Why do rappers brag about being from the worst neighborhood?

Question

Isn't that like saying "I am proud to be from ignorance, poverty and a never ending circle of violence that I don't want to change."?

Question #2: Since they are millionaires now why do they insist on still living in the ghetto and glorifying ghetto ways.

Wouldn't the smart thing to do be to get out of there and not look back?

Why not spen you money on a college education? It is cheaper than diamonds.

Answer 1

Wow, a great question for once. I think they need to rap about bad stuff cause it makes them "cool", to whom, I'm not sure, unless it's other Ghetto people. They love to wear their jewel, and the "bling"..........but they still insist on rapping about the neighborhood. You'd think they'd send a message out to the kids in the Ghetto by saying you can better yourselves. You can crawl out of a hole, but they glorify the bad. It's rather sad to me. ~~~

Answer 2

This is simply a mentality issue.
Rappers and rap music are considered cultural and genre movements! Early rap has often been credited with helping to reduce inner-city gang violence and poverty. However, rap culture replacing physical violence with hip hop battles and street culture.
However, many believe that in later years (with the emergence of commercial and gangsta rap during the early 1990's) the emphasis on non-violence has come full circle, with many rappers boasting about weapons, crimes and violence. Your questions as to whether rap actually caused gangs in the urban and ghetto area to glorify poverty, violence or gangs can be argued because in the past such as rock and heavy metal have led to sex, drungs and rock n roll.
You are true that rap artists have attempted to reflect what they believe even they are millionaires simply because of the image and seem cool thing to be. It is called survival of the fittest. Mentality and subculture of ghetto communities are difficult to change. Moreover, the media, fashion industry, music producer and record company take it to another level by promoting rap music without censorship to public. Little did they know that it is a double-sword strategy which could turn the rap culture to be profitable/marketable yet so negative.
For many rappers, they dont need to change mentality and attitude because they still could make money and sell million of records regardless. There is a market! Plus, this is part of what they are and where they come from. Upbringing, culture and lifestyle which are 'normal' for them but not so appealling to others!

Answer 3

I've studied gang mentality, and they will admit it themselves.
There are too many wannabes in gangs. And unfortunately,
the hardcore members are dead or locked up, and have to
form a menality to survive in lock-up.
Put that with the fact wannabe mentality permeates gangs, and you get all the bluster on the street.
I'm White, and lived with a Black bootlegger
who was down with an older man who was affiliated with the
Chicage Mob.He laundered gambling money for them
through his liquor store.
I know a little about the street. Why would anybody want to
be a "Ghetto Celebrity? And want everybody to know he
did it! Including the Police?" See what I'm saying.
The devil, the personification of evil, is the master of reverse psychology. He makes everyone think the WRONG thing to
do is the RIGHT thing to do.
Just look at people today. They think they got to GET respect! And the way they do that is to go around "disrespecting" everyone else. But all that gets them is a bullet in the face, or a shank in the back.

Answer 4

You will never understand, so why I'm even bothering.... I've been reading your questions, and I see you for what you are: a silly bigot attempting to sanitize his racist comments.

Rappers do this so they can let that inner city child that believes s/he can't make it, that s/he can. What rapper do you know of that lives in the ghetto? After he made it? NONE! They might live in the same city, but certainly not in the same spot. Many of them GIVE back to the community they came from (guess you ignore things like that. Most RAPPERS have foundations for this)

Get out and never look back - We have something called the Sankofa principle - basically, know where you came from, so you know where you're going - YOU NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU CAME FROM!!!!!!

Do your research before you run off at the mouth.

And now I know why I answered, so someone that reads your "question" will hopefully recognize it for the racist crap it is!

Answer 5

Well, they are trying to show that they didn't have an easy life that they weren't privilaged like your every day person and they had to work hard to get where they are. I believe that the reason they stay in the Ghetto is because that's what they know where they grew up and the only thing that has stayed stable in their lives is knowing that after everything else leaves, parents, friends, family the Ghetto will always be there for them. If that makes sence. I grew up in the Ghetto and have fought every day not to want to go back, because as a white female in the Army I know that I would never be able to fit in there again.

Answer 6

Wow there are really some IGNORANT people on here for real. Maybe all you spoiled asses don't know what its look to struggle and you just don't understand. No matter where you're from YOU always represent where you came from NO MATTER what!!!! It's about RESPECT, because you lose respect when act fake when you make it big and then don't acknowledge where you came from. It's not about bragging about it. Its about knowing the struggles of where you came from and people that are still there can relate to it. It's about coming up and alot of them do give back to their communities. Don't get me wrong their are a lot of perps out there that are wannabes, but it doesnt take a genius to figure out whos real and whos not.
Entertainers write music that people can relate to, for example love ballads by singers such as Beyonce or whoever hit top charts because Girls and young women can relate to the words in the song. Obviously if you're not feeling it, you might not like the song.
So if you can't understand a rap song or understand the true meaning of what the artist is saying, the OBVIUOSLY the song doesn't RELATE to you so don't LISTEN TO IT!

Answer 7

the answer to both questions is that, that is what sells in the American culture. As to them getting out of the Ghetto scene most of them are not from there to start with, check the biographies. Most are from well established schools of performing arts. The song writers are mostly unheard of hacks, well paid popular artists producing profitable popular art. They write by formula for the market, and the market is whatever is needed as fill between advertisements on the top 40 stations. If they can reinforce the market message in the infill music so much the better. What better infill than "Look at me, no education, no job and no ambition, but (cue flash of gold tooth) I got Women, I got Cars, I got Bling, Bling, Bling!" This is just another repackaging of the normal American Dream.

Answer 8

I guess to prove that no matter where you were born and raised you can still become a millionaire. Only in America!!!!!!!

I went to college for 6 1/2 years to get my masters and put up with my parents bullshit to live paycheck to paycheck and all i had to do was write a rap song, shiiiitttt. Ain't that a b+tch.

part 2 - I respect them for not forgetting where they came from, but you are sadly mistaken most of them live quite well in affluent neighborhoods. It's all hype my friend, entertainment. Most of their audience and fans are from poor neighborhoods. I personally think most of them suck and are a disgrace to my race. never the less it's entertainment. Some of them that rap about the Ghetto have no clue about the ghetto. For instance LL Cool J grew up in an affluent neighborhood in Queens NY. I know for a fact because my aunt (the doctor lived near him). He has since changed his style with is rich azz, but he use to be a gangster rapper back in the 80's.

Answer 9

Because nobody's gonna buy a rap album about someone living in the suburbs. Madonna came out with a rap album, believe it or not. But you wouldn't know it, because she's rapping about freakin' Starbucks coffee and yoga! I believe the verse goes something like this: "I drink a double latte, I do a double shot-ay, do yoga and pila-tays...." you get my drift. Anyway, basically, it's all about street credibility for rappers. The worse your neighborhood is, the "harder" you are. It's kinda like high school, where all the guys are bragging about how they've banged so many chicks, when in actuality they're probably still virgins! But the more females they claim to have had sex with, the better they look in front of all their friends.

Answer 10

Not that I'm black and com from a bad neighborhood, because I don't. First of all, they are only doing what it takes to sell records. (hustling) Second of all, how do you not go back to your hometown where you were raised, your reputation came from, and your family and friends live? That would be pretty shallow to just drop it all. Plus, where they are from is what made them who they are and the reason the were successful in the hip hop world. I know If I became a millionaire, I'd probably live in a regular sized house, nothing big, because it's all unnecessary.