rap music in today's society
...Rap. “Gangsta Rap came straight outta Compton, California in 1989, putting an outlaw message to a booty – shaking beat” (Newsweek 10/2000). Gangsta Rap is the form to which most people refer when they talk of Rap’s disastrous effects on society’s youth. Lyrics such as “Caps peel from gangsters in my hood. You better use that Nina ‘cause that deuce – deuce ain’t no good, and I’m taking up the hobby, Page 2 maniac murderin, doin massacre robbery” from the rapper Spice 1’s song “Trigga Gots No Heart” (National Review 4/2001). Many people define rap differently. Teenagers see rap as a form of expressing your self, feelings, and pain in the world today. It is also a way to get your point of view across and be heard. While some adults see Rap as a disrespectful form of music and provide negative role models for our youth today. Basically rap is to talk freely about an issue or main idea. Most rap artist writes their lyrics from personal experiences and issues that they have encountered while growing up. Rap music is also known for its sexuality in their lyrics and music videos. Like the explosion of the prison industry, is it a coincidence that violence against women has been steadily rising at a time when women are more and more sexualized in mainstream media (Big Booty Hoes). The images we see in today’s hip – hop videos are making our girls less than the sum of their parts (Sex, Lies, and Videos). Most girls see the girls in the music videos and believe they should look like them. Most of the women have lower self – esteem when they see images like this on TV. Most women that are in the videos are either tall, skinny, and light skinned. A Student at the University of Massachusetts said “I can’t watch Rap Videos any more”… “They make me feel bad about myself”. This is how most of the girls feel, that they should all be a size two and long beautiful hair. “In rap videos, there is no self. Girls become body parts and nothing more” (Sex, Lies, and Videos). ...