Notes 1000+ words

To what extent can it be argued that contemporary hip hop music is a negative influence on its target audience?

Media magazine: September 2013

Gangnam Style

Now the most watched video on YouTube with over 1 billion and a half views 

Consists of a catchy sense of humour 

Become a global sensation -> Globalisation 

Silly dance moves imitated by famous people such as Boris Johnson and David Cameron

Big Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise Tweeted about Gangnam Style -> Being a way in which he raised awareness about this song to the general public

Inspired thousands of people to attend dancing flash mobs in cities around the world -> showing how everyone can relate to this song going with the concept of people all being able to relate through their love of music. 

WORLD PEACE

The United Nations Secretary General even went as far to suggest that "Gangnam Style" could lead to world peace. With having that said, Psy stated "I think that music can play a very important role. I hope that we can work together using your global reach."

REACTING RAP -> How do people interpret rap? 

Music is one of those things in life that we all interpret differently. It has the power to bring people together whilst simultaneously segregating us. 

'Harsh Tweets' are sent on social networks such as Twitter, for example, presenting 'battles' fought be rival fan bases. 'Chris Brown vs Tyler The Creator' Twitter feed exemplifies this. 

Because of social networks such as these, it creates a gap between different generations such as old vs young. 

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER 

Is it the lyrics, the rhymes, the beat or the intensity of the emotion created in the listener? 

Does music have meanings you can analyse or is it an experience you feel? 

EMINEM - WITHOUT ME - Eminem likes to cause controversy 

"Now this looks like a job for me, so everybody just follow me, cause we need a little controversy, cause it feels to empty without me."

Allows a sense of humour within his character of Slim Shady, however, as he is a master in disguise, controversial topics are bought up. 

He also promotes a sense of violence from his "venom-fuelled tirades against his ex-wife which are legendary." 

As humour is talked about within his music, it allows a sense of 'between- the lines' violence. 

Bakhtin's theory of intertextuality talks about how Eminem has many identities. e.g. Slim Shady - Loud mouth, arrogant, misogynistic. Eminem who is the creation of Marshall Mathers III, Stan - Homicidal stalker, who murders his 'baby momma'. Many of Eminem's album names further endorses his sense of identity as of performance e.g. Slim Shady, The Eminem Show, Curtain Call and Encore. 

According to Bakhtin, every person is influenced by others in an inescapably in an intertwined way, consequently no voice can be said to be isolated. 

NEGATIVE INFLUENCES/HISTORY

Rap artists such as Lil Wayne who make lifestyle choices such as drinking cough syrup is a negative as it influences people who listen to his music to also do the same as he mentions drinking cough syrup in some of his lyrics. 

The common stereotypes of hip-hops artists are that they 'treat women like bitches', 'drug addicts' and 'breaking the law which is considered as '"bad-ass" in order to maintain a tough appearance within the music industry as that is what hip-hop artists are portrayed as. 

Kids are dancing to the latest Hip-Hop beats at an early age, and when a catchy tune comes on, some people might be surprised to find their musically-challenged mothers and fathers nodding their heads as well.

Hip-Hop is said to endanger the minds of students with thoughts of violence, the exploitation of women, lots of jewellery, and arrogance.

Hip-Hop was created to describe a style of dancing, clothing, and music created in urban neighborhoods.
 It was originally based around five elements and none of the above are one of them. 

The elements were Djing, MCing, beatboxing, graffiti, and breakdancing.

 Hip-Hop just described the incredible new form of art invented.

Much of main stream hip hop and rap mostly contains themes of immoral activity. Yes, the bad words are bleeped out, but the message is still there, and it is the younger teens (12-16) that listen to the radio more often. Therefore, they are more easily put in to the mindset that if Weezy is doing it, we can too, and even assume they are cool doing so. (http://hiphopvtheworld.edublogs.org/2011/03/28/negative-effects-of-rap-and-hip-hop/)

Hip hop and rap lyrics are so catchy, and they become embedded in our minds, to the extent where they potentially motivate our actions. Gangster rap usually reflects inner city life, glorifying criminal activity and degrading women. 

Rap and Hip Hop also promotes a thug lifestyle, one that centers on not fulfilling an education, but instead doing drugs, and spitting rhymes while doing so.

History

Hip hop began in the 1970s. The art form, which originated in New York, provided Black and Latino youth with an outlet to express themselves, often speaking out about the poor conditions that exist within their communities. The development of the hip-hop culture created a movement that influenced the way we dress, speak and socialize. The emergence of "gangsta rap" in the 1980s marked the beginning of some disintegration of the positive images in hip-hop culture.

• http://www.ehow.com/about_5418679_negative-rap-hip-hop-music.html#ixzz2iMRHWScC

  
  

  This genre of hip-hop has been a source of tremendous controversy and is often cited as the cause of the increase in violence. This is particularly true amongst black youth. According to federal statistics cited by the "Charlottesville Daily Progress," homicide is the leading cause of death for black men between the ages of 15 and 34

  However, close analysis of the song lyrics often reveals a plethora of curse words and no substance. According to commentators such as those found on Urban Dictionary.com, many artists have been forced to create artificial 'gangsta' images for the sake of a lucrative career. Many young people idolize these artists and imitate their behavior.
  

  Young women are surrounded by these negative images, and many have adapted their lifestyles to fit them. Black Entertainment Television (BET) broadcasts approximately 15 hours of music video each day. According to the research of Carolyn West (University of Washington), as reported in the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette," many of the young women who watch these videos do not believe they can be successful without using their bodies. 

  
  

  More negative influences

  
  

  Chief Keef promotes songs such as 'I don't like' and this may encourage things such as gun violence within his particular target audience and phrases such as 'bang bang' may encourage this as they may want to be more like their 'role model' who is known for being an artist to promote negative factors such as treating women badly by calling them names such as 'bitches' portraying them in a was, less superior to men in general. 
  
  
  On the other hand...
  
  Artists such as J.Cole rap about other, more sensitive topics which include factors such as abortion and life in his song of 'Lost ones  compared to stereotypical artists which talk about things of recreational use such as Lil Wayne and his song of 'Pussy Money Weed' showing how narrow the topics are that he's going to discuss within the song.
  
  Also, artists such as Drake talk about money but in a positive way as he quotes from his song 'From Time' "I like when money makes a difference but don't make you different." showing how unlike Lil Wayne, he shows his moralistic side within his music. 
  
  
  Icons in the hood - media magazine - september 2012 
  
  

  Plan B talks about Chavs - "British rapper has criticised the label for being ' a derogatory phrase, no different to ones concerning race or sex.' But some argue that being a 'chav' is about attitude and behaviour not race and sex.