From Run D-M-C to 50 cent, Hip-Hop has evolved through time. I personally think hip-hop creates violence, but what do you think? Does music really create violence? There are more love songs then bad So why doesn't all those mushy love songs create too much love in the world? Why isn't there more love in the world with all those love songs? Too many people, hip-hop relates to what they have done Every rapper has their own swag, and rap different. When someone says the words "hip-hop", guns, girls, money pop up into my mind, why not flowers, or angels. It has been said Hip- Hop creates violence and it has been argued by many people.
One might say that not all rappers rap about the same 'guns, violence, money, girls, & drugs'. Rappers like Lupe Fiasco talk about their life in a way which doesn't require swearing (you can click HERE to see a list of all Lupe Fiascos songs and lyrics) Take an example from 50 Cent, one of the most popular gangster rappers out today. His debut album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” was the No. 1 album of the year for 2003. One of his first singles from this album, titled “In Da Club,” was a huge hit. You couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing this track’s harsh beat and 50 Cent’s stern voice rapping over the microphone. But what was he saying? The chorus goes like this:
You can find me in the club, bottle full of bub / Look mami I got the X if you into taking drugs / I'm into having sex, I ain't into making love / So come give me a hug if you into getting rubbed.
The music industry needs to stop glamorizing gangster rap and using it as their own personal marketing ploy before Hip-hop loses all credibility as an art and culture – a trend that is becoming more and more of a reality.
The music industry needs to stop glamorizing gangster rap and using it as their own personal marketing ploy before Hip-hop loses all credibility as an art and culture – a trend that is becoming more and more of a reality.
Gangster rap influences not just music preferences for today’s generation, but it also influences fashion, attitudes, and perceptions. Everywhere you look you see or hear the influence of Hip-hop on our generation. Just today I was watching television and I saw two Old Navy commercials that made references to Hip-hop. The first one featured Fran Drescher playing the role of a telephone operator. Towards the end of the commercial she says, “My shizzle’s gone fazizzle!” This is a spin off of rapper Snoop Dogg’s lingo. The second Old Navy commercial had cast rapper Lil’ Kim. She rapped about Old Navy, and at the end she says, “Now you’re in da hood.”
Not only is Hip-hop used in advertisements to sell clothes, but Hip-hop artists and Hip-hop record labels also market dangerous products to youth. For example, Roc-a-Fella Records has experienced great success with their Roc-a-Wear clothing line, and just recently the label has purchased Armadale, a “premium” vodka brand from Scotland. As reported by Fox News in “Hip-Hop Label’s Foray Into Vodka Business Stirs Controversy,” CEO of Roc-a-Fella, Damon Dash, tells the Wall Street Journal that Roc-a-Fella artists are not required to plug the liquor, but they will be “encouraged” to do so. Dash is aware, but unconcerned of the power Roc-a-Fella artists have over their audience in selling products through their music; in fact, he states that he was “inspired to make the deal after he noticed the buzz created by Jay-Z’s mention of Belvedere vodka in one of his songs” (Lehner). It’s one thing to market fashion through Hip-hop, but it’s another thing to promote negative lifestyles and bad choices to a segment of the population that is primarily underage.
When did music stop being an art and become a business? Hip-hop used to be about keeping kids off the streets, used to channel their energy into positive pastimes to keep them from becoming involved with gangs. It promoted positive and peaceful messages through intelligently written rhymes. It used to be cool to use a dictionary to write rhymes and rap about science and political issues. But now that gangster rap has become mainstream, kids don’t want to hear anything that doesn’t mention pimpin’, hoein’, drinkin’ forties, or smokin’ blunts. The media has fused Hip-hop and gangster rap, but what many people are unaware of is that there is another side to Hip-hop – typically called underground Hip-hop. The underground is where Hip-hop thrives, but it can be very secretive. Hip-hop is compiled of four elements: Break dancing, DJing, Aerosol Art aka Graffiti, and MCing. Gangster rap is a form of MCing, which is only one-fourth of Hip-hop - definitely not enough to define what Hip-hop is. Still, the corporate media glamorizes gangster rap and uses it as a marketing tool to sell products, then labels them “Hip-hop.” In today’s society, Hip-hop has become extremely marketable and is used to sell everything from sneakers to liquor to dolls. I’m waiting for the day that a song written about Bacardi liquor – paid for by Bacardi – makes it on Billboard’s Top 10 list. It may not be long. The music industry glamorizes gangster rap while exploiting Hip-hop to make a profit, and change needs to happen fast.
In contrast, the rate of gang activity and violence has risen over the last few years. According to recent youth violence statistics done by the Josphson Institute:
· Large cities claim that 72% of their school violence is attributable to gang activity.
· Between 1986 and 1992, the total number of children killed by firearms rose by 144 percent.
· From 1985 to 1993, murders committed by people over age 25 dropped 20 percent; but they increased 65 percent among 18- to 24-year-olds and increased 165 percent among 14- to 17-year-olds.
· Large cities claim that 72% of their school violence is attributable to gang activity.
· Between 1986 and 1992, the total number of children killed by firearms rose by 144 percent.
· From 1985 to 1993, murders committed by people over age 25 dropped 20 percent; but they increased 65 percent among 18- to 24-year-olds and increased 165 percent among 14- to 17-year-olds.
A study by Henry Adaso, About.com Guide to Rap/hip hop, posted a poll and got these results from people around Canada:
What are your thoughts on the oft-talked about relationship between hip-hop and violence? Is hip-hop responsible for violence? No, hip-hop is not responsible for violence ----- 1079 people / 48%
Hip-hop contributes to violence a bit----- 559 people / 24%
Hip-hop and violence go hand in hand-----316 people / 14%
Parents are responsible for hip-hop related violence-----75 people / 3%
Hip-hop is just another word for violence-----172people / 7%
I don't know-----42 people / 1%
What are your thoughts on the oft-talked about relationship between hip-hop and violence? Is hip-hop responsible for violence? No, hip-hop is not responsible for violence ----- 1079 people / 48%
Hip-hop contributes to violence a bit----- 559 people / 24%
Hip-hop and violence go hand in hand-----316 people / 14%
Parents are responsible for hip-hop related violence-----75 people / 3%
Hip-hop is just another word for violence-----172people / 7%
I don't know-----42 people / 1%
If you would like to see other people's opinion about my blog topic, click HERE
Last thought: Children are among the most highly victimized segments of the population with about 1 in 3 youth reporting being victimized through either direct or indirect exposure to violence or neglect. Youth usually experience violence within the home, school or neighborhood and it is often influenced by friends or family members. So does this prove that hip-hop/rap videos are creating violence for youths?
(i will post my References tonight)
