Is rap music a bad influence on children and teens?

Question

I have a lot of friends that listen to some rap songs that I really don't like. I think its a bad influence on teenagers and kids to do bad things to themselves including using drugs and even getting in trouble with the law. I also think that some of the songs degrade women. Don't get me wrong, I do like some rap songs, but the ones I like never have any offensive lyrics. What do you think?

I want to add that other kinds of music are also very negative (like death metal and all that) but rap is more popular among kids these days. And even if you are a good parent, what about the kids that live in poverty? The ones that can't differentiate good from bad because their parents do not teach them that? I know because I've lived around a very poor neighborhood and seen all of this happen. Kids that use drugs because they think that its cool because certain rapper uses them too, or admiring some gangster because he used to sell the most drugs and put that on a song etc. some of them where my friends. One more question: Is it really viewed as a culture?

Answer 1

I like the clean&edited version of rap songs.
Edit: And to answer your second question; cussing, and smoking, or doing drugs is not part of culture, the music is. Your parent's will never want whats bad for you, and will teach you not to do those things, but it's your choice whether to listen to your parents or not. Apparently, a lot of kids don't.

Answer 2

If you're a good parent you would know what your kids are doing. So no I don't think its a bad influence. I listened to rap growing up and I never wanted to go kill anybody or do drugs. My mom raised me to know right from wrong. If you think rap music is bad I guess you wouldn't want you child to watch tv either, cause half the time its worse.

Answer 3

I think rap can be bad depending on the content. Lots of curse words isn't great, but it can be ok depending on the context. If its all do drugs have sex kill people its all fun nothing bad ever happens it can be horrible for children. If its one of those songs about beating the odds learning the consequences of your actions then it can be great. Overall, it differs from song to song.

Answer 4

I agree with you most of those songs are not suitable for teens or children that they may make an impression on. I do like some rap but most of it is just a bunch of junk!

Answer 5

Sure, rap that glorifies drug use, anti-authority, lawlessness and murder is bad for teens. So is death metal. Try not to singal out rap.

Answer 6

yes. which really sucks because it is great to dance to!