Personal Essay: The Power Of Rap Music

Like many people my age, I am an avid listener of music, and rather frequently I look to music (preferably Rap) as a source of guidance or release in times of hardship. There are some infinite songs in the vast realm of music that can perfectly emulate or echo any mood that I might be in, and sometimes the music can actually amplify the feelings I am having like a beam of light though a lens. This power that music potentially holds can be a great tool if used in a constructive and positive sense, but that is not always the case. In the book Œuvres de Voltaire, Volume 48, by Francois-Marie Arouet, he writes arguably one of the most memorable lines ever composed; “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Music has the ability to change lives, but in recent times musicians and more specifically Rap musicians have made a bad habit of taking their responsibilities lightly when it comes to portraying a positive image. Lyrics often refer to scenes of revenge killing, armed robbery and even rape. Street credibility and social acceptance among neighborhood peers seems to be the reward for such horrific acts. In my opinion, Rap Music greatly contributes to a viscous cycle where under privileged and impoverished teens desperately looking for role models, commit acts of violence out of frustration …show more content…
Living in a world of poverty, hate and discrimination has left them scared and angry. In a world where positive role models seem to be a figment of imagination, we young adults look for any role model that has done something that we wish to do. We aspire to be in their positions of wealth and power, so we do what we think is acceptable. Rap Music has pushed a “by any means necessary” mentality on us. Due to Rap Music and the power of the Mass Media, many young adults have pushed their boundaries to a point where nothing is too excessive if it means they can be socially accepted, powerful, loved or