Rap was understood as an example of, and was articulated to, essentialist notions of racial difference, thus reducing a complex and alternative set of cultural practices to simplistic constructions of the black ghetto and the "native" culture of the African American underclass.
Rap is neither the essential product of black male youth experience nor a singular music movement defined by one or a limited number of styles and artists, but rather it includes practices and forms that have emerged within a specific historical context and social space. The success of women rappers in selling records, presenting and representing somewhat different concerns from their male counterparts, and reaching audiences that might not have otherwise listened to rap (such as feminists who assumed that the genre was sexist) demonstrates the potential for rap to reach new audiences and effect change through helping to shift the meanings of musical practice and social position in certain directions (Rose, 1990). Rap's ability to attract and reach disparate audiences and effect social and cultural change indeed provides a significant model for all those engaged in cultural struggle. (Mark Fenster, 1995)
The findings presented in this article confirm rap's popularity with diverse groups of young people. For the most part it is …show more content…
By listening to hip hop and rap music teenagers will feel that what they are thinking about is normal as in that age they indeed have mixed feelings and ideas, such type of music helps them to feel that it is their human nature during this age. Rap music is a good way of communication among teenagers who have low self-esteem, because it allows hard unspoken topics to be identified and discussed in a more relaxed way (Haines, 1989; as cited in Kivland,
Rap is neither the essential product of black male youth experience nor a singular music movement defined by one or a limited number of styles and artists, but rather it includes practices and forms that have emerged within a specific historical context and social space. The success of women rappers in selling records, presenting and representing somewhat different concerns from their male counterparts, and reaching audiences that might not have otherwise listened to rap (such as feminists who assumed that the genre was sexist) demonstrates the potential for rap to reach new audiences and effect change through helping to shift the meanings of musical practice and social position in certain directions (Rose, 1990). Rap's ability to attract and reach disparate audiences and effect social and cultural change indeed provides a significant model for all those engaged in cultural struggle. (Mark Fenster, 1995)
The findings presented in this article confirm rap's popularity with diverse groups of young people. For the most part it is …show more content…
By listening to hip hop and rap music teenagers will feel that what they are thinking about is normal as in that age they indeed have mixed feelings and ideas, such type of music helps them to feel that it is their human nature during this age. Rap music is a good way of communication among teenagers who have low self-esteem, because it allows hard unspoken topics to be identified and discussed in a more relaxed way (Haines, 1989; as cited in Kivland,