Achor 1
Steven Achor
Eric Stephenson
English 122-126
10 November 2008
The General History of Rap Music in America
American culture has been greatly influenced by several different types of music. Music can be used as a tool for an individual to express themselves in either a positive or negative way. One of the most popular forms of music is hip-hop. There are three main forms of rap music. They include: R&B, Freestyle, and last but not least, Gangster Rap. This genre as a whole has a general conception of affecting the American culture in a negative way. Although some believe that rap is too violent and produces a negative image, rap is actually a positive way for young adults to express themselves.
The rap genre consists of three main styles. First, Freestyle is a form in which an artist performs by vocalizing whatever comes off the top of their tongue. This style can be compared to a poet standing up in front of an audience, expressing how they feel in a poem at that particular time. Eminem is a rap artist, who freestyles exceptionally well. He thrives at putting words together at a very fast rate. R&B, which originates from the words Rhythm and Blues, is the second style of rap. This style consists of an artist vocalizing and has some singing involved in it to create harmony. Usher is a popular R&B artist. He is known for singing great love songs. These two styles of rap are a more mild tone of this form of music.
One of the most successful forms of rap may also be considered the most controversial style. Gangster Rap is the last main style of this genre. Due to the use of vulgar, explicit, violent and foul words, Gangster Rap has been scrutinized by several organizations in the United States. Former Pennsylvania state governmental politician, C. Delones Tucker, was a political and social activist who waged a fiery national campaign against obscenities in this style of rap music. She believed Gangster Rap was pornographic filth and that it was demeaning and offensive to women (Lamb, par. 1). Violence and the degradation of women are some of the major reasons why this style of rap and rap as a whole is portrayed in a negative way.
The history of rap is very compelling. The genre originated within the African American community and was inevitably recorded by small independent record labels. Even though the first rap recording was not produced until 1979, rap originated in the mid 1970’s in the South Bronx of New York City. One of the earliest successes of rap was the Sugar Hill Gang, who scored a hit with the song “Rappers Delight”. In the 1980’s rap started a journey to the top of the Billboard Charts. The first Caucasian group from New York, The Beastie Boys, broke through the rap industry’s racial barrier and had great fame through the 1980’s. The 1980’s brought rap to new heights, but the 1990’s would change rap forever.
In the 1990’s rap exploded with numerous new artists. With new talent and different record labels forming, rap became the multimillion dollar industry that it is today. Tupac Shakur was an artist who helped bring the industry new found fame. He was able to achieve great success through his use of explicit lyrics that reached out to the youth. He and other rap artists were able to connect to the youth which pushed record sales through the roof. Shakur was an artist who excelled in the form of Gangster Rap. This use of racy lyrics played an important role in why rap is frowned upon by so many.
The violent lyrics in rap have had a negative effect on the American culture. A major reason why rap is heavily looked down on is because the violence in rap songs has caused active violence in real life. Activists against the rap industry claim that artists target the youth, and brainwashes their audience with the message that it is ok to commit crimes. Crimes such as murder and the selling and usage of drugs are common lyrics in a rap song. There have been numerous reports of teenage kids committing crimes and blaming a rap song for making them do so. The explicit lyrics in rap are only a small reason why rap is frowned upon.
The violence in rap became reality when Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace were murdered in 1996. When the two performers were alive they battled each other through songs. The two sparked a coastal war between the East and West coasts. People on both coasts did not respect the other coast’s music. Violence was perpetuated by both sides. The rap industry took a major hit when Shakur and Wallace where gunned down on separate occasions. Their deaths brought forth more scrutiny on rap music. The focus on violence associated with rap has taken away from what rap music really is. Rap music is the freedom to express how a person feels through a song (tupacshakurbiography.com, par.5).
Rap artists who promote a positive message have effected the American youth in a positive way. An artist named Common believes in delivering an up lifting message. A message that says you do not have to be in a gang or degrade women to be a rap artist. His songs encourage the youth to strive for excellence and performers like Common strongly oppose Gangster Rap. They believe Gangster Rap is hurting the youth by sending out the wrong message. Positive rappers are vital to the American society. They are needed to reach the young urban youth who believe crime is the only way to be successful in life. They provide a ray of light for those troubled teens that may not have proper guidance in their life.
Rap artists use their songs as a political platform as well. During this recent election, several different artists urged the youth to get out and vote. Artists such as Will I Am from the popular R&B group Black Eyed Peas, strongly supported Barak Obama. He and various other artists produced songs and videos showing their support for the Democratic Senator. These performers public display of support influenced the young African American community to make a difference. Young Americans, not just African Americans, greatly influenced the outcome of the recent presidential election (BET.com, par.3). The fact that the rap industry was able to influence the youth to vote shows how rap has affected the American culture in a positive way.
The promotion of entrepreneurship is another effect the rap industry has had on American culture. Rap artists are expanding into other venues of the business world as well. Russell Simmons is the founder of Def Jam recordings. He is sometimes called the “Father of Hip Hop” for helping start the first major recording company in the early 1980’s. Simmons has since then started his own multimillion dollar clothing company called Phat Farm. Recently, Simmons has ventured into the Rush Visa prepaid credit card aimed at African American consumers detached from the traditional financial services due to the financial crisis of this year. Other Rap artists have found success beyond their music as well (Economist, par. 1).
Ice Cube is a rap performer who had made millions in producing movies. His first film was a controversial film called Boyz in the Hood. This movie portrayed the negative side of gang life in South Central, Los Angeles. Ice Cube has since produced over seven films and starred in several others. Rap artists are not limiting themselves to just movies and fashion. Rappers such as Jay-Z, Sean Combs, and Lil Jon all have their own alcoholic beverages. R&B artist, Usher, is a partial owner of the professional basketball team, the Cleveland Cavaliers (alleyezonme.com, par. 15). There have even been talks of Jay-Z trying to bring the New Jersey Nets back to Brooklyn, New York. There are endless possibilities with the rap industry expanding. This is a positive aspect of rap. The endless possibilities of expansion gives young adults hope that they can achieve anything they desire if they work hard to achieve success.
Rap music as a whole can be a tool for violence, or a positive tool to promote peace and change. It is up to the audience or listener to decide which tool they will use. The rap industry has come a long way from its humble beginning. Even though there is a great concern over rap’s violent past, there is hope for its future. Rap artists have begun to unify amongst themselves. Artists understand the negative effect rap has had on today’s youth. Some have come together to clean up the bad boy image that is associated with this genre.
Minister Louis Farakon and other influential leaders have sat down with various rappers to stop the violence. Performers 50 Cent and The Game have sat down with Minister Farakon to dissolve issues that may have led to a similar result of Tupac Shakur’s and Christopher Wallace’s murders. The issue was resolved, and even though the two rappers do not see eye to eye, no blood was shed after the meeting. In order for the negative image of rap to change, more rappers must unite.
With the elimination of violence from mainstream rap, and the call for uplifting messages, rap is going to have a positive influence on America in the future. More rap artists are turning from their violent past and focusing on expanding in the consumer market (Plunket, par.1). This will help the rap community grow even more than it already has. The uplifting messages and positive influence on the youth will help America become a better place. Young Americans have the opportunity to be more successful through entrepreneurship. The choice is theirs to use rap as a successful tool, to express how they feel in a positive way, and not to follow the dark part of this genre.