Negative Effects of Hip-Hop
| The Negative Effects of Hip-Hop |
Malachi Norman English 101April 8, 2013Professor Stayton MWF 9:00 am |
From the beats to the lyrics, the current generation of youth is engrossed in hip-hop culture, tending to idolize the artist behind the songs. Since the 1970s, hip-hop has influenced American culture tremendously. In the past, hip-hop held a central focus around inequality, empowerment and overcoming hardships. Today, hip-hop talks more about sex, money, a male dominant social standing, and drugs. Hip-hop, from then to now, has drifted to the darker side of the social spectrum. The majority of today’s youth were subconsciously thrust into a time when the darkness of hip-hop was nearing its climax. Young African American males in today’s generation are the primary recipients of and most attentive audience to the negativity hip-hop portrays. Hip-hop’s inflammatory and controversial lyrics are a major influence in the general behavior of young black men. The lyrics spoken and images shown highlight negative stereotypes that are now commonly associated with black men. The young black men who grew up without a positive male influence often tend to look to the males in hip-hop as primary role models. Hip-hop today says that males have to flaunt their masculinity, do drugs, get women, or be in a gang in order to be a man. Today’s idea of hip-hop negatively affects young black men in the way they dress, communicate, and act toward others.
In the hip-hop industry, Americans generally see the common stereotype of rap artists wearing baggy pants, durags, oversized shirts, and having a materialistic mentality. The main reason youth imitate the attire of these rappers is because they see the artists surrounded by money and women. The naiveté of young black men allows them to have the mentality that copying this style of dress will reward them in money and women; but, that is a misconception. As an effect, society looks down upon males who dress in hip-hop attire
Malachi Norman English 101April 8, 2013Professor Stayton MWF 9:00 am |
From the beats to the lyrics, the current generation of youth is engrossed in hip-hop culture, tending to idolize the artist behind the songs. Since the 1970s, hip-hop has influenced American culture tremendously. In the past, hip-hop held a central focus around inequality, empowerment and overcoming hardships. Today, hip-hop talks more about sex, money, a male dominant social standing, and drugs. Hip-hop, from then to now, has drifted to the darker side of the social spectrum. The majority of today’s youth were subconsciously thrust into a time when the darkness of hip-hop was nearing its climax. Young African American males in today’s generation are the primary recipients of and most attentive audience to the negativity hip-hop portrays. Hip-hop’s inflammatory and controversial lyrics are a major influence in the general behavior of young black men. The lyrics spoken and images shown highlight negative stereotypes that are now commonly associated with black men. The young black men who grew up without a positive male influence often tend to look to the males in hip-hop as primary role models. Hip-hop today says that males have to flaunt their masculinity, do drugs, get women, or be in a gang in order to be a man. Today’s idea of hip-hop negatively affects young black men in the way they dress, communicate, and act toward others.
In the hip-hop industry, Americans generally see the common stereotype of rap artists wearing baggy pants, durags, oversized shirts, and having a materialistic mentality. The main reason youth imitate the attire of these rappers is because they see the artists surrounded by money and women. The naiveté of young black men allows them to have the mentality that copying this style of dress will reward them in money and women; but, that is a misconception. As an effect, society looks down upon males who dress in hip-hop attire
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