A Step in the Right Direction

Music speaks to everyone on a different level. Some people turn to music to help them express their feelings and others turn to it when they want to have a 30 second dance party in their room. Regardless of what music does for you, it is an agreement that music is one of the most commonly popular items throughout the United States and among our countries youth. And one genre tends to dominate the boards more than others, Rap. 
Rap music has been know to influence our generation and youth more than any other genre, but what people tend to focus on is Rap music's negative influence. What about the artists who don't focus on drugs, sex and alcohol?

One of those artist is Ryan Lewis and Macklemore. These two men are unlike any other artists because they do everything themselves. They are not signed to a record label and no one is there telling them what to sing and how to act. On top of that Lewis and Macklemore are activists for Gay Rights. 

The 2014 Grammy Awards Macklemore preformed this song and received a standing ovation.
 During the performance 33 couples got the chance to exchange their vows with one another, something that would have been unheard of years before. Macklemore's song made it possible for them to do that, opening doors in the music industry. 
Not only does he rap about common problems in our society, he also addresses what other rappers are doing to our youth. Their song Otherside is a perfect example of this. 

He just wanted to act like them

                                                         He just wanted to rap like him

Us as rappers underestimate the power and the effects that we have on these kids

Blunt passed, ash in a tin, pack being pushed, harassed by the feds

The fact of it is most people that rap like this talkin' about some shit they haven't lived

Macklemore is very blunt in the song by calling out other famous artist such as Lil Wayne who encourages his listeners to sip on something he calls "Purple Drank", which is a deadly combination of Jolly Rancher candy for color and extra sweetness along with soda and prescription-strength cough syrup. The end product is said to provide an instant, euphoric high. Macklemore admits his past addiction for this drink and that he started drinking it because he wanted to be like the other artists that he admired. 

So what can we do to change this problem of music negatively influences music? We can give well earned praise to the artist who have worked hard on their music and who aren't producing songs that encourages kids to drink something that could kill you. We should recognize these artist who are dealing with controversial topics and taking a stand for what they believe in. What our generation needs is more of artist like Ryan Lewis and Macklemore and less of the ones who are encouraging risky and potential life altering behavior.