Do you think that rap music is keeping black people down?

Question

This is not meant as a racist question.

I personally believe that the "culture" created by SOME rappers, based around, being thug, having bling etc. etc. actually keeps black people down. In fact, lets extend it: Not just black people but anyone in a rough life situation who listens to this music.

It gives them nothing to aspire to, and basically makes it look cool to shoot people, to go to jail, to pimp...... I could go on.

Anyway, what do you think? Should we censure this type of music? I recognize rap as an artform, but I don't this the place its been taken to in the last 10 years is a good thing.

Weigh in! What does everyone think?

Answer 1

Of course it isn't uplifting music. So I can agree with you there, but a little known fact is that blacks aren't the major fans of black music, whites spend a lot more on buying it than we do.

True statements though. It idolizes pimps, being hood rich, and spending money on things like rims, drugs, and bling. It also destroys the image of a black woman.

But let's be serious, the only people affected negatively are those not smart enough to realize it is all a show. Those nice cars in the videos are rented from people, those women get paid big time to be in those videos, and rappers really don't get paid that much.

We have much bigger problems in the world than rap music. In black neighborhoods, you have the worst schools, the fewest jobs, and the most crime. Not to mention the worst parents (not all). One of my problems is that I have done well in school, been career oriented and been positive my whole life. But I had to sit and watch my people be the exact opposite, had to be Mr uncool, and actually had to fight to not sell drugs.

The point is that there BET was the only channel they could turn to to see a face like theirs 24/7. I have actually gone through every channel on my tv once, there were not more than 4 (out of over 200) that had a black face on them when I tuned to that channel including commercials. So where do they look for role models? BET? That has turned into the hip-hop video station.

Censorship isn't the answer. If Bush wants truly no children left behind he should force schools to send the best teachers to the worst schools, at least some of them. Parents need to be held accountable for their kids non-performance in school.

Answer 2

Of course your question isn't racist. It never crossed my mind. It's actually an intelligent question and quite different from the nonsense I've come upon. Even though we have opposing views, I will answer your question with the same intelligence you've given your answerers.

I don't think that rap is keeping Black people down. Black people aren't the only ones shooting people, going to jail, pimping, etc--the media just gives people this image. I've seen all kinds of white people do the same thing--since violence is blamed on rap because of SOME of the lyrics, it's automatically stereotyped. Well, how about the white boy who murdered his parents admitting that Nine-Inch Nails' music and "Shakespeare in Love" were catalysts for carrying out the plan to kill his parents. What about all these Satanic heavy metal lyrics and the rise of satanism and human sacrifices? Rappers tell a story about their lives, and most of it is just for entertainment. Sure, there may be some kid with low self-esteem who thinks a certain kind of music makes him "more powerful" and influences his mind, but that's not the root of our nation's problems: It's poor parenting.

Answer 3

Yes, I do, at least the overly agressive, woman hating kind. If I cruise through the channels and see the vast majority of black music being represented by thugs, then it can give some bad impressions.

As an educated person, I understand that there is much more than just rap that the black community has contributed, such as jazz, gospel, funk, bebop, R&B, etc, but since rap music is so visible in our society it overshadows the truly great black music achievements. Even rap has great poetic roots, but it has turned into self-aggrandizing, violence laden garbage.

Answer 4

Does rock, country and pop teach kids how to save money? I agree there is some horrible rap music out there, but I have listened to the worse of the worse and I have yet to rob, rape, or sell drugs to anybody. Its freedom of speech when its a Nazi rock band, but some how this doesn't apply to rap music. When you let the media overemphasis on the negative rappers out there, you fail to notice the positive ones. I totally admit that YG&B. There are a lot and I do mean a lot of the same crap music recycled. On the other side I saw Bill O'Reilly talking about the rapper Ludacris who I am personally not too fond of, but is the song "Slap" really making black youth go out and slap their boss and white kids? How Gangter is Lupe Fiasco or Common, yet they are generally recognized in the same catagory.

Answer 5

It's a symptom of a larger social problem that obviously involves all races. Do you think banning rap will solve the lack of economic opportunities, lack of decent education in inner cities?? Let's look at the root of the problem. Let them ban rap - I personally don't know any black people who are above the age of 20 who listen to it - HOWEVER, it will not resolve the key issues.

Answer 6

I think the images used in rap now helps reinforce negative stereotypes as an example of the entire black existence. There are many of us that are college educated, gainfully employed, don't have children, live in nice homes with nice neighborhoods. But it too often reinforces that the black existence is full of negatives and its not true for everyone.

Answer 7

sure do.
yesterday in jack in the box.
hearing some boys say we have to go to the studio.
unstood of trying to go to a studio they should have been in school. and trying to become something unstood a rapper.
and plus rap music is making all blacks look like all they want is money,sex,drugs,gang banging,fighting,killing, jewerly.

Answer 8

I don't think so.But i know a lot of white kids in my area listen to Rap.I think something need to be said about Heavy Metal music as well?

Answer 9

Yes I do. Hip Hop contains some of the most vile and disgusting imagery around, no matter what an ethnic studies professor may try to say.

http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_3_how_hip_hop.html

Answer 10

without ap music black folk wouldnt be worshipped the world over so ermmm it dont. being to germany, amsterdam, ostende in belgium, london england, manchester england, and in all those places, the white girls damn near raped me, because of their love for hip hop culture. anything black is sexy to em. now before rap, i prolly would have recieved a frosty reception from em.