... become a target group to push the limits as other musical genres have done in the past. Back in the grunge era, Nirvana exploded on the scene with songs like "Rape me", and Marilyn Manson's band came out with their first album, which included stuff like "Rock N" Roll Nigger". In the late 60's, bands talked about drugs and sex, setting a controversial trend ... consisted of rappers who rapped about things that actually matter, like the Roots. In this excerpt from their song "Clones", they talk about the subjectivity in modern rappers lyrics: "First of all let's talk about these ill caper...

• Word Count: 2020
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... as a social barrier in the culture of hip-hop. Another aspiring white rapper of todays generation known as Macklemore even talked about Eminem in an interview saying, "Me being a white person at a hip-hop show, I was not the majority, when I first started to go to hip-hop shows. That started changing with Eminem ... to become an icon in hip-hop and this generation, Macklemore would not have had the same opportunities to succeed in the music business today, let alone any other white rapper; Eminem paved the way for them. Eminem's ability to command respect in the hip-hop world marked an ...

• Word Count: 1858
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... as he stated in his book, " My true feelings were coming out, and I just needed an outlet to dump them in I needed an excuse to let go of all this rage, this dark humor, the pain, and the happiness" (Angry Blonde 003). In his song "Cleanin' Out My Closet", Eminem ... mentions watching his mother as she becomes addicted to prescription pills. Many artists write songs reflecting upon their past or childhood, yet because Eminem's lyrics expose the negative life of his mother as well, people will not tolerate them. In an interview with The Rolling Stone Magazine, Mathers refers to ... , thes...

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... Tanylle Casper Realistic Ratings After a long day at work, Tom's mother walks in the door and down the hall to Toms room to let him know that she is home. As she approached his door she hears a streaming flow of foul language blaring out from under Toms ... rated "R" should not be sold to teens younger then 17 without adult supervision, because parents need an easily recognizable rating system to decide if the cd's lyrics might adversely influence their teen. Parents often throw up their hands and say "I can't always turn off the radio or monitor what they're listening ... or its portra...

• Word Count: 1379
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... month I had my first experience of what is called the "long ass line" at COB'S Campus. During registration there were to freeport females behind me conversing about Nassau. I was instantly drawn by the commending comment they made of the number of Nassau boy's towing COB'S line just to attain ... the White American Society to believe. Who though can blame them when Artist in G'D Up clearly vocalize "if there's beef my nigga then let your guns do tha talkin" Here again Young Buck another self indulgently carefree being is drilling through minds of society that he does not care about ... ...

• Word Count: 1286
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... after a very controversial song was produced by the group after they became more well known; a song called "F*ck The Police". Clearly, the lyrics of the song only get more aggressive than the title already is... and by aggressive, I mean real. The song brings up crucial social ... side, 20 n****** just died. Walking down the streets of L.A., stay strapped cause n***** but caps every day, yo". (Riots Erupt) The lyrics of violence were noticed by the government and by nation's youth. Politicians took one way of conservatism with then president Bill Clinton speaking against the violent ......

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... the "anything goes" period of the 90's." (Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, 1999). During the last decade critics have brought up controversial lyrics in some artists styles, like Eminem and vulgar and violent language, or the Dixie Chicks recent speak out against the president. The rising ... especially when it reaches a vulnerable audience For example, Nine Inch Nails released "Big Man with a Gun," with the following lyrics: I am a big man (yes I am) and I have a big gun; got me a big old dick and I like to have fun; held against your forehead, I"ll make you suck it, maybe ... me n...

• Word Count: 1365
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• Grade Level: High School

Marshall Mathers LP In today's society the arts are a very effective way to let people express their beliefs and try to communicate their ideas and feelings inside them to an outside audience. An artist's success is usually based on how ... of numerous debates in society than Eminem. When he broke into the mainstream of radio stations all over the country in 1997, people were shocked at first with his lyrics and some wondered if he was serious when he brought up issues in his songs such as homosexuality, domestic abuse, drug abuse, and suicide. His songs raised ... Mathers LP. On this album,...

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... That's not something you do just because someone tells you to. Additionally, the majority of well-to-do children do not listen to Marilyn Manson or other lyrics promoting similar ideas. Why? It doesn't appeal to them. Many who do are already in a world of confusion and problems, which may make them more ... stumble upon a sexual situation with limited knowledge. Language is another concern. People fear that if children listen to music with explicit lyrics, the nation's children will begin to talk in such a manner. The truth is, anyone who has the desire to listen to music with explicit ...

• Word Count: 1893
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... rap is not only music made for entertainment purposes. Many parents and experts argue that rappers and musicians use vulgar, profane, sexually explicit lyrics to target the teenage market. The Federal Trade Commission recently held hearings on whether the entertainment industry, including record labels, should be held ... , trashed Pepsi on his talk show, The O"Reilly Factor, for hiring a so-called "gangsta" rapper to sell their product. He claimed Ludacris" lyrics were too vulgar and tasteless. Three days after O"Reilly's comments, Pepsi announced they were dropping Ludacris as one of ...

• Word Count: 1463
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• Grade Level: High School

... the argument on this much-debated topic. Some people believe that music should be censored so all audiences can hear it without it containing any controversial lyrics. Others believe it should not be censored and musical artists should be able to speak, sing, rap, or rhyme freely without anyone censoring them. ... right to criticize and petition the government whenever they feel the need to do so. Many musical artists feel that when they are forced to change lyrics their rights are being violated. In some artists' songs, they like to express their feelings towards somebody or something, ...

• Word Count: 1448
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• Grade Level: High School

... With out these elements, they shouldn't even classify what they call their music as Hip-Hop. Emcees used to make their records with passion, with their lyrics based on their life experiences, emotions and aspirations. Now most of Hip-Hop like this remains underground, but if it's not like that, can we ... underground community is "Nas" Jones. He can go mainstream but keep his street credibility. He raps about life and reality; speaks his mind. He inspires people with his lyrics, not by how much cash he has. In Nas's "I can" 2003 debut, he raps, "Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again, This i...

• Word Count: 1796
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• Grade Level: High School

... With out these elements, they shouldn't even classify what they call their music as Hip-Hop. Emcees used to make their records with passion, with their lyrics based on their life experiences, emotions and aspirations. Now most of Hip-Hop like this remains underground, but if it's not like that, can we ... underground community is "Nas" Jones. He can go mainstream but keep his street credibility. He raps about life and reality; speaks his mind. He inspires people with his lyrics, not by how much cash he has. In Nas's "I can" 2003 debut, he raps, "Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again, This i...

• Word Count: 1757
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... their children engage in such mayhem. As the news channels made it a point to say that the show was a rap concert, full of hate lyrics and violence, many parents pondered if the music was to blame. () Did music really have the power to make normally rational beings do something like ... However, the controversy goes clear back. Remember when parents said that Elvis's provocative hip movements would corrupt the youth in the 60's? And let us not forget Tipper Gore who made music companies agree to put parental advisory labels on CDs that had mature content on them in the ... yours. Also, ...

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... music is having a negative effect on today's youth. By examining artists and their cultural discourses I will be able to justify the claim that thier lyrics have a direct link to violence being carried out in their name. In order to get a better understanding of how artists have influenced popular culture ... of this is Eminem; a white boy from the slums of Detroit who has used his experiences and made it into the mainstream stream by using controversial lyrics. Edward Helmore states in his article titled America's favourite Son' how Eminem went from A mother-hating, misogynistic, homop...

• Word Count: 1948
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... presumption that blaming music can relive wrongdoers of responsibility. "I take each individual degenerate's head and reach into it. Just to see if he's influenced by me. If he listens to music... he's an innocent victim, and becomes a puppet on the strings of my tennis shoes.", he sings. "Damn, how ... activist such as GLAAD and the National Organization for Women started demonstrating in front of record stores and writing letters to congress. They declared that the lyrics to his songs were homophobic, violent, misogynistic, and a dangerous influence. Songs such as "Kill You", "Kim", a...

• Word Count: 2263
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• Grade Level: High School

... had a bad reputation over the last decade from the gangsta era of N.W.A to a more present-tense 50 Cent. Some believe that thug rappers and their gangsta lyrics should be the gun-activists main focus. Jay Nordlinger states: "It must be, in part, a fear of uncoolness "of fogeydom "that keeps many ... kill you,"" anger the average person that knows nothing about hip-hop culture, but to the regular rap listener, those words are nothing but another set of lyrics being heard over a track of music. "When Eartha Kitt salaciously sings "Santa Baby,"" does that really mean that she wants to sle...

• Word Count: 1369
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• Grade Level: High School

... to entertain an audience. People put their thoughts and feelings into their music. Music is very powerful because the rhythm is so catchy and the lyrics you can relate to them . Now some types of music can have you feeling like your in love, while other types can have you feeling ... by the young people who listen to their music. This only make thing worst when rap artists commit violent acts themselves. Some gangasta rap lyrics are anti-police and cause violence against police officers. Most rap artist use their music to express themselves and some of the trials and tribulations ... g...

• Word Count: 1267
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... Jimmy leaning over a toilet then standing upright allows the audience to look down on him, emphasizing his own sense of weakness. As he storms from the restroom, a bouncer refuses to let Jimmy enter the back stage of the "rap battle." The actions of the bouncer are clearly based on the color of Jimmy's skin. Although never verbally expressed, it is depicted ... -to-face with his opponent Papa Doc (Anthony Mackie). The battle quickly comes to an end when Jimmy is unable to retaliate due to the abusive rants of Papa Doc lyrics. As he stands there humiliated and embarrassed, the crowd begin...

• Word Count: 1369
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• Grade Level: High School

... to every stimulus that America can provide. In the late 1970's, an alternative form of music was arising. The beat of the music was simple, but the lyrics held a new style. Unlike anything before, these lyrics were much more up tempo. The number of words in a song were almost doubled through 16 bars. More important than the style of this music was ... 1/7). It is here that Hip Hop became a way of life. It was a place to vent. It was an environment where people could say what they felt about any subject. The lyrics were completely interpretive, holding a certain meaning for one individua...

• Word Count: 2082
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... recent years, the rap industry has been blamed for a number of incidents involving violence. Many of the critics blame it on the so-called "GANGSTA RAP", because of the explicit lyrics in the music. An example of how the rap industry has been blamed is a rapper named Ice T. Who has once fallen under the gun of the critics, because of a song ... with the critics of the rap industry would say that while the person that tried to kill the officer is guilty, they were lead to do this because of the lyrics in the song. In the song he said because of this hate, he wanted to go out and kill any...

• Word Count: 1283
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... is following right behind. "Bottoms Up," shows how much music can impact ones life. According to the editor, it is a rap/hip-hop tradition to rhyme about butts. In 1987, lyrics from Boogie Down Productions said, "Thought I saw Denise but I was only assum"/Took another look and that butt was boomin." Sir Mix-A-Lots famous words, "I like big butts and I cannot ... lie" also became a famous hit from its catching lyrics (144). These are just two of the many songs that rhyme about nice butts. If you stay updated with the urban culture, you will notice that every year a famous song ... , but ...

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... big bell on top that we've seen in pictures from yesteryears. The kids playing hopscotch and jumping rope in the front yard until that huge bell let out it's monotonous ringing. The perfect little school in the perfect little hamlet of the good old USA. We"re far from this happy scene now. ... blame? Students blame teachers, parents blame the media, teachers blame parents. Then we"re all shocked that the law blames the actual perpetrators? This idea makes no common sense to me. Perhaps I am alone in doing this, and perhaps I"m also the first to say it, but it's our fault. In saying it's ...

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... him goodbye on page 155 "From here on you will be alone" the alchemist said, "You are only three hours from the Pyramids" "Thank you" said the boy. "You taught me the language of the World" "I only invoked what you already knew," said the alchemist. The boy goes on to find his treasure and through the omens he realizes as he ... ...

• Word Count: 1387
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School