Rap And Hip Hop Essay

The Evolution of Rap and Hip-Hop Music In Today’s Society
Rap and Hip Hop music is a genre evolving throughout society that is changing the music industry for the better. There are many artists today that portray different styles of Rap and Hip Hop and bring the genre to a new level. Many of these different types of rap circulating are heard on the radio and through social media. The topic of Rap and Hip-Hop may be one of the most controversial music groups that has ever been talked about. The idea that rap is negative and derogatory is all very obvious, but Rap music is also enjoyed for its reality and rhythm and rhythm by many people. Some may also argue that if you were about to go for a run or to the gym Rap may be your choice of music.
The songs are normally noisy and enthusiastic and make you want to move. Rap is normally conveyed as vulgar and violent. Some may argue the fact that Rap music is really just artists rapping about their experiences. In an article titled “The Social Significance of Rap and Hip Hop” Blanchard talks about how rap is normally talking about real life issues and situations. The author also brings up the idea of how Rap and Hip Hop have changed drastically throughout the years. Society is listening to this genre from sources like the radio and the videos they watch on social media. The genre of Rap and Hip-Hop is captivating to people of all ages and different backgrounds of individuals because of the genre's ability to uplift individuals and make them feel connected to the artists.
So why is the genre of Rap and Hip-Hop so captivating to the many consumers of music? The genre itself portrays ideas of wisdom and fun all at the same time. You may be wondering how does a genre of such nature that contains mostly curse words and eludes to ideas about sex and drugs be so full of wisdom and guidance. If you take notice in what these artists are actually talking about you will soon find out that they are speaking of actual life experiences. Many artists rap about how they were poor when they were young and went from rags to riches with their hit singles. These singles then became albums that tell their whole life story. One example of the genre influencing guidance is in an a study that was done at Cambridge University in the Psychology Department.
The study that was conducted revealed that listening to Rap and Hip Hop may actually be able to relieve individuals suffering from depression. In the article the author Cashmore states “It posits the theory that a great deal of rap music, with its rags-to-riches narrative trajectories, displays “positive visual imagery”, a psychotherapeutic technique common among sports stars, in which one envisages the place where one would like to be, so as to facilitate one’s progression to a better mental place”(Cashmore). This quote from the article depicts the aspects of how the genre is healthy to listen to and can even help cure depression. By listening to Rap music individuals can help prevent themselves from making their depression worse or even becoming depressed in the first place.
Furthermore, there are many songs that depict the idea of hope throughout the life of an individual. The idea of being poor and becoming rich and famous is one that many people dream of. An example of a song that inhibits this idea of a positive life is a known classic from Biggie Smalls entitled “Juicy”. Throughout the song, Smalls explains how he went from poverty to wealth. Smalls
states:
Way back, when I had the red and black lumberjack, With the hat to match, Re member Rappin' Duke, duh-ha, duh-ha, You never thought that hip hop would take it this far, Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade,Born sinner, the opposite of a winner remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner. (Smalls)
In the song “Juicy” Smalls is rapping about how he basically use to be poor and now because people in the industry discovered him, he is rich and famous. The overall message of this song and the genre of rap as a whole is that it is encouraging. The genre can help individuals have the confidence to achieve there dreams similar to Biggie Smalls and other artists like himself. In contrast, rap is frowned upon by many individuals.
It is obvious that the genre consists of indecent lyrics and tasteless phrases. A lot of rappers mostly talk about sex, drugs, violence, and getting rich. The controversy over how distasteful rap is clearly evident in today's society. Although most of these ideas are true, the genre of rap is not so much about the lyrics but about the flow of the songs and the enjoyment that individuals have listening to it. It is clear that not all Rap and Hip-Hop songs are about building confidence and achieving dreams but these songs are relatable to individual experiences. In one instance, the idea of young teenagers listening to this type of music is quite amusing. I currently work at a children's party venue called Creative Experience. I cater to guests who have their occasion at the venue by decorating, cleaning and providing excellent hospitality. It is very amusing to watch the children normally between the ages of eight and twelve come in to have their birthday parties with us. They normally all know the latest rap songs and request them for us to play. They also normally know the dances that are choreographed for some of the hip-hop songs. I think it is quite fascinating that the genre of rap and hip hop are even captivating young children because of social media and music
platforms. Lastly, it is evident that their are many artists who portray honesty and real life experiences in their music. For example, Kendrick Lamar’s song “ADHD” presents the idea of individuals who struggled with this medical issue and are not the only ones. This is great for listeners because it shows how these famous individuals have overcame issues and are now successful in their life. In contrast it is also clear that their are some artists who only cater to vulgar phrases or create songs that are choreographed. It is clear that the genre of rap and hip hop is one that will continue to impact society. With rap’s inspiring stories and catchy rhythms, it is clear to see how rap is a genre that is helping others for the better and not for the worse.