Why Is Rap Music Still Considered A Bad Influence?
The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show was one of the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Shows ever. Featuring an all-star cast of living legend performers, the show focused on a hip hop theme, showcasing some of the biggest tunes from the genre to hit the charts over the last 30 years.
Though the performers weren’t paid for their Super Bowl performances, the Halftime Shows still generated a lot of praise and discussion. Unfortunately, not all of it was positive.
Some viewers were questioning why rap music was allowed to be played at a family event like the Super Bowl. This led to the longstanding debate about whether rap music is a bad influence on young listeners.
Both those for and against rap music have cited research to support their claims. Here’s why rap music is still considered a bad influence by some critics.
The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show
In 2022, the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show marked an iconic moment for hip hop. The show featured some of the biggest names in the genre, including living legends like Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and 50 Cent.
Each artist performed part of one or more of their most famous songs, much to the delight of hip-hop fans. The performance was a celebration of West Coast hip hop, in particular, given that the Super Bowl took place in Los Angeles.
However, with the additions of 50 Cent, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige, the performance was also an ode to other areas across the country that have spawned hip hop greats, including New York and Detroit.
Many Critics Have Slammed Rap Music
Though the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show was mostly well-received by viewers, some more conservative audience members expressed their disappointment, noting that rap music is not family-friendly and thus inappropriate for the Super Bowl.
Research shows that, while rap music clearly has millions of fans, critics do believe that it can lead to negative consequences. Notably, some critics have posited that rap music is a bad influence on youth.
Why Do Critics Believe Rap Music Is A Bad Influence?
The debate about the impact of rap music is a controversial one. Why do some critics believe rap music is a bad influence? Opponents claim that the suggestive lyrics encourage attitudes of sexism and racism amongst listeners.
There are trends of misogyny in rap, with several famous artists rapping lyrics that objectify and dehumanize women. For example, despite his global fame, Eminem's past albums have attracted controversy for these and other understandable reasons.
There is also a history of women being overly sexualized in visual representations of rap music, including in live performances and videos.
Simultaneously, rap lyrics have been thought to encourage racist attitudes.
Emmett Price, a professor at Boston’s Northeastern University, explained, “Also, the presence of derogatory remarks about race and the concept of love of money as well as the image portrayed in rap music that drugs and sex are common, all have negative impacts on those listening.”
While critics don’t believe that rap music directly leads to negative behavior in youth, they believe there is an association between the two.
Does Rap Music Put Youth In Danger?
Some researchers believe that rap music does directly put young people in danger, particularly by increasing their risk of suicide:
“According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, many of the rap lyrics contribute to the suicide, violence, and inappropriate sexual content in lyrics that also influence and contribute to teens taking part in drugs and alcohol …” writes Youth Voices, an open publishing and social networking platform for young people.
Why Fans Say Rap Music Is A Good Influence
There are also those researchers who believe that rap music has a positive influence on young people, and the good far outweighs the bad.
Mainly, those who argue in favor of rap music believe that it lures young Black Americans away from drug use and violence by giving them a positive, creative outlet to focus on instead.
One essay, published by Santa Clara University’s Advanced Writing: Pop Culture Intersections, argues:
“The influence of rap music until present day has been strictly positive as it provides an alternative to violence, drug use, and gang activity for Black American youth growing up in the inner city as well as a resource for understanding the discriminatory world they live in.”
Can Rap Music Help Disadvantaged Youth?
It has also been argued that rap music can directly help disadvantaged youth to escape seemingly hopeless situations. Those who do make it as successful rappers are able to break away from poverty and also generate enough wealth to help their families, friends, and neighbors.
Though not all aspiring rappers are successful, those who are successful serve as an inspiration to disadvantaged youth and may also motivate them to work hard and pursue their goals.
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