John H. McWhorter has written an excellent piece on How Hip-Hop Holds Blacks Back. This is, of course, bleeding obvious to anyone who pays attention to hip-hop lyrics. It has been rather unwise to say anything negative about rap music in the past. Its defenders on the left, who refer to it as "black cultural heritage", cry racism when anyone questions its lyrical content.
There are positive and light-hearted examples of rap, like Will Smith (who is hated for "selling out") and RunDMC. However, an overwhelming amount of rap is mysogynistic, hate-fueled, sadistic, and violently anti-authority (but not pro-freedom). Much of it glorifies gang violence, killing the police, and violence against women. Not exactly the most positive thing for young black males (or white ones, for that matter) to hear all the time.
I mean, metal has its black/death/gore as well, which is not the greatest thing for young adults to listen to all the time, either. However, the genre is much more underground than gangsta-rap. Most of the death-metallers I have met don't exactly take the lyrical content to heart. They seem to prefer the aggression of the actual music rather than the words. In Europe, there are several death metal bands that are entirely instrumental, as there are in the black and doom genres.
It is good to see articles like this being written.
Found via: Iain
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Monique
I feel that rap music in it's majority doesn't depict viloence. The music is about what the artist has gone through in their life and how they have resolved their issues. Yes, there is some music out there that is all about killing and viloence but not many people listen to that because it isn't real. There is more positive music other than Will Smith and Run DMC. There is Jill Scott, India Arie, Dru Hill, Musiq and many more. Please see that there is more to black music than the negative.
2 - The Theory
the other difference between rap and metal is that, as a general rule, you can't understand the lyrics to death metal/black metal/doom metal bands (as a general rule) whereas you can with rap.
3 - Dew
Will Smith is without a doubt the poster boy for 'safe rap'. Unfortunately for some people music only appeals to them when they can identify with it and not everyone can identify with the clean cut pleasant life Will raps about. They can however identify with NWA or Jay or Eminem for that matter.
Most Hip Hoppers don't take the lyrics to heart either. And those who do have deeper issues than rap music. I think what people overlook in hip hop is the passion and the stories.
I see a perfect rhyme scheme and a message. Others may see a drug dealer rapping. You see in Hip Hop only what you look for, the music is designed that way. It is an outright excuse to say that Rap holds Blacks back. Look at the artist themselves and see that rap has made entrepreneurs and millionaires. That is a liberating experience that is good for young people to see that with determination any situation can be turned into a good situation. That is still the essence of rap, even in its commercialized present.
Rap embraces an attitude that offends corporate and mainstream America, its supposed to. It sends a big fat finger sign to all the conformists looking for young adults who fit an 'acceptable mold'. The music is honest, it spits out everything we are conditioned to think we should be tactful about. Why lie and say I want to get to know you when all I really want to do is have sex? That isn't new, promiscuity didn't start with rap music. They just tend to be more upfront about it.
I once heard Bill O reily say that hip hop sends a false message to young adults. He said after you get all the tattoos and piercings you won't be able to get any 'real job'. What he doesn't understand is that that is exactly the point.
4 - ash
I feel that the gangsta rap has helped in some way in the sense that people can relate. I think that it is good that the bad is talked about because it makes people face the harsh reality of the world. No other music states what happens in the world that is bad, and that’s what makes it different than other music... it reveals others pain and the harsh situations, that people are face with everyday, because every where these bad things happen and if the victim of this trauma doesn’t speak of it he/she has something to relate to. And it helps in some ways .I don't agree that artists should push their limits in the sense that they are saying it is a good thing that these things happen, but to just make people aware that it happens.. I don't think that it has made more crime if anything it has made the potential victims of violence aware that this is a cruel world. Women that get abused can relate to songs like "love is blind" by eve, these songs state that if you don't get outta a abusive relationship there is a chance that you could die by the hand of someone who made you believe that he/she loved you. So get outta situations like that... music gives you strength use it to your advantage
5 - Keino
I used to be a Hip Hop Junkie back in the 80's and 90's but now I feel that a lot of rappers send mixed messages to our young generation who buys the majority of the cd's. They seem to make 1 or 2 positive songs and then the rest glorifies how they pimped this chick or how they sold this kilo to get this dough. Why do most rappers potray being a super thug a good thing? I feel that if you grew up in the Hood, most people's life experiences were not always pleasent, so please tell the young generation what they can do to get out the hood, and not to glorify your street credibilty as a rapper to make money. That's what they do. Negativity sells records and that's all they care about. Not all rap is bad, but clean rap hardly sells and cannot get any air play on radio stations or BET.
6 - Mark the Sane and Sensible
"and not everyone can identify with the clean cut pleasant life Will raps about. They can however identify with NWA or Jay or Eminem for that matter."
This is exactly a problem with black America. There are kids too clueless or stoned to judge which presents the better role model, which always keeps them down and unable to succeed in the world. I'm sorry if this is too politically incorrect for some of you, but it's true.
7 - a 14 year old named Dell
I must say that i have tossed all my rap CD's away because they make 1 or 2 good song's then they call girls B's and H's or what ever.And they are killing are kids ears with this talk about sex ,money, guns ,and gangbanging and it needs to STOP......
I"LL FINISH THIS ONE DAY I HAVE 2 GO
8 - person
Rap is definately horrible with its lyrics. They have an extremely bad influence on the youth. There are just too many kids in my school that keep implying that being "black" is "cool". Most girls are now always referred to as sluts. I've heard that their is underground rap that is not as much about being a gangster and stuff, but people just make rap for the money, so they only make stuff about negative things as an above poster mentioned. Also I just cant stand listening to rap, and its unfair that they make huge amounts of money off making ryhmes about "da hood", when rock bands have to actually work hard and play instruments. and by the way, at least in death metal bands, they can actually play instruments.
9 - unarmedmaster
Just like he said metalers dont take the content to heart as much as rappers do... Metal is much more demonic.. but rap deals with more common things
drugs, sex, killing.... rap is just used to make money.. people like the computer generated beats so they take it in.. Rock however much much less computers are used and you actully need talent to make it big..
10 - Eric
This article takes a very simplistic view of a complex issue. On its surface, rap and hip-hop do seem to glorify negative stereotypes, use of bad language, drug use, etc.
But you have to face facts. The most popular rap groups today are homogenized and watered down; paled versions of other ground breaking groups, or the lowest common denominator.
They are all flash and no substance. They are what the record companies can make the most money off of. One hot single about a girl "shaking something" will make the record company a lot more money than a thoughtful, theme based album, that has a real message.
There are excellent acts out there. And yes, anger about the current domestic/economic/racial situation is pretty common. But most of the anger is directed, channeled, and hopefully shaped toward some sort of positive change. If you're looking to MTV for your hip-hop, you aren't looking hard enough.
11 - Evan
i dont like rap heavy metal or punk rock or grunge i like only classic soft rock like Billy Joel Elton John James Taylor Gordon Lightfoot John Denver the Eagles Kansas Seals and Crofts America Chicago Jim Croce Bread Don Mclean Cat Stevens Harry Chapin Hall and Oats Simon and Garfunkel Harry Nilsson Toto Neil Young and SteelyDan
12 - Jacob Lopez
I say that rap just strait up sucks ass because of the things that it tells entire generations of our youth to do like to degrate women or even go and sell dungs and shoot people. I'm not saying rockl doesn't say that kind of stuff either butt not as much as rap.
13 - fortino
all rap is really gay beacuse rap is 4 posers who hav half a brain.this is a fact people who listen to rap all dress alike u no the fubu and pants below thier ass rokers all look different
14 - Matthew Nicol
If you are saying that Rap Music is only a way for the artist and companies to make money, like I have read a few times from different people, then would you agree that creating any type of music, or even just plain writing poetry are also only ways of generating money? Some Rap artists may like that they can give their message to plenty of others, or they may like to be humorous, and begin to explain their world and their view of life for anyone to pick up. There is more in creation than just the money.
Implying that the creation of Rap music doesn't involve talent is a moronic thing to do. Why can people have an opinion about a rap song, compared to another? Why are some rap songs better than others, even to those who loathe the genre of music? It is because like any other art form, a good rap song takes talent to produce.
Mark, the sane and sensible: Assuming that because kids like rap music that they are on drugs is another big mistake. Think about what you say before you say it.
Rap music is a forum between an artist and their fans. A rapper can hand out a message, and portray life like he knows it. Are you seriously going to ask 50 Cent, who allegedly dealt drugs and was shot at a number of times, to rap like
15 - M
I believe that rap can be good and bad. Its bad beccause of what it talks about, but if you listen to the beat and not the lyrics, it can be okay. I know that the language and the things that it is saying is bad. I am doing a debate tomorrow about if rap does more harm than good. Any suggestions on what to say? I was chosen to be on the side for rap does more harm.
16 - seidzo dog
the person who invented the gun did not kill anyone, by this i'm sayin people should not judge hiphop it is like a ground of expression, it is the people who choose what to express
17 - Jay
So many steriotypes been thrown about here methinks some truths should be told, firstly hip-hop is both positive & negative as is everything in life (u tryin to tell me death-metal doesn't breed some psychos yeah rite!!!) what u take from it is completey up to the listener. Secondly the only people who dislike ALL hip-hop are the type who like to judge a book by its cover (lame analogy but nothing better came to mind) hip-hop has heart as does rock and so should not be judged entirley on the records of a few. The main difference with hip-hop is the commercial/underground split many have only heard the merc side of things and as such do not truly understand. PEACE&LOVE
18 - Bliffle
I just think it's unpleasant to listen to. Doesn't sound good. Not very musical.
19 - Christopher Rose
Actually, rap has been more creative over a much longer time than rock or any other kind of music ever...
20 - negativity
I prefferly am a fan of the rock i like some metal but not all metal is good same with rap. Although seeing little kids no younger then 5 at rinks , schools, just places in regular singing shake that laffy taffy and other songs is troublesome. Not all rap is bad but if you like clean rap you are hated on people call you a poser and just everything. I think everything has its good and bads. WE just need to live a fuller cleaner healthier lifestlye.
21 - hay
rap is soooooo bad, all it does is degrade women but i do have to say, some of it is good but not much
22 - sean Paul Mahoney
"Rap"? Wow what a throwback term!
Anyway, I don't think the problem is the music. Hip-hop like counrty music has been ruined by corporate America. Visionaries and poets like Chuck D, Q-Tip, Meryl Haggard or Loretta Lynne are things of the past. Music today is about "smack that ass out on the floor" and safe boring artists with nothing to say.
As far as gangsta rap goes, it's been done. NWA and Ice T wrote about gang life nearly 20 years ago. It was important then to chronicle a life rarely heard from. Now, it's all been rehashed and repackaged. Yawn.
23 - pakistan
This is exactly a problem with black America. There are kids too clueless or stoned to judge which presents the better role model, which always keeps them down and unable to succeed in the world.
sorry but that's racist. I don't know what you would do if you grew up in that environment. I think you would be as pissed like the NWA records sound, check eminem he's rappin bout the same thing but he's white so it aint' always the black youth
24 - Pakistan again
rap isn't bout degrating women,(btw they degrate blacks too by sayin N's instead of brothers and stuff) so stop winin bout that. Rap is about expressing yourself. People just don't understand. every thing they say in their lyrics is true, and has a mmeaning. hip hop nowadays is less good as in the 90's. But people just judge rap negatively because the hear Btch and stuff like that, and that's the only thing they hear
25 - Name
Hip hop, to me, is my passion. True it doesn't have to be the way it has become. But what can we do..
My main inspiration has been this christian group called "Agape". I have liked hip hop since I can remember. I don't live in the rural areas, I live in the countryside.
when I tell people, "I rap in church", their response is immediatly, "they let you do that?"
the simple answer is, yes they do, it's clean, it glorifies what my religion is to me and it's fun to perform. Hip Hop has had a positive influence on my life. I listen to artists like chris brown, kanye west, pitbull, Ne-yo, T-Pain, and so on.
the comment "all rap is really gay beacuse rap is 4 posers who hav half a brain.this is a fact people who listen to rap all dress alike u no the fubu and pants below thier ass rokers all look different" is a generalization by a person who does not know the facts.
My dress is normally button down shirts or polos, along with pants that are waist high with a belt. so for further comments, don't say those kind of generalizations.