Has today’s Rap music given black music a bad name?
November 18, 2008 by admin
Filed under Your Opinions Do Matter
Rap and Hip Hop music are blamed for a lot of things these days. Drugs on the street - Blame it on Rap! The degrading of women and the reference to “bitches” and “hoes” - Blame it on Rap! Too much gun crime - Blame it on Rap! The popularizing of the “nigger” word - Blame it on Rap! But is it really fair to be blaming all of life’s problems on Rap and Hip Hop music? Were these problems not here long before Rap and Hip Hop became so popular? Give us your opinion - Because Your Opinion Does Matter!
Rap music responds to the people in the streets so you can bet it will deal with knives and guns and drugs and fear and pain cos thats what we see happening. But you can bet that no-one blames novels for 9/11 even though they all capitalize on it now. Sure rap music pounding out in your neighborhood can be offputting to folks who dont like it and feel scared of their black or Latino or Asian neighbors. But come on, rap music has poetry and beats and tells us what our dreams are too.
Why to blame? Rap and Hip Hop is a music genre like others. Music not make life but music reflects life.
The culture and cultural problems existed long before the music. It’s short-sighted to use Rap music as a scapegoat for issues our culture has to work out, regardless of whats on the radio.
Why should anyone associate rap music with drugs or street crime? Just look around. You will find crime in every quarter. It exists even in the highest ranks of society. You can blame music for that. Anyone who does has to change his or her outlook. Why don’t you spare music?
Rap is just a form of music. I don’t think any music can have some sinister motive. Music, be it rap or hip hop, it is meant for enjoyment. It is not something that has got anything to do with crime. I feel it is another ploy to inhibit the talents of budding musicians.
I agree that one cannot hold a genre of music responsible for all of life’s problems. However, Rap and Hip Hop artists (Especially the big names) must realize that they are VERY influential on young kids nowadays, especially young black kids who may have no male farther figure in the household.
I believe that Rap and Hip Hop are even more influential on kids than their parents and teachers. Young kids hang on to every little word that these guys (And girls) say. So come on 50 cents, JA Rule, GhostFace and all you other top dawgs out there, I know bad news sells but we owe it to the kids to be a little more positive with our music - Peace Out!
Rap music means a lot to me. I love to compose my own rap as well. If anyone utters anything wrong against rap then I just can’t tolerate it. It is one of the best forms of music today and some of the greatest artists of the world are turning to rap. Let’s not taint it with some trash.
Nigger is one of the most derogatory words in the whole world. You can’t belittle anyone for his or her skin color. Racial and other issues based on color should have been buried in the dark ages. Why do we still find modern people talking about or encouraging such things?
I agree with you Julia and what hurts so much is when you hear a person of colour refer to themselves and their brothers on the street as “nigger”. They claim that they are taking something negative and turning it into a positive. Well you know what I say to that - It’s a load of CRAP! Rap and Hip Hop have hugley contributed to the populization of the word “nigger” and I think it’s so, so sad!
No one has the right to blame right music for any lame offence. However, I admit rap music uses a lot of slang language and that surely has a negative impact of children. Anyway, I am not taking anyone’s side, but it is important that we guard young minds from certain things, until they grow up to understand those things for themselves.
I can’t live without rap music. You need real talent to compose some rap music. It is cool and makes a lot of sense as well. However, the content in the music does have many words and a lot of matter that actually gives a picture of violence. That should be changed.
The bit that gets me is when rap glamorises the whole gangsta lifestyle. Some artists even lie about having been in jail to give them kudos as a rapper! Ok you have to write songs from experience and its more interesting when someone has led a dissolute life than sat at home watching life pass them by, but its not like we dont all know people who’ve struggled. So write about your neighbour, your friend or whatever but stop this idea of having to be a criminal to be a rapper.
It’s about street cred. The same way that we expect balladeers to be hopeless romantics in real life. If you’re not convincing as a performer then you’re better off doing something else. Violence is the reality for many people. That it’s the topic of rap music today shouldn’t come as a surprise. Don’t shoot the messenger.
That is absurd. One cannot become or try to pretend being a criminal just for the sake of promoting rap music or becoming a famous rapper. Hey, you don’t know. Fame makes people stoop to really low levels, but that is very shameful. I would never want any kind of music to be linked with crime.
I don’t blame rap music for the degrading way that women are portrayed. But they do take part in furthering that image. Musicians a.k.a. rappers should be cleaning up their act. It shouldn’t be an excuse that what they’re rapping about is a reflection of society. They can choose to go the other way. A woman should be respected.
My opinion on the matter is that if you don’t like the music, then don’t listen to it. If you don’t like the videos, don’t watch. It’s a democracy. If your child was brought up right, he’ll know right from wrong and won’t be “influenced” by the evil rap music.
To all the haters out there…c’mon, the situation isn’t as out of control as you picture it out to be. These rap artists talk about what they’ve been through. They’re not telling young people to go out and shoot somebody or go out, get wasted, and make a mess of their life. People make their own minds up. Music can’t control them. That’s ridiculous.
There are far more important things that should occupy people’s thoughts than the supposedly bad influence music has on certain people. Let them do what they please. To each his own. It really is none of my business if women like to show off their bodies and gyrate like there’s no tomorrow. They have bills to pay too.
Promoting a bad boy reputation pays off…apparently. Take 50 Cent for example. He earns more bucks as soon as news of his bad behavior gets to his audience. It’s most likely fake or staged anyhow. I think it’s sick. Rewarding someone for notorious stunts? Society is twisted.
I have two points to make — First is that rap isn’t music. It doesn’t have harmony and melody. It’s not music to my ears at least. It’s noise. I can’t understand much of what they’re saying in the first place.
Second — Shouldn’t we also be looking at heavy metal music? It’s just as violent (if not more so) than rap music.
Well I guess what Gabriel says is correct i.e. if we don’t like rap music then don’t listen to it. I much prefer to listen to the sounds of classic, sweet Soul, Funk and Disco music just like we get here on RareSoulGrooves anyway.
However, not listening to Rap will not stop me (or any innocent bystander) from getting hit by a stray bullet from the gun of a of a kid on the street down here in the Bronx who has his head full of the latest Gangsta Rap tune!
I think Jaycee is correct. Rap artists are not asking anyone to go out in the streets and kill someone or regard women only as objects. People have a habit of making things up on their own. Music really cannot take charge of anyone’s life and make people criminals. Grow up.
I agree with Tonny. Yes wherever there is culture, cultural problems are bound to arise. If people intend to defame anyone or anything, they will do it by hook or crook. Music whether rap or any other form is used as a scapegoat. That is right. Why should music suffer?
I guess it depends whether you think music has to be moral? It’s a no-win situation for some women in music. If they don’t dress to please men their records don’t sell as much as someones like Britney will. And if they don’t think about their lyrics they will get criticism for that. Rap is the same. Just cos its a predominantly black music, everyone wants to tell rappers what they can or can’t sing about. In the end, people won’t buy it if its no good. So lets concentrate more on what is GOOD about rap! Can’t we have a new thread to say what we really like about certain types of music?
Rap music is not one of my personal preferences, although I like hip hop. However, it is very demeaning to talk about any kind or genre of music in such a manner. Everyone has the right to choose the type of music he or she likes. Music and crime cannot go hand in hand. That is baseless.
What about all these terror attacks throughout the world? In broad daylight, people are shooting one another and all we do is watch helplessly. What about that? Do we blame music for that? Where is the justice? Let us look at the more serious matters ins the world and try to solve them instead of trying to attack rap music.
I think it is not fair enough to blame rap music or other forms of music. A lot of talent and hard work is hidden behind any musical work or creation. How can that be tinged with violence or giving rise to it? It is just a sham and nothing else.
The trouble is that rap music has got itself a bad image and people are wary of its racist, sexist lyrics and glorification of criminal activity. If it were just a few tunes, it would be cool - we all need to hear about the other side of the tracks. But these days every would-be rapper or hip-hop artists has to have this hard man image. Drop it guys. Us record buyers and music-lovers are getting more discriminating.
Yes - it sure has~! Take Akon for example. He started off and became popular because of his lyrics. Then he had to tone it down to save his own image later on.
Yes, rap music has indeed taken a lot out of the reputation created by R&B, Soul and Jazz musicians over the last few decades….. and in a much shorter time……
i disagree - rap music has carved out its own niche. ppl who like it listen to it. those who like soul music listen to that. how can a type of music be bad for another?
Rap music is not one of my personal preferences, although I like hip hop. However, it is very demeaning to talk about any kind or genre of music in such a manner. Everyone has the right to choose the type of music he or she likes. Music and crime cannot go hand in hand. That is baseless.
Why should anyone associate rap music with drugs or street crime? Just look around. You will find crime in every quarter. It exists even in the highest ranks of society.
Soul TV is nice, but doesn’t always play my fav tracks. Please have an option for requests and fav songs.
Oops sorry! Wrong section. Well, since I’m here…. I think rap music has carved its own niche in the music industry and does not really overshadow any other music genre - those that like rap will listen to it and vice versa…
Rap rocks! I kinda like rap. And no - it has NOT given music a bad name - nothing can man!
oh c’mon it’s just one of the types of music that we all love to sing and to listen to. it greatly contributed to music industry and no one has the right to blame it for any thing or for any reason.
Its a good question that many people will differ on. First Cd i listened to was All eyez on me by Tupac Shakur. My fav Rap Artist is Christopher Wallace AKA Biggie Smalls, he is more of a freestyler than a gangster rapper both are idoled like Aretha and Micheal.
I think people mistake the rap game. These men are usually very poor and struggle to get where they are. Ofcourse drugs are involved but it is in any Genre. You could also argue that Guns are Frequently used in rap, the only thing i can think of is that these men have survived being shot from men struggling so throughout their carrer they are defending themselves. You should notice that most rap artists are barely seen during the top of their fame for this reason, they might be strapped but when you have bodygaurds its unlikely.
I dont think rap has disturbed soul in any way, when you see clips of rap stars chill’n out half the time George Bensons playing in the back!!!