Rap Music Bad Influence on Youth?

[yae-J]

I was watching the Bill O'Reilly Show last night on foxnews and some professor was on the show who did an extensive study on young people in an urban neighborhood who listening to hip hop. the professor said the results illustrated how rap songs influence youth to be less respectful towards women and a few other negative impacts i cant remember right now...what do the rest of you think of these results?

[AllenB25]

blah, blah , blah..........thats all garbage.......no one should take that racist asshole Bill Oreilly serious.........

I guarantee u that none of these ppl that conducted this study are actually from the areas they tested, and that they know nothing of the lifestyles and culture of ppl in the tested neighborhoods.........

I got a better idea........why dont they do a study on the billions of dollars that rich white executives are makin off these rappers, knowing damm well about the product they're pushing...........

Racist assholes like Bill constantly search for ppl to blame for all of societies ills.........Besides, how can they be that ignorant to believe all hip hop music is bad???

[Autop-Cee]

Let's try movies that vividly portray these violent act as "entertainment". Other genre also have these. Why Hip Hop?

[MiC]

As somone who has actually listened to rap and seen it evolve I can honestly say that 99.9% of the rap that comes out and that the youth hear is a bad influence on kids.

I don't need a study to prove it, if you can honestly make the comparison between rap and movies your not being reasonable. A rap album most of the time deals with people claiming to do X,Y, and Z. And out of the X,Y, and Z how much of it is positive?

Next we done with our album now lets get it poppin so people will buy it. Lets promote it. How do we promote a rap album? By going out and showing credibility for what your rapping about or making people dance by using mostly demeaning profanity and materialistic lyrics.

Next we done with our promotion our record sold we're no longer as poor as we had said. But now what?

We go back in the studio say we're rich tell you why we're richer and show yet another side of ignorence where we want everyone to know they're not AS rich as us.

Movies? Well the actors tend to go out (out of character) and talk intelligently about their craft.

I see a difference. The difference is in the promoting of one you see some people genuinly letting you know how this is entertaining and why, and the other one the more crazy you are the better.

Now look the moment mindless fans of rap stop taking offense to racist oreilly step back and look at where our rappers are allowing him to get his argument from.

Seriously I dont know too many people that will (with a straight face) actually say rappers do not have any influence on people if we can accept there is a good influence we can surely accept there is a bad one.

I just do not get people whom think otherwise.

Note, I dont mean any of you i'm just saying most people that come out in favor of hiphop and just defend it like theres nothing wrong with it at all.

[Black Wisdom]

Bullshit. I'm 24 years old, and I've been listening to hip-hop since '87(when I was eight years old). And not once have I shot, killed, done drugs, or fucked because I listen to rap music. People make decisions because THEY want to. People are going to fuck, drink, commit crime, and all the other negative shit because they want to. Now can you name one person that has committed a crime and said they did it because Beanie Sigel said it in one of his songs? You can't justify people's actions because of rap. That's like saying all white kids do acid, beat up their parents and commit suicide, because they listened to a Nirvana or Maryiln Manson track. Everyone wants to blame everyone else instead of themselves.It ain't the rappers, rockers, or pop stars fault. It's the PARENTS decision wheter or not they want their kids watching or buying the shit that they're complaining about on t.v. Like the Columbine tragedy, everyone blamed movies, Maryiln Manson, and all that other shit. But not once did they ever mention the parents.If the entertainer has more say over them, then as you as a parent, then that's your fault, not their's. No matter how much muthafuckas complain, those rappers, rockers, pop stars, and even Bill O'Riley, will STILL continue to get paid, regardles.

[MiC]

Calm down, dude your losin ya head, listen and digest the information first. Rappers have a more direct connection with black youth then any other form of performing arts. Lets keep it real especially in the inner cities where im from and currently reside in.

It's evident that music touches people and does vary in its affects but like I said if you admit that these people do affect people then you have to admit that theres a negative effect and a positive one.

Also when you use yourself as an example you can be the exception and not the rule.

There can be cases found where someone listened to the music and killed,did drugs and etc cause of the music.

Next parents can inherit most of the blame but who are you the musicians to tell the parents we are going to do this regardless of what you say, it's going to be in plain sight of your kids, so your parenting skills should effectivly cover this up.

In the real world mind you rap and other what some would call negative music tends to be at the forefront of the media and record label promoting and therefore parents could argue that look you guys are forcing yourselfs on our kids. Why should as a parent have to put up with new elements created by negativity and have to go about making new ways to teach a child when we all know the real world stats of the U.S. shows a incredibly high divorce rate showing that parental guidance is being divided in the household now parents have to deal with this?

All im saying is music does affect people, rap does have a negative affect and a listen one more time im a so knowledgeable for rap I can even argue against my on point, but im sayin we must to be reasonable admit that rap does impose negativity.

[yae-J]

^ definitely can agree with that

[AllenB25]

nah, i cant agree with u guys at all ..............


Most kids/teens are mainly influenced by the ppl around them.........Musicians are directly influenced by the ppl around them and their experiences.........NOTHING Rappers say is anything new or something they weren't influenced by........Its just how creative and attractive they can make their music...........

There is a 1st ammedment that protects everyone's right to freedom of speech.......As longs as we live in an economy driven society , money is the biggest motivator........And we all know what sells best............Who's fault is it that ATCQ or Zion I dont sell more records than 50cent and Eminem ???

[MiC]

I can agree that people close to you have a greater affect but there are definente cases where people growing up without one of their parents find somethin to replace that and music although not typically but more often than thought is becomes that guidance.

I mean its a great responsibility being a musician ya know? Like I've heard some go well you know im not the role model type dont be like me. But with being a musician and telling your story people automatically want to be like you so im just sayin people should give it the power it deserves.

If you guys met me and knew me you would think I wouldn't hold this type of view but to me is more of a admittance than suppressing it ya know?

Cause I ask myself how many kids learned the terms such as nine's,4-5s , dimes and nicks, haze, and etc , from rap music.

And then I actually attempt to rationalize it with the old well its out there they woulda learned it anyway. But really? Would they have? And to me it takes away alot from the terms and reduces them to words rather than serious things that they are. When I say that I mean like it's just like if you listen to a musician for a while your past the stage of the song is catchy you really wanna know and understand what hes saying or you won't listen no more. So kids ask they find out through various ways and now we have a rap fan base who are 13 and younger whom it is now the norm to know what certain guns are or certain drugs are and etc. And this greatly to me disturbs their interpretation of how bad it can be. Guns and or drugs etc.

Also rappers do have a big influence beyond just what we know, to what we do. A new york slang can become a common hiphops lingo. The ability for them to spread something is a influence. Crunk music period lets be straight this is a southern thing and look where its at now everywhere.

You can't deny that most kids get their fashion from other areas but rappers and hiphop are a big thing right now.

Can a rapper influence actions? I could argue yea. If you've ever been to a club and seen the wild out people just because trillville was bumping that track neva eva I mean people go crazy.

Music has the ability to inspire, change, and move people. If we brush music off as oh its simply entertainment your kidden yourself. Art does this thats why its been around for so long, hiphop as a form of arts just happens to do those three things just more so now in a negative way.

But I concede its all money driven thats all and true free speech is what helps it. But the rappers to me at the end of the day must look at themselves and say how far have we brought everyone or how much damage did we do?

With the capatilistic society and the individualistic minded people they feel we dont owe anyone anything and well I point out the bad influence in rap because I see rap as losing its fundamentals its losing its message and just one hit wonders ,crazy and outragoues people, and soley money hungry individuals say im a rapper i rap but its just for money.

I sometimes think like what will be our hits of the future what can rap look at and say what a positive thing this rap/hiphop was?

[iLL Script.]

nope

[Mind~$oul]

Blame the fucking parents are guardians if they cant keep them bastids in check, before you start blaming people on tv.

[AllenB25]

alright..........well, while i respect your opinons, passion, and concern for this subject, i just disagree with u MIC.......u are right about a lot of the things you say, but the majority of the blame has to fall on outside factors, not the individual rappers.........

If u study history ( not sayin' u dont) , this is not a new occurrence.........When the blues (later labeled as rock n roll) gained popularity, numerous ppl called this "devil music" or "voodoo music" ........They claimed the musicians were sellin their souls and that they evoked all the deviant emotions outta ppl.......Regardless of the restrictions and the bad labels placed upon this type of music, the youth absorbed this music and loved it more and more.......Obviously, this birthed Rock n Roll and the culture that evolved from it...........and the numerous sub-genres created by it.........

I could go on and on........but , its simply progression.........Progression in a capitalistic society.......where like u said, is extremely individualistic.......With a stronger economy, adults work more, while the kids enjoy much more free time to theirselves and money to spend on an ever-expanding monstorous product market.........A major reason parents work more is to provide for their kids, which is understandable........BUT, often it is to gain wealth for the family, which in reality, isn't always necesarry.......BUT the way our society is set up, it brain-washes ppl to believe that they must obtain material things to be of any value........BC more often than not, ppl place respect on wealth.........PPl have become accustomed to justifying the means to the ends........Thats just the simple truth........

Not to diss any rappers, but i value life too much to ever sell my soul or lies on wax, to gain popularity or wealth..........Fortuanately for myself, i believe i have enough money to get by and that i dont feel the need to have more, to get women.........Damm, i talked too much....but its jus my take on society and how it reflects music through my experiences........
Theres actually a lot of deeper issues i coulda touched on , but this is my general view.....

[MiC]

I must say when I look at rap I look at black youths especially where im from New Jersey, East Orange to be exact. I look at rap as something which can do alot more to help the ailing situation of a youth whom are growing up listening to this music and being utterly brainwashed. And to me it's like I can see the positives I could name many positives rap music does, but on the other note I think negatives simply out weigh them.

And although I know we can wish that all parents had a tight grip on their kids and that the kids should just simply reflect what is pushed on em based on their parents. But more and more our society is dimming to the point where mothers haven't matured yet, fathers are trying to live out a "gangsta rap album". I mean the influence rap has, to me has attributed enourmously to the live for now attitude.

And that right there is my only problem with it. I mean im the type who listens to all the music but im not going to imitate or want to live up to those expectations as far as copin this and that and this or that.

Who are parents kids imitating when they shop for clothes for example? Im tryin to make the point that the influence is bad because its actually promoting a way of living which is irresponsible.

All other music to me progresses or at least has positivety in the mainstream to counter weight the negative messages where raps?

We can hear a rock group scream about all sorts of weird pyscho things but then you can hear an Ozzy Osbourne with a song about going home his love.

It's hard for me to illustrate what I mean fully cause I have never really talked this much about it but I know theres a bad connection that rap can cause. But truthfully I respect your opinion but I just can't place full blame on parents because as society falls down the parent's role gets harder and harder so theres gotta be some relief.

But I really like we're your comin from cause like in a society where it was stable I could see no problem with rap I could say oh they're just being crazy doing images. But its a different perpective for me when actually the man most people listen to and want to be like got shot 9 times and his message is im the baddest non law abiding person you ever met. Now kids want to be that. To me ignorence being drilled into a kids head during development can cause long term something. Whether that something is neg or pos depends true.

Like you say your not going to sell your soul to do what some of these rappers do. But really I ask myself you know Jayz has done a hell of alot in his career. When he said the line "if skill sold truth be told..i'd rhyme like talib kweli and common sense"

However it really went lol, but could he have done a better service to people in general had he not dumbed down but challenge us to get to his level?

I read a Martin Luther King essay he wrote called " letter from a prison birminghan prison" and in that speech he uses alot of terms and words that are incredible. He could have chosen to say it one way to make it simpler but to me here was a man that challenged you to advance to get the message.

Thats the problem with music its being used to get money and there is no message. But the message if you do get one is negative. I mean look at the singles look at all the crunk music out what does this tell youths about women? How does this shape their view? I mean heres grown men saying these are hoes and etc.

I guess im askin a bit much from rap music or im putting to much emphasis on it. But I must say I speak on it as much as I do for two reasons I love rap music and im the ghetto so I actually see it first hand.

So it's like I understand why D-Block is loved in the hood and looked at as average other places. And why Biggie and 2 pac verses are more known that religious verses.

[Mainstain]

Mainstream media, entertainment, pop culture, MTV, that's bad influence. I'd rather see my future children listening to the grimiest gangsta rap (that most of the times just recognizes the societys ills) and idolizing clockwork orange (ha) than trying to live up to the ridiculous cheerleader standars that MTV promotes and being some 8-year old Britney clones.

[~Eloquent]

their is some negative but their also is some positive that no stuck up professor would ever pick up on...
like learning to express yourself in a positive way

poetry can be a direct form from hip-hop as it is for me
but you hardly hear anything positive about the young generation
they want us to follow what they say or they label us as rebels.

hip-hop isnt all negative
and forever theirs been "studies" sayin how its so destructive and all that
but at the same time,they would never(maybe very few would) want to reach out to the young generation that loves hip-hop

and not only that,hip-hop can touch some negative subjects as it does,
but its the harsh truth sometimes
the street life is what it is...you gotta learn to keep your guard up

but what pisses me off is that so many people are so quick to point the finger at someone and call them a bad influence
when they would never take the time and find out who that person really is...

and what has made them who they are

[Autop-Cee]

Like Jay said "I never told you to sell drugs, No......Hov did that, so hopefully you ont have to go through that."

Hip Hop and Movies are similar in most catergories, but Movies are perfectly showing the violence. Hip Hop are only words, They use slangs that half the kids don't know what it is. Rap artists try their best to keep these kids from being influence by being in live interviews. Take me as an example, I've had friends who were felons, but Hip hop is never in my country. When I came to America, I was being influent in gangster movies, mafia movies. Hip Hop, I couldn't even understand a word they were saying, until I hung with a few kids who's living in the "urban life". It was never hip hop that gotten to me. It was the movies because they perfectly show what they're talking about. Guns, violence, and all the rest.

Don't you see nowadays they have stricter censorship on television??? They're trying their best to keep this "negative influence" under control as possible as they can.

Have you ever thought what the world would be without Rap? It'll be worst anyways. Blame sin for that.

[MiC]

I down wit looking at the people behind the music but nowadays you cant' really cause like I said it be mainly money driven non talent cats that get pumped wit promotion meanwhile people with a message and whom really care about what it does whether spitten on society's ills or spitten positive things, they get no promotion and have a tougher struggle.

To me another place the bad influence lies is right there, when the negative spot light has affected the youth so much that they listen to say a Krs One and cant' get down with that, or just as Jay said skills dont sell.

To me just by the pure fact that artist have to dumb down if they want to get paid shows a negative sign that look people aren't impressed with the actual art of rhyming instead you have to have that other thing and 99% of the time now that other thing is being a criminal.

Thanks for the excellent perspectives I really appreciate it you guys are helping me see other angles that I haven't quite approached it from, but as you can see by my constant replies even though I may not change my view you guys probably got alot of people on this board thinking which always good.

[JiNsIcK]

It's not the skill that sells more rather the guise you put on while promoting your album, single, whateverthefuck.

Plain and simple fact today's kids have been so overexposed to sex, drugs, and violence that they have been conditioned to these forms of degenerative behavior. Even children from other countries who have just recently immigrated to the united states and can't speak proper English dress and act as if they are thug's. Why? Because, they are trying to fit in.

What is this saying about our youth? That committing crimes and acts of violence are the standard?

Whooping someone's ass and taking their sweater even though you have a snorkel on is cool?

It has gotten to a point at which even if the most influential rappers in the game were to turn around and pull 180's telling the youth of America to stop doing these things and be better, productive members of society it wouldn't succeed.

The youth would simply regard them as "slippin" and try even harder to be "real".

It doesn't matter what we do at this point, other than raise OUR kids with a better understanding of the world it's guises and it's plots while somehow teaching them enough positive reasoning that they will be able to seperate themselves from that behaviour and be true to themselves.

Baseline...MAINSTREAM hip-hop influences negative behaviour.

On a side bar the way our women are being treated in this day and age is disgusting...If the children are our future and women bear our children then shouldn't we treat women with the same respect and beauty as we would our own God? Women bear the future.

And ladies please treat yourselves with the amount of respect that you deserve and should demand.

-Jin

[Threshhold of intel]

i agree with mic all the way.....i'm from cleveland and like are whole city with
an the city limits is pretty much all black on the eastside..... and its just something you grow up with......like some off us listen to this kinda music some listen to that......
we all listen to rap or RnB.......... and just as much as rappers influence the street.....
streets influence the rapper........you hear every other rapper shouting that "the streets
raised me, the streets influenced me type shit........and alot of that shit they talk about go on...s is thirsty and they are out here robbing......i mean in some hoods out here
you cant be caught walking on the latenight even when you be minding your buisness......
all s is thinkin about is bitches ,get'n high and get'n money........


The story of a young black male.....