Society’s views on rap and hip-hop music are often negative, despite other genres having similar social messages. One must ask themselves, why is hip hop and rap under such constant scrutiny? Authors Feagin, Vera, Batur, & Rose theorize, “From the start, the public viewed hip-hop culture and rap music through a racist lens. Rappers and rap fans were often portrayed as menacing Black adolescents, and rap music was vilified as violent and misogynistic” (qtd. in Sullivan 607). Although most people agree that modern day hip-hop and rap music have negative social effects, upon analysis, these views appear to be defective and based on bias perceptions— reinforcing racial oppression, racial stereotypes, and inequality. White culture’s drive to
…show more content…
White culture views rap and hip-hop with ethnocentric, and closed-minded mentalities of social status. Although it has been argued that rap and hip-hop promote undesired behaviors, it has been attacked significantly more than other genres promoting identical messages. Lyrics taken from a “Guns n’ Roses” song titled “It’s so Easy” exemplifies the same message being sent in other genres of music, “Turn around, bitch, I got a use for you. Besides, you ain’t got nothing better to do and I’m bored.” There is not much of a difference between lines like this and lyrics within rap and hip hop. Lyrics from artist Snoop Dog states, “ Cause she ain’t nuthin but a bitch to me. And y’all know, that bitches ain’t shit to me”. The messages are uncanny; Both view women as sexual object and both are abrasive. Yet rap and hip hop are under continual scrutiny despite similar messages prominent in other genres. Other genres are not the target of racial stereotypes because they are made by and accepted by a dominant White culture. The strong perception that rap and hip-hop content is exceptionally harmful is ignorant and biased; it is damaging to the Black community, and originates from false beliefs fueled by racism and a need to segregate. An Article in the “Journal of Black Studies” written by Erik Nielson states, “In the United States, …show more content…
In the article “Hip-Hop Culture and Rap Music,” Prichard explains how rap and hip-hop are expressive instruments within Black culture,
“In both popular and academic discourse, hip-hop has overwhelmingly been represented and understood as black music. This is unsurprising, given its African cultural roots and the tendency among many artists to articulate and promote Afrocentric beliefs, values, attitudes, and experiences. Hip-hop also enjoys close links to African American inner-city cultures and often disseminates representations of urban African American realities”
White culture views rap and hip-hop with ethnocentric, and closed-minded mentalities of social status. Although it has been argued that rap and hip-hop promote undesired behaviors, it has been attacked significantly more than other genres promoting identical messages. Lyrics taken from a “Guns n’ Roses” song titled “It’s so Easy” exemplifies the same message being sent in other genres of music, “Turn around, bitch, I got a use for you. Besides, you ain’t got nothing better to do and I’m bored.” There is not much of a difference between lines like this and lyrics within rap and hip hop. Lyrics from artist Snoop Dog states, “ Cause she ain’t nuthin but a bitch to me. And y’all know, that bitches ain’t shit to me”. The messages are uncanny; Both view women as sexual object and both are abrasive. Yet rap and hip hop are under continual scrutiny despite similar messages prominent in other genres. Other genres are not the target of racial stereotypes because they are made by and accepted by a dominant White culture. The strong perception that rap and hip-hop content is exceptionally harmful is ignorant and biased; it is damaging to the Black community, and originates from false beliefs fueled by racism and a need to segregate. An Article in the “Journal of Black Studies” written by Erik Nielson states, “In the United States, …show more content…
In the article “Hip-Hop Culture and Rap Music,” Prichard explains how rap and hip-hop are expressive instruments within Black culture,
“In both popular and academic discourse, hip-hop has overwhelmingly been represented and understood as black music. This is unsurprising, given its African cultural roots and the tendency among many artists to articulate and promote Afrocentric beliefs, values, attitudes, and experiences. Hip-hop also enjoys close links to African American inner-city cultures and often disseminates representations of urban African American realities”