public Enemy seen that they could use their platform to uplift the black community and talk about other important topics. In Public Enemy’s song “Give It Up,” the group stated “I never did represent doing dumb shit, some gangsta lying - I’d rather diss Presidents” (Public Enemy).
There have been many rap songs and albums that have been very meaningful, and have gained millions of fans that appreciate their music. For example, on Kendrick Lamar’s debut album Good Kid, m.A.A.d City, each song is a piece of his life story. He describes his struggles growing up in the ghettos of Compton, California. Kendrick addresses situations such as gang violence, peer pressure, and oppressed women. On the song “The Art of Peer Pressure”, Kendrick describes the inner conflict that he dealt with at a young age, trying to distinguish right from wrong in certain situations.
