Everyone knows that the genre of hip hop is controversial, because it started out that way from the very beginning. Originally being from an urban or "ghetto" environment if you will, has allowed me to see first hand the type of behavior that is encouraged because of this music. I am originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up, some of the mainstream rappers from New Orleans were Lil Wayne, the rest of the Hot Boys, Mystical, and those of No Limit Records. These people encouraged criminal activity not only in music but in interviews and other media as well. As New Orleans rappers made their way to the top of the charts so did the crime rate. From the drugs to the murder, crime in New Orleans became so commonplace that it wasn't even a big deal. Before I reached the age of 21, I knew several people who were dead or in jail. This is because this type of behavior is encouraged and expected. Another trend, on a less negative level, that emerged from the popular hip hop culture in New Orleans was the term bling-bling. It came from a song called Bling Bling that was done by the Hot Boys. It's said that young Lil Wayne was the one who created the term.
I decided to give this example in New Orleans because that's where I experience the culture that goes along with hip hop first hand. It's true that the media industry cannot be fully blamed for the crime that goes on, but to say that rap music and the criminal activities of these urban environments are not intertwined would be foolish. The murders dress like the rappers, respect the rappers, and pretty much worship the rappers. Everyone that I knew personally that was involved in criminal activity including drug dealers, murders, and robbers were living representations of what rap music is all about.
Another thing that has become acceptable, especially in black communities, is the use of the degrading terminology when referring to females. The b-word has become almost equivalent to a synonym for the world "female." Girl, woman, female, and b**** all mean the same thing to most of the youth. I can't tell you how many times I've been called the b-word and it wasn't even being used as an insult. I've heard, "That b**** is fine!" and "What's that b**** over there doing?" It's crazy, and I'm more insulted when it's used by a complete stranger or someone who it just specifying my gender, than when the person is calling me that out of anger or because they don't like me.
The rap genre is responsible for some of the self-esteem issues that young black women deal with. There is pressure on women to dress and act in a degrading way. There is also pressure on how we should look, and which females are most attractive. If a young preteen girl turns on BET everyday and sees the same type of slutty, half-dressed female gaining male attention then she is going to want to replicate that. This is because humans have a natural need of acceptance, and let's face it, every female wants to feel attractive. I believe this is true for females of all races, in all forms of media, but rap coincides more specifically with black girls.
There are many other issues that can be addressed when it comes to the rap culture and the influence of media in general. The statement that I would like to leave readers with today is, "Media has become the new God." If not media in general, then the people put in positions of influence. If not, then why do people chant Hova (short for Jehovah) at Jay-Z concerts with hands raised in the air?
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