OPPapers.com

The Negative Impact Of Rap Music On Today's Youth

The Negative Impact of Rap Music on Today's Youth
Today's rap music has changed dramatically since the 1970's. Rap music has become the most popular type of music in the U.S. Rap music can give people entertainment and can also tell a story in someone's life. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, rap music is defined as, "a style of music associated with urban street gangs and characterized by violent, tough talking, often misogynistic lyrics" (Miffin, 2000). Rap music was formed in the mid-1970 among the youth in South Bronx and rap artists like, "Afrika Bambata, Kool Herc, and Grandmaster Flash. Do to the enormous popularity of Run DMC; rap had crossed over on the music charts and radio stations all over the world" (Toms, 2006, p1). Rap music was about having fun, being able to express what youth were feeling and a way to keep youth out of trouble. There are many youth that find rap music an exceptional source of entertainment. According to McGarrell, "the lyrics in rap music can leave one relaxed or with vibrant beats." However, rap music has changed dramatically in the past 30 years. Some would say that rap music is the common entertainment to blame for violence in today's youth, because of the contents in its lyrics; degrading videos to women; and the over exposed feuding between rap artists.
"The glorification of living a thug life, and all it is encompassed, became the means by which all rap artists were judged. By the 1990's rap artists like, DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, Curtis Blow and Biz Markie were no longer accepted in the rap music" (Toms, 2006, p1). Those rap artists were considered as roll models, because those rap artists relayed positive messages to their listeners (Toms, 2006, p1). "The majority of today's rap culture involves a lot of explicit material and negativities" (McGarrell). According to McGarrell, This new form of rap music glorifies big money, degrading of women, drugs, alcohol, and guns. Many rap...