Music Lyrics Do Not Promote Violence free essay sample

Rap music can be considered a style of art, and a way for the artists to express feelings through their words on paper. However, there are quite a few rap artists that get criticized for their lyrics. In my essay, I want to discuss why rappers use certain lyrics in their music and why people shouldnt believe that it causes violence among the younger generations. People shouldnt censor the music Just because of violent, vulgar and abusive messages it promotes to the world.I believe in my own mind, that there is a reason for these types of lyrics hat rap artists use and I will simply explain those reasons in this essay. Rap has been called one of the most Important music forces to emerge In two decades. Its pounding beats and staccato rhymes exploded on the streets of the urban America In the early asses and since have become the theme music and lyrical heart of the vibrant youth culture called hip-hop ( SIRS 1993). We will write a custom essay sample on Music Lyrics Do Not Promote Violence or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There are many different types of rap artist. There are some that talk about money, some talk about righteousness, and the list goes on and on. Every rap artist had their own way of expressing themselves. There are those that talk about sex, drugs, and violence who receive the negative attention( SIRS 1993). People, think this so- called gangster rap Is a bad Influence on children In the world and that It promotes violence and that It also Is abusive to women. Dolores Tucker, head of national congress of black women has been among those pressuring different record companies to stop distributing gangster rap music. There were other significant names that participated in this action.Names like Senate Majority leader Bob dole, and former education Secretary William J. Bennett(Surveys, pig. 1). There are some rap artists that have been openly criticized for their lyrics. Rappers Like Ill Kim, Too Short, Snoop Doggy Dog, and a member from Too Live Crew, named Luke Jaywalker. These rap artists In the past have been appointed for the things they say in their music. Ill Kim talks about sex in her music, Too Short talks about drugs, sex, and how much of a pimp he is, and Luke Jaywalker talks about girls and sex.The lyrics that these rap artist use in their music might not e suitable for everybody to listen to but I dont think their music should be banned or criticized because you dont have to listen to It If you dont choose to. Rap music, how much Influence does It really have on Its youthful listeners? Many, from record company executives to high school students agree that it plays a critical role in the lives of many tans, affecting the way they dance, dress and speak(Slurs 1993). Personally, I feel that rap music is a form of art.I think it takes a great deal of talent to write lyrics that rap artists write, because you have to use metaphors and similes, ND at the same time get your point across so the listeners can understand. I give rappers a great deal of credit because I know It took them a long time to get where their at today, and I know It takes a tremendous amount of time to write a song. Its also true and strongly agree with that rap artists use lyrics that reflect on their childhood and the way they grew up.That could be the reason why gangster rappers and rappers talk about sex, drugs, and violence in their music because that was what they were exposed to through out their life. Rap artists generally write about what they know because it is easier to write about things and situations that you know, and situations that involve those subjects. Not Just write about them in hopes to cause more violence in our world. Young rap fans caution it is wrong and simplistic to believe music can dictate their actions. Upbringing and circumstance steer a childs behavior, they say, not a record on a turntable or a performer posturing on stage(Newsweek, 1998).There are other reasons why gangster rappers should not be criticized for their lyrics. One reason is that I would rather hear gangster rappers talk about violence on the streets than them actually going out on the streets and participate in the violence. Another reason why rappers shouldnt be criticized is because the world was violent long before rap was invented, and it is not rap music that is making the world more violent then it is already. I strongly believe that people have the freedom of choice to listen to rap music and if you dont like what rap artists talk about, then you do not have to listen to the music.If people didnt have a choice hat would be one thing, but as long as people have a choice to do or not to do something then they shouldn t try to criticize it. To me, rap music is more than a strain. It is the reflection of horrible suffering, struggle and pain of the ghetto life. I feel that art reflects life, so I ask myself why arent the National Black leaders like Dolores Tucker, more concerned about where the source of rap music exists than the work denuding these types of harsh conditions(Slurs 1993). I think that kids know the difference between right and wrong, music and reality.They know its not right to go kill somebody and if there driven to that, thats not the fault of the music, says Jon Chester, editor of The Source, a rap magazine(SIRS 1993). If the people throughout the world that criticize gangster rap music would begin to really care then they would try to find and fix the conditions that this art of music comes from and stop criticizing the artist. In other words, the abusive language and rise of violence found in most gangster rap songs are the reality of our present day society. Americans should be tauter enough to realize that not talking about something wont cause it to go away. People talk about the violence of gangster rap music, but look at the violence we see on television everyday, on almost every channel you turn to. Violence is everywhere, you might see or hear something violent every day of your life, whether it is on television, radio or in real life. Violence has been existing for hundreds and hundreds of years, gangster rap music hasnt remotely made violence more intense or worse than it already is( Surveys, pig. 1).So is it then fair to pin point rap music and blame its lyrics on the violence happening around the world? Teen-eager, both black and Latino, say it is the driving beat that attracts them and many other young people to rap. That, and the musics honesty(Slurs 1993). Its not the guns and drugs that make them like the music. The rappers arent saying to solve a problem you must kill, they are Just stating what they know. In which, ever since they were young, that violence around them always ends in a shooting or stabbing, so is it right to blame them for singing about it when really they learned it from television?Sex in rap music shouldnt be criticized either because look at all the pornography that is in the world today. There are magazines that are being sold nearly everywhere. They have triple X rated movies that could be purchase and you could rent these kind of movies at your nearest video store(Showbiz, pig. 1). So, lyrics that talk about sex cant hardly be no worse than the movies and magazines being sold all over the world today. When used in their neighborhoods growing up, and maybe they had to sell drugs for a while to put food on their table( Newsweek 1998).I feel, people get confused about what the rap artist is trying to say to people. They are missing the whole point. Just because rap artists talk about drugs in their songs doesnt mean they are actually selling the drugs or using the drugs. These rap artists are making thousands of dollars Just by making records, why would they go out and sell drugs? That doesnt make any sense. There are plenty of artists that are positive, and speak positive aspects in their music about life, like A Tribe Called Quest, the Roots, De La Soul, and many others.So for those that think that rap music has a negative effect on children, and people in the world, there are a lot of rappers that speak unity, and things that are positive about life(Showbiz, pig). If a person could listen to some of these positive rap artists, they could learn about life. There have been plenty of times where I was in a terrible mood or I was upset about something, and I popped in a CD of a rapper, and after I was finished listening to the CD I felt much better. The words and phrases used, are words of actual life events and the positive things or outcomes of them.In inclusion, I speak in favor of gangster rap, and I dont think people should criticize these rap artists because they are speaking the truth. Situations theyve been in are shown through their lyrics and we need to try to find the source of the problem instead of criticizing the person speaking about the problem. Drugs, Sex, and Violence are what gangster rappers are considered to be glorifying, but drugs, sex, and violence was in effect long before rap music was even thought of and so we shouldnt use the type of music against the type of behavior caused by teens around the world. Word Count: 1667