Effects of Hip Hop

Hip-Hop influence on society and youth : Monstrosity of Music

Although music has been around for centuries, the hip- hop movement began in the early 1970s.   “The real birthplace of it is considered to be the South Bronx - the black ghettos of New York, one of the poorest quarters” (History of hip hop style, par.4).   Hip hop became popular among inner city school yards and street corners, followed by making its way into parties in 1974. The first major hit for the rap genre was released in 1979. The song was “Rappers Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang. The group included Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and Master Gee, all from the birth place of hip-hop, New York. In the late 1980s, a new movement of rap arose. “Gangster Rap” began to gain popularity. This style of rap is what we have come to recognize as the main rap music of today’s society. In the 1990s we are introduced to some of the most well known rappers of today, Mc Hammer, Dr Dre ,Jay Z and countless others. The lyrics during this era became more violent and negative, due to more criminal arrests against various artists. Rap music, especially Gangster Rap, gives the impression that it is okay to be degrading towards women, or to go out and shoot someone when they have mistakenly done something wrong. Children should not be faced with this type of crime too early in life.

Sex, drinking, lies? Does one want their child doing any of these? Hip-hop music can be taken many ways. A lot of people say it’s poetic and bold, while most say it is promoting inappropriate aspects to adolescents. Without parent supervision, a variety of young children are learning very mature and ghastly words through hip-hop lyrics. Adolescents are growing up too fast and are getting into violence, drugs, and profanity. Visually, because children look up to their elders and dream of being someone great someday, many rappers images such as sagging and tattoos promote unhealthy dreaming. This problem is taking the innocence out of...