Rap Music Censorship Essay: Freedom Of Expression Of Rap

Freedom of Expression If you were around in the late 80s, early 90s, and liked rap, there is a good chance you were a fan of one of the most popular rap groups of all time, known as in NWA (which stood for Niggaz Wit Attitudes). NWA started with five original members, including two men who went on to become household names worldwide; Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, and the now actor/director O’shea “Ice Cube” Jackson. NWA's stance on music and freedom of speech has enshrined them as one of the most important, also infamous, music groups in history. Rap music has received a very negative reputation, but it might not be completely deserved. Though rap music may contain explicit lyrics, to censor one’s freedom of speech is an injustice. Music has been a source of conflict between generations throughout history. Can one truly say that people who are exposed to rap music are more prone to hostility?
Some can say rap is poetry. When looking at a poem or reading rap lyrics, many may find it hard to think that those explicit lyrics would be considered poetry. However, art comes in many different
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