The Influence of Rap Music on Teenagers today

Vidit Agarwal April, 2020

 The Box, the number one song on Billboard, amassed over 68 million streams according to Complex by January 13. Roddy Ricch, the artist behind this hit, created a bizarre and catchy beat that featured lyrics filled with vulgar slang peppered with crude profanity. Most rap songs, like The Box, display an intense beat and a rags-to-riches storyline that seems to addict teenagers. Many parents are worried about their children being influenced by the fashions, actions, and language used by rap artists like NLE Choppa and YNW Melly. YNW Melly and Roddy Ricch have each spent considerable time, and I, along with many, see these people like celebrities. Don’t worry parents, this doesn’t indicate a significant change in your teen’s values or goals. Rap music is a positive genre of music like all the others. 

Rap music is misunderstood. Parents often see rap music as negative and only seem to see the countless expletives. Many parenting articles identify rap music as a catalyst for problems with teenagers. In reality, rap music is positive and can serve the purpose of shedding light on some issues people face. Just because a rapper raps about some questionable subjects in their music does not mean that they intend to influence teenagers down a dark path. Rap music is entertainment, like horror movies or R-rated shows. I don’t see the reason for pushing teenagers away from the genre they wanted to hear. The bottom line is that all rap music is not degenerate. 

Many rappers express their struggles in the inner-city and “hood” areas while growing up. Them overcoming their conflicts is what most rap artists like to rap about. This message can give hope to many youths across America who live in similar circumstances. For example, Roddy Ricch used to live in a challenging neighborhood, Compton. He had to steal and act tough just to survive. He used to rap and sing to cope with his sad life. When he shared his stories about his challenging childhood and about succeeding despite living without parents or with a drug-addicted parent, a teenager with a similar plight may believe that he can also get through his struggles. 

Rap music has been a tool to express their thoughts against the negative elements in this world, such as violence and guns. Many non-rapping artists use their lyrical gifts to promote peace and anti-violent acts. Rappers promote peace, too, even though they use a darker method. By conveying messages about violence and prejudice, rap allows teenagers to make positive changes in their own lives. Rappers such as the Tupac were often criticized for their lyrics, which painted a bleak picture of America. While some lyrics were probably made to be catchy and cool, they also shed light on America’s problems, especially those in the hood. When rappers rap about violence, drug addiction, and poverty, they are doing it to promote awareness. When someone listens to this genre, he or she may do it for entertainment, but he or she will hear these dilemmas and these issues that people have to face.

Some rappers use their musical platform to show how great they are. As a listener, it is inspiring to listen to feel-good music and you have the “live life with a purpose” motto. Thus, most rap fans, like me, are always glowing with confidence. You may not realize it, but rap music makes you feel good about yourself and you feel cool. If you are one of those quiet people with the skill and value but don’t let the world know, rap music can help let you bring out the more arrogant, but confident side of you.

While the words rappers choose can unquestionably be deemed a bad influence, it does not mean that all rap music is wicked. Churches use Christian rap in their service to send a message. Police officers, firefighters, and teachers use it to spread their messages to help the youth learn and connect with what the youth likes. Rap music is a magnificent tool that can be used for extraordinary purposes. When critiquing rap music, one talks all about the surface. Some people can only see the swear words and nothing else. To understand rap music, you need to go beyond the surface and discover the true message of the song.

Image Credits

Klinkenberg, Brendan, et al. “20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2020.” Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2019, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/20-best-hip-hop-albums-of-2019-931888/.