Hip Hop Paper

This is a paper I wrote for someone, for a contest that she entered. And it happened to reach the top ten. So tell me what you all think of it. Because you really don't want to see the one she initially wrote, horrible



I believe the hip hop culture has a negative influence on children today. Hip hop/ rap tend to have a negative effect on inner city youth, along with suburban children. The music itself glorifies gang violence, disrespect towards women, and disrespect towards the race. Though music has come a long way, hip hop has only made and developed the idea that a certain type of lifestyle that is accustomed to violence, sex, and drugs is okay. And unfortunately, with the way hip hop is continuing, only darker days are ahead.
It is no secret that gang related issues coincides with the rap culture. From artist such as Lil’ Wayne shouting out the Blood call “soowoo” and wearing a red bandana constantly throughout his videos, to Snoop Dogg repeatedly saying what side his blue flag hangs out of, which is the symbol for Crips. As children see this they begin to feel they can relate to the artist, or feel that the entire lifestyle of a gang member is fun. On the contrary, when a gang member is initiated in to a gang, they go through a “jump-in” process, which involves other gang members beating up the potential member, possibly to the point of death. As the glorified gang culture is spread, more children become influenced, buying firearms, selling drugs, and fighting. This also breeds killers and continues to increase the idea of stereotypes among black men.
In most hip hop songs, there are lyrics that are degrading to women. In Soulja Boy’s hit single “Crank Dat Soulja Boy” he is heard referring to women as “hoes”. Now, when the song came out the rapper was still in his teens, the youth. This is a prime example because this is a kid, no older than 16 or 17, rapping about women in a derogatory manner. How was this influenced? Well, veteran rappers like to refer to women as “bitches”, which is the start of it all. Not to mention, in hip hop videos that are prone to insult women, different women are dancing and receive the title of “Video Vixens” or “Video Hoes”. This is what the hip hop culture has done to women. It has created women such as Karrine Steffans (Superhead), and Andrea Herrera (Kat Stacks). Both of these women are known in the hip hop world for sleeping with different rappers and being disrespected by them, and as a result, they have become the poster children for hip hop prostitutes, and the models of ridicule among social networks. This isn’t good for teens because if their favorite rapper is seen treating a woman badly, what is stopping them from mimicking their idol, and doing what they do?
Hip hop is not only offensive to women, but to the primary race that embraces the culture – African American. In the song “Real Nigga Roll Call” the artist known as Lil’ Jon is heard screaming out the word “nigga” profusely throughout the entire song. The word “nigga”, though truly only meaning ignorant, has been the permanent stamp among the African American culture since slave times. And as a race who wants to get away from racism, and blaming white people for their misfortune, why do that? Why give so much power and influence to a word that the race is trying to escape from? Most rappers continue to use this word throughout all their song, serious or not, normally referring to their friends or someone they don’t like. This is considered racism within a race, the hate of your own race, and that’s what hip hop is influencing. This gives teenagers the wrong idea about how to treat their fellow man. The songs give the illusion that it is fine to refer to an African American as a “nigga” or white children might feel that it is fine to recite the lyrics from one of their favorite hip hop songs, using that word. This is the wrong message to send out, and it will continue to breed more racism within a race. And the mentality of racism will never disappear because of it.
In conclusion, hip hop is negatively influencing the youth as a whole. The idea of glorified gang violence to emulate their favorite hip hop icon and being drawn into a world that could possibly kill them isn’t the way the youth should be raised. Treating women in such a way that starts a chain reaction, this could lead to more serious charges such as children born out of wedlock or domestic abuse. And, finally, racism within the race, it needs to stop. The lifestyle that is portrayed in the videos doesn’t begin to cover the full spectrum of what the life truly entails. Hip hop has basically said, “It’s okay to be nothing as long as you can rhyme.” No, that is not what is needed. Children need to graduate and become accustomed to a life that is more suitable for them, something to be proud of.