Is the influence hip hop has on our teens and young adults today, okay?

You left out what I feel is the most pernicious part of rap. Sexualization and objectification of women and promotion of violence against women.

No, it don’t think it’s a good thing.

I apologize for leaving that part out @marinelife, I guess as a male, I over looked that part. Not intentionally though, but you are right!

Those darn youths these days and their rock and roll music.

Rap does tend to glorify misogyny and drug use, rape, murder, and so on, but that’s the price you pay for living in a free society where expression is mostly unrestricted.

In regards to your closing statement, there are tons of great underground rappers who don’t rap about fucking hos and smoking crack in the same way there are tons of great rock and other musicians who don’t just sing “oh baby, you are my heart’s desire, like burning fire, oh baby” over and over again. You have to take the good with the bad.

@Fiddle_Playing_Creole_Bastard you speak truth! I take the underground stuff pretty often. I am on a Macklemore fix at the time being.

We do have to take the good with the bad, like Fiddle said, because we live in such an awesome place. I’d rather deal with the ignorant teens (and adults that are still influenced by this), than not be able to listen to it at all if I had the choice. Everyone goes through phases, but some people really don’t know that it should be a phase, and not something that you try to become. I would question the intelligence of someone still trying to be gangster at age 25. Even 21.

Unfortunately, most of america will always affix themselves on the most popular of trends. That’s why the big names rappers are in the spotlight to begin with. There’s ALOT of rappers that don’t come close to glorifying all the negatives. If you listen to 2pac before he joined Deathrow, all he did was makes songs about family and how we had to protect the female population. After the whole rape case being planted on him, he told the media that if the courts don’t defend him because he was innocent. he would come out a different man, which he did. David banner also is another rapper that raps about politics and how black people need to stop stereotyping themselves. A sad truth is that most rap isn’t made for anyone other that african-americans.

@MacBatman31 check this guy out.

Thing is, it isn’t exactly new. Every generation of youth pushes the envelope in music and subtle (and not so subtle) references to drink, drugs and sexuality can be found in jazz, blues, early rock, countercultural “acid”, disco… on and on.

As those go mainstream, new artists have to go further to shock and annoy the older folks. It’s a fad based on questionable “street cred”. I don’t love the messages but I can only think to quote ATL :

Now see, there’s just one more thing I have to talk about
‘bout how they say rap music is turnin kids out
You got to give your child credit for what he can do
Plus the way that they’re raised is really up to you

Mainstream rap and hip hop are abhorrent. There’s nothing redeeming about them, in my opinion.

I don’t think it’s a consequence of living in a “free society” (or that we do). It’s a consequence of corporate control of music and the cooption of a formerly free and revolutionary form of music by the rich in order to make money and defuse the revolutionary mobilization of black working poor. There’s also the fact that, as Mumia Abu Jamal states, the environment in which rap has emerged in has been one of disillusionment for the generation post-civil rights era, seeing that little has changed beyond superficially, despite what their parents tried to accomplish.

As for music recommendations, I’m partial to Resident Anti-Hero.

I think Chris Rock said it best. “We just can’t defend rap music anymore.”

I love rap music. I often blare it from my boom box while cutting the grass. There is nothing more refreshing than a good long run and some ole skool gangsta rap. I love the absurdity of the lyrics and I think it’s hilarious.

I see theres alot of people here that know nothing about rap. If you listen to the radio and aren’t a fan your not going to be pleased. Underground is where it’s at. Rap is like Basketball, College Basketball players play better and harder because of what they can become. Underground rappers mostly don’t make it because their style doesn’t fit what mainstream is looking for. I hate to say it, but do you think a black rapper rapping about peace will ever get a main album? You make money off of what people want to hear in the music industry, and if in the Rap/Hip-Hop genre, killings and making money is the cool thing, the about 8 songs out of 13 are gonna be about it. When Eminem first came out, all he talked about was his daughter, drugs and killing his wife. Now, after he got off drugs, all the critics are downing him because he now longer glorifies popping pills and female abuse.

The question I would like answered without highjacking this is, why do they think the rest of us should have to listen to it by force? Is it because they emulate it so much?

I don’t think so. Not gangster bs.

@woodcutter – who is ‘they’

I only subject my neighbors to it because I find their racism and closed mindedness so abhorrent. I don’t emulate rap I appreciate it. My life is way more awesome than slapping bitches and getting high.

I hate rap music. Before even thinking about the words, I hate the beat, and I hate women dancing with their butts up and down and grinding with their legs parted. There is no grace in it. I do not find it sexy or attractive for a dnace floor. Sometimes when there are a group of syncronized dancers it can be entertaining to watch some very good hip hop dancers, but as a couples dance, not pretty.

Some rap music is poetic, it is not all or none of course.

Back in my day there were rock songs that I guess had some lyrics adults were not so fond of. I guess it is similar. Although, I think back then there was more symbolism used.

Jazz music is devil’s music!

Rock music is devil’s music!

Rap music is devil’s music!

@JessicaRTBH They are the people who play it too loud to the point it is going way beyond their listening zone. If it can be heard outside their car, its too loud. If i can hear it from the house next door or 2 doors down its too loud. It’s attitudes like yours that tit for tat that believes two wrongs make a right. You do not have a right to force anything on anyone, just because you think you should.
I can guarantee you if you were my neighbor you would be stopped….one way or another

If they do the dances they will definitely be fit.

@woodcutter – I never stated that I believed two wrongs make a right. I stated MY reason for doing something perfectly legal that actually cannot be stopped which is why it’s so awesome. The mayor and 3 alderman (my neighbors) are still working on that one and I’m still cutting my grass bi-weekly. It’s amazing. Of course I’m just a disturber and I don’t need to justify my behavior because nothing is wrong with music while cutting grass. It’s an innocent activity. (just like children going door to door protesting abortion right?)

then you are running on borrowed time, be careful.

three years is a good run. They’ll be dead before a law like that passes anyway. (their age – not a veiled rap threat) Plus, I hope you realize I am more of a good natured disturber and not a vulgar ruin your kid’s brain type of girl.

You can’t change peoples minds or how they were raised.

@JessicaRTBH vs. the Aldermen something has just become more clear. ;)

hahaha indeed. guilty as charged. ;) It’s been pretty much since day one. I’d say my first ‘offense’ was having a child while not married living as a single in a nice neighborhood with my drug dealing baby daddy. Perhaps I am emulating my favorite genre. I kid, I kid

Hip Hop is OK if you like mysogyny, violence, profanity, drug abuse and bad poetry.

and bass, don’t forget about the bass

If I were your neighbor, @JessicaRTBH, I would think this: As long as I can’t make my quiet louder than your noise, there is no way I can defend myself against your assault on my sensibilities. It’s as invasive as a foul smell and just as noxious.

I’m not sure how you can claim to read my mind or know what I think, but I do know that if you blast me with your loud music, you are destroying my right to a reasonable degree of peace in my home. No matter how our political and social views may differ, you are not entitled to make me your victim. You are certainly not going to persuade me to share your point of view by torturing me.

@Jeruba – I’m within all legal limits. I’m victimizing nobody and really? I simply don’t care. It’s the same volume I am forced to hear other genres I find offensive. I just think it’s funny how pissy people get when it’s rap and not country for example. I’m not talking about ear blasting volume – just loud enough to hear over my mower during reasonable hours. I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind and I don’t even care to. I’m obviously not going to agree with these people just like they may or may not agree with my taste in music. The beauty of a free world :)

> I often blare it from my boom box while cutting the grass.

That sounds pretty loud to me.

I would feel exactly the same way no matter what you were playing, @JessicaRTBH, including my own favorite music, which would be classical orchestral and opera. I don’t want to hear anything blaring from a boombox. And I don’t know why a neighbor would go out of her way to cause me misery in my own home, but I hope she never needs a favor from me.

I honestly doubt I’m causing anyone any harm. I meant blaring as in loud enough to hear over the mower. I apologize for the confusion. All of my neighbors play music at similar volumes – they just don’t care for rap. I’m causing nobody any misery (any real misery come on people) and really? I’m sure if they had a real issue they’d just ask me to turn it down instead of talking about the awful spinster and her terrible music amongst themselves. I think it’s funny. It’s not a malicious thing really. As far as favors?? Ha that’s funny. I’m like the favor master in my hood – I seriously doubt I’d be asking anyone of them for help. (besides to not call the police when my black friends come over – wish I were kidding)

Loud is loud and youre being presumptuous if you think it’s acceptable. It’s loud if its louder than a mower. It’s the 21st century ever heard of an I pod? Doing it your way is inconsiderate and reading between the lines it looks like you get off on passive aggressive behavior, except there isn’t much about hip hop that is passive. You are taking advantage of being female. A guy would be having his ass handed to him. How old are you if you don’t mind me asking?

@Fiddle_Playing_Creole_Bastard Yeah. There’s lotsa cool underground, or at least, not so popular rap out there. And as you say, it’s like that with so much stuff, all over the place.

I listen to a lot of metal, but if one looks around, one may be surprised to find that they don’t just sing about killing everyone and cumming on fetuses. They use darker concepts to channel every day emotion, maybe shit rap (in my opinion) does the same in its own way. Which is pretty sad…but let’s remember, rap isn’t the only thing that glorifies wealth, sex booze and drugs. I mean seriously. It’s everywhere. Why is rap singled out?

My eternal argument about explicit subject matter is always the same, and it has to do with parenting, parenting that doesn’t just involve censorship as a form of ’‘comprehension’’. Then again I’m not a parent, and some kids have shitty parents…there’s a link somewhere in there I can’t quite make out, but it’s just sad if some poor people have nothing but sexual glamorization or drug use as inspiration for life.

Is it good or bad that people listen to the more shallow types of rap? (or whatever else) I denno, but I’ve heard rap songs sing against shitty environments, racism and poverty. I really do wish that was more popular.

But then, the more insightful and intelligent forms of entertainment may also influence folks to do or think shitty things…I don’t know yet, but I’m pretty sure that entertainment shouldn’t be such a huge authority on how we think and perceive things. some of that is our own jobs, as humans in reality.

@Symbeline what a remarkable and nuanced answer. GA.

I humbly throw this fellow into the debate.
dan le sac VS scroobius pip “Thou Shalt always Kill”

@woodcutter – I’m 28
Ahh the female comment is interesting because you could be right. They seem to not be able to wrap their heads around the fact that a single white Jew girl bought a house for herself. I’m often asked to go get my ‘husband’ which I find hilarious because I live alone and was never married. I also don’t plan to marry til everyone can legally. (not to go off on a tangent – like you need me to prove why my rap loving ass is single) I will consider these points of view when choosing my music in the future. I will look into this ipod you speak of as well. In case you guys were wondering – MC Paul Barman is one of my favorites at the moment in addition to Lil Kim :) and my parents are amazing but I’m adopted so who knows

I listen to all kinds of music, mainstream rap being one of them (along with “alterna-rap” as my brother calls it) and I have liked it for years. I do listen to rappers like Lil Wayne. His lyrics don’t influence me to do anything. Some of this type of music is catchy, other times it’s just my friends and I making fun of some of the sillier and stupider lines in the songs. I guess it depends on just how impressionable people are.

I hate to say it, but taking a new kind of drug because Lil Wayne mentioned it in a song is a stupid thing to do. And I’m not really ready to blame Lil Wayne for your own stupidity.

Though I still stand by the idea that if kids only listened to classical music, everybody would be a MENSA member, but that’s me…

As far as the debate regarding @JessicaRTBH music. If everyone plays their music at the same volume, then I don’t see how anyone can really complain, except if there is profanity. However, @JessicaRTBH, you should be aware that people have a legal right to quiet enjoyment while in their homes, and so loud music actually can be addressed by the law.

@JLeslie – well aware of the law – the reason it’s not being enforced is the issue is simply they don’t like rap not that it’s too loud or profane. As I stated theirs is just as loud. It’s really not a noise issue. It’s in the fact that it’s different in my opinion.

@JessicaRTBH Yeah, I am agreeing with you.

@DominicX Classical music makes want to conquer the world. XD

But yeah, this; I hate to say it, but taking a new kind of drug because Lil Wayne mentioned it in a song is a stupid thing to do. And I’m not really ready to blame Lil Wayne for your own stupidity.

@JLeslie – I gotcha – sorry if I sounded combative

@DominicX I don’t think classical music leads to MENSA level IQ’s. I think people with high IQ’s are more likely to appreciate and be exposed to classical music, and so are their children. The children with the genes and influence from their MENSA parents. The music is just a correlation in my opinion, not the causation.

@JLeslie I think that was humour on his part. XD

@JLeslie

Yeah, that wasn’t really meant to be the most serious comment. More an expression of my own personal elitism about classical music and my frustration with how many people I know consider it “boring” and for “old people”. :P

@DominicX Oh. :). I love classical music. Nothing fills a room like classical. But, I have to be in the mood for it.

I like classical too it just doesn’t get me all pumped to cut perfect lines in my yard the way rap does.. or irritate my neighbors ;) I’ll get an ipod and maybe the pooping will stop who knows? haha

@DominicX I am not blaming Lil Wayne for my stupidity. Did I ever once say it was Wayne’s fault for me taking it? No. I was already under the influence already, and the logic I had at that point in time was that since he talks about how good this is, why don’t I try it. I don’t blame anyone but myself for my own stupidity. So thank you for showing me a point that I obviously needed to clear up.

@JessicaRTBH you misunderstand. Woman are more likely to get away with bullshit that men may suffer a beatdown for. if there was ever a noise that would cause someone to kill, it would be rap/ hip hop. See now?

@ woodcutter – I understood. What I was getting at is I believed they were actually asking for my ‘husband’ in order to keep my unruly self in check. I saw where you were going with it. I just rambled on and lost sight of my point somewhere :) I don’t want anyone to kill me. Advice taken