Since the 80s when rap first emerged to the surface of the music industry, suggestive lyrics have been turning heads amongst people of all ages. The music genre of rap first developed during the mid 70s in New York City, and then quickly spread to other areas of the United States and throughout other various countries. People claim that rap music promotes violence, racism, drugs, while also displaying women in a negative light; therefore, a pathway to destruction can be created for weak-minded people, especially teens, to become influenced. For example, they may begin repeating the actions that are illustrated in the rhythms they listen to daily. In reality, this theory is false because rap is just a more direct form of art and self-expression; many songs in this particular genre discuss important topics of relationships, self-discovery, and conflict.
Although it is clear why some may think that rap music can have such a powerful influence on people, it is also evident that rap music is being blamed for deeper and more serious problems that are buried within society itself. If a person is so easily influenced by the words sang that it causes he or she to go out in the world and partake in violent or illegal deeds, then that person more than likely has underlying mental issues that are being ignored. Truthfully, the types of themes presented in rap tend to be blurred in other styles of music such as pop, country, and electronic. Because the mainstream rap lyrics played on today’s radio mainly focus on sex, money, drugs and power, it is assumed that listening to this type of music will dramatically impact the mind of a gullible individual.
Time after time, critics attack rap music for their choice of words and demand that they are censored. Rapper 50 Cent responded to these requests when he said, "Music is a mirror and hip-hop is a reflection of the environment we grew up in, the harsh realities. If I ask you to paint a picture of the American flag and not use the color red, you'd have a difficult time.” He explained that he can understand why conservative Americans would be against the subject matter used in his songs because they were never exposed to that type of lifestyle while growing up. The lyrics used are necessary in order to convey the point that is trying to be made. With that being said, someone’s own close-mindedness should not have an effect on the music that others create. Art’s beauty is incredible because it allows passion that may have been difficult to convey otherwise; the fact that there are arguments about which words can and can not be spoken in songs prove the extreme judgmental mentality of people towards the backgrounds and ideas of others.
Furthermore, the fact that rap artists and the music they produce is the only component being accused for wrongdoing is quite ridiculous. Here is why: What about all the movies that include vast amounts of violence, sexual behavior and use of drugs and explicit language? Consider the abundance of horrible stories that are displayed every single day on the news, whether that be on television or The New York Times. If parents think their kid should not be allowed to listen to rap music because it will make him or her do bad things, then they might as well just lock the kid in a room for the rest of his or her life. Point being, sheltering a child for very long in this place called "world" is simply impossible.
Parents may not want to listen to Eminem or Kanye West on the next summer family road trip with the kids because of the repeated use of the "F-word," and that is understandable. But they probably should not go so far and make them erase these tracks from their iPhone. Rap music teaches people to speak their mind and to be aware of their surroundings, which is something that many struggle with. Lyrically, these songs reflect the artists’ internal conscious; above anything else, rap is one of the most powerful and influential forms of art that has made an impact on both the music industry and people’s lives around the globe.
