Rap and Hip-Hop Culture - Essay Example

This paper investigates the culture of the rap/hip-hop music genre. It examines the social messages contained in the rap/hip hop culture and some of its effects on listeners, who are mainly adolescents. The introduction section begins by asking the sociological question, "what social messages are contained in rap/hip hop culture and what are some of its effects on listeners/adolescents' It then tries to find an answer to this question. This answer begins with the thesis of the research, which is 'The rap/hip-hop culture tends to contain adolescent themes of autonomy and rebellion. Rap music has particularly been known to make provocative remarks towards women.' The main body of the paper tries to explore the thesis statement further. The conclusion section summarizes the main ideas of the paper and further confirms that the rap/hip-hop culture tends to contain adolescent themes of autonomy and rebellion. Rap music has particularly been known to make provocative remarks towards women. Introduction What social messages are contained in rap/hip hop culture and what are some of its effects on listeners/adolescents The rap/hip-hop culture tends to contain adolescent themes of autonomy and rebellion. Rap music has particularly been known to make provocative remarks towards women. Rap and hip-hop refers to a cultural movement and genre of music developed in the 1970s in New York. This was mainly among Latino Americans and African Americans. Hip-hop has four major elements namely break-dancing, graffiti writing, and rapping. Other elements are slang, hip-hop fashion and beat-boxing. Since its first emergence in the Bronx in the 1970s, rap/hip-hop culture has spread to many parts of the world. When hip-hop first emerged, its basis was around disc jockeys creating rhythmic beats through looping breaks on two turn tables, and was later followed by rapping. Then there arose particular dress styles and form of dancing among the new music followers. Social messages contained in the rap/hip hop culture and its effects on listeners The emergence of rap and hip-hop music in the 1970s came with a lot of fear. This was because many parents and other stakeholders thought that this new rhythms and lyrics would negatively affect the listeners, most of whom were adolescents. This fear was carried on into the 21st century. Many critics of this genre of music are of the view that it promotes homicide, drug use, violence, suicide, deviant sexual activity, bigotry and aggression (Ballard and Dodson, 1999, pp 476). This is a significant topic since this issue has sparked a lot of debate among parent groups, censorship supporters, artists, record companies and even the United States federal government. The same issue also crops up in the medical arena, with the American Pediatrics Association expressing fear that rap and hip-hop lyrics threaten the well-being and health of adolescents. According to Mendelson (1989, pp 314-315), the greatest concerns include suicide, accidents, sexually transmitted diseases, drug use and pregnancy. Many physicians perceive the adolescent period as a very difficult period due to the rapid psychological and biological changes occurring during this period. Furthermore, the society expects these young people sound moral values through the way they perceive adult behaviors and standards. A number of physicians use their adolescent patients' music preferences to get a clue to their mental and emotional health. Music that contains explicit lyrics is capable of skewing and misrepresenting the world's realities. Rap and hip-hop music tends to represent adolescent themes of autonomy and rebellion. Rap music has particularly been known to make provocative remarks towards women. Hence the most popular music forms for adolescents must revolve around such themes as sexual imagery and disrespect (Brown and Hendee, 1989, pp 1659-1663). Moreover, many have questioned what effects music lyrics have on stereotyping, aggression, suicidal ideation and mood. According to a study conducted on the topic, there is a connection preference and various social behaviors and conditions. According to Wass et al (1991, pp 199-206), students who listen to music promoting satanic, suicide or homicide practices have a higher likelihood of remarrying or being unmarried parents. This mainly affects white males attending public urban schools. Other studies found a very strong correlation between destructive or antisocial behavior and preference for music with destructive themes (Wass et al, 1991, pp 199-206). Additionally, a link has been established between rap music preference and arrests, alcohol and drug use sexual activity, behavioral problems and below average grades (Took and Weiss, 1994, pp 8). It is worth noting that these correlation studies do not assist in verifying any effect and cause relationship between a given behavior and rap music. Other studies have concentrated on whether or not music lyrics are directly responsible for the rising cases of suicide among adolescents. Many of these studies have come to a consensus that rap music cannot be linked to suicidal behavior since there is no sufficient empirical data to that effect ( Ballard and Coates, 1995, pp 148). This is despite there being a connection between suicide thoughts, suicidal ideation, suicide and music (Scheel and Westfield, 1999, pp 253-273). However, these conclusions have not prevented the filing of lawsuits that hold music responsible for suicides among the youth. Rap music has been found to have a negative effect or toxic influence, and can therefore be suicide actions among the youth. According to a study done on rap music, there are some variations in behavior among rap music listeners. Litman (1997, pp 57) discovered that groups listening to rap music that has lyrics are more likely to be more verbally aggressive compared to those listening to non-lyric rap. On the other hand those who not listen to rap music were found to be less aggressive than the two groups. In the study, Litman matched sixty males in grades three to five in pairs. He then gave them a questionnaire about music preference to fill. He then videotaped each pair as it played table hockey. Then the pairs were made to accomplish the same tasks under three conditions. The conditions included listening to lyrical rap music, listening to non-lyrical rap music and not listening to music at all. The pairs that performed their tasks in a lyrical music environment displayed a higher tendency to aggressive behavior, both verbal and nonverbal. This was particularly in the competitive hockey exercise. This is a clear indication that lyrics have a greater influence than the beat and music. More studies have also been carried out on whether the lyrical content of songs has any effect on negative mood like nervousness, depression and sadness. Coats and Ballards (1995, pp 148) undertook a research aimed at determining whether or not lyrical content or music had any direct effect on the state of anxiety or suicidal ideation. They had volunteers who listened to six rap music crossed with three lyrical themes. These three themes included suicidal, homicidal, and nonviolent lyrics. In order to make sure that these participants listened to the lyrics carefully without getting the indication of the study's true nature, they told these participants that the test was aimed at testing their memory for lyrics. The experimenters then gave the participants the Beck Depression Inventory, BDI, which is used for measuring suicidal ideation, state anxiety and depression. Coats and Ballards (1995, pp 148) found no correlation between lyrical content, music and anxiety. On the other hand non-violent rap music drew higher scores on BDI, followed by violent rap music. Other researchers who ventured into this study made their respondents read either happy or sad lyrics as they listened to instrumental music. This was aimed at determining whether or not these lyrics had an effect on their mood. Sousou (1997, pp 31-40) also found no effect whatsoever of lyrical content on mood. The results of Prinsky and Rosenbaum (1987, pp384-397) contradicted those of Litman (1997, pp 57). Prinsky and Rosenbaum were of the suggestion that adolescents fail to correctly comprehend or even interpret the messages brought out in lyrics of these songs. Lyrics do not fall among the most important reasons for the adolescents liking a particular song. Basing on this argument, a number of researchers were prompted to study this topic further. They developed a hypothesis to the effect that expectations of any given style of music are capable of causing the ensuing negative mood or behavior (Ballard and Dodson, 1999, pp 476). Ballard and Dodson carried out a research involving participants who read either anti-social or pro-social lyrics, which were assigned as pop, country, rap or heavy metal. The participants were then required to rate the songs. According to the results, rap and heavy metal were found to have the highest likelihood of inspiring antisocial behavior, hence a negative mood, regardless of the kind of lyrics used. Most research findings seem to indicate that the actual lyrics play little or no role in creating particular moods in individuals. Instead, the expectations of that particular music are what play a big role in creating the mood. Wass et al (1991, pp 199-206) suggested a correlation between the audience's race and that of the group or singer. They perceived this as a very key factor in stereotyping which may help in explaining the reason for the existence of a correlation between music and behavior. For instance, a Caucasian male member heavy metal band is very likely to have male Caucasian fans. These fans are likely to take part in violent behavior and also dress in a similar way as the band members. However, most of the male Caucasians who act violently may be traced back to the band just because they have similar social taste, listen to the same music and have similar clothing. This will therefore stereotypically brand the heavy metal band as violent (Wass et al, 1991, pp 199-206). In addition to the band being stereotyped as violent, any information coming from the band will be processed by the audience as violent. This could also be the same case with African Americans and rap and hip-hop music. On the other hand, studies by Joyer and St Lawrence (1991, pp 15) have contradicted the direct stereotyping notion. This study is in full support of the notion that rap and rock music directly influences stereotyping. Feminist researchers made a conclusion to the effect that exposing someone to violent music such as rap increases the chances of men stereotyping particularly on sex roles. This genre of music also increases men's negative attitude towards their women counterparts. This clearly indicates the music genre lends a hand in increasing negative attitudes and stereotyping, and not fans of a given band. This contradiction calls for more research on this topic. There has been a general interest among researchers to establish any existing relationship a singer's race, the genre of music and reactions to violent lyrics. These researchers are interested in establishing the effect of stereotypes and pre-existing thoughts on the processing of new information. They were particularly interested in finding out if the stereotype that regards African Americans as aggressive, hostile and violent is still being used. In this research, a folk song and a rap song were used with various participants. It was discovered that whenever an African American singer was associated with any of the songs, it was perceived as offensive (Fried, 1996, pp 2135-2146). They also proposed government regulation of such songs. This was also the case whenever any of the songs was made to appear like rap music. The study seems to be of the suggestion that the race of the singer and the genre of music are what create negative connotations towards songs, and not the lyrics. Wass et al (1991, 199-206) are of the view that anti-social lyrics contribute in increasing aggressive or violent behavior. Contrary to this point of view, Prinsky and Rosenbaum (1987, pp 384-397) are of the view that listeners ignore the lyrics of songs and instead like them basing on the music. Adolescents have been found not to mind what lyrics are insinuating or saying. Litman (1997, pp 57) further confirms this hypothesis on verbal aggression and rap music. His study positively links verbal aggression to rap and hip-hop music. Conclusion The rap/hip-hop culture and its influence on the adolescents has sparked a lot of controversy. A number of researchers have found a connection between the rap/hip-hop culture and acts of violence as well as verbal and non-verbal aggression. This controversy brings out the need to carry out further research on this topic. All in all, a majority of findings have indicated that indeed the rap/hip-hop culture tends to contain adolescent themes of autonomy and rebellion. They also show that rap music has particularly been known to make provocative remarks towards women. A majority of future research will tend to come to this same conclusion. References Ballard, M and Dodson, A (1999):- Genre of music and lyrical content; - Journal of Genetic Psychology, pp 476 Ballard, M and Coates, S (1995):- The immediate effects of homicidal, suicidal, and nonviolent heavy metal and rap songs on the moods of college students; Youth and Society, pp 148 Brown, E and Hendee, W (1989):- Adolescents and Their Music-Insights into the Health of Adolescents; - JAMA, pp 1659-1663 Fried, C (1996):- Bad Rap for Rap-Bias in Reactions to Music Lyrics; - Journal of Applied Social Psychology, pp 26, 2135-2146 Joyer, D and St Lawrence, J (1991):- The Effects of Sexually Violent Rock Music on Male Acceptance of Violence against Women, Psychology of Women Quarterly, pp 15, 49-63 Litman, C (1997):- Effects of rap music on verbal and non-verbal aggressive and disruptive behavior, pp 57 Mendelson, R (1989):- Impact of Rock Lyrics and Music Videos on Children and Youth, Pediatrics, pp 314-315 Prinsky, L and Rosenbaum, J (1987):- Leer-ics or lyrics Teenage impressions of rock n roll, Youth and Society, pp 384-397 Scheel and Westfield (1999):- Heavy metal music and adolescent suicidality; - an empirical Investigation, Adolescence, pp 253-273 Sousou, S (1997):- Effects of Melody and Lyrics on Mood of Memory; - Perceptual and Motorskills, pp 31-40 Wass, H et al (1991):- Adolescent and Destructive Themes in Rock Music; - Journal of Death and Dying, pp 199-206 Read More