Rap started off as a fun way to release stress and relax long ago mainly in the form of free styling, (a streamed form of conscious improvised flowing) a.k.a "off the dome," graffiti, beat boxing, djing and scratching, and poetry. Since the beginning, rap has mainly discussed hardships and joys with what's happening around the rapper's community and life. Lyrics were very explicit since most mainstream rappers in the early days spoke of gangs, sex and women, drugs, violence, money, and trying to "live the life". The explicit lyrical content of most rap songs is the reason it hasn't flourished into a wide-spread genre fully embraced by society. Harsh words degrading females and promoting drugs and violence aren't things our parents want to here. The people that listen to rap music usually come from the same background as the people that rap, however this is not always the case. For instance, Tupac
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He came from California and promoted peace and happiness through his lyrics that talked about his life struggles and what was wrong with the world we live in such as racism and social injustices which he based on the hardships of growing up and having to deal with violence and life in inner cities. Most of his original following were the people that grew up around him that he influenced as a young man in Californian streets who had similar problems that listened as coping methods and to relieve tension. But after acknowledgement and popularity struck he was a worldwide phenomenon. After his promotion, Tupac’s following became multicultural because of the deep meanings fans could relate to in his songs and the sound and flow he rapped to over his beats.
Tupac along with hundreds of rappers paved the way to the rap game and influenced its audience. A study was done in which 700 15 year-olds listened to rap music that was sexually degrading for a period of time. After listening they were asked about their opinions and all of them respectively had a degraded image of sex in their mind. Drugs, another huge topic in rap and hip-hop music has also influenced many teens around the world. An increase in the use of drugs by teens can be correlated to rap through the lyrics again. Rappers talk about many types of drugs they have used and gotten high on sparking curiosity in teens that don't know about them and want to experiment.
Another thing rap has done to society is help change the image of the American Dream. The American Dream used to be to own a nice house in a nice neighborhood with a fence, lawn, two kids, spouse, nice neighbors and friends, and enough money to live adequately. With the excess of jewelry, a.k.a bling, drugs, houses, clothes, shoes, and purchases, the life of a rapper is highly desirable. Therefore the rapper attracts audiences and crowds and performs better with more popularity creating a star and influential figure that many rely on to cope with how the roller coaster of life is moving. Depending on what this figure does and how easily influenced the particular fan is, it indirectly influences its fan base to think almost everything the rapper does is acceptable and something they should be doing too.
Rap has continued to influence the youth of the nation. A study was done in which 700 15 year-olds listened to rap music that was sexually degrading for a period of time. After listening they were asked about their opinions and all of them respectively had a degraded image of sex in their mind. Drugs, another huge topic in rap and hip-hop music has also influenced many teens around the world. An increase in the use of drugs by teens can be correlated to rap through the lyrics again. Rappers talk about many types of drugs they have used and gotten high on sparking curiosity in teens that don't know about them and want to experiment. Another thing rap has done to society is help change the image of the American Dream. The American Dream used to be to own a nice house in a nice neighborhood with a fence, lawn, two kids, spouse, nice neighbors and friends, and enough money to live adequately. With the excess of jewelry, a.k.a bling, drugs, houses, clothes, shoes, and purchases, the life of a rapper is highly desirable. Therefore the rapper attracts audiences and crowds and performs better with more popularity creating a star and influential figure that many rely on to cope with how the roller coaster of life is moving.
Rap has influenced society greatly both negatively and positively but the point is that in order for rap to continue and maintain a healthy relationship with society is if it loses its references to very hardcore and demeaning things such as cocaine and other strong illicit drugs. In order for the future of hip-hop to be bright new stars need to emerge and promote good causes and influence society in the right direction and put out some sick tracks.
