By Maddy Green
It is no surprise that rap music is one of the most popular
genres of music in our country. The
problem lies when rap music starts negatively effecting our generation. Rap
music now is certainly not what it used to be. It isn’t teaching younger
children about how family is important or someone conquered an issue instead,
it is encouraging drinking, drugs, sexual relations and violent behavior. This
is the last thing younger generations need, more encouragement to act
negatively and fear no consequences.
Rap songs such as Swimming Pools by Kendrick Lamar and Habits by Tove Lo encourage drinking to the point of
passing out and drug usage. The song Habits says
“Can't go home alone again
Need someone to numb the pain
You're gone and I gotta stay
High all the time
To keep you off my mind”
Songs like these are encouraging the younger generation to
not deal with their problems but instead use alcohol or drugs as a coping
method. Whereas in the song Swimming Pools Kendrick is constantly talking about
how he is being encouraged to drink more.
Teenagers are already easily influenced as it is and when
they are listening to this type of music it sparks curiosity and makes them
want to find out more or be more like these rappers.
Young teenagers are watching these music videos and thinking that that is how they should be acting. Young men are seeing that they need to act extremely sexual to get a women's attention, which isn't true but how are kids suppose to know that?
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| This is the cover for The Weeknd's Album |
Although rap music has its flaws the type of rappers
audiences need to listen to are rappers like Ryan Lewis and Macklemore. The song which was released in
2012would eventually be certified double platinum in the United States, speaks
on the issue of Gay rights and how our society handles this. The song has
lyrics such as, “It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion Gender to
skin color, the complexion of your pigment. The same fight that led people to
walk outs and sit ins. It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference!”
Although this rapper is a straight white male, Macklemore uses his music to
bring to light a taboo topic in today’s culture. MTV’s article wrote about how
his song was a step in the right direction for rap music.
So what does rap music from artist like Kendrick Lamar and
Tove Lo music say about our society?
It says that the music industry is taking advantage of the
younger generation. Rap music is putting preconceived ideas into the listener’s
heads. At
the same time that rap music is hurting the youth, it is also taking a stand on
topics that people are too afraid to bring up allowing our society to feel more
open about expressing who they truly are without fear of being rejected.
Although rap music has shown that it can negatively effect a person with help
from rappers like Macklemore and Ryan Lewis who are constantly encouraging our
society to grow up and open our minds, steps are being made in the right
direction to end the negatives and promote the positive their music brings.
Sources:
http://www.mtv.com/news/1704448/gay-rights-hip-hop-jay-z-asap-rocky-macklemore
Your topic is something that most people don't think about when listening to music everyday. It is certainly something that needed to be addressed and made known to today's society. I really enjoyed your specific examples of the negative music that we hear in today's society, because they are songs that I have previously listened too. I also liked how you incorporated a rapper that is trying to make a positive impact on society.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely have to agree with what your are saying here. This music is really popular in our schools and communities. With the younger generation growing up faster than usual, they are interacting with drugs and alcohol at a much younger age. This could definitely be because of the music they here and are acquainted to. Hearing about drugs,alcohol, and sex would surely entice young teens if they didn't know what it was. It gives these young teens the idea that other people are doing these things so they should get involved with them also. Last year as a senior in high school I new a lot of freshman that were drinking and smoking outside of school and it was honestly concerning that as such a young age they were involved in things like that. A lot of kids had already been caught by the police also which is very shocking as a 13-14 year old.
ReplyDeleteI completly agree with the points you make and I like the examples you give. It's good that you noted both the good and the bad sides of rap but some course of action at the end would have made this post much stronger. Also, perhaps adding a second example or an artist people should listen to would have made your second point stronger.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kyrie, your blog post was necessary because there needs to be some light shone on this topic of rap music and its effects on the younger generations. I think the songs you chose as examples are very effective and are good representations of the rap music that has been popular recently, and is still popular. Your blog post was really well written, very easy to follow. I liked it!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that most mainstream hip-hop can be damaging.However I think you're allowing mainstream rap to cloud your view of the genre as a whole. Especially on you view of the artist Kendrick Lamar and Swimming Pools his famous single.
ReplyDeleteSwimming Pools is apart of a concept album called Good Kid MAAD City. The concept of the album is the growth of Kendrick Lamar into manhood. Thus Swimming Pools takes on a much deeper meaning. The song is about the dangers of drinking alcohol. In fact he compares taking shots to being shot by an Ak-47.
Despite this I do think you are right that the song is damaging. This is due to the difference of the radio and album version of the song. Though the lyrics are the same in the radio version, they are clouded by the catchy hook.To prevent this from happening on the Album there is a extra verse.This is the most important part of not only the song but arguably the album. In this last verse Kendrick raps about how he feels like he might overdose and die. Yet his friends laugh at him when he throws up. After this Kendrick and his friends leave the party to retaliate for a beating that Kendrick took from a rival gang. A gun fight occurs and Kendrick's best friend Dave is Killed. This night was all stated and fueled by alcohol.
So to some it all up I agree with you that swimming pools and a majority of mainstream hip-hop is damaging to youth. Where I differ is that in regards to Swimming Pools and Kendrick Lamar the problem lies in those who are listening and not the artist.
I agree with you that most mainstream hip-hop can be damaging.However I think you're allowing mainstream rap to cloud your view of the genre as a whole. Especially on you view of the artist Kendrick Lamar and Swimming Pools his famous single.
ReplyDeleteSwimming Pools is apart of a concept album called Good Kid MAAD City. The concept of the album is the growth of Kendrick Lamar into manhood. Thus Swimming Pools takes on a much deeper meaning. The song is about the dangers of drinking alcohol. In fact he compares taking shots to being shot by an Ak-47.
Despite this I do think you are right that the song is damaging. This is due to the difference of the radio and album version of the song. Though the lyrics are the same in the radio version, they are clouded by the catchy hook.To prevent this from happening on the Album there is a extra verse.This is the most important part of not only the song but arguably the album. In this last verse Kendrick raps about how he feels like he might overdose and die. Yet his friends laugh at him when he throws up. After this Kendrick and his friends leave the party to retaliate for a beating that Kendrick took from a rival gang. A gun fight occurs and Kendrick's best friend Dave is Killed. This night was all stated and fueled by alcohol.
So to some it all up I agree with you that swimming pools and a majority of mainstream hip-hop is damaging to youth. Where I differ is that in regards to Swimming Pools and Kendrick Lamar the problem lies in those who are listening and not the artist.
I completely agree that are generation and the one below us has been completely brainwashed with this type of music that is put out for people at such a young age to listen to. This doesn't do anything for you by listening to this kind of music. These rap artists, who shouldn't even be called artists, don't even write the songs, which is another problem that people should care about, bu don't because they just like the way it sounds, but happen o know all of the words.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what your saying about certain and hip-hop artist and how they do abuse their influence but i also have to agree with ethan on the song you used "swimming pools" and what its true intentional message was.
ReplyDeleteI have never really thought of it like that when listening to music so that really opened my eyes and made me more aware of what I am actually listening to. I liked how you talked about the bad things but also some good things that rap music does. This type of music is very popular in this generation, so popular that even younger children are listening to it. Hopefully they dont look into it as far as the actual meanings of the lyrics like you did, but it is good for rappers to be more aware for future songs. Although one thing to keep in mind is the 'swimming pools" song meaning, I looked it up online and had a different story behind it. Overall I liked your topic and felt like most people can relate.
ReplyDelete