Monday, March 15, 2010

Editorial - Hip hop stereotype

Many people believe that rap or hip hop music is often a bad influence, I believe that if the words aren’t giving off the message they want, then they should just be listening to the music. Rap was originally just people talking and trying to entertain a crowd while music was playing, it wasn’t always giving off a message. Now rap songs usually contain a topic and it’s not always positive, therefore people dismiss it completely as music. Hip hop is a culture, just like any other music genre, and the fact that people dismiss it or hate it because of the words is ridiculous in my opinion because you were never meant to listen to the words. Just like when someone is playing the guitar and singing, if you don’t like what they are saying you can just listen to them play the guitar.
Rap is often stereotyped as new music, the music for teenagers or young adults. Rap has just as much as a history as any other music genre and I don’t understand why it has this stereotype. It began in the Bronx of New York in the 1970’s. Years before any of the stereotyped people who listen to it ever was born. A beat and a MC was all you needed back then. Nowadays MC’s are known as rappers, which most are stereotyped to give bad messages off in their music. But what these people who hate rap just don’t get is that you don’t need to listen to the words! Teenagers turn up the music and blast it for a reason; they are listening to the beat. Sure there plenty of kids who hear stuff in the music and think its cool so it influences them, but that would happen no matter what they listened to. Also, yes, I am ranting. Although I am ranting about the people who rant about rap. I’m tired of hearing stereotypes about kids doing drugs or having guns because “they heard it in a rap song.” Honestly, no one does that. If a kid is doing drugs, it’s his friends fault, not the music he listens to. Overall I can just say that it’s the music that makes the hip hop culture, not the sometimes negative lyrics or the rappers who have guns. They have guns because they are rich and don’t want to get stolen from. Any one of the people who rant about them would do the same in their shoes. Don’t stereotype hip hop culture.

8 comments:

  1. Hi, You have a lot of good topics on ranting and sterotypes. i myself dont care what anyone listens to or when they do or how loud there music is. I'm not into rappers or hip hop since i grew up out back in eastern washington i'm more of a background country guy myself but i understand your position. but taking the point that a respectable parent would have they dont want their 10 year old son or daughter listening to swear words and about hoes and off beat lyrics. I have no problem with rap i do happen to like one song by tech 9ine carabulo or how ever that is spelled. great arugment though.

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  2. It's true that hip hop was born out of the live crowd and parties but to say that it was never meant to be listened to I think is wrong. Overtime, MCs like KRS-One and Chuck D realized that hip hop can be used for more than entertainment and it can be used as a stage to speak about social issues.

    But I fully agree about not stereotyping hip hop. Just because one person is doing something that can be seen as negative doesnt mean everyone in hip hop is doing that. Good editorial.

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  3. i agree a 100% because a kid is gonna do what he or she wants reguardless what they listen too

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  4. I agree with you. When I listen to Hip Hop I usually only listen to the beat. The words get to me if they are okay or if they connect to me in someway. I do not agree with you when you said "it’s his friends fault, not the music he listens to." I think it's the person who's doing it, is at fault. People can influence you on what you do, but they can't force you. But that will be off topic, so anyways. Good work. Oh I also like how you included a little history about this topic.

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  5. I think you make a lot of good points and strong arguments in this editorial, but one thing i do dissagree with is how you said,
    "If a kid is doing drugs, it’s his friends fault, not the music he listens to."
    if the music they listen to doesnt influence them, then why would their friends words be any different?
    i dont personally think either one has any effect, everyone is capable of making their own decisions.
    -Joseph D

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  6. i agree with my son Mechi the great

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  8. I understamd where you are coming from but i will agree with Ryan on a point. If i had kids i wouldnt want them to hear about all the stuff in some songs at a ceratin age. If they are really young i believe that they will get influence in a way. Young kids a burnable in that way.

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