As young people listen to the newest hits on the radio stations, they tend to not only like the song but like the artist. Today's youth is becoming influenced greatly by the lyrics and artists they hear. The unfortunate part is what the lyrics are really saying. Rappers talk about drugs, gangs, violence, sex, and more explicit lifestyles. The way they lure in young people is by wealth, according to Charles Duncan, at Associatedcontent.com. "When you multiply the effect by hearing that crime pays I am standing here as living proof, a dangerous patter begins to emerge," says Duncan. Young people have the easiest access to this vulgarity, due to Mp3 players, iPods, and YouTube. Tara Parker-Pope states, "Nearly 9 out 10 adolescents or teens have an Mp3 player or a compact disc player in their bedrooms," in Under the Influence of...Music? Music is a huge part of lives today. It's rare to run across a car without a radio or CD player. Also, TV has specified certain channels that play only music. Such a wide variety of music sources, gives youth easier opportunities to listen to their favorite Kanye or Lil Wayne song. But really, what is this making out of society's young people? They are hearing in every lyric how to smoke the right weed, or what kind of clothes they should wear. These are not the only things wrong with rappers lyrics today, but just a few. Not only are you what you eat, but it's proven you could be what you listen to, according to Project Muse.
I would have to agree with this blog post. Children have been affected by what they watch and listen to. Kids moods and behaviors have been altered and rap music is one of the causes. According to the department of physiology at West Chester University, the lyrics from this genre of music is causing "an increase in adolescent suicide and aggression," (http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/325.php). As written in the blog "young people have the easiest assess to this vulgarity." Not only can people hear the music, they can look up the exact lyrics on their phones or iPods. When kids see someone on t.v. who is making a lot of money, they begin to look up to that person. As a kid you try your hardest to be just like your role model. The rappers are putting a bad image out for he kids that look up to them.
ReplyDeleteEven though I am in full agreement with this article, I can not help to wonder what is the reason for a kid who has these symptoms but does not listen to rap music. I would like to point out that rap music is not the only factor there is to be blamed for the actions of the adolescent. Violent video games, T.V. shows, and movies can also be blamed for the increase in negative actions by young kids (http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/tv.htm). when they see someone getting rewarded for the bad things they do, the kids think they will get the same reaction for the way they act.
The title of this blog and the picture connects with your argument well. The introduction of your blog makes me want to continue reading. When I saw the title of this blog it caught my attention because I have always thought the idea of rappers turning the youth volient is not the right assumption. Rap music is not the only genre of music that uses explict language. According to http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/under-the-influence-ofmusic/, Whether a song contained a reference to drugs or alcohol varied by genre. You said, "They are hearing in every lyric how to smoke the right weed, or what kind of clothes they should wear." Not all rap music is about selling drugs or clothing and jewelry. I think there should be more statistics in your blog.
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