Hip-Hop VS Society Vincent Rose

Do you think hip-hop idolizes the wrong values?

Do you think hip-hop influences violence?

Basic background of Hip- Hop Hip-hop originated in the South Bronx in the 1970s. It is one of the top music genres across the world.

Thesis Statement Hip-hop music is one of America’s biggest forms of entertainment, yet at times they promote unhealthy lifestyles and idolize the wrong values people should follow.

Although hip-hop has been a growing part of America’s culture since the late 1970s, for the last fifteen years it has been a highly debated topic. While this genre has many positives it also has its controversial negatives. Controversy

Hip-hop may be troublesome to American society –High-profile murder cases (Tupac Shakur, Christopher Wallace AKA Notorious BIG) –gang warfare –Demeaning lyrics and videos that give off bad images of African-American women

Negatives There is evidence that it supports racial stereotypes of all kinds against African American’s and their values. There are also clear details that can link violence in the urban community to what is shown in rap music daily.

One of the most blatant negative impacts is the way people perceive the black community because of some music –Reinforces certain negative stereotypes –Portray bad examples of African- American women.

Negative Impacts Rappers can’t blame particular people who don’t live in the black community for thinking everything they see on television is real life. At times, certain hip-hop can paint a very dark picture about the genre as a whole.

Stereotype Reinforcement Based on some music it is hard not to believe that that all African Americans care about is the glorification of materialistic things such as –Drugs –Money –Jewelry –Cars –Clothes –Violence

Stereotype Reinforcement The image of being a thug is glorified as well, and has become the standard by which a majority of rappers are judged, and eventually that standard reached into the black community.

Negative Influence Hip-hop music at times shows the wrong principles and standards adolescent males and females should follow.

Negative Influence The industry is indirectly telling kids to put less effort and time into school and make stardom a higher priority. Children who are exposed to this as young as eight years old are motivated to be gangsters and thugs.

WHHS Survey Results I gave a survey asking 30 Woody High students if they believed hip- hop idolizes the wrong values.

WHHS Survey Results I also gave a survey asking 30 Woody High students if they believed hip- hop reinforces negative stereotypes.

Negative Influence Some people believe that whoever thinks there isn't a direct link between rap and the violent behavior problems that exist in urban neighborhoods across this nation may have a bias towards defending hip-hop.

Negative Influence Many people take the position that there are other reasons that causes many troubles… –bad parenting, –single mother households –lack of respect from adolescents of today

Negative Influence But what should be considered is the fact that we now live in a television era and teens are affected by audio and visual images more then ever before.

Negative Influence Hip-hop supporters state that if you do not want youth to hear the music, then do not purchase the albums for them. But everyone basically recognizes that even if parents are not the one to purchase the album that the youth will find some other resource to hear the music anyway.

Ultimately, it is impossible to keep young people away from music they want to listen to.

Just a small amount of examples of sources that offer free music to basically anyone of any age –Itunes, –Youtube, –Myspace, Facebook etc.

At one time there were positive and family friendly examples of rap, like Will Smith, Run DMC, and others. Unfortunately a lot of artists who don’t go along with the popular style of things are usually criticized for “selling out”.

There are also statistics that show that artists who tend to have cleaner, more family friendly styles of rap music usually do not sell as many units. But an artist who would go along with the popular, yet overly recycled routine usually has no problem at all going platinum.

Counterpoint One of the more popular arguments against hip-hop is that it is setting the wrong standards for children and teens to follow. But, there is clearly a “Parental Advisory” label on each and every album that may be deemed unsuitable for anybody under the age of 18.

Counterpoint Due to this fact is it the parents’ fault for even allowing their children to buy the music? Artists do all they can do to make sure the wrong ears don’t hear this music. There isn’t much though that they actually can do. A large responsibility falls upon the parents of these youth to censor what their children may encounter.

Counterpoint Anti-Hip-hop activists also claim that hip-hop music has a severe effect on the crime rate in certain communities. While certain music may not be the best influence, there is no solid proof that there is any truth to this assumption

Counterpoint Groups against hip-hop state that its killing America’s values. Once again, while hip-hop may not always portray the most appropriate values there is absolutely no reason they should be the scapegoat for as many of America’s problems as they are

Counterpoint People who oppose rap make accusations that hip hop produces bad role models and that even the mainstream artists have albums that promote drug use, gun violence and graphic sexuality.

Counterpoint Hip-hop never truly stated that it promotes role models for adolescents. “Parental Advisory” means nobody under the age of 18 is permitted to purchase that product.

Conclusion At the end of the day, it is up to your personal belief whether you think hip-hop is suitable enough for your children to listen to..

Has your opinion on hip-hop changed?

Most Compelling Facts Even though a majority of the people I surveyed where fans of hip-hop, they mostly all said that hip-hop influences violence and idolizes the wrong values

Reason for choosing this topic… As a fan of music I wanted to find out what it looked like from the other side… I wanted to see how people who were not fans and who had strong beliefs against it felt.

What will I do with this info in future.. Keep an open mind Just because something is popular doesn’t mean everyone likes it There are two sides to every story