Music has been an object of wonder, amazement, and even fear since the beginning of its existence. It has been used as a tool to shape culture and society throughout history and continues to do so with no signs of waning. New musical genres are formed seemingly daily as the industry grows in popularity, commercial activity, and number of artists. The appeal of rhythmic beats and noises to the human mind has fueled the evolution of music from sticks hitting rocks to complex electronic compilations. And not only do people influence the development of music, but music influences the development of society. Ceremonial music was and still is a focal point of Indian culture. Teenagers flock to concerts to hear the newest and the most famous tunes. What do these mere two examples of musical events have in common? Music and it’s entrepreneurs affecting the lives and actions of society. Is this a good thing? Most would say yes. Can it be manipulated to carry a destructive outcome? Many, thinking of such variations as rap, would say yes. Does rap steer the young and easily impressionable to violent tendencies? This is a matter of current controversy that worries numerous parents, auth

Is rap a violence-inducing demon, persuading inner-city teenagers to hurt, kill and steal in the name of one’s race or social class or is it a preaching promoting such ideals as honor, respect and unity? With the growing popularity of rap music through such means as music television, so too has its influence on society and the concern of skeptics grown. It has become evident that rap, once viewed as a passing fad, has laid impenetrable roots in society, both Black and White. Nearly three-quarters of rap music is sold not to Black, but White teens. What values, if any, are the worlds teenagers deriving from this music?

Many outsiders express great concern at the seemingly demeaning attitude rappers show towards women, such as in a game “playing the dozens”, where you improvise the best funny yet witty criticisms of someone else, ie. their mother. Very few are intending to be genuinely degrading to females, and not all Black females consider such exercises as offensive. To those in these communities, such criticisms are often viewed as mainly comedic and harmless. The views of those who do take offense are often accepted, such as in the case of the popular Black female rapper, Queen Latifah, who raps in combat of the slander of females in her song “UNITY”, saying “Who you callin’ a bitch?… You got to let ‘em know you’re not a bitch or a ‘ho.” In addition, the greater part of male rap is free of straight degradation of females, attention is aroused by the few extremists such as 2 Live Crew, Dr. Dre, and others. Other artists, such as 2Pac, rap of opposite views, such as shunning the abuse of women, supporting centrality of Black women in cultural life and male responsibility in bringing up children.

Numerous parents are scared to death that their child will be influenced by music enough to act violently or suicidal. One parent, in a letter to Senator Joseph Lieberman wrote, ”Our children are quietly being destroyed (dying), by this man's[Marilyn Manson] music, by ones and twos in scattered isolation throughout our nation today.” It is true that some of Manson’s lyrics promote suicide, but how impressionable are youths, really? It is very convenient for a parent to blame their child’s suicide on lyrics promoting it and ignore any outside influences or upbringing errors, but how realistic is that? Firstly, it is an extremely impressionable child who kills himself because someone sings(or screams) that he should. The common phrase “If someone told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?” comes to mind. It seems fairly evident that anyone willing to kill himself, whether told to or not, must be having serious problems outside his home stereo. Suicide defies the ultimate human instinctual will to live. That’s not something you do j

Some topics in this essay:
Salem Eliminating, Society Music, Dr Dre, Joseph Lieberman, Inner-city American, Bell Hooks, Marilyn Manson, America Mongolia, Queen Latifah, Jeremy Leland, rap music, explicit lyrics, listen music explicit, lyrics promoting, violent criminal, music music, black white, reasonable assume, violent criminal nature, music dislike, numerous parents, rappers rap lives, music explicit lyrics, commercial music,