Rap Music: Hip-Hop Music In African-American Neighborhood Culture

In the 1980s, we saw many different genres of music emerge, genres such as Pop, Rock, and R&B. But a new genre emerged that sparked a lot of controversy: “Gangsta Rap” otherwise known as Hip Hop. Rappers/Rap groups such as NWA, Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, and more changed the industry with catchy tunes and lyrics that talked about hard topics like slavery, violence, and police brutality. These lyrics sometimes caused major conflict, whether between races or with civilians and police. Hip Hop was very controversial in the 80s. “Gangsta rap” has caused a lot of controversy, many people protested this music in the late 80s and 90s due to the message within its lyrics and what those lyrics conveyed. Many accused “Gangsta Rap” for promoting things

The music industry covers a vast spectrum of styles and genres. The public demand for this has grown over the years and even the uncommon is common in the world of music. Additionally, public demand for access to music now has grown and changed over the years, changing the way companies and artists deliver their music message to the public. Technology has opened the door to artist in a way that gives them exposure but this exposure lacks education of the industry itself.

“Hip-hop is definitely not what it used to be, which was creative and original music.” - Missy Elliot. Often times when people hear about Hip Hop/Rap music, they will paint a picture in their head of black men cursing, guns, marijuana, lots of money, and girls looking like prostitutes. Hip hop is a well diverse genre; It came out of South Bronx, New York in the 1970’s. Rapping is a vocal style, in which the artist speak along with a beat or and instrument. Hip-hop has many different concepts; it has its own culture. Rap has a major impact on the African American society. It is a way that urban citizens can express themselves about what was going on in their life and how they felt.

In the early 1990’s, the hip-hop and rap genre was largely dominated by sounds originating in the West Coast, specifically the South Central Los Angeles area. Artists such as Niggas with Attitudes (N.W.A), Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg were associated with the rap scene to a strong extent. A major reason as to why West Coast hip-hop was a more popular subculture than East Coast hip-hop was its use of G-Funk and party style beats, creating grooves that were easy to dance too (Brackett 483). Despite its beats however, West Coast hip-hop had a very distinct and controversial lyrical style to it. A major component of its lyrical style was the artist’s sociopolitical oppositions and their “criticism of social institutions” (Brackett 471), specifically those associated with police brutality against African-American men.

Rap music is an expression of one’s feelings thorough poetry and instrumental. Although it has gained many accomplishments throughout society, it is still one of the most criticized genres of music. Rap music dose not promote violence; it only depicts the destruction that is happening all over America. Music should not be criticized based on its style. Rap music receives a variety of brutal critic from critics attacking the lyric that rappers use.

Because the lyrics of many rap songs tell stories of an artist’s personal experience of their everyday lives growing up, urban youth can relate and connect to the lyrics because they see and experience very similar things. Listening to the artist’s lyrics about their own experiences can teach the listeners to not make stupid mistakes and if they continue to follow the right paths, they can achieve more and be successful like the rappers. Hip-Hop literacies can be applied in and outside of the classroom. Students can identify themselves through Hip-Hop culture. In the article, “You Don’t Have to Claim Her”, the author and English teacher Lauren Leigh Kelly, explains that women of all ages can use Hip-Hop to identify themselves despite the genre

households. In 2002 about 43% of black households were headed by single women (Hill-Collins, Black Sexual Politics). In addition, many believe that women contribute with the perpetuation of the misogynist in hip hop by participating willingly as models and dancers for music videos; as well as buying the records and assisting to concerns.

The Impact of Hip-Hop Ever since its birth in the 1970s in West Bronx, Hip Hop has been known as “Gangsta” music and most commonly associated with black culture. Since its creation it has become a fast growing genre of music and has growing fame all over the world. The popularity of it has increased to all races, age and gender. However the growing popularity of hip hop has come with several controversies among scholars. Some scholars argue that the growing popularity of the genre is very helpful to low income families who can use this as their outlet into going to Universities, on the other side some believe associating the genre to black culture is bad for the culture as a whole and they should not be associated together.

Subcultures are values and norms different from those of the majority and are held by a group within a wider society, these social groups are organized around shared interests and practices. A subculture is usually attached to clothes music and other visible fronts within the given community, that is part of the general society. Subcultures contain individuals who think alike who feel like they are not a part of the bigger culture of society and then create a sense of identity for themselves.

It’s composed of the new generation of rappers who have gained inspiration and skills from the pioneers of hip-hop and rap as well as creating new techniques in music. While classic rap focused on experimenting with themes and language, modern rap focuses on the rapper’s lavish lifestyle and boasting their wealth, fame and sexual prowess. The transition of rap is somewhat big as it shows how it went from inclusivity and community based themes into self-centeredness and looking down on others. Majority of the rappers have stopped rapping about equality and rather they are degrading women and even groups of people. The world and the lavish lifestyle of celebrities are slowly starting to take over the minds of the youth.

Edwin Rahimi Research Paper From the underground streets of New York to the global stage, Hip Hop can be seen as one of the most influential genres of its time. As a style of music that ultimately originated from black street culture, much of its context can be pinpointed to the issues of political and social equality that are often kept in the dark. When Hip Hop emerged throughout the late 70s, new artists were experimenting with an advancement in technology and used various devices including turntables to create certain beats. As time went on, Hip Hop turned the page to more of a lyrical genre where artists ultimately began using words in their lyrics to convey a certain theme or message to the public eye.

Misogyny is a prevalent characteristic of rap music. Women are described in a derogatory manner, being called “bitches”, “thots”, “hoes”, or “whores”. Lyrics sexualize the female body and normalize the objectification of women. This can lead to negative stereotypes towards women. Male rappers often emanate hyper masculine demeanors which manifests the idea that they have the ability to disrespect women. Male rappers will attempt to justify their violent or blasphemous behavior towards women by stating that it heightens their manliness. By putting women down, it feeds the male ego and proves to others their legitimacy as an alpha male. The censorship of certain language within rap music does not alter nor improve the ultimate meaning behind many songs

Informative Essay: Hip Hop Goes Global Grabber(Topic Starter). Hip hop has been around since the 1970s and it has changed from what clothes they wear, and the rhythms you hear as well as the lyrics. Here we will go in further in how hip hop culture has impacted young people in different cultures, why hip hop is important to the listeners and what is hip hop culture.

Since the beginning of its creation in 1970 rap music has always been judged. People think of rap in a negative way because of the subjects it normally references. In some cases this is understandable but in most cases it is not. Rap just like any other form of music is a way to express thoughts and feelings that not everyone can relate to but this doesn’t mean individuals should be able to criticize the music and its listeners based off the lyrical content.

The African American community has not gained full equality to this day. Even after fighting for many years this present day issue has come to light in Hip-Hop artists songs like Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song, White Privilege II. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are respected in their line of work because they have become very popular in today 's Hip-Hop music. Hip-Hop has been the newest way of news being broadcasted. As many artists like Macklemore have become more of an activist in this day and age. This song matters because Macklemore is established and this song will inform everyone around the country, even world what’s happening. This song message affects all of us as citizens of this country surrounded by racism and inequality. The action macklemore wants us to take is to stand up and end this war against racism.