Rap and Hip Hop
Love it or hate it everyone in America has heard of rap and hip hop. Americans love it, abhors it, or is indifferent to it. It’s hard to ignore because it can be heard everywhere. Personally I am not a fan. I struggle to rap my mind around this mass appeal. In my view, the lyrics drown in the beat and what little I do understand leaves me clueless. Once or twice I’ve found myself enjoying the rhythm of a song but primarily I find the language to be vulgar and offensive.
Yet this phenomenon has captured the attention of the younger generation and not just in the inner city. Rap and hip hop has made its way to the suburbs, radio, television, movies, and awards shows. Even the President once stated that he enjoys rap artists such as Jay Z on his iPod.
The sales of CDs and downloads of songs continue to indicate a strong market and demand.
The regular use of profanity and the disrespect for women is offensive. Yet this pop culture phenomenon has exploded fills the bank accounts of the artists and producers while negatively influencing the younger generation and segments of the more mature.
Rap and hip hop has been around for over twenty years. When I was young, I enjoyed rap trail blazers like Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff, Run DMC, and others but the lyrics were fun and clean. Women in videos had clothes on. Violence and vulgar language were absent from the equation.
Then again it’s all about taste. I’m sure my form of music annoys some but at least its uplifting, inspirational and relaxing.
A closer look at rap and hip hop reveals an outlet for anger, rage, and racial disparities. The more hard core gangsta rap calls attention to various social and racial issues. I’m sure a lesson or two can be found if one digs deeper but I contend that more positive messages and cleaner language can be just as effective.
Given the current crisis we are living in economically, politically, and not to mention war and combat, I find that messages of personal empowerment, unity, or peace would be more fitting. Unfortunately these positive messages would come across as a bit soft or weak to the rap artists' peers.
Hip-Hop Revolution: The Culture and Politics of Rap (CultureAmerica) (Hardcover) - Jeffry O.G. Ogbar
Retrieved January 8, 2010 from Music: Hip Hop Nation – Time at http://www.time.com/time/magazine.
I like music with a good beat. The musical part of rap songs always has catchy beats. Unfortunately, I always cannot understand what the artist is saying. What is really annoying is when the radio station I am listening to bleeps out some of the words. TV award shows also bleep out words. I think that it is sad that parents let young teens listen to music that has such bad language and promotes violence. Some of the artists also have bad attitudes. Kanye West is an example. His bad behavior when Taylor Swift won an award teaches young people that bad behavior is acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree completely from start to finsh of your writing. I do not agree with the image that rappers put out to our youth. There are constant news breaking about a rapper going to prison on assault charges and weapon charges, if not death and murder because of their "thug" life thy are so proud of.
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