Preview

Is Hip Hop Music's Effect On The Increase In Police Brutality?

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
620 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Is Hip Hop Music's Effect On The Increase In Police Brutality?
Kristian Gause
Professor Jennifer Ortiz
Research Methods in Behavior
September 11, 2014

The Current Message Portrayed in Hip Hop Music’s Effect on the Increase in Police Brutality Towards Black Males. (Outline)
For my research, I would like to see if there is a direct correlation in the change of the content in hip hop music and the increase in police brutality amongst black males in the last 20 years. In 1991, video footage showed 7 officers brutally attacking and beating Rodney Glen King following a high speed car chase. Four officers were charged with assault with a deadly weapon and use of excessive force, three were acquitted of all charges. The case brought national scrutiny on law enforcement and the continuing patterns of racism and police brutality of black males. Over the years, hip hop …show more content…
In the song, member Easy E is quoted in saying, “And as we roll on I see the patrol on crip so we get ghost because they beat me and ren in de black ce”. That lyric directly references the two members being harassed and beaten by the LAPD. Back then police violence was such an everyday occurrence that black men purposely avoided law enforcement. Most cases of police brutality likely go unknown. In today’s hip hop music, rap artist such as Chief Keef have also been known for his expressive lyrics detailing his distaste for law enforcement. Taking a more aggressive tone, he is quoted in saying in song, Aimed At You, “So get your top dropped, like a drop top. If you calling the police you gone get a cop dropped cause he pelle pelle like a fox, ain’t talking to the cops”. This level of total disregard of authority and respect for our men and women of law enforcement could be the reason why our black men are at higher risk to being met with violence during encounters with the
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How Does Hip Hop Influence Popular Culture
    • 1060 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Does Hip Hop Influence Popular Culture

    “By 1980s, Hip Hop had become an influential culture throughout United States. Hip Hop artists became signs of the popular culture after releasing successful songs, appearing in several televisions and radio shows, and winning awards. The main artists in this period included Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, Tung Twista, Quincy Jones, Ice-T, and Snoop Dogg,” (Persaud, 631). “During this period, Hip Hop experienced censorship after realize of a song that was seen by the FBI to causes violence and disrespect the police,” (Gordon, 369). Many Hip Hop musicians releasing songs during this period faced numerous lawsuits because some institutions thought the songs were controversial. Recording companies started to be strict with the lyrics included in the songs. Realizing a song in the first half of 1990s was very challenging due to censorship. The 2000s marked the fourth decade of Hip Hop. Hip Hop music…

    • 1060 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Negative Influences Gangster Rap
    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Negative Influences Gangster Rap

    Some of the most famous rappers have songs named, “F**k The Police”, “Crooked A** N***a”, and “Cop Killer.” (“Negative Influences Gangster Rap What Can Be Done About It”). These songs, like so many others, also talk about murder and disrespect of women. Lives have been lost and people have suffered, yet the gangster rap industry is still flourishing. Society has noticed the negative influence this music has had, yet they still continue to make it succeed through a number of record sales. Even though there is no way to solve this problem it’s still a benefit that parents do not let their children listen to the music and have them grow up hearing these types of…

    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Tupac vs Biggie Essay Example
    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Tupac vs Biggie Essay Example

    To gaze into the lyrics of both Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur is like living in the ghettos of New York City where violence never stops. Both of these artists grew up seeing and living a life filled with violence. Gunshots and drive-byes, death and murder were a daily occurrence. Although the lyrics of both artists are simply telling their life stories and how hard it was to grow up in their “hoods” they contain vulgar, hateful, and sexual verses that send the wrong message to their listeners. Whether these listeners are teens or adults, white or black, they are continually sending notions of hatred and fear through their lyrics and actions. Ultimately, their lyrics, actions, and creation of the East coast West coast rivalry began promoting violence to whoever hears, listens, or watches them.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Are Rappers Really Saying About The Police
    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages

    What Are Rappers Really Saying About The Police

    “What are Rappers Really Saying about the Police?” talks a lot about how the criminal justice system is unfair and biased based on who they are. The supportive details the authors gives would be when they give two examples of songs by Tupac and Jay-Z, then they give their opinion of what the songs meant. The conclusion is that they found the messages that were given was not that the rappers disliked the justice, however, they disliked the way it was being implemented.…

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Thug Culture Is Destroying Black America
    • 846 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Thug Culture Is Destroying Black America

    Though many have protested that “gangsta rap” is to blame for its influence in the violence, female discrimination and violent behavior that take place throughout America, others argue that it is simply the other way around, implying that the artist is influenced by his own personal experience of being a part of and/or bearing witness to violence, drugs and crime that have taken place around him thus influencing him to express himself through lyric and rhyme becoming “gangsta rap”. This leaves us to question does gangsta rap music encourage violence or does violence influence what the artist raps about?…

    • 846 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Hip Hop Affect African American Culture
    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Did Hip Hop Affect African American Culture

    Culturally, hip-hop has affected how people behave, think, and what is important to African Americans. Since it emerged and became popular hip-hop has affected African-Americans in a negative way. In the majority of hip-hop songs there is the presence of violence, sex, drugs, misogyny, and money. These characteristics are violent and may lead to it being acceptable in African…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hip-Hop's Negative Impact On African American Youth
    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hip-Hop's Negative Impact On African American Youth

    Hip-hop can destroy other citizens. For instance, violence in some songs cause the youth to starts fights and also kill themselves. On the other hand, gangs and street thugs are a few examples. However, teenagers are starting to kills, steals, vandalize. Therefore, hip-hop culture and movement has an negative impact on contemporary African American identities based on how they represent themselves. This is due to the fact it promotes an unhealthy lifestyle towards attitudes and behaviors of American Youth. In addition, it teaches African American youth to use profanity. Furthermore, American youth do not have a role model when listening to hip-hop.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Rap Music Censorship Essay: Freedom Of Expression Of Rap
    • 1504 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Rap Music Censorship Essay: Freedom Of Expression Of Rap

    Despite undercurrents of menace, the vast majority of hit rap songs have always concerned the same topics as hit rock or pop songs: dancing, getting wasted and getting laid.” And yet, the violence described in gangsta rap was seen by law enforcement as more dangerous, more in need of policing, not entirely unlike black urban communities in the 1980s themselves. However, if you were to read the lyric sheets to the top ten rock songs vs the top ten rap songs of the 90’s, it would be very difficult to argue that the rap lyrics weren’t substantially more violent and many times, outright instigating violence. Guns and Roses Sweet Child O Mine has yet to be cited as an influence in someone’s murder or…

    • 1504 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Gangsta Rap Thesis
    • 1513 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Gangsta Rap Thesis

    In the 1980s, we saw many different genres of music emerge, genres such as Pop, Rock, and R&B. But a new genre emerged that sparked a lot of controversy: “Gangsta Rap” otherwise known as Hip Hop. Rappers/Rap groups such as NWA, Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, and more changed the industry with catchy tunes and lyrics that talked about hard topics like slavery, violence, and police brutality. These lyrics sometimes caused major conflict, whether between races or with civilians and police. Hip Hop was very controversial in the 80s. “Gangsta rap” has caused a lot of controversy, many people protested this music in the late 80s and 90s due to the message within its lyrics and what those lyrics conveyed. Many accused “Gangsta Rap” for promoting things such as crime, killings, profanity, drugs, sex, racism, and more. But Gangsta rap doesn’t influence this type of lifestyle; it’s telling a story/conveying a message of the individuals who wrote the lyrics.…

    • 1513 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Gun Laws Must Be Enforced
    • 1811 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Gun Laws Must Be Enforced

    Herd, D. (2009, Spring). Changing images of Violence in Rap music. Journal of Public Health, 30(4), 395-406 12p. EBSCOhost.…

    • 1811 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hip Hop Satire
    • 1178 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hip Hop Satire

    Media often paints a different picture than as seen by the eye. Often heard on the headlines are the bad and the ugly never the good. One picture that is often skewed by the media is that of hip hop. It is often heard that this genre is a negative influence on children, as the message put out by these rappers is not appropriate for today’s youth. The lifestyle is too violent and the lyrics are too harsh. All this is skewed in the wrong direction. As the hip hop genre is impactful and helpful for the youth of the world.…

    • 1178 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Relationship Between African Americans And Crime
    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Relationship Between African Americans And Crime

    Hip-Hop lyrics describe extremely violent acts that include guns, beatings, and murder. The songs seem to be condoning this behavior and are mostly performed by African American males. By seeing a black man singing lyrics such as, “I’m just waiting for a fool/ so I can use his blood for my backyard pool” (The Terrorists f/ Point Blank, “Dead Bodies” 1991) or “Crack that jaw, what’s more bring it/ Ill rip your fuckin’ arm out the socket if you swing it” (Apache “A Fight” 1992), endorses the idea that African Americans are prone to violence and killing.…

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Violence In Rap Music
    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Violence In Rap Music

    The association of violence with alcohol also increased, but the relationship was not as pronounced as that with drugs, Explanations for the rise of gangster rap and violence in rap music have tended to focus on two basic themes. Representatives from the music and other media industries have argued that media violence is a reflection of actual social trends. Echoing this perspective, some scholars have focused on the structural conditions – oppressive economic and social conditions, the crack cocaine drug trade and ensuing drug war, and high levels of police brutality – within urban ghettos that promote violent themes in rap music. Within this framework, other writers have focused on the violent lifestyles of major rap artists as an explanation for the rising tide of violence in the…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Hip Hop And The Civil Rights Movement Analysis
    • 2367 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Hip Hop And The Civil Rights Movement Analysis

    Hip hop is one of the most controversial and beloved genres of music amongst the youth and working class culture of the 20th century (Aldridge et al. 2016). Even though it is popularized as just a form of music, some would argue that it is a lifestyle that transcends borders. It is an art form that has been driven through the social, economic, and cultural realities that individuals face on a daily basis while sampling jazz, rock, blues, and soul to compose a breed of its own (Aldridge et al. 2016, Rice 2003). The imbedded realities within hip hop create a social consciousness that reflect the ideologies of the Civil Rights Movement and serves as a positive outlet that lets the youth express their frustrations while pushing towards a solution…

    • 2367 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Music Lyrics Do Not Promote Violence
    • 1708 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Music Lyrics Do Not Promote Violence

    Music Lyrics being NON-VIOLENT Rap music can be considered a style of art, and a way for the artists to express feelings through their words on paper. However, there are quite a few rap artists that get criticized for their lyrics. In my essay, I want to discuss why rappers use certain lyrics in their music and why people shouldn’t believe that it causes violence among the younger generations. People shouldn’t censor the music just because of violent, vulgar and abusive messages it promotes to the world. I believe in my own mind, that there is a reason for these types of lyrics that rap artists use and I will simply explain those reasons in this essay. Rap has been called one of the most important music forces to emerge in two decades. It’s pounding beats and staccato rhymes exploded on the streets of the urban America in the early 1980s and since have become the theme music and lyrical heart of the vibrant youth culture called hip-hop ( SIRS 1993). There are many different types of rap artist. There are some that talk about money, some talk about righteousness, and the list goes on and on. Every rap artist had their own way of expressing themselves. There are those that talk about sex, drugs, and violence who receive the negative attention( SIRS 1993). People, think this so- called gangster rap is a bad influence on children in the world and that it promotes violence and that it also is abusive to women. Delores Tucker, head of national congress of black women has been among those pressuring different record companies to stop distributing gangster rap music. There were other significant names that participated in this action. Names like Senate Majority leader Bob dole, and former education Secretary William J. Bennett(Surveys, pg. 1). There are some rap artists that have been openly criticized for their lyrics. Rappers like Lil Kim, Too Short, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and a member from “Too Live Crew,” named Luke Skywalker. These rap artists in the past have been…

    • 1708 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics