Semiotics In Rap Culture

Semiotics is the use of signs and symbols as a way in which to communicate the meaning of the world to people. In a world full of semiotics, people are often unaware of the messages they are being fed. As humans, we automatically perform semiotic analysis on a daily basis without being aware of it. Are semiotics present in modern day rap and hip-hop? Yes! Typically, society develops meanings for certain signs as a way to tell individuals how to or to not act. It is through these signifiers in rap and hip-hop culture that influences people’s sense of identity through presentational mediums of television stations such as MTV and Much Music, as well as the discursive language presented in the lyrics. It is through this relationship; between the …show more content…
Men for instance are shown as having a hyper- masculine identity. Young men grow up in this culture constantly having mediums such as lyrics and music videos portraying a false reality of what being a “man” means. Rap and hip-hop culture portray that in order to be a man, you must be powerful, dominant, in control and be respected. Moreover, symbols such as guns, drugs and nice cars are seen as being the paraphernalia of masculinity. They are viewed as the symbols of what it is to be a man and to be respected in these types of songs. In addition to that, rap and hip-hop culture portrays to its audiences that being homosexual is not manly. Lyrics often use hurtful words such as “faggot” and the term “no homo” as if men are afraid that what they say or do may come off as homosexual. For instance, in Nicki Minaj’s song Romans Revenge featuring Eminem, Eminem states: “A-a-a-a- all you little faggots can suck it… no homo.” When popular artists in the rap and hip-hop industry were confronted in interviews about how homosexuality was represented, many including Eminem and T.I either denied themselves to be homosexual, or responded angrily as if it was meant to question their sexuality. Because of the way rap and hip-hop culture has portrayed and looked down upon homosexuals, males feel the need in this industry to say …show more content…
Music videos often show these symbols representing that these things are what makes a male successful and powerful. When young guys see this, it shows that in order to be successful and powerful, you must obtain these things. For example, in the music video P.I.M.P. by 50 Cent, featuring Snoop Dogg, the video starts with 50 Cent leaving an expensive car. Later in the music video, they are in a mansion dancing with expensive brand name clothing, chains and Nike shoes with money and drugs everywhere. When teenagers view these images, they are shown all of these materialistic items. These items symbolize what it must mean to be a man. Dominant. Powerful. Successful. In addition, music videos also often show men accompanied by many women at a time usually dancing half naked, and in some provocative manner. These women are in the video for the sole purpose of being eye candy, but play no actual important role in the video. Women in these videos are often dancing around cars, on beds, or placed behind the rapper in order to intentionally show a hierarchy of importance. With taking a glance, one might not see anything wrong with a video of a girl dancing behind a guy, however it symbolizes that the man has all the power and is the dominant person. This is accompanied by the lyrics of course which often discuss women being “bitches”, “hos” and