Hip-Hop Music's Influence On Adolescents

1. In almost all communities where it exists, music reflects on the social climate, and it also has a significant influence on adolescents and children. If a song or genre has a certain appeal to it, it will be heard almost everywhere whether it is on the radio, or online. In modern times, the majority of parents are completely unaware what their children are listening to on a daily basis. Hip-hop is special in the fact that it can evoke communication that can transcend barriers, and we often see that with children learn the lyrics they listen to and make it apart of their lifestyle whether it be unconsciously or consciously. A style of music created in Ghana, which merges hip-hop and highlife is called Hip-Life. Traditionally, highlife
music is very carefully though out and the music is typically educational in its delivery. Hip-life is different though as the music is not representative of the initial impression of the genre. Some artists have more embraced the hip-hop style with their delivery and lyrics, but it is more due to the time we are in now as it is what appeals to the youth. While the music is supposed to be a fusion of highlife and hip-hop, the artists have certainly assumed African-American performance. Though they should take some of the lessons that come from highlife songs. Highlife songs are usually devoid of profane lyrics, but today hip-life music has succumbed to the industry and become like all of the other music today, rapping about sex, money and drugs.

2.
Hip-hop is a very powerful took in politics, simply due to the impact it has over its listeners. It can evoke powerful feelings from those who support it and obviously government organizations can see how this can be beneficial for them if the message that is being sent can help their political agenda. The UN has even gone so far to support hip-hop because the various members recognize that the culture that Hip-Hop fosters is one of prosperity and peace. The government and United Nations supporting hip-hop only impacts the image of hip-hop positively because it refutes the idea that hip-hop is something that encourages the youth to commit illegal activities or corrupts them. The government wants to have all the power and influence it can, so supporting something that appeals to the youth can only be seen as a positive for them as it would allow people to trust the government more as well as establish groundwork for a society in which us and our children can live in a world of awareness, prosperity, peace, health and love. They know that the spirit of hip-hop is past entertainment as the preservation and development of the hip-hop culture needs to be respected. I do not believe these actions are sincere or self-serving, only using hip-hop and its global impact to advance their own political agendas, and keep the power in the places where they see it most fit, using hip-hop as the vehicle to do
so.