Rap: Good influence or bad on African American youth?

Question

Have you ever read the following, "Pimps Up, Ho's Down: Hip Hop's Hold on Young Black Women" by T. Sharpley-Whiting?

I know that it has influence on other people also. Any opinions are welcome.

I'm not saying if I am for or against it. I just would like a few intelligent opinons. Peace.

Answer 1

Ive never read that book, but here is my answer:

YES, horrible influence on black youth. In a culture where youth is in search of their identities, they become easily influenced by our mainsteam culture, and emulate what they see, because whether these rappers like it or not, they are going to be their role models. 50 cent actually is aiming for the youth to copy him, just so he can make money. He is hurting his own people. "No one wants to be Ja, which kid do you know that want to be him", 50 cent is implying that he knows that kid want to be him. He also has a disgusting message in all of his music. Children are still learning, and developing, and if you tell them wrong is right in a special fashion, then they will believe it. People say that "it" starts at home. How long are the parents home? The majority of the day, they are either at school, or watching tv, when the parents arent home. They get pressured by their peers to be someone they dont want to be, and have to stay with society, whether or not the boat is sinking. This is puttin chains on the new generation, and it is WRONG.

PSSS: To the lady to answered this question, if you actually listened to bonethugsn harmoney, or Tupac, you would know that their message is extremely mixed. Bone mostly has songs on violence, and guess what a majority of tupacs songs are too. and if you disagree then you obviously dont knwo much about them. I have almost all of their songs, so i know what im talking about, and i grew up listening to both.

The best thing to do is listen to alternative hip hop: Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Tribe, De la Soul, Souls of mischief, and sooo many more. These emcees influence conciousness.

Answer 2

It's A Bad Influence And Its The Stupidest Type Of Music, It Was A Type Of Music Invented By Black Slaves(NOW THAT I GOT YOUR ATTENTION) They Gathered Together And Said Lets Be Stupid And Bang On The Whipping Post And Add Some Rhymes, So They Said Im Bangin On A Tree Hey Look At Me, I'm As Black As A Man Can Be

Answer 3

I love a lot of rap music, but like any music there are always songs that are a bad influence. I have 3 children and it's VERY difficult to prevent them from hearing some of the lyrics. For example I NEVER say the "N" word in my home & my 5 year old was singing a song & repeated it NOT KNOWING the true meaning. He was just singing the song he memorized. I mean come on now why would rappers use that in a song---especially knowing the meaning behind it??? Drives me insane!!!!

However, there are artists such as Tupac & Mary J. Blige that have positive messages that our youth can learn from. I often use a Tupac song when introducing poetry to students to get them engaged in the lesson.

So my answer is that is can be a good & bad influence on ALL youth.

Answer 4

Personally, I do not consider hip hop tune and tradition is unhealthy for any individual. It's only a swag or some way of sporting your self. It ain't this unique lifestyle that you just MUST adhere to love a few humans generally tend to provide it credit score for being. But at the reals, I consider it results White early life a lot more than Black. Because White youngsters have no idea what it is relatively like within the hood and the lyrics could sound high-quality to them however the complete vibe is wholly foriegn to them, and so while they are attempting to interpret it and discover out what it relatively way or is all approximately, plenty will get misplaced in translation they usually come to be considering that a few precise shyt is cool that relatively aint. But a Black child might had been uncovered to plenty of that negativity already and simply KNOW bigger than to do precise shyt that White youngsters do considering the fact that they heard approximately it in rap. Do you suppose what I'm seeking to say? I consider we've got BEEN there and White humans havent been there and so the tradition could end result them in a poor method, moreso than Black youngsters. But Black or White, you are an fool if you are taking the hip-hop lyrics so significantly that you would do some thing to reside like that. Those days are as a rule fading away in any case...

Answer 5

I'll say this much all rap music is not bad example bone thugs n harmony in some of their songs they're saying we need to change the world, and some songs by tupac aren't that bad either. but i do understand why some songs would not be a good choice for our youth to listen too, but I'm sick of the controversy about America vs hip-hop i figure that it starts at home if the parents don't care enough to say (this is not the kind of music you should be listening to, or try listening to something else) I'm 20 and i like all kinds of music even rap but there are some songs i just won't listen to example I've never heard of "pimps up,Ho's down" but judging by the title you can believe i will not go and buy the album. some songs are good club songs or if you just want to dance but some songs are just ridiculous and to people in America who are getting offended about rappers say about Ho's, bi*!h's and etc. just know there is a such thing and if it's not you there talking about don't worry about it.

Answer 6

I don't think that rap is entirely bad for our youth. It just needs to be more diversified. There's a lot of good rappers out there talking about more than just money, bling and getting women. We just never see these people. If the youth of today were to see that there's more to Hip Hop than doing a bunch of crazy stuff. That would help our society in a big way. Remember too much of anything is bad.

Answer 7

Both good and bad. Hip Hop like every musical genre can be inspiring for the good and can have great music however like a lot of pop-oriented, 20th century/21st century genres there can be a terrible influence based on the lifestyles that rap and a few other genres were based on. I love hip hop but the idea of living in a ghetto and in substandard housing scares me. And I believe most of the rappers (even the ones glorifying it) would agree with me.

Answer 8

rap has too much influence on AA youth. b/c parents are so wasted and just terrible influences on their children. NOT ALL but a lot of parents are too selfish to give their kids a life worth livin'... then they blame outside influence on their kids behavior... its not the music its the mentalities... and since hip hop/rap is so influential it should be exploited and manipulated differently. But, like i said before these spokespeople for the AA community (entertainers) take on the responsibility of being the best bling blinger or girl magnet recruiter that they lose sight of the major issues in the world. rap music is just too dag on shallow and filled with a whole heep of followers... i really wish they'd get their top tappin', foot draggin, slackin' off antics off of the television and restrict it to a place where only adults can find it rather than plastering it all over family television... have limits and expand their minds... its so ridiculous!!

Answer 9

I think society in general is in a bad state. Also hip-hop stretches far beyond the African Americn community. Hip-hop has now gone global. Therefore you can't pigeon-hole it and say its bad for African American youths. Secondly hip-hop generally tends to reflect SOME of the images seen in the inner city areas where most of these artist come from. But to say that all hip-hop is bad is just like saying all rock &roll/ heavy metal is devil worshiping music. There are all types of messages being passed through all types of genres of music, so for one to say place the blame solely on hip-hop is socially irresponsible. I do agree with the fact that there is some hip-hop out there that is sending the wrong message, but isn't it the parent responsibility to monitor what their children are listening to? Isn't it the parents responsibility to educate their children on whats right and whats wrong? People are using hip-hop as a scape goat for all that is wrong in society. There are many hip-hop artist that have good messages but you don't hear about them because they don't make enough money for these large corporations that put them out. The only thing that these corporations are concerned about is their bottom line. They are the ones that keep putting this crap out there and pushing it to the youth. So before you blame hip-hop lets take a good look at corporate america who are the real ones profiting from all of this death and destruction thats being put out there. Because if artists actually thought they could make money from not following the formula for success that these major labels are leading them to believe is golden ticket I'm sure that there would be more of a variety of hip-hop out. But right now corporate amreica is telling these artist that if you want to make money you need to rap about ho's, guns,drug dealing, thuggery, and disrespect. Also if I'm not mistaken i hear rock/ heavy metal songs talking about the same thing that are being talked about in hip hop. Also I hear a lot more drug promotion being talked about on rock/ metal than i do anywhere else; however, I don't hear much talk about how thats destroying society. Is it becuse hip-hop is more popular now?????

Answer 10

I have not read that book, but just about anything can be a bad influence on African American youths. Rap can be good or bad. If you sat back and listened to ALL RAP and NOT JUST SOME, you'd find that there are several rap songs that are good for youths. Rappers like 50 cent have given more reasons to hate rap. If you'd listen to rappers like Common; and LL Cool J, you'd see another side of rap aside from drugs, alcohol, money, etc.