What Are Rappers Really Saying About The Police

Race and Music Race and music have always been up for great debate. Actually, just music in general have always been up for debate. It does not have to be because of just the race, but because of what people infer from the lyrics. Two articles that I have read, definitely helped impact my opinion of what should be done with music and race.
In the reading “Racial Rhetoric and Cultural Frames” the main idea throughout this essay are all about the different frames of music. Specifically whether or not lyrics to different songs are harmful or are not harmful. In the article “What are Rappers Really Saying about the Police?” the main idea is about how the idea that rap music is harmful is challenging that theory. How after listening to the music
it is really talking about how the songs are not about the “pleasure and pride in aggressive and criminal acts, but the unfairness of the criminal justice system and the powerlessness felt by those targeted by it.” The authors present reliable information in both of the texts, however, I did feel that “What are Rappers Really Saying about the Police?” had more interesting parts and did not drag things out as much as “Racial Rhetoric and Cultural Frames” does.
“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. In the article “Racial Rhetoric and Cultural Frames” the author gives a lot of strong evidence. For each frame that the author talks about a good example follows. Throughout the article the author is going back and forth between bands fighting for their rights and what the Senate and other people think about their music. The different frames that the author discusses are: the corruption frame, protection frame, danger to society, message/art frame, the freedom of speech frame, not censorship frame, and the threat to
authorities. The corruption frame would most likely be when the news blames the music that is “bad” for young children for all of the violence and destruction. Besides video games, music can also be blamed, because of the words. If children listen to words and understand the violence then they are more likely to take the action and hurt someone or themselves. The protection frame can be used in reference to when parents forbid their children from listening to certain music because they feel that by listening to it the children will turn bad. One of the things that make me thinks the most about this is Eminem’s song “Sing for the Moment”. In the song the lyrics for the first verse states “These ideas are nightmares to white parents whose worst fear is a child with dyed hair and who likes earrings like whatever they say has no bearing, it's so scary in a house that allows no swearing.” He later on continues in the song about how the cops are after him because of what he does, because kids are idolizing him. This is showing both the corruption and protection frames because he has people that idolize him and his music, however, parents are trying to keep children away from his music because they feel that he is a criminal and that their children will become one just by listening to his music. Throughout the article “Racial Rhetoric and Cultural Frames” the whole concept is there was a Senate hearing about music lyrics. I think that although the Senate was doing what they thought was right, trying to prove that some music, heavy metal in particular, should be put in caution. However, there were people that were arguing that music should not have to be put up for debate. I feel that music should be whatever people want to listen too. People should not just base the music on the lyrics. Most people do not even realize what the lyrics are saying unless they look up the lyrics online. I am one of those people, I usually just listen to the music not the lyrics. Parents should not just judge immediately that the lyrics is what is going to make the child be violent. I think the information is very informative, I did not know that there was a Senate debate about music. Although, I did know that rappers had an issue with the justice, I did not know that the rappers had an issue with the justice system. I just assumed that they had a problem with the cops. However, after reading “What are Rappers Really Saying about the Police?” it makes sense that the justice system is unfair when it comes to music rappers. People have a strange habit of always thinking the worst when it comes to people who are different. When rappers who are African-American like Jay-Z, Kanye West and several others, are suddenly huge targets because their music has a way of meaning different things than what is really meant. However, in the new generation we have Macklemore who has hit the scene by taking a stand, who says that equality is the way to go. Now, I feel that it would have made a difference if the person that was rapping about equality would have been black, there would not have been as much as a big deal. When it comes to race and music, there is definitely a social issue that has developed. People have an issue with anyone or anything that is different, so, if there is music that is against the justice system, or if there is music that is dark, and has a dark meaning behind what they are saying, they are suddenly the number one target of having people that want them to go away. However, I feel that people should just leave them alone, because anyone can go crazy. It does not have to involve dark music, or music that is violent, it can be anything, if people really wanted to be safe, they would drop music altogether.